No one wants to get sick while on vacation. As the fall travel season booms, many travelers worry about food poisoning, water quality, insect-borne illnesses, or coming home with a bad cold. But according to WakeMed infectious disease physician Christopher Ingram, MD, those concerns aren’t what send most travelers to the doctor. “The number one thing that goes wrong medically when people travel is the exacerbation of their underlying disease,” he says. In other words, staying healthy while traveling often comes down to the simple things we overlook before we ever leave home.

Don’t Forget Your Chronic Condition. Think about what typically happens on vacation. We indulge in foods we don’t normally eat, enjoy an extra dessert or cocktail, stay up later than usual, spend long days walking or sightseeing, and often find ourselves out in the heat and humidity. In the excitement of travel, it’s also easy to forget medications or let healthy routines slip. While these changes may seem harmless, they can have real consequences for people managing chronic conditions. For someone with diabetes, rich meals and sweet treats can cause blood sugar to spike. For someone with heart disease, long days of activity combined with excessive heat can place added stress on the cardiovascular system.

“The vacation mindset makes people think normal rules don’t apply,” Dr. Ingram notes. “But your chronic illness doesn’t take a vacation.” His advice is simple – pack enough medication, take it consistently, and continue managing your condition just as you would at home. He points to Thanksgiving as a reminder of what can happen when healthy routines are interrupted. “One of the busiest days in the hospital is the day after Thanksgiving,” he says, “when people have overindulged and forgotten medications on Thanksgiving and experienced flare-ups of chronic illnesses the next day.”

Watch Out for the Second Biggest Travel Danger. Surprisingly, after chronic medical conditions, motor vehicle collisions are among the most common travel-related risks. Travelers often find themselves driving unfamiliar rental cars, riding scooters or mopeds, biking through busy cities, or simply navigating streets they don’t know. Dr. Ingram remembers nearly getting hit while visiting England because he instinctively looked the wrong direction before crossing the street. “When you’re on vacation,” says Dr. Ingram, “you feel like nothing bad can happen, but traveler collisions happen every day.” Being extra cautious on unfamiliar roads may do more to protect your health than worrying about rare tropical diseases.

Before You Travel Abroad, Visit the CDC Website. One of Dr. Ingram’s top recommendations is surprisingly straightforward – before international travel, check the CDC’s travel guidance for your destination. “It’s one of the best resources available.” Many people assume the site only lists infectious diseases, but it also provides a lot of other helpful information, including required vaccines, disease outbreaks, malaria risk, political unrest, safety advisories, and entry requirements.

Crowded Spaces Spread More than Casual Conversations. Crowded airplanes, buses, cruise ships, and hotels make respiratory viruses easy to spread. COVID-19 highlighted this reality, but influenza and other respiratory viruses continue to circulate every year. If respiratory viruses are widespread where you’re traveling – or if you’re at higher risk for severe illness – consider taking extra precautions, including masking in crowded indoor settings. If you have asthma or a food allergy that affects your breathing, keep an inhaler with you at all times. And if your travel dates coincide with cold and flu season, be sure to get updated seasonal vaccines early in the fall (at least two weeks before departure).

Why Doctors’ Offices Always Ask If You’ve Traveled. Have you ever noticed that nearly every visit to the doctor’s office begins with the same question: “Have you traveled recently?” It’s not because your provider assumes every vacation ends with an exotic illness. Rather, travel history is a routine part of modern health care because it helps identify illnesses that may be uncommon in the United States but can occasionally be introduced through international travel. Diseases such as measles, mpox, or Ebola require rapid recognition to help protect patients, health care workers, and the community. While these illnesses are extremely rare for most travelers, asking everyone the same question is an important part of our public health safety system and helps guide timely diagnosis and treatment.

travel tips for a healthier trip

Most vacations end with wonderful memories, not medical emergencies. The key is remembering that good travel health starts before you pack up the car, board the plane, or hop on a ship.

– Traveling during the fall? Get your flu shot beforehand.
– Pack your medications and a first-aid kit.
– Wipe down surfaces to reduce germ exposure and avoid getting sick on the go.
– Wash your hands.
– Stay hydrated. Drink safe water.
– Drive carefully.
– Protect yourself from insects.
– Don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
– Consider compression stockings for long-haul flights.

Dr. Ingram’s biggest takeaway? “That same vacation mindset makes people think they’re immune to bad things happening, but your health still needs attention, even when you’re away.” A little planning before you leave can make all the difference, helping you stay healthy so you can enjoy every moment of your trip.