How to Stay Healthy While Traveling: Tips for Families and Individuals

As the holiday travel season begins, more people are traveling to be reunited with families and loved ones. But many families and individuals are considering how to stay healthy while visiting loved ones and getting away. 

Ron Kraus, president of the Emergency Nurses Association, and his family are among the millions of families who are trying to plan holiday gatherings while still protecting the health of young children who are unvaccinated as well as elderly family members.

“We all want to get together, we all want to see each other, and some people haven’t seen each for a long time, and I get that,” Kraus said. “But it’s not worth the endgame of potentially getting somebody ill.”

While COVID-19 poses significant travel risks, traveling domestically and internationally inherently carries other health risks. There are steps families and individuals can take to minimize their chances of getting sick during the winter holiday travel season and beyond. Nursing@Georgetown has gathered recommendations from nurses and public health organizations to help guide families and individuals in making decisions around travel. The links below can help navigate to different sections with information about staying healthy during travel.

Table of Contents

• Health Risks of Traveling
• How to Stay Healthy Before, During, and After Travel
• Travel Tips for Parents of Unvaccinated Children
• Additional Resources

In addition to COVID-19, there are other health risks individuals may encounter when traveling close to home and abroad — from the common cold to malaria.

Families should consider their own risk tolerance and set boundaries as they are planning trips, especially with unvaccinated children. Parents might question whether a trip is worth any potential risks that come with travel and if the necessary requirements to keep their families safe outweigh the benefits. According to Kraus, these considerations are unique to each family.

“Everybody has their own individual thought process,” Kraus said. His recommendation is to pause and consider what best serves the family and takes into account their safety.

Different modes of transportation carry different risks. Regardless of how families are traveling between points A and B, Kraus recommended frequent hand-washing and masking as essential steps for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. 

Below are some of the common risks associated with traveling by plane, train, bus, and car, paired with precautions passengers can take to help prevent these conditions. 

Risk (plane, bus, train): blood clots/deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Blood clots pose a risk for travelers during trips of four hours or more, particularly for people who are or were recently pregnant or who have obesity, cancer or other serious illnesses, or a history of blood clots. 

Precautions that can help prevent DVT:

Risk (plane): exacerbating chronic conditions

Changes in air pressure and humidity in airplane cabins can exacerbate chronic medical conditions during travel. Passing through metal detectors in airport security also poses a risk to those with internal medical devices such as pacemakers. 

Precautions to avoid worsening chronic conditions: 

Risk (plane, bus, train): close proximity to travelers with communicable diseases

Flying and taking public transportation can put travelers at risk of contracting communicable diseases such as COVID-19, the flu, and common colds from close contact with sick people.  

Precautions that can keep travelers and those around them well: 

Risk (car): exposure to pathogens at gas stations, rest areas, and other stops

Making stops during road trips can expose travelers to germs along the way to their destination. 

Precautions to minimize risks of getting sick during a road trip: 

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Best practices for traveling domestically and internationally vary by destination. But in general, there are basic steps individuals and families can take to prioritize their health no matter where they go: staying hydrated, prioritizing sleep, and eating well.

“A body that’s kind of run down and tired may be more susceptible to a virus,” Kraus said.

People who are pregnant or have chronic conditions should take extra care to prepare to stay well while traveling and should understand the health care options at their destinations.

“Wherever they are going, it really helps if they preplan — should they need medical help — what kind of medical services will that place that they’re going to have,” said Heintje Calara, a DNP with 30 years of nursing experience who serves as a clinical practice liaison for Neurocrine Biosciences.

The tips that follow can help families and individuals take precautions before, during, and after trips to maintain their health while traveling in the United States and abroad.

General Tips for Traveling Anywhere

Before A Trip

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• Prioritize getting good sleep and nutrition.
• Put together a basic first-aid kit, including over-the-counter treatments for cold and flu symptoms and diarrhea. 
• Pack prescription medications, including extra doses.
• Travel with medical identification cards, insurance cards, and allergy information.
• Consider securing travel insurance, depending on the duration of the trip and the destination.
• Get vaccinated against common pathogens such as the flu and COVID-19.
• Be aware of the COVID-19 transmission rate and vaccination rate in the area where you will be traveling. The CDC offers a world map of COVID-19 travel recommendations by destination.

During A Trip

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• Wear sunscreen. 
• Wash hands often and moisturize them after washing to protect skin.  
• If you feel sick, visit an urgent care center for mild or moderate symptoms or an emergency room for more severe conditions. 
• Contact a primary care provider to update them on your condition if you become ill.
• In hotel rooms and rental properties, sanitize frequently touched items such as remote controls.
• Minimize contact with unvaccinated individuals.

After A Trip

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• Monitor your health. 
• If you feel sick when you return, make an appointment with a provider and share your recent travel history.
• Notify people you have been in close contact with about your symptoms.

Health Tips for Domestic Travelers

In addition to the general tips above, these measures can help individuals and families stay healthy while traveling within the United States.

Before Traveling

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• If unvaccinated against COVID-19, get tested for the virus one to three days before traveling.
• Do not travel if exposed to COVID-19, if sick, or if waiting for test results.

While Traveling

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• Learn about and follow local guidelines for COVID-19 prevention.
• Wear a mask in public.
• Avoid crowds and maintain six feet of distance from others when possible.

After Traveling

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• Monitor for symptoms of illness. Isolate and get tested if there are any signs of illness.
• If unvaccinated against COVID-19, quarantine for at least seven days after traveling.
• Get tested for COVID-19 three to five days after traveling.

Health Tips for International Travelers

These tips below can help individuals and families stay healthy while traveling outside the United States.

Before Traveling

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• Research the destination to understand travel recommendations for the area.
• Receive requisite vaccinations and medications to prevent diseases endemic to certain areas at least a month before traveling. 
• Enroll with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
• Know whether a molecular COVID-19 test is required before entering a country and/or returning to the United States and make a plan for getting tested.
• Notify a primary care provider of the travel plans.
• Anticipate needing to communicate in a medical crisis.

While Traveling

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• Do not drink or use tap water for brushing teeth or washing produce unless it’s been verified as safe.
• Ask locals for recommendations on where to seek care if needed.
• Consider which fresh fruits and vegetables can be safely consumed.
• Eat foods that are easy on the stomach.
• Prevent insect and animal bites.
• Be conscious of physical safety.

After Traveling

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• Know the requirements for entering the United States from the destination.
• Consider getting tested for COVID-19 when returning home and again a week after arriving.
• If you feel sick upon or after return, make an appointment with a provider and share recent travel history.
• Isolate if unwell.

Packing List: Healthy Travel Essentials

Calara and Kraus recommend bringing these health essentials when traveling:

• minor first-aid kit
• medications: prescription medications (including extra doses for international travelers), over-the-counter cold and flu medication, and antidiarrheal medication for international travelers
• medical information: copies or pictures of insurance cards and a list of current medications
• extra food and water when driving
• hand lotion to moisturize and protect the skin barrier

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Families with children who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 must weigh additional factors when it comes to taking trips, seeing family, and gathering with friends.

The following considerations can help parents and caregivers weigh risks of traveling with unvaccinated children and take precautions to protect the health of their families.

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These resources offer more information that can help individuals and families prioritize health when traveling.

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Citation for this content: Nursing@Georgetown, the online MS in Nursing, DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate programs from Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.