Ask the resort for a written vegetarian menu for each dinner you will eat, not just a “yes”. Then name what you avoid, such as egg, onion, garlic or fish sauce. If the kitchen can list real dishes, half board works for you.
This guide belongs to our booking requests topic, where we look at the questions that turn a request into a confirmed arrangement.
What does “vegetarian” mean to the kitchen?
The word covers different diets. Resort kitchens work from exact ingredients, so spell it out.
| Your diet | What to say you avoid |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Meat, poultry, fish, and say if you also avoid egg |
| Vegan | All animal products, including milk, butter, honey |
| Jain | Meat, egg, and root vegetables such as onion, garlic, potato |
| Chinese Buddhist 斋 | Meat, fish, and sometimes onion, garlic and leek (state if you do) |
Is half board realistic for a vegetarian?
Half board is a fixed number of dinner meals at the resort. Check the half board and full board definitions, because they differ across resorts.
On islands with one restaurant, the vegetarian choices may be the same each night. Our guide on meal plans on remote islands explains when to skip the plan.
What four questions should we ask?
Send these as a numbered list. Kitchens answer short questions better than long paragraphs.
- Can you share a vegetarian dinner menu for the nights we are staying?
- Are vegetarian dishes cooked in separate pans and oil from meat dishes?
- Do your sauces, soups and curries contain fish sauce, shrimp paste or meat stock?
- Is the vegetarian option the same each night, or does it rotate?
What if the buffet looks fine but is risky?
Buffet labels are not always reliable. A curry marked “veg” may share a ladle with a meat dish nearby.
Ask staff which dishes are cooked separately, and ask for the vegetarian chef or restaurant manager by name. If the answer is vague, switch to à la carte dinners and keep half board off your booking.
How do we put the answer on record?
A verbal “no problem” at the counter will not help if the menu changes. Ask the hotel to write your diet on your booking, and keep their email.
The honeymoon package extras checklist shows where meal inclusions should appear in your confirmation. Staff can then find your note on arrival.
Are there destinations that are easier for vegetarians?
Some cities have dedicated vegetarian restaurants that are easier to find than resort menus. Taiwan is one example, covered in halal and vegetarian eating in Taiwan.
Whatever you choose, ask about the meal plan before you pay the deposit and not after.
What should we do next?
- Write the exact words that describe your diet.
- Pick two or three resorts and send them the four questions.
- Ask for a sample menu across the nights you will stay.
- Compare answers and cancel half board if the menu is thin.
- Send us your list and we will ask the resort for you, then share their reply.