Photo: Envato
As summer approaches, kosher travelers everywhere are gearing up for vacations—whether it’s a kosher safari, a Passover program abroad, or a family road trip upstate. After years in the kosher travel industry (and plenty of trial and error on the road), we’ve gathered the tips we always follow—whether flying across the world or heading out for a weekend getaway.
These are our essential travel tips: practical, time-tested advice to help you stay organized, kosher, and calm throughout your journey.
Best and Worst Days to Fly (Domestic vs. International)
Not all travel days are created equal—especially when you're juggling school calendars, yom tov, and airline schedules.
Domestic flights (U.S.):
- Best days: Tuesdays and Wednesdays—less expensive and less crowded.
- Worst days: Fridays and Sundays, especially before or after holidays. These days also tend to be busy with business travelers wrapping up or starting their workweeks.
International flights:
- Best days: Monday through Wednesday tend to be cheaper and more manageable at the airport.
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Worst days: Thursday through Sunday, when leisure travel peaks and business travelers begin returning home for the week.
Jewish traveler tip: If flying after Shabbat or Yom Tov, expect packed airports on Motzei Shabbat and Sunday mornings. Flying on Monday can be less stressful if your schedule allows.
How to Deal with Jet Lag
Jet lag is tough—especially when you land right before a chag or Shabbat. But it’s manageable with a few smart habits:
- Adjust gradually: Shift your sleep schedule by an hour or two a few days before flying.
- Hydrate often: Airplane cabins are dry. Skip the alcohol and caffeine and drink plenty of water.
- Get outside: Sunlight helps reset your internal clock, so spend time outdoors after you land.
- Avoid long naps: Try to stay awake until local bedtime, even if you're wiped out.
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Plan around your landing time:
- If you land at night, try to go straight to sleep. Stay off screens and use a sleep mask or melatonin if needed to help you fall asleep.
- If you land during the day, take a quick shower and head out. Plan a light activity—a walk, museum visit, or local errand—to keep yourself moving and resist the urge to nap.
Bonus tip: Arriving on Thursday for Shabbat? Try not to nap Friday afternoon—you’ll want to be wide awake for Leil Shabbat and the first meal of your trip.
Photocopy or Scan Important Documents
You hope you never need backups—but if something gets lost or stolen, you’ll be glad you planned ahead.
- Scan or photocopy your passport, visa, driver’s license, insurance info, and bookings.
- Store copies in cloud storage or email them to yourself.
- Print one set and keep it separate from the originals—in a different bag or folder.
Bring Basic Medications and All Prescriptions
Even in big cities, kosher travelers can run into language barriers or limited pharmacy access. Always bring:
- Painkillers, allergy meds, cold/flu remedies, motion sickness tablets, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, etc.
- Prescription meds in original bottles—with enough for the trip plus a few extra days.
- If you have allergies or medical conditions, bring a translated medical card to show in an emergency.
Photo: Envato
Use AirTags or Smart Trackers in Your Luggage
AirTags and similar trackers have changed the game when it comes to lost luggage:
- Place a tracker in every checked bag.
- You’ll know where your bag is—even if the airline doesn’t.
- It’s saved us hours of stress (and helped locate luggage in the wrong city more than once!).
Always Pack Essentials in Your Carry-On
Checked bags can go missing—so pack smart:
- A full change of clothes, undergarments, and travel-size toiletries
- Tallit and tefillin – always carry these with you, never in checked luggage
- For families: pack a change for each child, plus extras for spills, delays, or emergencies
- Kosher snacks like granola bars, nuts, tuna pouches, and crackers—just in case there are delays or limited options
Extra Travel Tips We Swear By
- Power prep: Always pack a power bank and universal adapter—especially in Europe or Asia.
- Offline navigation: Download Google Maps or Maps.me for offline use. Save addresses of your hotel and the nearest Chabad.
- Bring a pen: You’ll always need one for customs forms or jotting down directions.
- Shabbat logistics: Confirm late check-out for Motzei Shabbat, or book an extra night. Call hotels in advance to clarify.
- Kosher airline meals: Preorder kosher meals (and any specialty meals) at least 48 hours before takeoff—but always bring backup snacks or meals in case they don’t make it onboard.
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Affordable mobile data: Thanks to the eSIM revolution, staying connected abroad is easier than ever. Buy a prepaid international data plan before your trip, and activate it after landing to avoid roaming charges. Note: eSIM only works on newer devices—most phones from 2020 and later support it, but double-check compatibility before you fly.
Quick Travel Checklist for Kosher Travelers
- Passport + Copies
- Tallit + Tefillin
- Medications (with extras)
- Kosher snacks & backup meals
- Change of clothes in carry-on
- Plug adapter & phone charger
- Travel insurance info
- Printed itinerary & hotel contacts
Follow these tips for a relaxing vacation (Photo: Envato)
Conclusion
These are the tips we follow every single time we travel—because we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) that preparation makes all the difference. With a bit of planning and the right gear, you can travel kosher with confidence—whether it’s a big international adventure or a weekend away.
For more Jewish travel resources, kosher hotel options, and vacation guides, check out our full directory at TotallyJewishTravel.com.