Getting sick abroad can turn a dream trip into a miserable one — and dealing with it in an unfamiliar place, language and healthcare system is harder than at home. The good news is the basics scale with the trip: a city break needs little, while remote, tropical or long-term travel calls for more planning.
Before you go
- Check recommended or required vaccinations for your destination — allow weeks for some.
- See a doctor or travel clinic for tropical/remote trips, or if you have conditions.
- Buy travel insurance with strong medical and evacuation cover.
- Pack a basic medical kit and enough prescription medication.
- Note whether the tap water and ice are safe at your destination.
While you're there
- Drink safe water (bottled or filtered where needed) and skip risky ice.
- Eat hot, freshly cooked food; be careful with raw or pre-cut items.
- Wash or sanitise hands often, especially before eating.
- Protect against sun and insects — repellent, cover up, sunscreen.
- Stay hydrated, rest, and ease into heat or altitude.
Build your checklist
Estimate yours below — pick your trip and destination type and it builds a printable health checklist to work through before you leave.
Health checklist → built to your trip
A general guide only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel-health clinic for advice specific to you.
The most common travel illness
By far the most frequent is travellers' diarrhoea, usually from contaminated food or water. The simple defence: drink safe water, avoid ice and raw produce washed in unsafe tap water, eat food that's hot and freshly cooked, and keep your hands clean. If it does strike, focus on rehydration with safe fluids and rest — most cases pass in a few days. Seek medical help if it's severe, includes high fever or blood, or persists.
If you get sick abroad
- Use your travel insurance — call their assistance line; they can direct you to suitable care and handle costs.
- Pharmacies are a good first stop for minor issues in many countries; staff can often advise.
- Hotels and embassies can point you to English-speaking or reputable doctors.
- Keep receipts and records for any treatment to support an insurance claim.
Go deeper
Questions
What's the most common illness travellers get?
Travellers' diarrhoea, usually from contaminated food or water. It's largely preventable by drinking safe water, avoiding risky ice and raw produce, eating freshly cooked food, and keeping hands clean.
How far ahead should I sort vaccinations?
Several weeks, sometimes more — some vaccines need time to take effect or require multiple doses. See your doctor or a travel-health clinic as soon as you've decided on a destination, especially for tropical or remote trips.
Do I need travel insurance for health?
Yes — overseas medical care and especially emergency evacuation can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, none of which your home health system covers abroad. Travel insurance with strong medical and evacuation cover is essential.
How do I find a doctor abroad?
Call your travel insurer's assistance line first — they can direct you to suitable care. Hotels, pharmacies and your embassy can also recommend English-speaking or reputable doctors. For minor issues, a pharmacy is often the quickest help.
How do I avoid getting sick from food?
Eat food that's freshly cooked and served hot, choose busy places with high turnover, be cautious with raw salads, pre-cut fruit and ice in areas with unsafe water, and wash or sanitise your hands before eating. "Cook it, peel it, or leave it" is a useful rule.
What should I do about jet lag and fatigue?
Stay hydrated, adjust to the local schedule quickly (get daylight, eat and sleep on local time), and don't overpack the first day or two. Easing into heat or altitude rather than going hard immediately also helps your body adapt.
This is general guidance only, not medical advice. Health risks and requirements vary by destination — consult a doctor or travel-health clinic for advice specific to you and your trip.