Your personal and social identity abroad
As people, we’re all unique, and when we travel, we encounter locals—and other travelers—whose identities differ from our own. Understanding those differences can help us understand other cultures—and each other—and shape our experiences on the road for the better. To help you have an enjoyable experience and enjoy a welcoming environment on tour, we’ve curated this collection of trusted resources that provide information about race, religion, sexual orientation, and more personal identity factors in the context of travel.
Personal and social identity resources for our travelers
Before you leave for tour (or even as you select your next trip), browse this collection of resources to ensure you feel informed, prepared, and confident about your travels—no matter where you’re headed.
Our traveler rules of the road
Every one of our travelers has a role in creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming travel experience. After all, we’re on this journey together. You can read more about what we expect from our travelers on tour in our Help Center and Terms & Conditions.
Race, ethnicity & nationality
Our travelers tell us that their favorite thing about seeing the world is connecting with people from different cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and ethnicities. Cultural attitudes surrounding the topics of race and ethnicity may vary in the countries you visit—we’re here to help you understand these differences before you embark on your tour.
As you narrow down your list of dream destinations, or after booking your trip, we recommend researching the country or countries you’ll explore on tour so you know what to expect. Here are a few resources to get you started.
Gender & sexuality
We honor and affirm the identity of our LGBTQ+ travelers. We also acknowledge that members of these communities face a unique set of challenges and experiences when traveling abroad. Local attitudes and laws affecting these communities differ internationally, and we recommend carefully researching each of your destinations so you know what to expect.
We’ve compiled the following resources to help you make a better-informed decision about where to travel and how you’ll be welcomed in there.
Disability & accessibility
We’re here to discuss any specific accommodations that travelers with limited mobility or other disabilities may need. Each destination poses its own unique challenges, and we want to help set the right expectations before you travel so you can focus on enjoying every minute of your trip. Knowing this information in advance helps us prepare you for your tour and confirm that you’re booked on an itinerary that can accommodate your needs. Let’s work together to find a solution that’s right for you.
If you’d like to discuss anything related to your health or mobility on tour, you can always send us a message and a specialist will be in touch. Learn more about submitting your health notes here.
Our dedicated team will review all health notes you submit. If they determine an additional conversation would be beneficial, or if more information is required to look into your request, they’ll reach out by email. If any changes need to be made to your health notes after they’ve been submitted, please update your account with the most relevant information as soon as possible.
If you have a physical and/or learning disability, you may face unfamiliar challenges abroad, encountering cultures whose social norms around disabilities are different from those in the United States and Canada. This could lead to a lack of understanding of your disability, which can be exacerbated by language barriers. The accommodations, facilities, and modes of transportation in other countries are not bound by the same accessibility laws that apply in the U.S. and Canada, so you might not find the same standards of accessibility.
We’ve included a few resources that’ll be useful as you research and prepare for travel. Keep in mind that group travel with Go Ahead will be a bit different than the personal travel you may be used to.
- U.S. Department of State: Before You Go - Traveling with Disabilities
- CDC Yellow Book: Travelers with Disabilities
- The Guardian Interviews: Tips on taking trips from disabled travelers
- Mobility International USA: How Will I Pay for Personal Assistance Abroad?
- Accessibility and Self-Advocacy While Traveling as a Deaf Person
Mental health & self-care
We know that preparing to travel abroad can be both exciting and stressful. Unfamiliar destinations, language barriers, making sure you’ve packed everything you’ll need—it can add up. We take this seriously, and are always here to support your mental health and self-care needs so you can still take on adventure with your groupmates.
If you have existing mental health conditions, we recommend that you take extra precautions to learn about your destination’s healthcare resources, accessibility policies, and cultural perspectives around behavioral and mental health. These may be different than what you’re used to at home.
We also recommend you speak with your physician and/or mental health specialist before you travel, to ask for their guidance on such topics as personal safety plans and your medication schedule. They may also have after-hours contact information you can use in case you have any questions for them while you travel.
We’re also here to discuss any aspects related to your health on tour—you can always send us a message and a specialist will be in touch. Learn more about submitting your health notes here.
We also recommend that you share any significant concerns or accommodation requests with your Tour Director prior to departure.
And, as always, remember to carry any medications with you in your carry-on bag when you fly!
We’ve compiled additional information below on how to see the world on tour while taking care of your mental health.
Dietary restrictions
One of our travelers’ favorite things about going on tour is experiencing local cultures through food. But for people with dietary restrictions, constraints, or food allergies, eating on a trip requires extra planning. Food allergies, needs, or preferences shouldn’t keep you from seeing (or savoring) the world.
You can notify us of any dietary restrictions when you book, or afterward in your online account, or mobile app under the “Health notes” section.
Please share as many details with us as you can so we can best accommodate you. It’s especially important for us to know if you have an allergy, or if something is a dietary preference but isn’t health-threatening. You can learn more about sharing special dietary requests with us in our Help Center.
Here are a few suggestions to make your tour experience a little easier as you navigate traveling with food restrictions:
- Share your dietary needs with both your group and your Tour Director before your trip begins. Your Tour Director will also reach out for this information so they can be prepared.
- Create a food translation card in the local language. This is an easy way to communicate without needing to learn new words and phrases. Don’t forget to include details on how your food should be prepared.
- Ask someone you trust if they’d be willing to administer medication, or communicate with medical staff on your behalf if traveling alone.
- Connect with your doctor about getting a medical bracelet explaining your dietary restrictions.
- Prepare and pack any necessary medications.
- Advocate for yourself in group situations and ask questions.
We’ve compiled a few additional resources below to help you eat with confidence while on tour.
Religion & spirituality
In many places you’ll visit, religion and culture go hand in hand. As you explore the world, you’ll learn about local belief systems and spiritual practices, especially if you visit houses of worship or holy pilgrimage sites on tour. Being respectful, understanding, and open-minded are essential to enhancing your experience abroad.
Before traveling abroad, you might want to devote some time to learning more about the religious beliefs of your destination country. Consider researching whether you’ll be part of a religious majority or minority abroad, how tolerant your destination country may be of various religions, if any holidays will be celebrated while you’re on tour, and if there are places of worship you’ll be able to visit. We've compiled a few resources below to get you started:
Come as you are with Go Ahead
We look forward to welcoming you—all of you—to the sights, sounds, scents, and savory bites of the world.
