Contiki cough. Not the most glamorous topic to talk about. But hey, when you’re travelling it’s important to take as many preventative measures as possible to avoid getting sick while travelling… but to also prepare for the worst in the very possible case that you do.

“But I hardly EVER get sick Chelsea. I’m so healthy, I don’t need to worry”

Yeah well, that’s what I thought too! I hadn’t been sick in a very long time, but halfway through my Europe Contiki last year I succumbed to the dreaded “Contiki cough”. It’s not just a myth!

As adrenaline-pumped as you are when travelling, you still get tired and rundown (particularly if you’re on a big trip). I’m no Doctor, but when you’re rundown is when you’re most susceptible to sickness.

pssst: this applies anyone traveling – not just those on a Contiki tour. But “Contiki Cough” is pretty infamous!

And when you’re on a tour, you’re in such close confinement to other people on the bus that it’s inevitable that someone is going to catch something… and pass it on.

So I recommend packing a few handy items to take to help avoid getting sick while travelling, and some items to pack in the event that you do get sick!

“But it’s just more things I have to pack!”. Trust me, taking your own pharmacy with you is easier than trying to converse with a pharmacist in a foreign country who doesn’t speak much English in order to try buy the right meds for you. I needed to buy some cough syrup in Rome – looking back it was pretty funny really. That poor Italian woman! (who I’m sure was trying to find out whether it was a dry or chesty cough). I’m not 100% sure what I ended up with, but I was pretty desperate just to chuck back any cough syrup straight from the bottle!

(Disclaimer: I do not advise this!)

The cherry on the cake was that I caught conjunctivitis on my last day of the tour. So on top of having a terrible cough and snivvly nose on my journey back home, I had to take some eye drops every couple of hours on the plane as well. Fun times.

So let’s get back to basics:

How to help prevent sickness from happening in the first place!

• Dettol anti-bacterial wipes

Not to sound like your mum, but hygiene is key! The two (very annoying) Kardashian-esque girls that sat beside me on the plane from Auckland to Los Angeles had a good ol’ chuckle when I whipped out my Dettol wipes and proceeded to clean my arm rests, table tray and anything else in sight that could house some unwanted germies.

But planes are horrendously infamous for serving up bugs and whatnot. So I’ll be the last one laughing when you come down with a cold, sweeties 😉

• Dettol hand sanitizer

For obvious reasons. You don’t need to be OCD about it (although that would help). But carrying this around in your carry-on bag and day bag would be super smart.

• Electrolytes

Keeping hydrated and energized when travelling can be assisted by sipping on the odd electrolyte drink. I have personally used 1Above and definitely recommend it. Better yet – take it before, during and after your flights. It’s not just good for avoiding jet lag, but good for your well-being in general.

And for when the Contiki cough hits and you just want to stay holed up in your hotel:

It is extremely helpful to have packed…

Cold / flu meds:

• Otrivin nasal spray for a blocked nose (or similar)
• Panadol or other pain medication
• “Night and Day” Cold / flu tablets
• Cough medicine (although this is hard ‘cause you won’t know until you get it if you have a chesty or dry cough).
• Sore throat / cough lozenges
• Vicks VapoRub – my childhood fave
• Tissues – obvious, but oh so handy
• Vitamins!

Handy first-aid items:

• Plasters (aka band-aids)
• Insect repellent
• Antihistamine
• Insect bite cream
• Antibiotic cream
• …and don’t forget chapstick / lip balm!

PRO TIP: Depending on where you’re travelling, it might pay to get expert advice from your doctor or local Travel Clinic. They can advise you on recommended vaccines for your intinerary and recommended medications to take along.

For example, for my Egypt trip, I got a few different vaccines and was prescribed a kit with various meds just in case I got the dreaded gastro bug and/or a yucky tummy! (fairly common when travelling in Egypt).

Better to be safe than sorry!

So there you have it. These are all my must-haves and must-dos to help prevent (or prepare for) sickness when going travelling.

It may add up money-wise, but you’ll certainly be thankful that you came prepared if, alas, you unfortunately get hit with a bug! 🙁

p.s. If you’re hit with something more severe than a common cold, just go see a doctor. I’m sure you’ll be able to find an English-speaking practise that tourists can go to in whatever country you’re in.

p.p.s. And don’t forget to buy comprehensive travel insurance too!