You’re on holidays – the last thing you want is to catch a cold and see more of your hotel room than the sights you came to see. In the words of Kimberly “Sweet Brown” Wilkins, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”
Working in the travel industry means that travelling is inevitable. In the past, I would get a cold after every single trip, until I decided to do something about it. I started to change little things to the way I travelled – not drastically, but now, four trips later, I haven’t caught a cold.
What’s the secret? It’s not really a secret, nor is it just one thing. It’s a collaboration of many things. Here is my list of top 10 tips for staying cold-free on holidays that have worked for me.
1. Drink plenty of water
Of course this was going to make the list, so let’s get it out of the way. I find having two glasses of water first thing before breakfast gets me to a good start, and another glass before bed. If I’m staying at one place for more than a couple of days, I’ll even buy a water cask from the supermarket to keep filling up my water bottles to take with me during the day. With all of my meals, I’ll drink the table water as well to keep my fluids up for the day (okay, wine does make an appearance too).
2. Make room for fruit & veggies every day
Every day while you’re away, endeavour to have some fruit and a side plate of vegetables or salad with your meals. Nutrition is key to staying well. When we’re on holidays, we tend to eat more indulgent foods than we would at home, so if we can try to get a side plate of goodness in, then that’s better than nothing.
3. Add some immune-boosting supplements
I like to take Bioglan’s Airborne Immunity tablets, which help protect against coughs, colds and flu. Any immunity vitamin tablet will do the trick though. I find this tip to be super beneficial when catching planes and public transport, when you want to give your immune system all the help it can get.
4. Dream away
Make sure you have some good sleep. When you’re having big days/nights, a good sleep will keep you feeling refreshed and ready for the day. I must admit that I’m a big fan of a pre-dinner nap when I travel to freshen up and rejuvenate.
5. Stay active
You don’t need to go for a run or hit the hotel gym to stay active (of course if you enjoy doing that, go for it). You can always go on a city bike or walking tour to discover the city, or just get out and walk around.
6. Home luxuries
If need be, bring some of your home luxuries with you. For example, I bring my own green tea when I travel overseas. I have it every day at home and most hotels won’t offer this option in the room. It’s only something small, but I find it’s a comfort to have.
7. Keeping germs away
I like to bring a light scarf with me on a plane. It can provide warmth if the aircraft is overly air-conditioned, and can also double up as a face mask. If someone is coughing and spluttering near you, just pop it over your nose and mouth to try and avoid the germs as best you can. Same goes if you’re the person who is sick!
8. Carry hand sanitiser
Wash your hands often and carry hand sanitiser or wet ones with you. On the plane, the wet ones come in handy to clean the arms rests and table. It might sound a little over the top, but did you know that the arm rests and tray tables harbour a lot of germs?
9. Get the flu vaccine before you go
Be sure to get a flu vaccination each year as the strains of flu are always changing.
10. Enjoy the outdoors and get some fresh air
Go outside and enjoy the outdoors – just remember your sunscreen. Another tip, if you’re sharing a room with somebody who has a cold, try opening a window to get fresh air inside, and their germs out.
