7 Ways To Stay Healthy While Traveling

With the current outbreak of coronavirus throwing everyone’s travel plans into disarray, it can be hard to know if you should keep your vacation during coronavirus or not. While we can’t make that decision for you if you do choose to continue on it’s important to make sure you’re taking steps to protect your health. To that end, here are 7 travel tips to help you stay healthy while traveling.


 


Stay Healthy While Traveling Number 1: Wash Your Hands


This one may seem obvious, but washing your hands is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy. Why? According to the National Health Service, “Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses, and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses such as food poisoning, flu or diarrhea. It can help stop people from picking up infections and spreading them to others”.


Simply put, hand washing gets rid of all the gook you accumulate throughout the day. This is especially pertinent for travelers. Tourist sites are full of hordes of people from around the world. If a thousand people per day are touching a single doorknob, and just one hasn’t washed his hands, think how dirty it must be!


If you’re in an area without sufficient running water or soap, you’ll also need to make sure you have bought and used hand sanitizer regularly. While this can dry your hands out if used too often, there are also versions of hand sanitizer that include moisturizing components so you can have clean hands and soft skin.


Amsterdam to Paris Trains


London to Paris Trains


Rotterdam to Paris Trains


Brussels to Paris Trains


 


Wash Your Hands With Soap


 


Sleep Enough


It’s long been known that not sleeping enough negatively affects the immune system. While on vacation it may seem like a good idea to get up at the crack of dawn and run around until the middle of the night. However, the truth is that getting enough sleep is much more impactful than you’d think. At night, our body takes time to rejuvenate and even heal. The less time you spend in slumber means the less time you’ll be able to take care of yourself.


In fact, studies have even shown that those who don’t sleep enough can suffer long-lasting negative effects such as high blood pressure and memory loss. These effects can only be compounded while traveling, so do yourself a favor and make sure you hit the hay for a minimum of seven hours a night.


While it may be difficult to get your zzz’s in if you’ve moved several time zones and are suffering from jet lag, you can use several different methods to help your body relax and drift off to sleep. These include a warm shower or bath, lavender-scented spray, meditation, and even a warm cup of tea. In short, getting plenty of sleep is imperative to help you stay healthy while traveling.


Marseilles to Lyon Trains


Paris to Lyon Trains


Lyon to Paris Trains


Lyon to Avignon Trains


 


Sleep Enough To Stay Healthy While Traveling


 


Stay Healthy While Traveling And Avoid Tap Water


If you’re heading somewhere quite unknown, it should be obvious that you’ll need to avoid tap water. Why? Because the microbes inside local water are region-specific, and/or gut bacteria are not at all prepared to handle them. Thousands of people per year get sick drinking local water, with effects such as vomiting and diarrhea very common. As a tip, stick to water bottles whenever you’re far out of your comfort zone. This goes doubles for locations with sketchy hygiene practices. Other less developed countries can use drinking water from the same source as toilet service locations. Yes, that’s a thing!


Also, make sure you hydrate properly. Hot temperatures and strenuous activity are a quick ticket to a hospital without drinking enough water.


Brussels to Amsterdam Trains


London to Amsterdam Trains


Berlin to Amsterdam Trains


Paris to Amsterdam Trains


 


Drink A Lot To Stay Healthy While Traveling


 


Get Your Shots


Depending on where you’re going, you may need to get specialized shots at a travel clinic or other health care center. This is especially true for some less developed countries, which still sport illnesses such as malaria and yellow fever. Before you head out on your trip, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Here you can find out the specific requirements for the country to which you are traveling. If you’re not from the United States, you can also check your local website, such as the NHS, for your requirements for healthy travel.


Frankfurt to Berlin Trains


Leipzig to Berlin Trains


Hanover to Berlin Trains


Hamburg to Berlin Trains


 


Women coughing


 


Stay Healthy: Don’t Touch Your Face


As we’ve already talked about hand washing, now it’s time to talk about your face. Often you’ll see people resting their head in their hands, scratching an itch, or otherwise touching their faces. It’s a tough habit to break but keep your hands away from your face if you’re trying to stay healthy while traveling.


It’s common sense, as your hands touch so many things throughout the day. On a train or plane, you’ll have the tray table, the seatbelt. and various other common space areas that you’re touching. Unless you’re washing your hands every time you touch something (or happen to be wearing gloves), it’s a better idea to keep your hands off your face at all times.


Amsterdam To London Trains


Paris to London Trains


Berlin to London Trains


Brussels to London Trains


 



 


Eat Well


It makes sense that you’re going to eat well while on vacation, right? After all, what is Spain without chocolate and churros, and what is France without a baguette? This isn’t what we mean, however.


Tasty food is all well and good, but you need to make sure that you’re healthy food as well. Follow the food pyramid and switch out those deep-fried goodies for some greens every once in a while. If you have room for it, bring vitamins along with you to keep yourself stocked up. Make sure to bring vitamin c, probiotics, and other easy-to-consume vitamins.


This is most pertinent to drinking alcohol while traveling as well. It’s well known that drinking too much alcohol can lead to a lowered immune system (and some wicked hangovers). If you’re trying to avoid getting sick, make sure you keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum. After all, who wants to visit the Mona Lisa with a common cold?


Salzburg to Vienna Trains


Munich to Vienna Trains


Graz to Vienna Trains


Prague to Vienna Trains


 


Eat Well And Healthy


 


Last Stay Healthy Tip: Clean Your Area


It may be a hassle, but it’s worth bringing some disinfecting wipes along with you whenever you travel. Why? To clean up all those tray tables and seats we’ve already mentioned. Clorox wipes can be purchased in bulk and put into ziplock bags. You can then bring them with you on your carry on.


Make sure to wipe the armrests, seatback pocket (if you have one), and even the seatbelt buckle with your disinfectant to help ensure that your area stays as clean as possible.


Munich to Zurich Trains


Berlin to Zurich Trains


Basel to Zurich Trains


Vienna to Zurich Trains


 


Clean Your Area


 


People get sick while traveling more often than almost anything else. Don’t be like everyone else. Take care of yourself and use Save A Train!


 






 


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