Winter brings some of the best reasons to travel: holiday markets, ski trips, cozy cabins, and festive cities. It also brings flu season, cold weather, and the challenge of staying healthy in dry air and crowded indoor spaces.
Before jetting off on your winter vacation, there are a few things you can do to prepare your health for your trip, plus a few tips you can use for staying healthy during winter travel. Spoiler alert: even with the best preparation, you can’t always avoid getting sick while traveling, which is why securing travel insurance before your trip is just as important as packing hand sanitizer.
Before you travel, set yourself up for success
Just because you’re used to the cold at home doesn’t mean your body will bounce back easily in a new climate. Winter travel puts added stress on your immune system, so it helps to prepare in the days and weeks before your trip. Here are a few ways to stay ahead of it:
1. Rest up: Travel days require energy. Prioritize sleep in the week leading up to your trip so you aren’t starting your vacation on empty.
2. Hydrate: Proper hydration supports your immune system and helps reduce the dehydrating effects of airplane cabins. Start increasing your water intake before you travel and consider packing a reusable water bottle so you can constantly drink up.
3. Pack a mini medical kit: Include sanitizing wipes, a thermometer, over-the-counter pain relievers, cold and flu medication, bandages, and any prescription medications you take regularly.
Your survival guide to airport germs
Airports and airplanes have come a long way since 2020, with many airlines improving cleaning standards in a post-COVID world. The challenge is that fellow passengers may not follow the same level of care. If you’re traveling during peak holiday season, expect higher foot traffic and more shared surfaces.
Here’s how to protect yourself in these high-touch areas:
4. Clean your area: Wipe down your seat, armrests, and especially the tray table.
5. Sanitize frequently: Use hand sanitizer after touching bathroom surfaces, security bins, kiosks, and anything handled by large groups of people.
6. Choose a window seat: You’ll be further from aisle traffic and have less exposure to people walking past.
7. Avoid touching your face: This helps prevent germs from transferring to your eyes, nose, and mouth.
8. Opt for bottled water: Water used for hot drinks on planes is not always from a freshly cleaned source.
9. Bring your own comfort items: Pack socks, a sweater, and a small blanket from home if you get cold on planes to avoid getting a chill.
10. Leave the air vent alone: Don’t play with the air vent above your seat on the plane too much; the air circulation actually works to create a current that pushes germs away.
Don’t let your guard down at your destination
Once you arrive, the same rules apply. Germs don’t take a vacation, and winter travel comes with added cold exposure and busy indoor settings. These tips will help you stay healthy throughout your trip.
11. Dress warmly: Cold temperatures can wear you down and make you more susceptible to viruses. Layering is key.
12. Eat well: Try local dishes, but also prioritize balanced meals to keep your body supported.
13. Prioritize rest: Between jet lag and packed itineraries, it’s easy to overdo it. Build in downtime and aim for consistent sleep.
14. Stay hydrated: Cold weather makes it easy to forget about water. Bring electrolyte packets to help you stay balanced.
15. Treat symptoms early: Don’t wait for a minor cold to escalate. Rest and treat symptoms when they start so your trip isn’t derailed.
Your winter travel wellness checklist
Staying healthy during winter travel can feel like a lot to manage, but a simple timeline makes it manageable. Here’s your step-by-step checklist:
Timeline | Don’t forget to… |
4+ weeks before | ☐ Purchase travel insurance with medical coverage ☐ Start taking vitamin D and other immune-supporting supplements |
1-2 weeks before | ☐ Prioritize sleep and rest ☐ Increase water intake ☐ Assemble your travel medical kit |
Day before | ☐ Pack hand sanitizer in carry-on ☐ Bring disinfectant wipes for the airplane ☐ Download the Faye app ☐ Pack extra layers, socks, and a travel blanket |
At your destination | ☐ Keep a consistent sleep schedule ☐ Stay hydrated throughout the day ☐ Dress in layers based on changing temperatures ☐ Enjoy local food, but incorporate balanced meals ☐ Rest at the first sign of symptoms |
Your backup plan for winter travel wellness
Sometimes, no matter how many sanitizing wipes you pack, you get caught by a bug or a cold. Having your travel plans interrupted by illness is never fun, but it doesn’t have to ruin your whole experience.
The right travel insurance can spell the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major financial burden. With Faye travel insurance, you can be covered for unexpected emergency medical costs abroad, such as trip interruption due to sudden illness.
Not only that, but with the Faye app, you can access a telemedicine network of over 20,000 doctors who are available 24/7. That way, the second you feel symptoms coming on, you can get the care you need without delay and in your language.
