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Anyone watching tv will have seen too many stories of the tragic problems that can occur as a consequence of sudden sickness whilst on holiday. A poor holidaymaker who got struck by a nasty bout of 'delhi belly' whilst visiting an exotic location and as a result, spent the whole holiday in the apartment. A relative who drank the tap water, suffered atrocious stomach pains and fever and has not been the same since. One of the kids gets attacked by some exotic insect and needs expensive medical treatment. Whichever it is, it probably ruined the vacation, cost them an absolute fortune and put them off overseas vacations for the rest of their life. Without doubt, you don't want the same to happen to you, so here's a list of pointers to safeguard your nearest and dearest and make sure that that you have an enjoyable holiday: Forward planning Clearly you can't predict every contingency, there are a few simple precautions you should take to make sure that your vacation is healthy. * Make sure you know how great a concern biting or stinging insects (midges, mosquitos, wasps, ants etc) are in the countries you are visiting. Depending on the size of the problem, you may need to buy insect repellent spray and impregnated mosquito nets. * Do a bit of investigation and check which vaccinations are required for the locations you are visiting. * Do a bit of investigation and check about the local weather conditions. This will affect the clothing to pack, whether you will need to take a pair of sunglasses, and the type of sun lotion that you need. * Make sure that you pack a first aid kit that covers anything that you may need in your holiday destination. Travel insurance is crucial Travel insurance policies have different coverage, so assess your particular circumstances and ensure that your health policy covers your specific needs. Before you begin your holiday, really understand your policy and in particular, its limits. If you are not clear over sections of the travel policy, seek clarification before travelling. Most importantly, don't forget to include the health policy with your travel documents. * When choosing your health policy, pay close attention to the payout methods. Are you required to pay your costs first, only getting your money back later, or is the money simply transferred from the insurance company to the medical centre ? * With your chosen insurance policy, are you able to buy extra coverage if you extend your stay? * When deciding on your health policy, check and compare the maximum amounts each health policy is happy to pay. * When selecting your travel policy, make sure that you are aware of the full cost of each insurance policy? Food safety when overseas One of the most distressing things that can happen to you on your vacation, is to get a nasty bout of food poisoning. Here are a few tips to help you stay happy in the locations you are visiting: * Where possible, avoid eating raw or uncooked meat or meat that is pre-cooked and served later in the day. * Take great care with seafood, in particular shellfish that may be the product of fishing in water that is contaminated. * Take care with the local tap water. Where possible, drink only branded bottled water, and always examine the seal to ensure it is not an old bottle that has been filled with tap water by dodgy shopkeepers. If you are not sure over the standard of the local water, it is not a bad idea to even stay away from ice cubes in your drinks. If circumstances force you to use the local drinking water, boil it well before use. Roger Wakefield is a staff writer at: Villas in the Algarve, (http://www.villaretreats.com/villas-algarve.asp) offering a range of villas in the Algarve, Portugal and other European and Caribbean destinations
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