Traveling sick, especially if you’re traveling solo, is already bad enough. I’ve talked about how it’s psychologically tough on you, how to deal with it, and how to be prepared in this read. But what makes it much worse is not knowing where to go if you need professional medical assistance, how much it would cost, or who to trust. Lucky for you, I come bearing good news! I found a free tool that I wish I’d known about much sooner, and I’m here to tell you all about it.

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The Challenges: The Reality of (Solo) Traveling Sick

You’re alone, in a foreign country, and you don’t know the system. You don’t have enough time to research, because you can barely get out of bed. And between Google searches, Facebook groups, and Reddit threads, random strangers’ drastically different experiences can be extra stressful. So, when you add the following challenges to this emotional rollercoaster, it’s no walk in the park:

Finding a doctor abroad does not equal booking a tour

It takes some real talent and acquired skills to plan your own trip from scratch, but finding healthcare providers in a foreign country is sure as hell not the same thing. When looking for a doctor, a clinic, a hospital, or even a lab, you want someone/something you can trust. But how would you know if you’re just a tourist passing through?

Language barriers

If you’re wondering if it can get worse than solo traveling sick, it can. Try traveling sick to a foreign country where you can’t speak the language, are not fluent enough in it, or worse, if you don’t find a common language to communicate with the healthcare provider. Especially when it comes to medical terms, things can get very tricky, and you’d be lost in translation, making it extra stressful.

Price uncertainty and fear of getting scammed

Medical expenses vary a lot around the world, to the extent that some people travel to other countries for cheaper healthcare. However, when you’re traveling sick, things can be a bit more serious than a dentist visit. Accidents tend to happen on trips; God forbid, but you might break a bone, get hurt badly, or be in dire need of surgery. In such cases, you might not know if you’re being charged fairly, or much worse, whether or not you’re being scammed into something you might not even need.

This is your reminder to always get insured before traveling abroad!

The Hack: Nomad Care Map

Now, you might be wondering: how to avoid all of this stress? This is where the travel hack I told you about comes to the rescue. I’ve recently come across SafetyWing’s Nomad Care Map, a free tool that will change your travel game. 

Nomad Care Map is the first-ever directory for doctors and healthcare providers’ reviews, created by nomads for nomads. The Nomad Care Map can help you:

• Find trusted doctors, hospitals, clinics, and labs all around the world.
• View the offered services and estimated prices before visiting.
• Read reviews and first-hand experiences by other travelers, and share your own reviews as well. 

And the best part is that it’s a free resource powered by anonymous community data. There’s no gatekeeping, and you don’t have to do the guesswork.

Try it out now and look up healthcare providers in your next destination HERE.

Closing Remarks…

As a solo traveler who’s gotten sick while traveling one too many times, I wish Nomad Care Map had existed sooner. It would’ve definitely saved me time making difficult decisions and a whole lot of panicking. This hack is one of those you hope you never need, but will be glad you saved it somewhere if push comes to shove. So, make sure you pin this for later.

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Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.

SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.

This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

Explore SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Essential and Complete plans now.

OR REGISTER FOR FREE!

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You might also like:

• Getting Sick on Vacation: The Ugly Side of Solo Travel
• Nomad Insurance: 6 Reasons Why Travel Insurance Is Essential

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