No one books a holiday planning to get ill, but it happens more often than you think. And it’s so disappointing when you’ve spent so much time, money and effort planning it all just to end up not feeling your best. Whether it's dodgy food, heatstroke, or just landing with a headache after a long flight, there are big and small things that can really throw off your whole trip. Sorting the basics before you go makes a difference, and being prepared means that the whole thing isn’t completely written off sat in doctors, clinics or pharmacies abroad. Here are some things to consider.
Check vaccinations early
Some places need more than just a passport and a suitcase, and a lot of them might be less ‘exotic’ than you expect. Even shorter trips to Egypt and Turkey might require you to have vaccines. Hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and similar ones are more common than people realise. Use the NHS Fit for Travel site to check in advance, it lists everything by country and tells you how early to book it in. If you leave it too late then you might not have enough time for the dose to take effect. A month before travel is usually enough, if you had jabs before, you might only need a top up but don’t assume. It’s so worth keep a photo or printed copy of your vaccine records just in case someone asks at the border.
Proper sun protection
Most people pack sun cream and stop there, but that’s usually not enough. You need to apply it properly and often, especially during the middle of the day when the UV index is high. Use something with broad spectrum protection and higher SPF than you think you need. Bring a hat that gives actual shade, not a cap with a tiny peak but something with a brim. A lightweight long sleeve top is worth throwing in your bag too, you might not plan to wear it but your skin could say otherwise by day two.
Dry flights can wreck your eyes
If you wear contacts or already get dry eyes, flying is going to make it worse. The cabin air has hardly any moisture and it shows. Bring preservative-free hydrating eye drops like hycosan extra and use them even before your eyes start to feel gritty. They help more if you are ahead of it.
Animals abroad are not pets
This gets ignored all the time. People see a puppy or a kitten outside a café and forget the risk but rabies is still active in a lot of countries, even places that feel quite developed. A woman from the UK died just a few weeks ago after she was scratched by a puppy in Turkey. It only takes a scratch so if you do get bitten or licked near a cut, go to a hospital straight away- don’t wait to see if anything happens because it really will be too late if you’ve been infected. If you are heading somewhere remote or backpacking for a while, a rabies jab before you travel can be a good idea, some clinics will need to order it in advance.
Always drink bottled water
Even if locals drink from the tap, your stomach might not cope. Avoid tap water for drinking and brushing your teeth unless you know it is safe. Skip the ice unless you’re sure it is made with filtered water. Peel fruit yourself and avoid salad that has been rinsed with tap water. Bottled water is easy to find in most places and usually cheap, you can also bring your own UV filter bottle or a LifeStraw for longer trips or if you want to avoid plastic. Either way, it is not worth risking a week of stomach cramps!
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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