6 Healthy Travel Tips
Getting sick is no fun, but it can be a bigger pain when it happens during a vacation. Travel tips for staying healthy may seem like overkill, but you never know when a cold will show up and spoil your holiday — or even put an end to it.
Most of the tips to stay healthy while you travel are common sense, and others are friendly reminders to help you keep the flu and other flu-like viruses from clouding your next vacation.
How to Not Get Sick While Traveling
The strategies you use to prevent sickness during your travels are the same you’d use to prevent sickness when you’re home — practicing proper hygiene and maintaining a balanced diet, along with doing physical activity, should be the norm — whether you’re on the go or not. The following six tips for staying healthy explain how not to get sick while traveling:
1. Wash Your Hands
It may overly simplistic, but washing your hands and not touching your face are two of the best ways to prevent flu-like viruses from settling in your body. But just sticking your hands under a running tap for a few seconds isn’t enough. You should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Lather the soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds before rinsing off. Remember to include your thumbs and the backs of your hands.
Soap will kill the germs that may be sitting on your skin, preventing them from transferring to your nose, mouth or other people. If you’re unable to access a place to properly wash your hands — such as while you’re traveling on some types of buses — then it’s best to use some alcohol-based hand sanitizer to disinfect your hands until you can wash them properly.
It’s also a good idea to cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze. Use the crook of your elbow, since it’s unlikely to touch any other body part. If you opt to sneeze or cough into a tissue, just make sure you dispose of it as soon as possible in the appropriate bin. Then wash your hands again.
2. Stay Active
Exercise during a holiday can seem like a chore — you’re on vacation, after all — but sticking to an exercise routine is a great way to keep your immune system in tip-top shape. You may not be able to do the full range of exercises you do at home, but any physical activity is better than none.
Instead of opting for cabs, try walking instead. If your vacation is full of activities, schedule in 10 or 20 minutes to do some stretches and push-ups when you wake up before you head out for the day. Or, instead of going to the coffee shop right next to your hotel, pick one a few blocks away so you get some physical exercise walking there and back.
If you can allot time for a more thorough workout, all the better. A short run or jog around the block will do. Alternatively, add some physical activity to your travel itinerary by indulging in exercises like hiking or swimming.
3. Eat Well
Like with exercising, just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you should eschew proper eating habits. While a little indulgence is always welcome, be sure to get the vitamins and protein your body needs to keep itself strong and healthy.
When traveling, you should also think about possible food contamination and the risk of bacteria in local foods — which may have you wondering how to eat healthy while traveling. A good rule is to stick to freshly prepared and thoroughly cooked meals. If you’re going to a place where the tap water isn’t safe for visitors, avoid raw fruits or vegetables as well as anything that may have been boiled.
While snacks and sweets will be tempting, keep them to a minimum — just like you would if you weren’t on vacation. Instead, opt for healthier options whenever possible. Protein can help you avoid nausea from motion sickness, and bringing along vitamin tablets is also an option if you worry you may not be able to get all your nutrients from your food alone.
4. Stick to Your Sleep Schedule
It may feel like sleep is a waste of time when you’re traveling because there’s so much to see and do, but it’s crucial to keep a regular sleep schedule and stick to it.
Our bodies heal and revive themselves while we sleep, and that includes our immune system. Irregular sleep habits can actually decrease the immune system’s ability to fight off illness.
You might have a packed schedule during the day and into the night, but make sure to end your day at a good time and sleep so you’re well-rested throughout your entire trip.
5. Keep Hydrated
Water is essential, so it should be no surprise that your body needs it to perform as it should. Bottled water is always an option when you’re traveling, especially when visiting places where the local drinking water may not be safe for visitors. If you do opt for bottled water, always make sure the seal is intact to avoid potentially buying water bottles filled with tap water.
If you’re a frequent traveler, you may want to consider investing in neat little travel accessories, like portable chargers, power adapters and even a water filtration device — which can save you from buying plastic bottles and allow you to filter any tap water yourself.
Drinking water isn’t the only way to stay hydrated, though. Maintaining a diet filled with water-filled foods also hydrates you. Consider having some fruit as a snack or dessert while traveling. It’s filling, delicious and healthy — and helps you maintain your water intake.
6. Get Vaccinated
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so be wise and get any necessary vaccinations before you set off on your trip. Research what vaccinations are required or recommended for the places you’ll be visiting and get your shots before you leave.
These vaccinations can keep you safe from airborne viruses and bacteria while also preventing any uncomfortable symptoms of travel illness, like nausea and diarrhea.
Keep a record of your vaccinations with you when you travel — just in case.
Invite Metropolitan Shuttle on Your Next Trip
Keeping the flu and other flu-like viruses at bay can be a chore, but organizing a shuttle bus service for your next group trip doesn’t have to be. At Metropolitan Shuttle, we have the vehicle you need to make your trip memorable. From chartered buses and school buses to shuttle vans and party buses, we’ve got something for every journey.
If you’re ready to rent a bus for your next trip, get in touch with us and get a free quote.
