Top Tips On Keeping Your Family Well Whilst Traveling

When taking a family holiday your thoughts are generally consumed with whether you have enough travel plugs, and making sure the children have packed their cases properly - not just their favorite cuddly toy and their Superman costume. However, depending on where you’re traveling to there may be some extra precautions and research involved before the too early rush to the airport. Here are some things you may want to consider, that can help to keep your family healthy on your travels. 

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Anticipate Illness

No one wants to be ill on holiday or confound to their hotel room with a poorly child while still being able to hear all the joy and fun happening on the beach outside. However, should it happen, it is best to be prepared. You don’t want to be sat in a medical centre not knowing how to communicate your child’s symptoms, worrying you have misplaced your insurance certificate, and already trying to google research a malpractice legal team on the shocking wifi facilities. Packing a first aid kit that includes diarrhoea relief, rehydration sachets, paracetamol or Calpol, and antihistamines (for the potential insect bites) will not only help put your mind at ease but could save you a worried pharmacy visit or unwanted medical fees.

Get Your Shots

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t even think to check if they need shots before travelling. Especially when travelling with children, it is important to make sure that they are completely protected from any risk in the country you are travelling to. Baseline shots such as “Measles, Mumps and Rubella” and “Diphtheria, Polio and Tetanus” should be all up to date, and depending on where you are travelling maybe even topped up or “boosted” before you go. In addition to these, shots such as Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, and Cholera may be required. If you are travelling to certain parts of Africa Anti-Malaria tablets and the TB and Rabies vaccines will be essential. Parts of Central America and Southeast Asia will also require you and your family to have a Yellow Fever Vaccine. Just having a quick conversation with your GP or researching what shots are needed for your destination of travel will clear up any questions or worries you have, but be sure to book in for your shots at least ten days before you leave, or you may not be able to travel. This is not an exhaustive list so please research before travelling, as some countries will require a certificate to prove that you and your family have been vaccinated before you are able to enter.

Foods To Avoid

This is an important one, as there are no cures for a case of common food poisoning other than waiting for it to pass. There are also some nastier cases like E Coli that will need medical attention and potentially a case of antibiotics. Planning an itinerary of well-reviewed restaurants near your accommodation could prevent illness from happening, as well as avoiding places with visible of poor hygiene - such as flies settling on the food and gloves not being worn when handling meat. Also, if drinking the tap water is commonly avoided, being wary of foods like fruit and salads that may have been washed in the water is wise. If you are staying in catered accommodation, you can probably brush over this advice, as a high level of hygiene will be maintained, and bottled water will be used for all food preparation. 

Include Bottled Water In Your Budget

When budgeting for spending money, everyone tends to think about food, souvenirs and a fridge magnet for the parents back home. However, one of the biggest costs when travelling is having to buy bottled water. Many countries that you travel to will not have drinkable tap water. This means buying a bottle of water every time you are thirsty and keeping hydrated - especially if you are travelling somewhere hot - is imperative. Taking the time to research how much a litre bottle of water would cost you, and budgeting for an appropriate amount for you and your family each day will help your daily spending money to be a more realistic amount. It also makes sure you won’t have run out of money when a lovely fridge magnet or photo frame catches your eye.

Hopefully, this has helped your checklist grow in size, and made you feel a lot more prepared for your upcoming travels. Everyone wants to enjoy their holiday as much as possible, and the tips on this post will ensure a nasty illness or funny tummy won’t ruin yours or your loved ones’ fun.