How to avoid stomach bugs on foreign vacations

You have spent months planning your vacation of a lifetime. You have read hotel or cruise reviews, created a list of must-see places to visit and have driven your friends crazy as you've waited in anticipation. While you may think you've catered to every possibility, have you thought about what happens if you get ill? Yes, ill. The Center for Disease Control estimates 20 to 50 percent of travellers to foreign destinations, about 10 million Americans, are struck down each year with stomach bugs. Call them what you will, whether it's Montezuma's Revenge, Dehli Belly or a Norovirus, diarrhea on vacation is no laughing matter.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Planning
• Travel Insurance
• Sanitizer
• Anti-bacterial handwipes
• Bottled water

1. Some bugs are worse than others, so be prepared for the worst case scenario. Travelling abroad will leave you vulnerable to many different illnesses and dangers, so don't leave home without a good travel insurance policy. If your destination is remote, always ensure you have evacuation coverage in case you need to be airlifted to the closest medical team. Without this, you could find yourself reaching full recovery, only to have a coronary when you see the medevac team's bill.
2. As hungry you may be, avoid food from street vendors at all costs. While this may put you in touch with the culture, it might put your body in touch with some of their unsavoury cultures. If you aren't 100% certain of hygiene used, keep well clear to avoid picking up a nasty.
3. If your destination has a reputation for unsavoury drinking water, always drink the bottled variety. Avoid fresh fruit and salads as this will have been washed in this water. Never have ice cubes in your drinks. When brushing your teeth, play it safe and use bottled water to avoid internal contact with bacteria that could leave your belly feeling dodgy for days.
4. When you get to your hotel room or cruise cabin, it's always a good idea to wipe down surfaces regularly with anti-bacterial wipes. Items including the telephones, door knobs and handles can house vast numbers of diarrhea-inducing germs, so clean them with alcohol or a wipe.
5. When you're away from home, it's difficult to avoid eating out. While restaurants can offer you gastronomic delights, they can also give you an ugly bout of gastroenteritis. If you're staying somewhere with a kitchen, make good use of it. Not only will this save you some money, it will reduce the germs' chances of getting a hold on you!
6. Carry anti-bacterial wipes or sanitizing spray with you at all times to keep your hands free of potentially vacation-destroying germs. If you shake hands with someone, always ensure you wipe afterwards, although do be discreet to avoid causing offense.
7. If you do find yourself struck down, make sure to keep well-hydrated, get plenty of rest and when you do start eating, keep your food choices bland.