Travel insurance may seem like just one more piece of paperwork that can take the fun out of holidays, but without the financial protection and other benefits it offers, you could find yourself facing expensive medical bills or even being stranded overseas in the event that something goes wrong while you're away.
Just because you've got travel insurance doesn't mean you can afford to take unnecessary health risks on your holidays or business trips though, and it can be worth spending some time reading websites or talking to other travellers to find out some of the possible health risks associated with your destination.
If your body is not used to some types of foreign food, it might be a good idea to limit your experimental dining activities while abroad. You may also want to take care when travelling in poorer countries, or areas with comparatively low standards of personal health and hygiene, to minimise your risk of food poisoning. If you do not speak the native language, you may also be risking consuming foods you are allergic to, or that are not normally part of your diet, so taking along a foreign dictionary or finding restaurants where the staff are fluent in English can be important for giving you peace of mind.
Health risks don't only come with food either, and the type of activities you get up to on your holidays could also put you at risk. Standard personal travel insurance policies will not usually cover certain high risk pastimes - such as skydiving or sports like skiing and mountain climbing - so you may need to take out an additional or more specialised insurance policy to ensure you are covered in these situations.
If you're visiting hot countries, or doing a lot of walking or exercise, it's also important to drink lots of water, which may be more than you are used to back home. You could already be partially dehydrated by the time you feel thirsty, and if you notice yourself sweating it might be an idea to replenish this liquid by drinking at least two litres (or eight glasses) of water per day - it may be important to note however, that tap water may not always be safe for consumption.
Alcohol can be a sensitive issue too, and even if you're used to regular drinking back home, this may not be advisable in hotter climates, where dehydration could lead to sickness or painful hangovers.
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