Traveling with Allergies

You have a lot to think about when going on vacation or a business trip. You have to get your tickets, visas, book a hotel, and secure a car rental. Then comes packing, deciding how long to stay, and a host of other small details. If you have allergies, you have one more worry to add to your list.

While you are at home, you may be well aware of your allergies, what causes them, and how to treat your reactions. When traveling to a new place, however, you probably have no idea what you will encounter.

Plants, and some animals, in foreign lands can trigger allergic reactions and catch you unaware. It doesn’t have to be international travel destinations either; just traveling a few hours from your home can bring you near unfamiliar plants and allergic reactions.

There are some things you should do and how to travel with allergies.

If Traveling By Air:

If you have pet allergies, ask your airline if there are any pets scheduled to fly in the cabin for your particular flight. Many airlines have a maximum pet allowance per flight, but this may still not be enough to keep you from having a reaction. Ask to be seated as far away from the animals as possible, and let them know being near animals in the enclosed plane may trigger a reaction.

Remember that the air in a plane is recycled. If you have allergies, traveling in this environment can be tricky. Irritants can easily build up within the plane, especially on longer flights. Take a dose of your medications directly before your flight to help with your symptoms.

If you have a prescription medication, make sure you bring it in the original bottle you received from the pharmacy. It should have the medication information on it, along with your name and your doctor’s name. If your medication is not in the original bottle, you may not be able to take it on the plane with you.

Consider taking your own pillow and a blanket with your on your flight, especially if you have the hypoallergenic type. This will reduce your need to use the ones offered by the airline.

Talk to your reservations agent when booking your tickets if you have any food allergies. They may allow you to bring your own meal on the flight if they cannot guarantee the flight meal will not contain peanuts or any other food you cannot eat due to allergies.

Point of Destination:

When deciding where to go on your vacation, think about the climate and the places you want to see. You might want to find out if your medications are available. If you can’t get your medications, it could ruin your entire vacation.

Talk to your airline about your allergies and your medications. They may have tips for you about bringing your meds with you, and give you information about rules and regulations in another country, if you are flying internationally. It never hurts to call the consulate at your point of destination to get the correct information first hand.

Consider where you are staying. In most cases, those with allergies are better of not staying at a bed and breakfast. They can be a haven for allergy problems. Try a hotel instead. You may want to skip staying with friends as well.

Ask your hotel if they have hypoallergenic rooms and non smoking rooms. It is also a good idea to bring your own blankets and pillows to avoid using the ones provided by the hotel.

Final Thoughts

You really don’t know what to expect when traveling, but it is good to be prepared, especially if your allergies tend to be severe. A little preparation can save your from sniffling and sneezing your way through your dream vacation, or even better, save you from a trip to the emergency room.