One can’t deny that solo travel is often romanticized when spoken about on social media. Yes, as a solo traveler myself, I can vouch it’s a life-changing experience, but it’s not all rainbows and butterflies either. Everything has its pros and cons and solo travel is no different, and getting sick on vacation is hands down its ugly side. 

Generally, no one likes the idea of getting sick when traveling – who wants to end up staying in their hotel/hostel bed? But for solo travelers, in particular, it’s way more challenging, and sadly, it’s often not talked about or openly discussed, and that needs to change. 

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Why Getting Sick on Vacation Can Be Worse for Solo Travelers

It’s about time we, as solo travelers, openly discuss the unspoken reality of getting sick on vacation. Why do we need to talk more about this? Well, 1. Others need to understand what they’re getting themselves into, especially if it’s their first-ever solo trip, and 2. because they need to prepare for this. 

Getting sick when traveling can already be challenging on its own, but it’s even more so when you’re all alone. Picture this: you’re sick in bed, feeling helpless, and probably can’t get out of bed, or bring yourself a glass of water. You can’t make yourself something to eat to be able to take some medication. 

Besides the physical challenges, as exhausting as they sound, there’s the emotional challenge of having to deal with all of this on your own in possibly a foreign country where you know no one and maybe don’t even speak the language. Not to mention the stress of handling the logistics of it, like finding a doctor if needed or getting medication that you might not have packed. All of that without a support system – how does that sound?

Common Illnesses Travelers Get on Vacation

Believe it or not, but getting sick on vacation is way more common than you think – it’s one of those travel mishaps. In fact, the sickest I’ve ever been was on my first-ever solo trip! I was only 19 at the time and I was in a Nubian village, called Gharb Seheil, on my own – and it was way before it became a popular travel destination. I got the stomach flu, had no meds packed, and the only pharmacy there had barely any options. You see, Nubians rely on natural home remedies and herbs for medication. I was incredibly ill during my entire stay, but luckily, the kind, hospitable Nubians took care of me and gave me some of their magical herbal tea. It passed, but I had to learn how to prepare for the worst the hard way. 

So, as I was saying, getting sick when traveling is very common due to various factors like traveling between different climates, getting exposed to more people, air travel, staying up later than usual, and more. 

Here are a few common illnesses that travelers may experience:

• Food poisoning
• Diarrhea
• Common cold or flu
• Sunstroke/dehydration

Preparing for the Worst: What to Pack in Your Travel Healthcare Pouch

The first lesson I had to learn the hard way on my first solo trip was to ALWAYS pack meds. That Nubia travel mishap was no joke, and ever since that incident, I’ve been packing a small pouch containing a bunch of treatments I might need. 

Here’s a list of everything I pack in my travel healthcare pouch just in case I get sick on vacation:

• Travel medical insurance for emergencies – my favorite is SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance
• Prescription meds (if needed)
• Painkillers
• Cold medicine
• Anti-diarrheal
• Upset stomach med
• Emergency anti-biotic
• Allergy medicine
• Mucolytic sachets
• Rehydration sachets
• Cough drops/lozenges
• Nasal spray
• Muscle relaxant/pain relief gel 
• Burns ointment
• Thermometer
• Hand sanitizer 
• Tweezers
• Basic first-aid basics like safety scissors, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, etc..

DISCLAIMER: Now before some of you start attacking me, I completely understand that in some cultures, it’s not common to take any kind of medication without a doctor’s prescription. It’s important to understand that I’m not advising you to take anything without consulting with a medical professional. What I’m saying is that it’s always best to be prepared and have meds with you just in case you end up needing them because:

1. Getting access to some meds abroad isn’t always easy and sometimes more expensive than your home country.
2. You may be traveling to a place where you won’t have immediate access to a pharmacy. 
3. When traveling alone, and you end up too sick to move or get out of bed, you might not be able to go all the way to a pharmacy.

Let me tell you a quick story about another travel mishap during my early years of travel when I spent a semester abroad in France. I got sick this one weekend, and if you’ve been to Europe before, you know how these people take their Sundays seriously. I mean, everything was closed, especially because I was staying in a small city – in bigger cities, it shouldn’t be too bad. 

Anyhow, I had this terrible cough and I went to the nearest open pharmacy and tried to buy cough syrup. But of course, they requested a prescription. I couldn’t go see a doctor – I didn’t know anyone or at least anyone that was working on a Sunday. And the nearest hospital was too far and I could barely drag myself to the pharmacy, let alone walk to the metro station and take a long ride. Luckily, the pharmacist was kind enough to make an exception for me because she saw what a total mess I was. 

I know that to many of you, this may seem like normal procedure, but in my culture, it isn’t and it’s very inconvenient. So, this is for others like me, to be well-prepared because no one likes a culture shock when they’re burning up with fever. 

4 Actionable Tips to Handle Being Sick on Vacation as a Solo Traveler

#1 Learn how to find medical help in a foreign country

If you require medical attention, especially if you’re traveling to a foreign country and you don’t speak the official language, this might be tricky. That’s why it’s important to do your medical research as part of your travel planning. Look up local healthcare apps, locate the nearest pharmacy and hospital to your accommodation, and check the embassy resources. Also, remember that you can always ask your receptionist for help.

#2 Stay hydrated and nourished while sick

It’s important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids if you get sick on vacation. Also, try to stock on foods or snacks that are nutritious, yet easy on the stomach.

#3 Get the rest you need to recover

Bed rest is a non-negotiable even if you don’t feel too sick, you just don’t feel it yet. Assuming you’re fine just because you can walk can only make things worse. So, if you feel like something’s about to hit you, don’t ignore it, and don’t resist giving your body the rest it needs to recover.

Make sure you stay in a comfortable, quiet place, and if you’re staying in a hostel, you might want to transfer to a private room. And if necessary, you can also consider extending your stay, especially if you’re not fit enough to travel. 

#4 Keep your loved ones updated

It’s just as important to stay in touch with your loved ones back home if you get sick. Keep them updated and stay in touch for emotional support and practical advice. 

The Mental Toll of Being Sick on Vacation as a Solo Traveler

In the case of getting sick when traveling alone, it’s completely normal for your mental health to be affected, and not just your physical health. It’s bad enough for people not to be talking about the ugly side of solo travel as much as they talk about how empowering and life-changing it is. So, solo travel newbies end up waltzing in unprepared. To me, the ugly side of solo travel is when you fall ill and have no one to take care of you. That’s really hard – I cannot deny it – and not just physically, but emotionally as well. 

As much as I personally wouldn’t trade solo travel for any other way, it’s important to acknowledge its downsides too. So, here are a few tips to help you stay positive during that hard time, and remember, you are not alone in this.

• Acknowledge your feelings. It’s only natural to feel lonely, frustrated, weak, and even anxious. Allow yourself to feel all your emotions without feeling guilty about it. Don’t be hard on yourself.
• Stay in touch with friends and family back home for emotional support. 
• Practice mindful breathing. Such exercises can help calm your brain and reduce panic or anxiety that might come with feeling unwell in an unfamiliar environment. 
• Focus on self-care. Whether that comes in the form of staying hydrated and nourished, or entertaining yourself via reading or even binge-watching a show in bed. 
• Accept help if you’re offered any. Be it from your accommodation staff or other travelers, don’t hesitate to accept help. Even if you don’t really need it, it will do wonders to your mental well-being. 
• Shift your mindset. Instead of looking at this mishap as something that ruined your trip, think of it as reason to take things slow and take care of yourself. Remember that everything happens for a reason, no matter how cliché that sounds. 

Preventative Measures to Avoid Getting Sick on Vacation

Getting sick when traveling is a matter of luck, but there are still some measures you can take to at least try to avoid it. Here are some helpful tips:

#1 Avoid drinking tap water

Safe drinking water practices are vital if you don’t want to get sick on vacation. Even if you’re traveling to a destination that’s known for safe drinking water, it’s best to drink bottled water instead. Just be careful as refilling water bottle with tap water is a common scam in lots of corners of the world – so make sure the bottles you buy are safely sealed. You can also invest in a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter. 

#2 Maintain good hygiene

Practicing good hygiene will keep you as healthy as possible whether you’re home or traveling. Washing your hands and keeping them clean using hand sanitizer as you spend the day out and about is crucial for a healthy body. Also, try to avoid street food as much as you can, especially if you don’t trust the source. 

#3 Take the necessary vaccinations

While planning for your trip, check whether or not you need vaccinations for the destination you’re headed to. Besides getting vaccinated, you should also check if there are common diseases there like malaria, for instance, that you’ll need to pack special pills for. 

The Importance of Travel Insurance When You Get Sick on Vacation

Last but not least, I can’t stress enough on how important it is to get insured by a reputable company before your trip. Sadly, travel insurance is something a lot of travelers neglect, thinking they might not need it, but trust me, travel mishaps are more common than you think. Getting sick on vacation can mean anything from a mild common cold to severe conditions that require doctors’ appointments, blood tests, or god forbid, hospitalization. 

That’s why you need to make sure your travel insurance is a travel medical insurance that will cover relevant expenses. Also, look for policies covering medical evacuation, hospital stays, etc…

My personal favorite, as I mentioned earlier, is the Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing. Aside from its many travel benefits, perfect for solo travelers and digital nomads, it also include health insurance. You won’t have to worry if you get sick or injured traveling abroad as Nomad Insurance includes (up to USD 250,000):

• Doctor and hospital visits
• Hospital stays
• Ambulance
• Nursing 
• Diagnostics
• Prescriptions
• Injuries from adventure sports and activities
• Emergency dental (up to USD 1,000)
• Medical evacuation (up to USD 100,000 lifetime max)

Get insured now! Or learn more about the many perks of Nomad Insurance in this blog post. 

To wrap things up…

Please don’t let any of this discourage you from solo traveling. Everything we, solo travelers, say about how it’s an incredibly life-changing and empowering experience is still true. But life happens, and it goes on anyway, regardless of your location or who you’re with. So, take that leap of faith and see the world – just remember to prioritize your health and safety, and always be prepared for the unexpected. 

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You might also like:

• 10+ Tested Safety Tips for Female Solo Travel Newbies
• Having Anxiety About Traveling Alone? Here’s How to Overcome It

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