How to salvage a trip if you get sick
<p>It’s the one thing that every traveller dreads – illness. Use these tips to make the best of a bad situation.</p>
<p><strong>Act quickly</strong></p>
<p>It’s amazing how fast a little sniffle can turn into a full blown cold, especially when your immune system is weakened by jet lag. If you start to feel unwell, <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/2017/03/bad-airplane-behaviours-that-annoys-travellers-most/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">don’t wait for things to escalate</span></strong></a>. Start with some over the counter meds from the local chemist or, if you don’t think that will be strong enough, ask your hotel concierge to recommend a good doctor. You can also stock up on natural immune boosters like vitamin C or Echinacea.</p>
<p><strong>Protect your travel buddies</strong></p>
<p>If you are really sick, you could be spending the rest of your holiday in bed. While that’s upsetting for you, it doesn't have to mean that the trip is ruined for everyone. Do your best to avoid infecting the rest of your travelling party. There are some simple hygiene rules you can put in place, like washing your hands regularly, using hand sanitiser, avoiding communal items like cameras or phones, taking your toothbrush off the sink and steering clear of the buffet. If you are really unwell (and can afford it) a second hotel room can be a good idea for some self-imposed quarantine.</p>
<p><strong>Don’t panic</strong></p>
<p>Most travel bugs only last for a couple of days at most. Before you throw in the towel and <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/2017/04/packing-tips-to-add-to-your-list/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">pack your bags for home</span></strong></a>, give yourself a bit of time to recover. 48 hours of aspirin, cold medications and sleep, and you could be feeling like your old self again. While it’s never pleasant to be sick on the road, it’s also best not to make any rash decisions.</p>
<p><strong>Make some small changes</strong></p>
<p>At the same time, if you can shift around some of your itinerary to accommodate a poorly passenger, then you should definitely do so. If you don’t feel up to exploring a city on foot, look into hiring a car and driver for the day to show you the sites. A boat cruise probably isn’t a great option on a queasy stomach, so why not set yourself up in a nice waterfront park for the day to watch the world go by? Be flexible and find the next best option.</p>
<p><strong>Check your insurance</strong></p>
<p>You didn’t travel without insurance now, did you? Of course not. Make sure you keep all your receipts from expenses incurred due to your sickness, including doctor’s visits, medications, hospital stays and any changes you had to make to your travel plans. You should also keep any doctor’s notes or prescriptions you get to use as proof. Then when you get home, <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/2017/03/what-is-covered-by-travel-insurance/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">submit a claim with your travel insurance company</span></strong></a>. It won't bring back those days you missed on holidays, but you should at least get some of your money back.</p>
<p>Have you ever been sick on holidays?</p>
