Traveling across the world is now easier than it has ever been. It’s now cheaper and faster to get to any part of the world than any other time in history, and this trend won’t stop any time soon. Some of the most sought-after holiday destinations have warm tropical climates. They’re great if you want to relax, unwind and enjoy some sun. But there are a ton of health hazards associated with these destinations. Tropical diseases, insect bites, and contaminated water and food are just some of the dangers you face. However, it’s not all doom and gloom when you take the right measures. Below are some of the precautions you should take when you tour the best tropical holiday destinations.
- Do Your Research
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Whether you are traveling to a different country or a different region in your country, you should prepare well for the trip. Do your research on the destination of your choice. Find out if there are any inherent health hazards or outbreaks of diseases such as H1N1, avian flu, or Ebola.
You will want to look into general information about food and water, and the hygiene conditions of the destination. If you’re booking through a travel agent, ask them to give you an overview of the health situation of the destination before you travel. You can also find plenty of information from the United States Department of State, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization. Find out if a travel warning has been issued.
- Book Early
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Make your travel booking as early as you can. This will give you sufficient time to get all the supplies you need and any necessary vaccinations. You’ll also have more time to do your research on the destination. If you make a booking with a travel agent who has lots of experience with tropical destinations, they might be able to guide you on where to go and where to avoid. Make sure to book with major companies as they are more likely to follow the laid-out hygiene, health, and safety standards.
- Get Vaccinated
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Diseases that are prevalent in the tropics include dengue, malaria, typhoid, hepatitis, rabies, and yellow fever. You need to take the requisite measures to protect yourself from these dangerous diseases. The best way to go about it is to get all the vaccinations you need before departing.
- Carry a Health Travel Kit
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Create a small kit composed of the items you may need should there be a health issue during your trip. Some of the things you need in your kit include anti-diarrheal medication, water sterilization tablets, bandages, allergy medication, band-aids, gauze, antibiotic ointment, sunscreen, anti-malarial, antibiotics, and a sewing kit. These items can help forestall a disaster should an emergency arise.
- Observe Healthy Habits
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Make sure to wash your hands every so often. Hand hygiene is very important if you’re going to steer clear of infections and diseases during your trip. Use warm water and mild soap to wash your hands before meals and after using the bathroom. If you can’t access soap and water then you should carry hand sanitizer wherever you go.
There you have it. To make your stay in the tropics more enjoyable and cheaper, you can opt to book a short stay apartment instead of a hotel. Ask your travel agent for recommendations.
