Stay Healthy on Holiday

It might not surprise you to know that here at Direct Travel we’re big advocates for holidays, health and of course, travel insurance!

The uneasy truth is that if you don’t have travel insurance to suit your needs, becoming unwell on holiday could cost you thousands of pounds, not to mention spoil your well-earned break. Don’t worry - we’re here to help, here’s the Direct Travel guide to staying healthy when you travel:

First Aid

Pack a simple first aid kit in your luggage, and include some basic items such as:

1. Suitable painkillers
2. Antihistamines – good for treating bites, stings, and allergic reactions
3. Adhesive plasters and sterile dressings
4. Antiseptic creams or treatments
5. Rehydrating powders – good for recovering from a tummy upset
6. Insect repellent

You can find a full list of first-aid essentials on the NHS fit for travel page.

Watch what you eat...

No, not your calories – you’re on holiday!

Getting a travel tummy can be a common problem, and while it’s a fairly mild affliction, it can put a real dampener on your trip.

Be mindful of buffet food that isn’t served at a high temperature. Poorly stored and heated food is very inviting for insects and bacteria.

If you’re using self-serve tongs so is everyone else, so be sure to wash your hands before you eat your meal.

Depending on where you’re travelling to, it may be wise to avoid water (unless it’s bottled), ice, and any salads washed in tap water. Most destinations in Europe hold a safe water standard but do check your destination before you travel.

Stay hydrated

We’re not talking beer and cocktails – they’re not the best sources of hydration, in fact, they can make things worse - so everything in moderation!

As above, water in most European countries is safe to drink but if the local water isn’t safe, check the source of the water that is served at buffets or at your table. If you ask for bottled water, check that the bottle is sealed when you’re served it.

If you’re travelling to a warm destination, or you’re doing any sort of physically demanding activity you may need to drink more than usual.

Wash your hands

The pandemic brought very, very few positives but it did highlight that hand hygiene is absolutely paramount when you’re travelling, right from when you leave your home.

Airports, planes, taxis, trains and coaches can carry hundreds, if not thousands of passengers a day and if just a handful of those people have a cold, tummy bug or worse, you’re at risk too.

If you’re out and about, carry antibacterial wipes and or gel and use liberally – it’s not worth spoiling your trip.

Remember your medication

If you have a prescription medication for a pre-existing medical condition, make sure you pack enough medication for the duration of your trip and continue to take all your meds as usual, unless you’ve received medical advice to the contrary.

You can find more advice on travelling with medical conditions on our blog.

Get travel insurance - just in case

It’s not nice to think about what can go wrong, but it’s much worse to be caught out.

Direct Travel can find a policy to suit you – we have single-trip, annual multi-trip and even backpacker policies.

We have all singing and dancing levels of cover and budget options too. Whichever Direct Travel policy you choose, you can be sure that you’ll have 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance as standard, cover for a range of sports and activities and access to your policy any time of day using your personal “My BrokerSure” account, here you can download or view your documents, make amendments, or get quotes for your next trip!

Get a quote today!