Staying healthy while travelling

THE last thing you want to experience when you're travelling abroad and not in your home country where everything is familiar is illness, particularly when simple precautions could have prevented it.

Here are 10 tips for staying healthy when travelling abroad:

Get vaccinated for any required, recommended and routine vaccinations well in advance of your trip. This simple measure will protect you from many major illnesses you're likely to encounter when you're travelling abroad.

Customs may detain any medicine it suspects is being illegally exported. It is therefore in your best interest to provide documentation from your doctor, explaining what the medicine is, how much you are carrying and that it is for your personal use.

Are there insect-borne illnesses where you're going? Many vaccinations cover insect-borne illnesses such as malaria. Make sure you're prepared by packing a bottle of insect repellent.

If you are taking medicine overseas, you are advised to check you are not carrying a substance that is considered illegal in your country of destination. If you’re not entirely sure, be sure to contact relevant embassies before leaving.

Don't drink the water. Actually, this isn't the rule in all countries as many countries have perfectly safe drinking water, however, there are still many that don't. If you're travelling to a country with unsafe drinking water, make sure to only drink bottled water or carbonated beverages; avoid ice, only eat well-cooked foods, check the salads have not been washed in tap water and brush your teeth with bottled water.

Be careful where you swim. Some countries, especially in Africa, have parasites in the water which can enter your skin – you don't have to ingest them. This happened to me when I took a swim in the Nile. I know, how silly was that? My bowel has never been the same!

Don't travel when you're feeling ill. If you're not feeling well right before your trip, consider cancelling or postponing the trip. Travellers’ insurance can mitigate any financial loss. It's better to be sick in your own country, in your own home and bed, than halfway around the world.

Travel with a first aid kit. This isn't your standard band-aids and antiseptic first aid kit but rather the medicine cabinet kind. I usually pack cold medicine, pain relievers, Gastrolite, Imodium and a tube of Lucas Paw Paw or tea-tree oil/lotion.

Make sure you have copies of your emergency contacts and important medical information. If you're allergic to antibiotics or other medicines, make sure this is noted. If you have food allergies or other sensitivities, be sure to note it too.

And most importantly, regardless of how healthy and fit you are – if you cannot afford travel insurance, you cannot afford to travel. I cannot believe people still do this!

Travelling abroad is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons, explore other countries and just relax and enjoy yourself. Take these precautions to make sure you'll be happy and healthy on your travels.

These travel tips were provided by our good friends over at New Young Travel.