You’ve paid for your trip and looked forward to it for months so, of course, you don’t want to get sick during your trip.

Friends I was with in India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Peru have all gotten sick while traveling – sometimes for reasons that were avoidable.

You may just get unlucky, but there are things you can do to make sure you have a fighting chance of staying healthy.

Look after your health before you go

First things first, if you’re not living a healthy lifestyle before your trip, you are much more likely to get sick whilst traveling.

You don’t have to be addicted to the gym, but maintaining a reasonable level of fitness will help to build your immune system.

Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet and getting the nutrients your body needs to keep a healthy immune system. Beans and toast every day is not ok.

Food and drinks to avoid getting sick while traveling

Don’t drink the tap water

There are many countries in the world where drinking the tap water isn’t a good idea. This includes most of Asia and South America, but also many islands such as the Canary Islands.

I was once unwell for two weeks after I guzzled some tap water in Fuerteventura after a night out. Not worth it.

Before you travel, make sure you check advice on whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination. If in doubt, drink bottled water.

You can also buy purification tablets or a Life Straw, which filter local tap water to make it safe to drink. I recommend these if you’re traveling to remote areas where bottled water is difficult to obtain.

Check water bottles are sealed when you buy them

Some places, for example India, are a bit unscrupulous when it comes to your safety. Sometimes locals will refill empty plastic bottles with tap water and resell them.

So even if you’re buying bottled water, make sure you check the seal is unbroken. I’ve even heard stories of seals being re-glued, so check properly.

Make sure you see a waiter open your bottle of mineral water

The same goes for even the nicest restaurants. You are well within your rights to insist that the waiter opens your bottle of water in front of you, so that you can be sure it was sealed in the first place.

Don’t have ice in your drinks

If the tap water isn’t safe, ice made from the tap water won’t be safe either. So ask for your drink without ice, unless you can be certain that it’s made from bottled water.

I tend to stick to bottled water, coca cola, and beer when I’m traveling, as there is much less chance of any contamination.

Avoid salads and raw vegetables

Salads and rave vegetables can seem like they would be a safe choice when traveling Asia or South America. After all, they grow naturally and don’t need to be cooked.

However, salads and vegetables can be washed in tap water. There’s no way of knowing.

If vegetables are then boiled, they’ll be fine, but lettuce washed in tap water would be a no go.

Avoid dairy

Some countries serve unpasteurised dairy products, which can include milk, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream.

If purchasing from a store, check labels for evidence of pasteurisation. But if you’re ordering in a restaurant or from a street vendor, it’s best to avoid these foods altogether.

Check meat is cooked through

Often the standard of cooking in less developed countries is not as high as in western countries.

Meat can often be under-cooked, which means that any bugs won’t have been killed off before you eat it.

Check meat is cooked through before you put it into your mouth. In Peru, a few friends and I were dished up some alpaca burgers that were completely uncooked inside.

Don’t eat street food

Hygiene of food cooked outside on the street can be pretty dodgy, so it’s best to avoid street-food altogether.

It can be tempting though, particularly in Asian countries where it is so much a part of the culture.

If you do really want to try some, make sure you are with a really trustworthy guide who will point out what you will and won’t be safe to eat.

When I visited India, I had a really brilliant G Adventures guide who allowed us to eat amazing street food from places he trusted. We were all fine for a whole month.

Read my review of my G Adventures India trip to learn about a safe way to travel India.

Hygiene to avoid getting sick while traveling

Brush your teeth with bottled water

This one is really important and it’s also one of the most common mistakes people make. If the water isn’t safe to drink, why would you put it on your toothbrush and then put that in your mouth? Yuck.

Some friends I was with in Bali were poorly for the first few days, until they stopped brushing their teeth with the tap water.

Most good hotels will leave a couple of bottles of mineral water in the bathroom for you. Use it.

Keep your eyes and mouth clamped shut while taking a shower

My Dad used to travel for work a lot when I was young and, when I began traveling with him, he gave me some advice.

He told me that bugs from water can get into your system through your eyes, as well as your mouth. This is true, and common knowledge, but often not something we think of when we’re taking a shower.

When showering, keep your eyes and your mouth clamped tightly shut.

Yes, it’s a bit harder to breath and I end up gasping for air every few seconds, but I believe it helps!

Use hand sanitiser

While traveling Asia or South America, it’s important to keep a decent supply of hand sanitiser on you at all times.

Use it after you go to the bathroom, and again before you eat anything.

Follow Health Advice to avoid getting sick while traveling

Get the relevant vaccinations

Aside from getting sick from eating or drinking something you shouldn’t, there are other things that can make you unwell whilst traveling.

A couple of months before you travel anywhere make sure you check what vaccinations or medication you might need.

I always check the UK NHS website Fit For Travel. No matter where you’re from, you will find comprehensive advice on what vaccinations are recommended for that location, how high the malaria risk is, etc.

You should then follow up with the Travel Nurse at your Doctor surgery to check whether your jabs are up to date.

I personally always get the recommended jabs (which really isn’t much of a pain if you travel a lot, as most of them last a few years and some protect you for life).

Use insect repellent

If you’re traveling somewhere with a risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as Dengue or Zika Virus, make sure you take the necessary precautions.

Yes, mosquito repellent with Deet stinks and isn’t great for your skin long-term, but I think it’s worth it to avoid getting really unwell.

Wear Sunscreen and a Hat

If you’re visiting somewhere hot you need to make sure you protect yourself from the sun. Both sunburn and heat stroke can seriously ruin your trip.

Slop on plenty of 30+ and slap on a hat to avoid getting sick while traveling to warm climates.

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The weather in Jordan in Winter

In the winter months, the weather in Jordan can be quite changeable and, although it is only a small country, the weather can vary a lot from place to place.

When I visited in February, it was 20-25 degrees Celsius in the sun, chilly when cloudy, 2 degrees Celsius overnight in the desert, heavy rainfall one day in Amman, and snow was forecast (though that didn’t happen).

So you sort of need to pack for all weathers!

What to pack for Jordan in Winter

So what should you pack? Here’s what I recommend, based on my experience in February.

Clicking on the images or links will take you to the product page on Amazon. If you decide to buy something, I will get a small commission, but rest assured there won’t be any additional cost to you.

The first images (which link to Amazon products) are items for women, and the second are for men.

Down Jacket

A down jacket is a must-pack item for any trip that isn’t going to be boiling hot. They scrunch up small and compact and are super light, but also super warm.

I like Trespass down jackets as they are a good quality mid-price brand.

Pack some Hiking Boots for Jordan in winter

Make sure you pack some good hiking boots. It might rain in Jordan in winter, so it’s a good idea to take a waterproof pair.

I swear by my KEEN Terradora Waterproof Hiking Boots, which have seen me through long treks in many locations – including Jordan.

You can read my review of my Keen Terradora boots if you’d like to know more about them.

Hiking Socks

You’re likely to do a lot of walking in Jordan, particularly if you are planning to visit Petra – it’s a huge site!

I love my Karrimor trekking socks, as they aren’t too hot and they have plenty of padding in the right places.

Waterproof Jacket – it can rain in Jordan in winter

It doesn’t normally rain very much in Jordan but it can do in winter and, if it does, you’ll be glad to have a lightweight waterproof jacket.

When I visited in February, it rained so much in Amman that the centre of town flooded. That is unusual, but I certainly needed the waterproof jacket!

I like packable waterproof jackets, as they do the job, are light and scrunch up nice and small.

Fleece for the Wadi Rum in winter

As I said, the weather is mostly likely to be relatively warm, however if you’re planning on spending any time in Wadi Rum (the desert) then you will need to wrap up warm.

In the desert, it can get down to 0 degrees Celsius and it can also be very windy.

I love my North Face Fleece because it’s very warm, lightweight, and has lasted really well.

Long Sleeve T-shirts

Make sure you take a few long sleeve t-shirts. I recommend long sleeve as Jordan is a mainly Muslim country. Ladies, you’ll want to make sure they have a higher neckline too – no cleavage on show.

Short sleeve t-shirts are fine for men, and you can get away with them as a woman too, however it’s more respectful to wear long sleeves.

I love FatFace long sleeve tops, as they are comfy, really great quality, and not too expensive.

Leggings or Hiking Trousers

I took two pairs of leggings, one pair of thermal running leggings and one pair of normal sports leggings. If opting to wear leggings, take along some longer t-shirts which will cover your bum.

Hiking trousers are great for men or, if preferred, for women too. I personally find leggings more comfortable and they can double as pyjama bottoms.

Jeans

Jeans are commonly worn in Jordan and you’ll fit right in wearing them. In winter, they are a good choice for wearing in the towns and cities as they’re warm.

Tight, skinny jeans are completely fine for women.

Pack a thin scarf

Just for the colder evenings and time out in the desert, I was glad to have a scarf. I took just a lightweight cotton scarf and found that to be enough. I don’t think it would have been worth the weight to take a wool one.

Swimmers for the Dead Sea in winter

Jordan is a very conservative country, so you might wonder what kind of swimming costume is appropriate. You’ll only be wearing it in the resorts, so the answer is that you can wear whatever you like.

I personally chose a more conservative bikini than I typically would, and took along one of my surfing ones.

It ill be warm enough for a swim in the Dead Sea, even in winter.

Technology to pack for Jordan

Power Bank

A bit like India, the plug sockets in the hotels in Jordan can be a bit hit and miss. You’ll find a combination of British and European-style plug sockets, and some will work and some will not!

You can save yourself some potential drama by taking a fully-charged power bank with you.

I have an Anker PowerCore 20100, which I’m really happy with. It isn’t perhaps the lightest, but the charge seems to last forever!

Headphones

I have Bose QuietComfort 20 Headphones which I just would not be without. They are Noise Cancelling so they are great on planes, trains and buses.

You can read my review of them here.

Camera

I always travel with my Nikon D3500, which I love. I’ve been using this model (and a previous version of it) for the years.

It’s a great entry level DSLR, which is easy to operate, takes brilliant photos (even in fully automatic mode) and, despite the kit lens, is really quite light compared to other DSLRs.

GoPro for the Dead Sea

I thoroughly recommend taking a GoPro (or other waterproof camera) with you if you’re planning on going to the Dead Sea.

It’s really bizarre being able to float on top of the water, and it’s fun to capture on film. A GoPro is a great option because you will be able to both film and take still shots.

I have an extendable selfie-stick-style handle for my GoPro, which you can loop around your wrist in water.

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How much stuff should you pack for a month in India?

How much stuff should you pack for a month in India? Well, I reckon about the same as you would pack for one week in India.

Hotels in India have the best and most efficient laundry services I’ve ever come across. For mere pennies you can have your whole bag of clothes cleaned, dried, ironed and neatly folded within 24 hours.

There’s no need to carry around more than one week’s worth of clothes – save the space in your bag for your inevitable souvenir shopping!

Clothes to pack for a month in India

A few T-shirts

India is a mainly Hindu country, so as a woman you need to be covering your shoulders and your knees. Leave your sleeveless tops at home and opt for short sleeve, cotton mix (they crease less than 100% cotton) t-shirts.

India can be hot and humid, so take one week’s worth or pack some travel laundry liquid to give them a rinse in between full laundry loads.

A long sleeve shirt

A lightweight long sleeve shirt is a good idea in India as you can use it to cover up if necessary and to protect from mosquito bites in the evenings. Choose a linen or cotton style to keep cool.

A few pairs of cotton joggers

I love cotton joggers for travel in hot climates. As a woman in India you need to wear clothes that cover your knees, so a few pairs of lightweight trousers are a must.

Cotton joggers are perfect as they scrunch up really small and take up next to no space in your bag.

A dress or two

Dresses are great in India as they look great and keep you nice and cool. Just make sure you pack dresses which cover your shoulders and your knees.

A silk scarf

You don’t really have to pack one of these when you’re at home, because opportunities to buy beautiful silk scarves at a great price will be plentiful in India.

But do make sure you get one within your first few days. They are great for covering up in temples, using as a light blanket on a breezy train, or just for accessorising your outfit.

Some statement jewellery

I’m not really one for accessories, but for those of you that find wearing a week’s worth of clothing over and over again a bit dull, you can mix things up with a few well-chosen accessories.

Just make sure you pick things that will look good with multiple outfit combinations.

Toms Shoes

Toms are just about my favourite shoes, not least because they give a new pair of shoes to a child in need every time you buy a pair! I live in them (except in Winter!).

Toms are absolutely brilliant for travelling because they are just so comfy and just so light! They also squish up as small as flip-flops (or thongs, or jandals, depending on where you’re from!)

In India the streets can be kinda dirty, so Toms are perfect as they cover your whole foot, but are cool and lightweight. They’re pretty good for climbing to the top bunk on a sleeper train too (see pic above!).

Socks (if you’re visiting the Karni Mata temple)

See those rats? See the state of the floor? This is the Karni Mata temple (aka. the Rat Temple) and it’s a temple, so you can’t wear shoes. So yeah… you’re gonna want socks. And you’re gonna want ones you won’t mind throwing in the bin as you leave.

A down jacket for the plane

I don’t know how I coped before, but I only discovered down jackets a few years ago. Mine has changed my travel life! I live in the UK (which is often a wee bit chilly!) so, even when travelling to somewhere hot, I need a coat to get to the airport. That used to mean lugging around a heavy jacket in a hot country for weeks/months and not using it!

Down jackets are SUPER LIGHT and can scrunch up to about the size of a tennis ball – perfect for packing light on a multi-climate trip

And obviously…

Underwear, PJs, etc.

Other things to pack for a month in India

Travel hair dryer

The weather can be hot and humid in India, and also the water tends to leave your hair feeling a bit… grubby. So your locks can be harder than usual to tame.

I wrote a post about my favourite travel hair dryer a while back.

Power bank

Electricity in India’s hotels can be somewhat unreliable and you’re highly likely to experience a lot of power cuts whilst you’re there.

Not to mention the fact that it can be difficult to make sure you have the right plug adaptor. Indian builders seem to put in whichever type of socket they have to hand, so whilst one hotel room might have 3-pin UK sockets, the next might be European or American.

So a power bank can be super handy! I have an Anker PowerCore 20100 – Ultra High Capacity Power Bank and I really love it. I took it to Jordan recently and charged my iPhone multiple times without anywhere near running down the powerbank.

Noise cancelling headphones

Travel in India means long train journeys (if you want to know what the trains are like, you can read my post about them). So noise cancelling headphones can be a godsend.

Bose QuietComfort are generally reported as the best, or here’s a review of my favourite budget noise cancelling headphones!

Kindle

Also amazing for passing time on a long train journey, don’t forget to pack your Kindle. Make sure you pre-load it with plenty of good reads before you leave the UK, as the WiFi in India can be somewhat sketchy.

A decent camera

India is one of the places that I’ve taken the most photos. Everything there was interesting to me and it’s great to have the memories captured and printed in a photobook (and posted on Insta…).

If you’re new to photography but don’t trust your iPhone to produce good enough shots, I recommend investing in an entry-level DSLR. I have a Nikon D3500 which I love to bits – it’s light, great for learning and it’s pretty good on Automatic too!

Toiletries

Of course, you’ll need to take your usual set of toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc.) but there’s a couple of other things you’ll want in India too.

Don’t forget to pack insect repellent containing Deet. It stinks, but you do not want to get Dengue Fever.

And make sure you pack some hand sanitiser. Contrary to popular belief, the toilets really aren’t that bad, but the water for washing your hands might not be very clean.

Also, make sure you nab a loo roll or two from your hotel to carry around with you. You’ll appreciate it.

First Aid Kit

Depending on where in India you are travelling, it may be difficult to get hold of good first aid supplies, so make sure you take a decent first aid kit with you.  Don’t forget plasters and antibacterial wipes, plus a good supply of Immodium… (I actually didn’t get sick AT ALL in India, but I was glad to have a safety net!).

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