Congratulations, you’ve booked your vacation!
You’ve planned tons of things to see and do and experience and My Vacation Lady wants you to experience it all! The last thing you want to do is get sick while you’re on your vacation.
We took these tips from Consumer Reports and combined them with our own personal experiences on how to stay healthy on your vacation.
- Keep germs at bay- from the airplane seat belt fastener and tray to the TV remote in your room, germs are everywhere. While it sounds like you’re being a bit germ-o-phobic, bring anti-bacterial wipes with you and WIPE down everything at your airplane seat and in your hotel room that other guests might have touched. Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it. Wash your hands frequently with soap and don’t touch the bathroom door knob after you wash your hands.
- Stay hydrated- Dehydration can cause you to feel sluggish and tired and it may not have to do with jet lag. The air on the planes has very little humidity and that can make your skin, eyes and nasal passages feel dry. In addition to not being comfortable, a dry nose is a breeding ground for the cold virus so to prevent dehydration, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. On longer flights, bring your own refillable water bottles and ask the flight attendants to fill it for you.
- Bring your medication in your carry on bag– While you may not need to take your medication during your flight, you’ll want it readily available, just in case your luggage gets lost. Pack some extra doses- just in case you get delayed
- Take a list of all of your medication and your doctor’s contact info- This was invaluable when Mr. My Vacation Lady go sick after a cruise. He had an old fashioned list of meds and his doc’s contact info in his wallet. OR for those of you who favor technology over paper, email the info to yourself and keep it in your inbox or keep the file in your online cloud for easy reference.
- Wear comfortable shoes on your vacation. Wearing comfortable shoes is a no brainer. Who wants blisters on their vacation?
- Get up an stretch– Whether you’re on a plane, train or even in a car, get up and stretch every couple of hours. It can help prevent things like back and neck pain to pulmonary embolisms.
- Be kind to your back- lifting and dragging heavy luggage can play havoc with your back. So when carrying your luggage or putting your carry on into the overhead compartment- hold it as close to your body as possible, bend at your hips and knees, then carefully raise it without twisting.
- Watch what you eat and drink– I’m sure you’ve heard this before but it’s certainly worth repeating. Don’t over eat or drink while on vacation. It’s great to experience local cuisine but sometimes different foods, spices and cooking methods can cause gastrointestinal distress. Drinking too many coconut based cocktails can do the same. Watch your salt intake as well.
- Prevent traveler’s upset stomach- You’ve all been warned about drinking the water in Mexico or rinsing your mouth with the water from the sink in the Dominican Republic but have you heard of Bali Belly? It’s all pretty similar and you can cut your odds of severe gastrointestinal distress by taking Pepto Bismol (Or the equivalent) preventatively. Take two tablets four times per day throughout your trip BUT check with your doctor before starting on any type of preventative regime
- Take out travel insurance and know where to find medical care- I’m combining these 2 because My Vacation Lady ALWAYS suggests travel insurance to our clients. And the private travel insurance companies that we recommend will include assistance in getting medical care. If you are in a foreign country and don’t speak the language, the on call representatives can assist in making sure that you are being taken care of, and if necessary, you can be flown to somewhere that will offer the medical treatment you need.
We never want our clients to have to worry about getting sick or needing medical assistance while on vacation but it can happen and we want to help you avoid it.
