Staying Healthy Abroad
Simple health habits and the official sources to check before you go.
Get Free Trip QuotesMost travel illness is minor — an upset stomach, a cold caught on a plane, too much sun. A little preparation keeps it that way, and a few minutes on the CDC website tells you about the less common risks for your destination.
Start With the CDC Destination Page
CDC Travelers’ Health publishes a page for nearly every country. Each one lists recommended vaccines, medicines such as malaria prevention where relevant, current health notices, and practical advice on food, water and insects. Find yours on the CDC destination pages.
If your destination calls for vaccines or prescription medicines, book an appointment with your doctor or a travel clinic well ahead — ideally a month or more before you leave, because some vaccines need time to work or come in several doses. Even a last-minute visit is better than none. It is also a good moment to make sure your routine vaccines are up to date.
Medicines Across Borders
- Carry prescription medicines in your hand luggage, in their original labeled containers.
- Bring enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days in case of delays.
- Carry a copy of each prescription, written with the generic drug name, since brand names differ abroad.
- Some medicines that are legal at home are restricted in other countries. Check the country information page or ask the country’s embassy before you go.
- Pack a simple kit: pain reliever, antihistamine, rehydration salts, plasters, motion-sickness tablets, sunscreen and insect repellent.
For liquids, gels and medical items in your carry-on on U.S. flights, check TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” list; medically necessary liquids have their own rules.
Food, Water, Sun and Insects
Food
Choose food that is cooked fresh and served hot, and busy places where turnover is high. Fruit you peel yourself is a safe choice almost anywhere.
Water
Where tap water is not safe to drink, use sealed bottled water or treated water, and remember that ice and tooth-brushing water count too.
Sun and heat
Drink more than you think you need, plan sightseeing for cooler hours, and wear a hat. Heat exhaustion is one of the most common reasons travelers need help.
Insects
Where mosquitoes carry disease, use an EPA-registered repellent, wear long sleeves at dusk, and sleep under a net or in screened rooms if advised.
Long Flights and Jet Lag
On long flights, get up and walk the aisle when it is safe to do so, flex your ankles while seated, and drink water. People with a history of blood clots or other risk factors should ask their doctor about extra precautions before flying.
Jet lag eases faster if you switch to local meal and sleep times on arrival and get daylight early in the day. Give yourself an easy first day rather than booking a full tour straight off an overnight flight.
If You Need a Doctor Abroad
Hotels can usually recommend a doctor or clinic, and the U.S. embassy keeps lists of local medical providers. Your home health plan may pay little or nothing outside the country, and hospitals abroad often expect payment up front. That is why medical cover is the part of travel insurance most worth understanding — see our insurance basics page.
Traveling With a Medical Condition?
Tell us what you need — accessible rooms, a slower pace, nearby medical care — and a travel specialist will build a trip around it and send free quotes.
Get Free Trip Quotes