Who doesn’t hate getting sick while travelling?
If you are one of those people who keep asking themselves ‘Why do I always get sick on vacation?’ the chances are you either have a weak immune system or that you let stress get the best of you. Whatever the case may be, there’s nothing worse than spending your precious vacation days battling a fever or catching a cold.
After all, travelling while sick with the flu pretty much guarantees that you will spend more time coughing and sneezing than sightseeing and trying out new food.
How to Avoid Getting Sick While Travelling
In order to make sure your trip goes without a hitch, take a look at these tips on how to not get sick on vacation:
- Don’t drink tap water
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid eating at shady places
- Use hand sanitizer
- Get adequate rest
Since prevention is better than cure, here’s how to avoid getting sick when travelling.
Don’t Drink Tap Water
If you go on a trip to a foreign country and see people drinking tap water on a regular basis, well, think twice before following their suit. While the tap water may be perfectly fine for the locals as they must be used to drinking it, you need to remember that you are just a tourist who may or may not get sick by consuming it.
The reason behind this is pretty simple: a variety of bacteria is found in the water around the world. While bacteria may not affect the immune system of those who drink that water on a daily basis, it might cause trouble for those who are not used to it. Not to mention, people with weaker stomachs need to be even more careful about this.
The best bet for you is to buy bottled mineral water in order to avoid getting sick while travelling overseas or even domestic for that matter.
Moreover, also be wary of using glasses sitting in your hotel room, especially if they aren’t properly wrapped or at least covered. It’s always better to be on the safe side and wash glasses and cups before using them. Similarly, eating fruits and raw vegetables washed in tap water is also a big no.
Stay Hydrated
Do you have a fear of getting sick while travelling? If so, one of the best ways to remain healthy during your trip is by staying hydrated.
In order to avoid using public bathrooms, a lot of people avoid drinking water while travelling. This is a recipe for disaster. Not only does dehydration affect your mood, memory and motor skills, it can also lead to a severe case of sweating, diarrhoea and vomiting as your body needs water to maintain its temperature.
The key to preventing sickness while travelling is to take in a lot of fluids so your body is able to function properly. Also, please remember that drinking carbonated drinks and coffee are not the ideal way to hydrate your body. Instead, opt for water, fresh juices or dairy-based beverages. Also, try and stay out of the sun, as walking around in high temperatures can also cause dehydration.
Furthermore, you should drink plenty of water on the aeroplane as well to avoid getting sick while flying. Not consuming enough electrolytes during long-haul flights can also result in blood clots in your lungs and legs, which can increase the risk of a heart attack.
Just keep a water bottle by your side during your trip to prevent illness while travelling.
Avoid Eating At Shady Places
Sadly, food poisoning is one of the most common illnesses most tourist face during their trips – and eating at shady places is one of the things that can definitely make you fall sick while travelling.
A general rule of thumb while travelling is to eat at places where locals do. You can check out ratings and reviews of each restaurant online, but if you are travelling to a foreign country you must try out their street food for an authentic experience.
Since eateries with good food naturally remain crowded, particularly during tourist seasons, you should not even think about saving your time by eating at a deserted restaurant. After all, there must be a reason no one is lining up to eat there. Not to mention, a high turnover rate also guarantees fresh food whereas a restaurant that only sees a few patrons each day may have to serve days-old food.
You can also save money by eating where locals do.
Of course, there can be a few exceptions. For instance, if a restaurant comes highly recommended, you may want to give it a try. However, in that case, stick to the safest items of the menu in order to avoid getting sick while travelling abroad.
Similarly, don’t forget to inquire about the ingredients of an unfamiliar dish to make sure it doesn’t contain anything that you might have an allergic reaction to. Make sure to carry important medication such as Imodium as well while travelling.
Use Hand Sanitizer
If you want to know a surefire way to how to not get sick on vacation, make sure you pack a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer while getting ready for your trip. After all, there are germs everywhere and even getting a cold while travelling can pretty much destroy your entire itinerary.
A lot of people rely on their immune system to not get sick. That’s a mistake. The thing is your body is not used to bacteria found in food and water in other places, especially if you don’t go there too often. Therefore, in order to stay healthy for the entire duration of your trip, you need to take all possible measures to avoid getting sick during travel.
Make sure to use a hand sanitizer every single time you sit down to eat something. If you touch anything grimy or dirty, you need to sanitize your hands immediately. This is much more important for children, as they tend to have weaker immune systems. However, keep in mind that while sanitizers eliminate a good percentage of germs, they are still not as effective as washing hands with clean water and soap.
Along with a bottle of hand sanitizer, tourists must also carry anti-bacterial wipes for emergencies.
Get Adequate Rest
This is perhaps the most important yet the most widely ignored part of travelling. Since most tourists have a limited number of days to explore a new place, they tend to forgo rest in order to cover more ground. Sure, you shouldn’t spend a better part of your day sleeping in your hotel room, but it is extremely important to rest your body for an adequate amount of time to avoid getting sick while travelling.
Most people get sick on vacations because they sleep only for a few hours at night and spend their entire day walking around. Apart from increasing the risk of dehydration, staying awake for a prolonged period of time can result in an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases as well as cause dizziness and lethargy.
Instead of relying on caffeine to keep you alert, plan ahead of time and create an itinerary where you have enough time to rest between activities. If you are not sure how to go about it, don’t forget to check out tips on how to be an organized traveller as they would help make your trip much easier.
Moreover, always make sure to pack light while travelling so you don’t have to carry out heave suitcases on your trip. Take a look at some of the most ingenious packing tips all travellers must know, including how to create a customized packing checklist and so on.
For more travel-related pieces, stay tuned to Zameen Blog – the top lifestyle blog in Pakistan.
