Safe travel was a concern even before our lives were flipped upside down by the coronavirus. Hepatitis, e.coli, zika and a host of other threats to our health have been present throughout the years, and health precautions have always been necessary. Many of those viruses and diseases are still of concern today and we need to take the traditional precautions as well as our new pandemic precautions.
Safe Travel Before Covid-19
Before and after the pandemic you will want to follow these simple steps to keep yourself and your family healthy during your travels.
- Bacteria such as enterotoxigenic e. coli can be found in everything from drinking water to undercooked foods, so consider oral vaccines to prevent diarrheal illness.
- Get your immunizations. Since viruses like Hepatitis can be found in places like swimming pools, immunizations are really your best route for avoiding them.
- Read travel reviews before booking your resort.
- Check travel alerts for any worrisome viruses at your travel destination.
- Drink only bottled water at your destination.
- Use bottled water for brushing your teeth as well.
- Choose beverages that are not served with ice cubes.
- Use hand sanitizers regularly, particularly right before eating.
- Avoid sharing drinks or utensils, even with family members.
Travel During a Pandemic
All of the above precautions continue to be necessary for safe travel but our need for precautions has increased dramatically. Each community, province/state and country has its own set of rules around travel since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. The first step for anyone considering travel would be to do the research on your preferred destination, the hotels and restaurants in the area and the methods of travel. With the status of the pandemic constantly in flux, it is essential to continually check on the recommendations before you travel.
Make Back-up Plans
The most diligent travel planner can run into unexpected challenges these days and it isn’t out of the realm of possibility to find yourself away from home for longer than originally expected. Cancelled flights, sudden virus symptoms or unexpected mandatory quarantine can throw a wrench into your plans. For this reason, you may want to reconsider any non-essential travel or choose to travel only to locations that you can reach by car. Make arrangements for pets or family at home and ensure that work can manage without you for additional days if necessary.
Take Additional Precautions for Safe Travel
Since most places require patrons to wear a mask, you will want to be prepared. Pack masks that you can comfortably wear for long periods of time, and bring extras with a system to sort your dirty and clean masks. Most drug stores sell medical masks by the package that will ensure you have sterile masks if needed.
If you are able to find disinfectant wipes, these are a valuable travel mate. Wipe down airline seats, armrests and tables, and use one to open and close doors. Lysol sells a travel spray that can fit in your purse or pocket and hand sanitizer comes in all sizes.
Safe Travel Packing List
Items you can carry in your personal carry-on bags:
- Masks
- Bandages
- Wipes – baby wipes are great for clean up but disinfectant wipes are better
- Nail kit with tweezers – great for splinters
- Throat lozenges
- Lip balm
- Ginger lozenges for nausea – they don’t taste great but they are good for dealing with motion sickness
- Antacids
- Hand sanitizer in travel size for each person
- Advil/Tylenol/Aspirin
- Eyeglass repair kit
Items of 100ml or less can go in a Ziploc bag in your carry on. Larger bottles must go in checked bags:
- Sunscreen
- Antibiotic cream
- Muscle cream
- Antihistamine cream for bug bites or rashes
Medication must be stored in a Ziploc bag in your carry on luggage, and shown to security at the airport:
- Prescription medications in their original packaging with the prescription information
- Emergency prescriptions, if your family has special health needs eg. an antibiotic if you are prone to infections
- Antihistamines
- Nausea medications
- Cold medications for adults and for children
- Anti-diarrhoea medications
- Eye drops – allergy and antibiotic
- Ear drops for swimmers ear
- Anbesol or something similar for toothaches
- Thermometer
Some Other Helpful Items
I carry a few additional items in my checked bags. These are things that I hope I won’t have to use, but if the situation arises I will be glad I have them:
- Lice shampoo and lice comb – you won’t think you need it but I have learned from experience that travelling in places with a lot of children can lead to lice, and supplies for treatment are not readily available everywhere.
- Bed bug spray
- An extra cell phone – I have needed to use my spare phone on more than one occasion. A bag of rice has also come in handy during my travels, but most hotels can provide that to you if you need to dry out your phone.
Before you get ready to head off on your next family vacation, get your Healthy Travel Packing Guide so you won’t forget anything important.
nicolthepickle (Nicole Graham) says
I would never have thought of lice. Thanks for the tips.
Sheri says
It’s not fun to think about, but it’s even worse when you aren’t prepared.
Chandra O'Connor says
Where can you get bed bug spray, I’m always paranoid about them
Sheri says
Canadian Tire sells a bed bug spray, and Norwex has a mattress cleaner to clean any organic materials left behind…ewwww.
Chandra O'Connor says
Thanks, feel like I need to wear a disguise buying it. Lol
Judy Cowan says
All great tips, never would of thought about Bed Bug Spray or Lice Shampoo.
Sheri says
I have a bed bug phobia.
nicolthepickle (Nicole Graham) says
So many things to think about. I think I’m staying home.
Sheri says
All of those things can happen at home too. You may as well be out enjoying the world!
kristen visser says
Not that my husband and I ever get to get away on a vacay (sigh) these are good things to know for when the time does come around. One thing I would have thought of was to choose drinks with no ice cubes and to use bottled water when brushing your teeth. I never swallow the water anyways BUT even to have it swishing around in your mouth isn’t a good thing
Sheri says
I can’t say that I’ve been completely consistent with ice, because I like cocktails 🙂
JAMIE HALL says
Great tips I wouldn’t have thought of some of these
Joy D says
The best comprehensive list and tips I have seen. Thank you.
sarah alexis says
Yikes… all very good reminders. It sucks to get sick when you are on vacation!
Kris Wilson says
Great tips, many I’d never thought of. When I went to Dominican Republic in the 90’s everyone warned me not to eat lettuce. After watching my friends eat it all week and not get sick I decided to try it. And I paid for it the next morning! Ended up having to buy $7 a pill Imodium from the hotel so now I’m always prepared and I stay away from lettuce.
Julie says
Bed Bug Spray! This would help me sleep better, just terrified at the thought! Never even knew it existed…thanks for the freat info!
Sherry moffitt says
My husband and I travel a lot , great tips. Thank you.
Anne Taylor says
Great tips for travel! Thanks so much! Hopefully, soon, we’ll be on a trip with our grandkids!
Carole Dube says
Thank you for sharing your list, I tend to over pack and forget things!
Wanda Tracey says
This is a great list and one I would keep and check before leaving.It’s awful when you are away from home and really need something you have forgotten.
kathy downey says
Thanks for all the great tips,quite a few i would never have thought of Drink only bottled water is so important because there in nothing worst than having the runs on vacation
tammy ta says
Lots of great tips. I will take note of many of them.
Debbie White Beattie says
This is a really thorough list but I always bring 2 extra items a blanket, I don’t use the top blanket because they don’t wash it and Clorox wipes to clean the remote etc.
Ronald Gagnon says
What great information…almost education..especially the first health tips….I just bullied ahead on trips and sometimes suffered because of it
Christine Holliday says
wow, some of these would never have occurred to me!
Debbie Bashford says
Printing out this list!!!
Debbie Sherrer says
Great info. I wondered about medications and over the counter medications.
tammy ta says
Thank you for all the great ideas. I will use many of them on my next trip with my family.
kathy downey says
I just wanted to drop be and says thanks many of these tips came in handy over the summer.Happy Fall
Krista Miller says
I have never thought about packing lice shampoo & comb before! I don’t travel much but that is very useful info to know when vacationing with the kids!
loriag says
I think taking extra medications like ear drops for swimmers ear is so important. The brother in law is in Mexico and now has an ear infection. I like to travel prepared.
A.Rrajani Photographer says
GREAT POST!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING…..
Samiksha shah says
Nice article! Very Helpful. Thanks for sharing. Keep inspiring us.
Priyanka Chaudhari says
Best article! Thank you for sharing. Very Helpful.