As basic as this sounds, this is an essential component of preventing sickness. I’m sure you’ve seen countless PSA all over the world about washing your hands during Covid-19, which is because washing your hands with water and soap for 20 seconds does help reduce the spread of germs that cause respiratory and diarrheal infections. If washing your hands often is not that accessible wherever you’re traveling (hey, you could be somewhere remote with water shortage!), then it’s recommended you carry and use hand sanitizer.
The best recommendation to keep your hands clean is by carrying and using hand sanitizing gel regularly. These hand sanitizers come in travel-sized bottles with less than 3oz/100ml so you can travel with them in your carry on, or as moist wipes that are just as easy to carry. These hand sanitizers come in travel-sized bottles with less than 3oz/100ml so you can travel with them in your carry on, or as moist wipes that are just as easy to carry.
Before the Coronavirus, seeing people wearing masks in public was mostly a common sight in Asia, but now it is a common thing worldwide. While the use of face masks will diminish as the world returns to normalcy, it is safe to say that now more people will be open to the idea of wearing a face mask while traveling. In fact, at the moment, it is mandatory to wear a face mask while flying not only to protect yourself but also to protect those around you.
One of the many common travel mistakes is drinking tap water where you shouldn’t. Most developed countries offer pure tap water that’s clean enough for anyone to drink. But, drinking tap water in other less developed countries might be risky. While I always suggest asking locals about the best tips in their country, this is one I wouldn’t fully trust them.
Food contamination can happen in any country. Unfortunately, it’s just one of those things that happen when least expected, and it is one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea on any trip. To avoid this, do your best to ensure that you’re eating fresh, well-cooked, and recently made food to reduce your chances of food poisoning. And as mentioned in the previous tip, ensure your plate is dry before serving and that you drink bottled water.
That concept of personal space varies drastically among cultures. In some countries, it’s normal for a person to stand just a foot away from you while in others, it’s more like three feet or so. During Covid-19, we learned of the importance of keeping our distance from others to reduce the spread of diseases. Standing six-feet or two-meters apart seems to be the recommendation.
Before traveling, prepare your stomach’s coating with a dose of healthy bacteria that will help you digest or “stomach” more easily any food that might harm you. Since I have a very susceptible stomach, I regularly take Probiotics and Prebiotics to keep a healthy environment in my stomach and intestines, which in turn will help reduce stomach pain and food poisoning and improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
While tasting local food is part of the travel experience, if you’re someone who is allergic to certain foods and ingredients, sometimes it is better to stick to the dishes you already know and tolerate. It’s also ok to switch back and forth between “known” and “foreign” food so you give your stomach some breathing room to assimilate those new ingredients.
