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...

By Michael Merschel

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...

By Amberley Davis

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...

By Emily Bashforth

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 -...

By Sarah Jarvis

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 coun...

By Amberley Davis

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 pr...

By Amberley Davis

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...

By Sarah Jarvis

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...

By Hilary Jones, MBE

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?

By Léa Surugue

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...

By Gillian Harvey

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.

By Lydia Smith

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 min...

By Gillian Harvey

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 direc...

By Glynis Kozma

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 compulsor...

By Glynis Kozma

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 tr...

By Julian Turner

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.

By Léa Surugue

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 bal...

By Léa Surugue

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 al...

By Abi Millar

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'...

By Abi Millar

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 buy...

By Anna Cantlay, MRCGP