Travelling is directly proportional to happiness, so much so that the level of enthusiasm and vigour with which one approaches the planning process is infectious to say the least. From the moment you decide on a destination, to booking flights/trains/cars, checking hotels/home stays/restaurant reservations, straight through to the last moments of packing, each moment is precious and memorable in its own way, if a little nerve-wracking.
Here, we have a few effective and efficient tips and tricks that can help you stay healthy on the way, at the airport, or once you’ve reached your destination! They’ll help you plan your bookings, pick a destination, and ensure that your trip is as fabulous, smooth-sailing, and illness-free as you’d expect it to be.
Here are some tips on how you can stay healthy while on vacation
Has the destination country issued any health warnings?
The most crucial thing people tend to overlook is to read the news to stay abreast of any outbreaks of disease and the weather to expect in your destination country. If you’re travelling from a country with warm weather to somewhere with a colder climate, the chances of contracting something increases. Beware of common viruses like colds or the flu if they’re making the rounds, as these can really put a damper on your trip, especially if you’re travelling with young children or elderly folks.
For senior citizens, it can often be much more difficult to travel during winter, as cold weather can exacerbate many common ailments. Ensure that your destination country hasn’t issued any health warning for influenza and other viruses affecting its population by checking the news and official websites regularly.
Do you need vaccination for where you’re travelling to?
Many countries like USA, Australia, Singapore, etc. may require you to undergo health checks prior to crossing the borders. Although, it might not be a mandate it is a good practice to check with the immigration and visa office beforehand to avoid unwanted delays.
Another prevention, to ensure that your stay goes by smoothly, is to get vaccinations in order to prevent any future health problems. More often than not, vaccinations protect not only you but also the community around you, especially in case of communicable diseases. Ensure you consult your doctor and have the proper prescriptions prior to your trip, especially if you’re prone to altitude sickness or sea sickness.
Hot Tip: Browse your destination here to get specific health and vaccination advice.
Is your cabin bag well prepared for your trip?
If all else fails, everyone should keep their regular medication and maybe even a mini first-aid kit along with their other cabin bag necessities. Most commonly people are bound to catch colds, get unwarranted headaches, an upset stomach owing to that extra-extra slice of wood-fired pizza loaded with parmesan, and some other ailments due to the change in weather. Band-Aids, bandages, ointments for muscle relief, headache tablets, charcoal pills for food poisoning, laxatives, cure for cramps etc. are a few of the basic medicines and things one should have on hand in case of emergencies.
Prepare your mobile device for such emergencies as well by downloading the most popular apps covering navigation, transportation, tourist information, and other useful advice pertaining to your destination. Local navigation apps will be your best friends while traveling as they can direct you to nearby places including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
Also Read: Travel Smart: Healthy Airport Food You Can Just Grab and Go
What to do if you get sick during your holiday?
Upon arriving at your destination, make a note of where the nearest pharmacies, clinics and hospitals are, just in case. That way, if your child gets sick or if a stag night goes downhill, you’ll know where to go! Some people take it a step further and are known to book their hotels and accommodation accordingly as well, close by to necessary landmarks. The easiest way is to contact hotel staff to take action immediately, otherwise you could rush to your nearest clinic for the required attention.
Hot Tip: Use our free Hotel Heat Map Tool to see which hotels are 100% non smoking, have 24-hour front desks, are disability friendly and more! You can access it by clicking on the View Map button on the top left hand corner of your hotel search results.
Your first-aid kit will surely come in handy, if you have it all prepped and stored conveniently amidst your luggage. Rest assured, your vacation will be nothing but a basket of cherished memories and in case you do incur any trouble keep in mind that there’s nothing that a hearty meal, an afternoon siesta, a sunset view, and a long chat with loved ones can’t fix!
So unless you’re planning to reenact scenes from The Hangover trilogy, have a happy, healthy holiday!
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