Easy Ways To Stay Healthy When Traveling

Looking after your health when traveling needn’t be as hard as it sounds. You might be in a different country away from everything you need to stay fit and healthy such as GP, walk-in centers, opticians, etc., but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay healthy when exploring new surroundings.

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The first thing to remember is that if you are in good health when at home, then there is no reason this needs to change during your travels. If you are worried about anything, it may be worth getting yourself checked out before you travel if only to put your mind at ease. Visit your GP, make sure you are up to date with your regular dentist and optician appointments to help you keep on track of any potential issues.

Travel Insurance.

Making sure you have the right type of travel insurance for your needs is essential and the best tip for every traveler. If you are a frequent flyer, then the annual cover may be more cost-efficient instead of a different cover per trip. 

When getting quotes for travel insurance, it is crucial to be as accurate as possible. Be truthful with any medical issues you could potentially need treatment for and make sure you are correct with where you are visiting if you need to enter this information. In the UK, the NHS is free at the point of use for all residents, so when traveling abroad, health insurance is essential to cover your medical bills.

Make sure you know exactly what will be covered and how easy it is to get a payout should you need to. Are you covered for lost luggage, delayed or missed flights, accidental injuries, intoxicated accidents, and so on. Keep all documents on you when traveling to give you peace of mind and to make it easier to contact your chosen insurance company easier should you need to.

It doesn’t matter how healthy you are or how careful you plan on being; you can just never account for the unexpected!

Medication, Prescription Eyewear, and First Aid Kits.

As we mentioned, you can never be too careful when it comes to traveling and encountering the unexpected. And as much as you want to, you simply can’t pack for all eventualities. That being said, it is worth your while to take a mini first aid kit with you when you travel. Take any prescribed medication with you and a doctor’s note. Pack over the counter medicines for minor ailments such as upset stomachs, diarrhea, allergies. Pain relievers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.

If you are wearing prescription glasses and are taking a long overseas trip, then take a copy of your prescription with you as this will enable you to replace them quickly when away. Online retailers that sell prescription glasses such as eyeglasses.com often ship worldwide, allowing you to get new glasses wherever you are in the world.

If you are traveling light, then uploading documents to a cloud storage file you can access anywhere will still give you access to the information as will merely taking a picture on your phone.

Eat Locally and Drink Water.

Most tourists tend to avoid street vendors and local food outlets. Chances are, there is no difference in the food or taste experience waiting in restaurants designed for tourists. Do your homework online and learn what you can about the local area you will be visiting. Ask at your accommodation where they recommend you to eat. The staff will likely live locally and will know the best places to eat.

Drinking plenty of water is essential too. Especially if you are traveling to a warmer country, while there are some countries where avoiding tap water is critical, in most places, you won’t suffer any ill effects should you consume local tap water. Sticking with bottled water is always best if you can.

Try to eat as you would at home – consume any fruits and vegetables you can to make sure you are getting a healthy diet and all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. If this isn’t possible, then taking supplements is an excellent alternative to help you give your body what it needs during your holiday.

Sunscreen.

Staying healthy means looking after your skin as well as what is inside. This means making sure you wear the correct sunscreen for where you are visiting and your skin type. Avoiding midday sun in hotter countries and overexposure will help you reduce any undamaged to your skin. Plus, sunburn isn’t fun, and no one wants their trip ruined by being in pain due to burning their skin on day one!

Exercise.

Taking up some form of exercise before your trip could be a great way of preparing your body for what lies ahead. At the very least, getting your body used to walking is a great idea especially for those who love exploring their new surroundings.

Keep this up on your trip to maintain fitness levels. Use the gym or pool at your hotel, or just get out and walk over taking local transport.

Rest.

Holidays are supposed to be fun. As tempting as it is to schedule up every minute of every day. Don’t! Allowing yourself time to immerse yourself in the local culture fully and experience each place authentically will give you a better experience. Chances are, most tourist attractions will be super busy and not all they are thought to be. Take the time to rest and relax as well as venture out and explore. Planning your trip this way will help you to get the best of both worlds and avoid burning out too soon.

The last thing you want is to be out of action due to fatigue and exhaustion. Schedule in some R&R time and balance out what you want to do with some time to do absolutely nothing!

Staying healthy while traveling needn’t be hard work or even a chore. Putting some simple steps in place to make sure you are eating and drinking right and looking after yourself will help you go the distance on every trip. Because no fun holiday story starts or ends with “I was laid up in my hotel room”…… 

Stay healthy, stay well, and, most importantly, enjoy your trip!

What are your easy ways to stay healthy when traveling? Drop me a line as always