Wellabroad.com Blog

No one wants to miss or postpone a trip, but there are times when staying home might be best. The points below are a good starting point to determine if it might be time to take a rain check. Of course always talk to your doctor if you need help deciding if you should postpone your trip. Some airlines check for visibly sick passengers in the waiting area and during boarding. If you look like you may be sick, the airline may not let you get on the plane. If you decide its best not to go, check with your airline to see what options you have for rescheduling your flight.

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Nothing feels worse than coming home from a long trip and feeling out-of-shape. A lot of this comes from the stagnant lifestyle which often accompanies globe-trotting. Traveling long distances often results in hours of sitting around — in the airplane, in the taxi, etc. One of the best ways to stay energized and refreshed during long trips is to exercise. Most hotels have some type of fitness center, but there’s an even simpler solution — work out in your hotel room. Push-ups and sit-ups are an obvious solution and exercise bands are becoming very popular with some travelers. With a single exercise band the various exercises one can do are almost limitless. If you travel frequently it may be the best $10 you’ll ever spend on fitness.

When you are traveling, the right documentation makes your life much easier, so make sure you’ve got the correct visas for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid for the right amount of time. Always remember: Take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep them separate from the originals or store them online in a secure area of your computer. You may need someone to get you a replacement immediately and a back up can save you every time. Make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier to be sure the right people are contacted immediately Tell a friend or relative where you are going and for how long and give them at least a general itinerary – check in with someone daily by email, phone or text.

If you have a medical condition at the time you travel that requires you to take a prescription medication, have your doctor write you a letter describing the medical condition and the prescription medications you are taking including the generic names of prescribed drugs. If something happens to your prescription all of your doctors information will be on the letter along with the medical description of your condition and any medicine you are taking. It is also a great idea to find out key words and phrases in the local language of where you are traveling for your condition and your medication.

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If you have to drive, familiarize yourself with the driving laws, especially speed limits and what side of the road you need to drive on. Also you might need an international drivers permit so it is best to organize everything in advance. Your travel agent will be able to assist you. It is also a good idea to check with your insurance company to make sure you are fully covered to drive abroad including breakdown recovery and medical expenses related to an accident.