How to avoid getting sick on vacation

There's nothing worse than being sick on vacation. You're not in your home. You're not in your bed. People are around you and you want to be alone. You want to be out doing all the things you had planned and now you're in a hotel room. Yuck!

Prior to travel, I recommend visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Their Resource for Travelers section will give you everything you need to know and then some. 

Lately, a slew of stories started floating around online about people getting sick on cruise ships. It's cold and flu season and people get sick. It's a fact of life. The headlines sound horrendous. 500 people sick onboard XYZ Cruise Line. 500 people out of 8800 onboard is .056. Less than 1%. Even ships that scored a 100% on their recent sanitation inspection have had sick passengers. People bring illness with them. They may not be showing signs at embarkation. To assist in not passing on anything to other passengers, when you are questioned at embarkation if you have had any signs of illness. Don't lie. The cruise line will most likely not prevent you from traveling. They may quarantine you for your 1st day if your symptoms warrant.

As with leaving your home to go anywhere during cold/flu season, take the necessary precautions. 

1. Wash your hands. A LOT. 
2. Avoid touching your face. The less you touch your face, the less chance you have of transmitting what you just picked up from someone else before you can wash your hands.
3. ​Hand Sanitizers. While I'm not a fan of them overall, as they dry out your hands and aren't as effective as hand washing, I do like DoTerra's On Guard spray. Cruise ships, grocery stores, fitness centers, and some airports have hand sanitizing stations as you walk in. Use them.
4. Anti-bacterial wipes. I use them on plane seats and trays before sitting down. It can't hurt to wipe down TV remotes, light switches, fitness equipment in the gym, elevator buttons, and things people touch frequently.
5. Drink bottled water. In foreign areas, the water is treated differently and may be upsetting to your stomach. Amazon or grocery delivery services will deliver to hotels. You can order bottled water to be delivered to your stateroom on most cruise lines. 
6. Stay hydrated. Speaking of water...your body needs fluids to flush out all the yuckies. Hydration helps build the immune system so your body can fight a dreaded disease. If you are increasing elevation while on vacation, hydration is vital. I worked in hotels in Colorado for over 20 years. I've seen more than my share of guests who tried to do too much without hydrating. Altitude sickness is no joke. 
7. Eat cooked foods while traveling. Fruits and vegetables are washed in local water and can be upsetting to tummies. Cooking food kills bacteria.
8. Visit your doctor prior to your trip. If you are traveling outside the US, you may be required to have vaccinations prior to your journey. If you are feeling under the weather prior to your vacation, head into your doctor. We make sure to travel with over the counter medicines like TUMS, Imodium, Ibuprofen, cough medicine, and the like so we don't have to try to locate these items while on vacation. It's best to be safe than sorry. (Travel insurance is great to have just in case someone is too sick to travel).
9. Get plenty of rest. On vacation, we like to do everything we can and tend to stay up late and wake up early. This is a recipe for a lowered immune system. Try to stick to your normal sleep schedule as much as possible. Maybe add a nap in here and there if you are able. It's VACATION! This can be close to impossible at Walt Disney World where I don't want to miss a second.
10. Other sickies around you. This is especially important if you are on a cruise ship. If you see someone get sick, report it immediately so that the staff can not only handle the mess, they can try to get the situation under control to assist others to avoid getting ill. 
11. Buffet stations. Try to avoid using silverware that is in containers where others are grabbing. This can be tough. I suggest washing your hands after plating your food and prior to eating (at least hand sanitize OR use a hand spray/wipe. 
12. Avoid sharing your food. This can also prove difficult. He has a delicious treat on his plate and you only want a bite. Your kids don't finish their meal and you don't want it to go to waste. They may not be showing symptoms yet and you just ate their germs. 
13. Unpasteurized foods. Listeria, salmonella, norovirus, etc. can wreak havoc on your stomach. The flan may look delicious, but ask if the eggs are pasteurized. Same for dairy items.
14. Laundry. When using guest laundry machines (especially in high use hotels/cruises) use the hottest water and drying settings for the longest washing times your clothes will allow to kill the microbes. 
15. Restrooms. Try to use your guest room or stateroom bathroom as much as possible. Keep your germs to yourself and avoid picking up others. 

I wish you safe and healthy travels!