About your health

Before your trip...

If you are liable to get sick - Welcome I was sitting in the same boat!

For such a big trip it is important that you think about your physical condition even before you start travelling!

Eat healthy

A balanced diet and excercise is the secret! Try to eat more fruits, fibres, some proteins and greens. If your bowel works perfectly you'll also have a good immun system. If you feel sick after some food simply avoid it and check if you feel better without it. If you constantly get a cold or a flu and you have no idea what it could be, an alternative practitioner might help.

Do some exercise

If you plan travelling with a backpack and maybe want to cover a distance by foot you will profit from a good training in advance already. Strenghten your upper back muscles as well as your general physical endurance.

In the end no one wants to start sick in his/her adventure. Plus, if you are in a good physical condition you also will overcome on-tour-diseases more easily.

Be prepared, just in case

Anyways, if you are getting seriousely sick on your trip - your overseas health insurance will at least take your cost worries and support you with the allowance to stay at a good hospital or even fly you back to your home country. That's why it its important to have a good insurance!

Vaccinations

As you will travel overseas, some countries require the proof of some vaccinations in order to get your visa. That's why it is crucial to inform yourself about the vaccinations in advance. Either you ask your general practitioner or visit a tropical institut, which will give you a detailed vaccination plan for your travel destinations. Be aware that you have to pay for the consultation as well as for the vaccine...

Some of the health insurances (e.g. AOK) bear a part of the travel vaccinations though. So, take all receipts with you and check with your health insurance if they will pay a part.

Here you've got a list with the most important vaccinations and the approximately costs:

Yellow fever vaccination
Polio vaccination
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhus
Meningococcal vaccination
Robies vaccination (3x) + vaccination right after infection
Japanese encephalitis (2x)
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Influenza vaccination

approx. 100€

approx. 20€

approx. 70€

approx. 20€

approx. 50€

approx. 250€

approx. 200€

paid by your health insurance

For countries with a high risk of Malaria infection it's recommended to take a Malaria prophylaxe with you. This is a medication which you need to take daily as long as you are in the risky area, plus at least 5 days after you left this area for a full protection.

Be aware that you won't be late for getting the vaccinations! You can't get or rather don't want them all at once. Don't forget your international vaccination card!

Travel health insurance

The most important thing in the event that you are getting seriously sick on your journey and you don't want to pay huge prices for your treatment!

The usual travel health insurances you've got is only valid for travels not longer than 90 days. That means you need an extra travel health insurance as you plan traveling longer than 3 months.

I've looked through several insurances and favored the 2 following ones.

Hanse Merkur

STA Travel

They both cover the most important things and are affordable. They divide themselves in worldwide without USA&Canada / worldwide with USA&Canada and the traveling period. With USA & Canada it's a bit more pricy than without them. Both insurances starting with 35€ a month already. But you have to pay the full insurance amount right at concluding the contract! Be aware that you need to budget that money before you start your journey (1000-2000€).

It's recommended to pay for a longer travel period as you might have planned because it's more challenging to extend your contract than to come back earlier and get the rest of the paid amount back.

Travel pharmacy

You should definetely bring a first aid kit - just in case!

Body spray "No Bite" DEET 50 against mosquitos
Nail scissors & tweezer
Patches & gauze bandages
Nasal spray, cough drops
Painkillers
Sun lotion & after sun lotion
Medication against diarrhea / nausea
For women anti baby pill / hygiene products

After your return..

After your trip it is recommended to make a medical check-up. You should appreciate the signals of your body the next couple of weeks. A disease, you got from there, can still break out!

If you want to test yourself for several diseases the cheapest option is to visit a blood donor campaign. They have to investigate your blood for the most popular diseases like HIV, Hepatits etc. before they can donate your blood.