There’s nothing worse than getting sick while on vacation. Not only does it eat into your relaxation and discovery time, it can also be a drain on your budget. Depending on how severe your illness is, you could end up spending a large portion of your travel budget on medication and/or hospital fees. Of course, there are much better ways to spend your hard earned cash while traveling! Here are some suggestions for staying healthy while traveling.
Get immunized. It’s important to research the immunizations that are required for travel to your destination. If you are traveling with the whole family, it’s especially important to know if your kids’ vaccinations are up to date and if they may need additional ones. As is the case for most things these days, there’s an app for that. If you’re an iPad or iPhone user, Healix Travel Vaccinations allows you to check which vaccinations you need to travel to any country (the app also provides country-specific travel and safety tips). You should also check with your primary caregiver. He or she should have an up-to-date list of required immunizations on file.
Know your health status. Planning a ‘round the world adventure? This would be a great time to schedule that basic health exam you’ve been putting off. Especially when traveling abroad or taking long trips, it’s important to know your health status inside and out. A general physical will help identify any health problems you may have and allow you to find a remedy before it gets any worse.
Stock up on your meds. It’s never a good idea to assume that you’ll be able to find the medication you need while on vacation. Even over-the-counter meds have different chemical make-ups and dosage requirements in other countries. If you regularly take prescription or over-the-counter meds, plan to bring as much as you’ll need for the duration of your trip.
Be aware of water quality and plan accordingly. In most parts of the U.S., we have the luxury of turning on the faucet in most places and drinking the water that comes out of it. This is not so in many other parts of the world. Research the water quality in the places you’ll be visiting. You may want to opt for bottled water or bring along iodine tablets for water purification.
Do some yoga. You don’t have to be a hard-core yogi to benefit from a few yoga stretches here and there while traveling. Doing yoga before and after your flight can do wonders for overall health. For some ideas, check out: “Yoga Positions to Ease the Pain of Long Flights.”
Practicing yoga while traveling is a great way to stay centered, fit and healthy.
Eat well. It can be hard to maintain a balanced diet while on vacation, but it’s important to do so if you want to remain healthy for your entire trip. A few days of subsisting only on red wine and pastries takes its toll, after all. Grab some fruit and whole-grain snacks to keep in your hotel room, and follow your mom’s advice and “eat your vegetables” and a healthy dose of protein at each meal.
Stay hydrated. It’s easy to forget to drink enough water each day, especially if you’re on an intense travel schedule. However, it’s important to drink at least 8 large glasses of water a day (more if you’re physically active throughout the day). The dangers of dehydration can be as annoying as a slight headache or as sever as heart palpitations or fainting. Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to ensure your health (and happiness) while traveling.
Get some exercise. Whether it’s taking a brisk walk around the city or going on a bike tour, it’s important to get regularly exercise each day (if possible). This will help to keep you healthy and keep your energy level up. Plus, being active outside is a great way to get to know your surroundings and discover new things while traveling.
