You research what museums and restaurants you want to visit, plan everything you’re going to pack, and count down the days until you leave. Anticipating a vacation is exciting – unless you suddenly get sick. Falling ill before or during your trip can derail the fun quickly, and that’s why it’s so important to add a few steps to your pre-vacation checklist that can help you stay healthy.

Whether you’re traveling to a neighboring state or across the globe, feeling your best is an important part of having a great trip. The experts at On Call International, an emergency medical, security and travel assistance organization, offer these tips for maintaining health before and during your travel adventures:

1. Consider your vaccination options
Although typically associated with international travel, vaccines are important for staying healthy before and during any type of travel. When was the last time you asked your doctor if you were up to date on your vaccinations? Before your next trip, schedule a physical and ask about vaccines, such as options for the flu, and any other travel-related health concerns. If you’re traveling to a more exotic or remote location, you may want to see a travel medicine specialist who can advise you on which vaccinations and precautions Americans should take when going to that specific destination.

2. Always wash your hands
While it may sound simple, one of the best ways to stay healthy and prevent the spread of germs is to wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Especially during the flu season, washing your hands thoroughly is important to staying healthy. If you’re traveling and you don’t have access to clean water and soap, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the next best thing.

3. Carry sanitizing wipes
A handy travel tool to have in your bag is a pack of sanitizing wipes. While it’s not necessary to sanitize every surface you encounter, using them for commonly touched areas can help keep you healthy by killing viruses and germs. For example, carry a travel-size pack of wipes to clean your airplane tray before eating, door knobs at your hotel, or the keyboard at the local Internet cafe. If you  don’t have wipes, a dab of hand sanitizer on a tissue is a simple substitute.

4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Staying healthy is an ongoing effort, which means well before you take your trip, make sure you are eating right, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and getting adequate amounts of sleep each night. You’ll also want to exercise regularly, and consider increasing your physical activity if you’ll be particularly active on your trip to help prepare your body for long walks or hikes. These extra efforts will help keep your immune system strong so you don’t get sick before you leave, and you’ll be less vulnerable to fall ill or get injured while traveling.

5. Have a plan B
Of course anything can happen, even if you take the proper health steps, which is why a membership to a medical, security and travel assistance company like On Call International is a good backup plan. If you do get sick while on vacation, you’ll get assistance locating a qualified physician, hospital or pharmacy. If you lose your prescription, there’s replacement assistance too. In the event of a serious illness or injury, you’ll receive emergency medical evacuation, which includes the planning and cost of transporting you home to your preferred doctor.

With just a few simple steps you can stay healthy before, during and after your travels so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest. For more information, visit www.OnCallInternational.com.