Introduction

I am known to be a little bit picky about my “space” when I travel. With good reason, I think. Every time, and I mean every time I travel on a plane or other long period confined travel space, I get sick. Cold, sniffles, want to crawl in bed, ruin my vacation kinda sick. I can count the days….4. That’s the day. When my fun vacation turns in to sickation. It left me screaming…can I just have one healthy travel experience…No not really, but you get the picture.

Why did I bother? I paid hard earned money to acquire a sickness! I became so frustrated, I thought there was something wrong with me. However, being a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in Infections, I did a little digging on how often planes are cleaned and sanitized between flights.

Let’s just say, I was shocked! The stories I read of employee accounts and passenger behavior made me sick to my stomach. (No pun intended) So, the next time I booked a flight, I bought a small portable black light. Yep, you know what I mean. The little lights that make “things” glow in the dark.

When I turned that on for the first time, I nearly died of disgust. My seat area and the bathroom lit up like a Christmas tree! Oh, yes I repeated the same experiment in my hotel room. Let me tell you, it is no different. Sounds like something a crazy person would do right? I have to admit, I felt a little bit crazy doing it, but doing this changed my vacation into a vacation. After adjusting my routine and adding the below tips to my travel routine. I, ‘knock on wood’,  have not been ill on vacation.

Here are just a few easy tips you can use yourself to reduce your own risk of acquiring a illness while traveling by close quarter traveling methods.

Tips and Tricks

1. Wash your hands. OFTEN. Hands are the culprit of almost every illness inoculation in to the body except those that are airborne. Lordy, when someone sneezes, to this day I hold my breath and pray. (only on a plane)
2. Carry your own blanket, and pillow. The Snuggie, has a foldable blanket/pillow you can carry on to the plane. It’s yours. it’s clean, and it can be washed by you when you are done. Plus it’s way more comfortable and soft than airplane blankets, if you can even get your hands on one. Did you know the blankets they hand out on planes are only refolded and placed back in plastic bags, making you think they are clean and sanitized. NO NO NO they are not. I sit up in the front often..yes I am lucky that way. But that’s for another blog. (I had my own side travel business in the past, I’ll just leave it right there)
3. Clean your area. This includes the seat area next to you. I am not talking about crazy, highly scented, I kill all germs products. Use sanitary wipes, or even a little soap and water on a cloth and wipe down the seat, tray table, and surrounding areas including the inside pocket and information sheet. Then throw the cloth away or put it in a bag to dispose of later.
4. Carry Soap Sheets. Remember back in the beginning when I said wash your hands. I’ll say it again, wash your hands. If soap is not readily available, soap sheets keep your hands clean anytime you need to do so. I recommend at least every hour. It is hard to keep track of the things we come in contact with, so if you wash your hands frequently, it takes the worry out of the game. I don’t recommend hand sanitizers. Soap sheets are not considered a liquid and easily store without much space.
5. Talk to your provider before travel. If you have any concerns about your health and traveling anywhere, especially abroad, they can guide you on making your vacation a happy and healthy one.

Final Words

Traveling to get away and relax is a healthy way to reduce stress, elevate mood, and reunite with your family, or just get away. An illness can pop up anytime to anyone. It is inevitable. However, if there is a way to reduce the risk and be more confident you did everything possible to make your time away the best time away, why not?

Cheers to a happy and healthy vacation. ✈️🥂