Travel Health: Practical Tips to Stay Well on the Road

Travel should be fun, not a health scramble. A few simple steps before and during your trip stop most problems: check vaccines, pack the right medicines, and handle motion sickness. These tips help whether you're flying, driving with kids, or heading off the beaten path.

Before You Go

First, review your destination's risks. Does the area need vaccines like hepatitis A, typhoid, or a flu shot? Contact your doctor or a travel clinic 4–6 weeks ahead so shots have time to work. If you take prescription meds, bring enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days. Keep medicines in original bottles and pack a written list with dosages and your doctor's contact.

Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation if you’ll be far from good care. Save digital copies of prescriptions, your ID, and emergency contacts to your phone and email. If you have chronic conditions—diabetes, asthma, heart issues—talk to your clinician about handling changes in time zones, altitude, or activity level.

On the Road or in the Air

Packing a compact health kit pays off. Include pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheal medicine, oral rehydration salts, adhesive bandages, and a thermometer. For kids, bring child-friendly doses and a small distraction kit. Add sunscreen, insect repellent (20–30% DEET or a recommended alternative), and any topical antibiotics or hydrocortisone cream for bites and rashes.

Travel sickness can spoil a trip fast. Simple fixes work: sit where motion is least felt (front seat or over the wing), stare at the horizon, get fresh air, and avoid heavy meals and alcohol before travel. Ginger candy or ginger tea helps many people. If you need medication, options like meclizine or dimenhydrinate are common; scopolamine patches help on longer trips. For kids, talk to your pediatrician about safe doses.

Hydration and sleep matter. Plan short breaks on long drives to stretch and rehydrate. On planes, drink water regularly—airplane cabins dry you out. If you’re crossing time zones, shift your sleep schedule slightly before you leave to reduce jet lag.

Food and water safety are practical, not paranoid. In higher-risk regions, avoid ice, street food that looks risky, and raw produce unless peeled. Use bottled or treated water for brushing teeth if local tap water is unsafe. If you’re hiking or camping, know how to purify water and carry basic wound care supplies.

Finally, know where to find help. Before you travel, note the nearest pharmacy and hospital at your destination. Learn emergency numbers and local health advisories. If someone becomes seriously ill, seek care early—delays make treatable issues worse. With a little planning, most trips go smoothly and you keep your momentum and mood intact.