Travel and vaccinations – articles and advice

Whether your holiday plans involve a trip to an exotic city or a sunny summer on a foreign beach - you'll probably be getting there by plane. And whilst airplanes are a generally safe way of travelling - there are health issues that you should consider before you board. Here we look at what you can do to help make sure your flight is healthy and stress free.

Whether you're choosing your next holiday destination, planning a backpacking route, or attending Pride abroad this summer, being healthy, having fun and staying safe are top of the agenda. With help from LQBTQ+ advocate, YouTuber, and author Calum McSwiggan, we've assembled LGBTQ+ travel tips to help you protect yourself from harm in countries where discrim...

At least 1 in 10 people have a fear of flying - and some studies suggest this proportion is much higher. Having a fear of flying, also called flight anxiety, is officially classed as an anxiety disorder. To doctors, this is known as aerophobia, or sometimes aviophobia in the US. Here, we share the triggers, practical tips, and support you can get to help you...

Nobody expects to get ill on holiday, but it does happen. Dr Sarah Jarvis has lost count of the medical miseries she's heard from patients that could have been avoided. Here she shares her top tips for healthy holidays - so that the only mementos you bring back from vacation are happy ones.

You've got tickets, chosen which artists you most want to see, planned your outfits, and packed the glitter - but international festivals can require a bit more planning, and the to-do list can vary depending on the country. We've created an easy guide for all those extra health and safety considerations, so you can get back to enjoying your hassle-free fest...

Have you ever felt sick or dizzy in a moving vehicle? Perhaps you've also broken out in a cold sweat, felt weak, or developed a headache at the same time? Motion sickness may be common, but this doesn't mean you can't prevent or treat it.

I know everyone has had enough of it, but we need to talk about the B word. With all the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, it's impossible to know what will happen to travel insurance cover for medical problems in the near future. And while most of the recent political headlines in relation to health have related to privatisation of the NHS in the UK, foreign...

The travel bug has now affected so many people it has become something of a modern epidemic. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were an astonishing 73 million visits overseas by UK residents last year. But how can you stay healthy while flying, not just on a long-haul flight but on a short-hop trip as well?

Yellow fever is endemic to many countries in Latin America and Africa and can often be fatal. Vaccination is currently the best protection against this deadly disease - but what are the risks?

Off on a climb? Whether you're an experienced mountaineer or a charity fundraiser doing a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you need to be aware of the risks to your health when you climb to high altitudes. Familiarising yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness and taking steps to minimise the risk before your trip could prevent a great deal of suffering - and...

Holidays are supposed to be a welcome break from the stress and strain of work and life. Away from emails, deadlines and more, it's a chance to relax - but for some, going away can trigger anxiety.

Ahh holidays. Spending your time relaxing in the sun or seeing the sights in a dream destination should be blissful. But if you or your child suffer from allergies, planning a trip can be stressful. We look at how to minimise risk and maximise relaxation for allergy sufferers.

Malaria is an almost entirely preventable disease, but in 2017 there were 1,700 cases in the UK and six deaths from it. Most people who became infected had either not taken antimalarial tablets or not taken them as directed. One of the reasons for avoiding malaria medication can be the association with side effects. But how likely are they?

If you are travelling overseas, travel vaccinations against some diseases are compulsory. There is, however, one disease which is usually fatal without prompt treatment and where a pre-travel vaccination is not compulsory: rabies.

Being vaccinated against illness before travelling abroad may be inconvenient and mildly unpleasant, but don't be tempted to skip those injections - or to leave them until the last minute. We ask a GP and a specialist travel health nurse for their advice.

Jet lag can certainly put a dampener on a holiday but it may also have negative health implications for people who regularly experience it. We explore how holidaymakers and frequent flyers can minimise jet lag's effects.

Falling sick on holidays or weekends sound familiar? Some health experts refer to this condition as leisure sickness. It could be linked to the way we manage our work stress and approach our professional/private life balance.

If you're something of a foodie, travelling while pregnant can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, a holiday is a holiday. On the other hand, you won't be able to spend your time roaming the backstreets and sampling all the local delicacies, as you might have done before you got pregnant.

Over the last few years, a new term has cropped up on travel websites, namely the 'babymoon'. Referring to the last holiday you take while pregnant, the babymoon ideally has little to do with babies. On the contrary, it's a chance for some much needed 'you' time before the baby arrives and child-free activities become a distant memory.

From the plains of the African Sahara to the peaks of the Himalayas, a traveller must always be prepared. Some precautions should be taken by every explorer. But preparation for an adventure requires more than simply buying a backpack and an all-season sleeping bag. A real traveller must prepare for every eventuality … and that includes taking care of your h...