Traveling can sometimes take a toll on your health. The stress, the change in routine, and the heavy eating wreak havoc on your body. So how do you stay healthy while traveling? Keep reading this guide and go over 12 ways to stay healthy while you travel. Using these tips will not only help you feel good after your trip, it will make your vacation feel so much better.
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Sleep
Sleeping is one of the most important things to do while traveling, especially if you’re crossing time zones. Make sure your body is prepared for relaxation and a hectic travel by staying well rested. If you struggle sleeping away from home, bring items like earplugs and a sleep mask to help.
Drink Water
Dehydration not only causes headaches and fatigue, it can ruin a vacation. Stay hydrated and stock up on water to keep your body moving. This is important whether or not you’re traveling.
Eat Healthy
Food options aren’t always the healthiest while traveling. That’s why you should pack some healthy snacks for when you have the munchies. Bring fruit that travels well – like bananas and oranges – as well as nuts, crackers and protein bars. This way, you’ll be able to control some of the food you eat and not over indulge in buying food.
Exercise
Vacations are for taking breaks but it is also important to stay active while traveling. Not only will you feel better and less guilty about indulging in food, this promotes better health. This doesn’t have to be as drastic as a usual work out but will help you feel better.
Book a hotel with a gym and get a quick workout in before you start your day. Alternatively, you can go on a run in your neighborhood, or join other active people at the beach.
Walk
Walking is not only a good source of exercise, it’s a good way to get to know your destination. Especially if you’re near by restaurants and sights, getting a good walk in will allow you to spot hidden gems and experience the culture of your destination better.
Use Hand Sanitizer
The last thing you want to do is touch your face or eat with dirty hands. Bring some hand sanitizer along with you to prevent the spread of germs. This is especially important if you’re walking around a lot and coming into contact with people, handles, doors, etc.
Eat Breakfast
Start your day off right and stay energized with some breakfast. Whether you’re grabbing some pastries or just having cereal and fruit, a quick bite helps provide the nutrients you need in the morning.
Protect Your Skin
Keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays by using sunscreen with minimum SPF 30 and reapply it every two hours. Make sure to also use insect repellent to prevent insect and mosquito bites if you’re heading to warmer places.
Take Breaks
It’s hard to relax with a jam packed schedule. We recommend taking plenty of breaks and leaving yourself time to relax and get to know the area. Don’t pack your schedule with activities one after another because this can ultimately be stressful. If you want to do more, consider staying for a longer time so that you can enjoy things at a relaxing pace.
Stretch
Take some time every morning to stretch before heading out and exploring. Not only will you feel more refreshed, this will help you feel better overall throughout the day. Stretch your arms, legs, neck, shoulders, back, and anywhere else you feel tense. Bonus points if you sneak in simple stretches throughout the day and before going to bed.
Breathe
Deep breathing can help you feel relaxed and opposes the stress that comes with traveling. Take a deep inhale, hold it and exhale. These exercises can be done at anytime of the day, any where you go. This also keeps you more at ease so that you can enjoy your trip.
Pack a First-Aid Kit
No one ever likes getting sick but sometimes it is just a part of traveling. Since your medication might not be available at your destination, we recommend packing some just in case.
In the case that airport security confiscates your meds, you’ll want to have them separated – half in your carry-on and half in one of your checked bags. In addition, pack some bandages and wipes for emergencies.
Bonus Tip: Use A Stress-Free Credit Card
Maximize rewards and perks by taking advantage of a good credit card. To reduce stress while traveling, we recommend carrying one of these 4 no-annual-fee credit cards as another way to stay healthy while you travel.
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for new travelers because of its simple earning structure and no transaction fee. For travelers, you’ll receive credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fee. Continue reading to see all of the outstanding benefits from this mid-tier card.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. You're able to earn: • 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®. |
The Hilton Honors American Express Card gives you automatic Hilton Honors elite status and a nice sign-up bonus with no annual fee. With this card, you will have one less thing to worry about on your vacation.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. You'll earn: • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. • 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. • 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year. This card comes with $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, so you can enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
The Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card gives excellent cash back with no rotating categories to think about. With this card, you know you will earn unlimited cash back on every purchase as you travel.
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months. You'll earn: • 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). • 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). • 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. • 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. This card comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. |
The Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card is a straightforward cashback card. A flat earning rate no matter what the purchase is. It does not get any easier than that. And yes, of course, no annual fee to deal with.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card offers $200 Cash Back after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies You'll earn: • 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day with no rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards. • Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply. This card comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees which makes this card a viable option for your go-to everyday card. |
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Bottom Line
Staying healthy while traveling is vital in having a good trip. Follow our tips above to feel good through your vacation. For more travel tips, check out our list of best travel credit cards!
If you’re a female traveler, then read up on our post for the best destinations for female solo travel and our ultimate packing guide for the female solo traveler.