Plan Ahead for Safe, Healthy Travels

There’s nothing like getting away to relax and clear your head. And these breaks away from your routine can improve your health.

Even the planning phase can have positive effects. WebMD says getaways or staycations may:

• Lower your stress levels
• Improve energy, productivity and focus
• Help you reset and re-energize
• Increase your creativity

Make a Plan for Health

Staying safe and healthy makes any trip better. So, before you head out for that getaway, do some planning.

Research your destination for any health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses Travel Health Notices  to alert travelers to global health risks. These can include outbreaks of diseases or infections, natural disasters, and special events or gatherings that can expose us to more people and lead to disease outbreaks.

The CDC also offers personalized guidance on domestic and international travel with the Travelers’ Rapid Health Information Portal.  You can also download the CDC’s Travel Healthy app. It can help keep you organized during international travel. The app is available for iPhone  and Android  users.

Get any needed immunizations. If you’re planning a trip outside the U.S., find out what vaccines or medicines are needed. Get started early because some vaccines require a series of shots over time. And make sure you’re up to date on all routine vaccines. If you haven’t already, consider getting a flu shot  a few weeks before your travel.

Make a travel health kit. Gather all the items you may need on your trip. In addition to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, don’t forget insect repellent, sunscreen and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Check your health plan coverage. It’s good to brush up on the details of your health plan coverage before you travel. And make sure you take your member ID card.

Read Traveler’s Checklist: Protect Your Health While You Travel to learn more about how to plan for things that might affect your health while you’re away from home.

Family Travel Health and Safety

Young children sometimes get sick when there are changes to their eating and sleeping routines. “Kids can be at risk for travel-related problems like motion sickness, diarrhea and infections,” says KidsHealth.  Be prepared with medicine meant for the kids. There are other things to think about, too.

Stay safe in the sun. Limit your time in the sun to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 every two hours. Reapply after sweating and water exposure. Have kids wear hats and sunglasses. You can also try sun-protective clothing.

Stay safe in the water. Always watch kids carefully around any body of water. Find out if water safety devices are on hand at your destination. If not, you may want to bring life jackets and goggles from home.

Stay safe in extreme heat. Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and how to protect vulnerable people and pets. Learn more about staying safe in the heat. 

Lodging Safety When Traveling

When you check into a hotel, personal security probably isn’t your top concern — but it is important. Here are tips from the U.S. State Department  and other experts on keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.

Research your destination. Before you travel, research lodging carefully and scan reviews for any safety concerns. Look for a location that has low crime rates and is close to transportation and other services.

Avoid the ground floor. Staying a story or two higher reduces your chances of break-ins. Also avoid rooms by the elevator, where there’s a lot of foot traffic. That could make it easier for a potential criminal to blend in.

Check your room. Give the hotel room a quick scan before you settle in. Check behind curtains, under the bed and anywhere else to make sure it’s safe. Also check for working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Put up the Do Not Disturb sign. Keep this sign visible so no one goes into your room. You can also tuck a corner of the sign into your door when leaving the room. If you return and the sign is hanging freely, you know someone has been in your room.

Find the fire escape plan and walk it. Don’t assume that all the exits on a posted fire escape plan will be clear. Know your exits. Typically, in larger hotels, there will be escape routes at either end of the floor. Walk both. Learn where each stairwell exits.

Secure the door. Carry your own TSA-approved rubber door stop and place it behind the hotel room door. It adds an extra layer of security and is nearly impossible to move, even when heavy force is applied to it. If your room has an adjoining door, wedge it closed with a second doorstop.

Meet delivery services in the lobby. If you’re having food delivered from outside the hotel, meet them in the lobby instead of your room. This prevents strangers from knowing your location and roaming the facility.

Be mindful of where you park. When parking outdoors, position your vehicle under a streetlight. Many hotels keep their parking lots well-lit.

If you experience or see any suspicious activity, report it to the front desk right away.

Before you pack your bags, do your research to make your next trip fun and safe.

Sources: How Travel Affects Mental Health,  WebMD, 2024; Travelers Health Most Frequently Asked Questions,  CDC, 2024; About Heat and Your Health,  CDC, 2024; Staying Healthy While You Travel,  Nemours KidsHealth, 2021; Lodging Safety,  U.S. Department of State, 2024; How Taking a Vacation Improves Your Well-Being,  Harvard Business Review, 2023; Travel Health Notices,  CDC, 2025; Travelers’ Rapid Health Information Portal,  Global TravEpiNet; Who Needs a Flu Vaccine,  CDC, 2024