Before you go
Complete health requirements based on your itinerary
- Ensure you have all the recommended vaccines, as discussed with your medical care provider
- Take malaria medication as directed, if needed
- Take the oral typhoid vaccine as directed, if needed
Begin the vaccine at least 2 weeks before you leave. Take on an empty stomach with a full glass of water (morning may be the best time to do this). Wait at least an hour before eating or drinking. Take the vaccine this way every other day. Keep the vaccine refrigerated at all times.
Pack a travel health kit
- Insurance and credit card information
- Yellow WHO card for proof of vaccination
- Over the counter and prescription medications you may need (in original, labeled packaging) i.e. Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Pepto Bismol, Imodium, burn gel, Anbesol, etc. If you need to purchased medication abroad, be aware that counterfeit medications are a growing global issue.
- Hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and insect repellant with DEET
- Spare glasses/contact lenses
- Bandage assortment, Moleskin, and antibiotic ointment
- Tape, scissors, and super glue
- Thermometer and cold medication
- Gatorade powder (to replace electrolytes in case of diarrhea)
- Water filtration system
- Get a water filter that filters at 0.5 microns or less, then either
- Use one iodine tablet per liter of water, then a tablet of vitamin C to improve taste, or
- Use one to two drops of bleach and let it sit at least 30 minutes
- Use a pre-filter to filter water prior to using a UV wand. Then, don't expose the filtered water to sunlight
- Bring water to a rapid boil for a full minute (adjust time for high altitude)
- Get a water filter that filters at 0.5 microns or less, then either
Utilize the following resources
Find out if your current health insurance covers you for medical emergencies while traveling internationally. If not, purchase a short-term international health insurance policy. The State Department offers to finding a policy that works best for you.
We also recommend registering your travel itinerary with the State Department's . This free service provides you with up-to-date relevant information for where you will be traveling, as well as alerts from the nearest U.S. Embassy in an emergency.
If you have a smartphone, you can download the to make your trip a little simpler and healthier.
We like TravWell, an all-encompassing guide to safe travel with packing lists, vaccination recommendations, emergency phone numbers and preparedness trips for your destination.
We also like Can I Eat This?, a quick way to check which food and beverages are safe for consumption wherever you are (because no one wants traveler's diarrhea).