Category: Travel medical care

Is Travel Insurance Really Necessary?

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, airline best practices, flying, France, Paris, Travel, travel apps, travel essentials, travel hacks, travel insurance, Travel medical care, Travel technology, travel tips, Travel tips-money, travelling, trip insurance, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Do you REALLY need travel insurance to cover your trips?? I never thought so. In all my years travelling the world for business and pleasure, I was lucky enough to experience very few cancellations or trip delays, so I never bought it. Now, after having to cancel our two-week trip to Nice, France earlier this year because of my brain tumor surgeries in January, I am reconsidering if I need to protect our trips from now on. So, I am doing the research for myself but thought I would put together a post with the details to help others who might also be wondering if they need travel insurance. We are headed to Paris in December to see the holiday lights and do a little Christmas shopping. While we have enjoyed Paris many times, we have never experienced the holiday spirit there. Oh là là!

When I booked our flights through La Compagnie to Nice in 2025 to travel in April 2026, I did not purchase the option that included free cancellations/rebooking. This all-business-class flight has just 80 full flat-bed seats and serves gourmet French cuisine. It is a wonderful experience, flying out of Newark to Paris, Milan and seasonally to Nice. Even though I knew I hadn’t purchased the refundable tickets, it was a sizable chunk of money, so after my surgeries when I knew I couldn’t travel for months during my recovery, I reached out to their customer service and, after getting a note from my wonderfully supportive surgeon stating I could not travel for the trip dates booked, the airline kindly gave us a credit for the ticket prices. They didn’t have to do that at all, so I really appreciated the consideration. Now, we are off to use that credit before it expires at the end of the year.

This time I was considering buying trip insurance especially with my medical issues and the fact that my primary Medicare insurance doesn’t cover me in Europe. However, I did discover that my supplemental policy, Plan G, does cover me for emergency medical care outside the US up to 80% after a $250 deductible, with a $50,000 lifetime cap. Tip of the hat to my sister who clued me in on this!

There are many companies offering trip insurance covering medical care if you do determine you need it. Below are the top ones I could find online. Most sites offer immediate quotes based on the following trip details:

  1. Destination
  2. Trip cost
  3. Dates
  4. Age of travelers (the cost goes up the older you are!)
  5. Whether you want CFAR (Cover For Any Reason)
  6. Any medical concerns or pre‑existing conditions (they may not cover you if you have these and I definitely do)

The policy costs vary based on the above factors. To give you an idea, to cover Thom and I through Allianz for a $10,000 trip, it was $1,000 and didn’t cover medical expenses for any pre-existing conditions, which is not ideal for me with my medical history. The cheapest quote I got was from Travelex and it was $600. Here are some more details if you want to look into this option:

Travelex • Best For: Overall value • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$50K • CFAR*: Yes • Notes: Fast claims; top overall ratings

Allianz • Best For: Families & groups • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$25K • CFAR: Limited • Notes: Great annual plans

Seven Corners • Best For: Cancellation flexibility • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$250K • CFAR: Yes • Notes: Strong international coverage

Berkshire Hathaway • Best For: Budget + fast claims • Medical Coverage: Varies • CFAR: No • Notes: Very affordable

Trawick International • Best For: Cheapest • Medical Coverage: Moderate–High • CFAR: Some plans • Notes: Best budget pick • Link: Best Travel Insurance for 2026 | Trawick International

Faye • Best For: App-based claims • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$100K • CFAR: Yes • Notes: Modern digital experience

*Cover For Any Reason, which means you don’t have to have a specific reason, i.e. illness, death, etc. to cancel and get reimbursed.  Having this feature is the best coverage possible because having CFAR coverage gives you the flexibility to easily cancel your trip for any given reason, even if it’s not listed in the standard policy. For instance, you could decide not to go anymore just because you don’t feel like it. However, it’s good to know that reimbursement for CFAR claims is usually around 75% of the total cost of your trip, not the full 100% like with the typical trip cancellation coverage.

I had originally thought that my Marriott Bonvoy AMEX, that I had used to book our Nice trip included trip protection, but it only had trip delay coverage. I was lucky that the ARBNB that we had booked (overlooking the ocean in Nice-sigh!) had a great cancel policy so I got all my money back from that. I had got burned in the past with a trip cancel on an ARBNB in NYC when Thom had heart surgery and we had to cancel, so ever since I have looked to only rent properties that you can cancel right before the trip with no fees. Now, most ARBNB properties don’t offer that flexibility, so it does make finding the right place harder for sure. If you book hotels, you usually can cancel days before the trip depending on if you book through a third-party online like Hotels.com or directly with the hotel. Check all the cancel policies before you book a trip!

After crowd sourcing opinions on travel insurance through the travel community on Threads, some nice person suggested I get a credit card that offers travel protection, so I researched that option too. If you do plan on travelling often, getting a credit card that gives you trip protection AND lounge access is very nice but these cards charge higher fees. I don’t think we will be travelling much going forward so I probably don’t need that feature though in the past I did love those lounges!

Final decision for me: I believe the Chase Sapphire Preferred card would offer the best protection for the price of $95 annual fee, especially since my Plan G medical insurance covers emergency treatment outside the US. This card has the emergency medical evacuation coverage that my Plan G doesn’t cover. Between the Chase card and my Plan G medical insurance, I feel like we will be well covered for our trip to Paris. Because I am SO ready to travel again. Paris, here we come!

CREDIT CARD OPTIONS OUT THERE:

Chase Sapphire Reserve • Max Cancellation: $10k/person • Annual Fee: $550 • Best For: Frequent travelers • Lounge Access: Priority Pass • Notes: Best overall protection

Chase Sapphire Preferred • Max Cancellation: $5k/trip • Annual Fee: $95 • Best For: Most travelers • Lounge Access: None • Notes: Great value

Venture X • Max Cancellation: $2k/person • Annual Fee: $395 • Best For: Occasional travelers • Lounge Access: Capital One + Priority Pass + Plaza Premium • Notes: Best mid‑tier

Amex Platinum • Max Cancellation: $10k/trip • Annual Fee: $695 • Best For: Premium travel • Lounge Access: Centurion + Sky Club + PP + Plaza Premium • Notes: Must book round trip; best lounges

Altitude Reserve • Max Cancellation: $2k/trip • Annual Fee: $400 • Best For: Domestic travel • Lounge Access: Priority Pass • Notes: Good for domestic travel

Note: special offers often change the annual fees

CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED TRIP PROTECTION:

Auto Rental Coverage  Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance  If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.

Trip Delay Reimbursement  If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per covered traveler.

Travel Accident Insurance  When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in accidental death or d

Lost Luggage Reimbursement  Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip.

Baggage Delay Insurance  Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 5 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.

 Emergency Evacuation and Transportation  If you or a covered traveler are injured or become sick during a trip 100 miles or more from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Travel and Emergency Assistance  If you run into a problem while traveling away from home, this benefit provides legal and medical referrals and access to other travel and emergency assistance services. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.)

Roadside Assistance  If you have a roadside emergency, call the service provider to dispatch the help you need. Roadside service fees will be billed to your card at time of dispatch.

Fraud Protection  Get fraud protection all day, every day.

Zero Liability Protection  You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.

Fraud Alerts  Round-the-clock, real-time monitoring for unusual account activity.

Purchase Protection  Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.

Extended Warranty Protection  Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.

Chip-Enabled Protection  Enjoy enhanced security and wider acceptance when you make purchases at chip-enabled card readers in the U.S. and abroad.

Card features that are good for travelers:

  • $0 foreign transaction fees
  • No blackout dates or travel restrictions

You get 100,000 points (special offer that may change) when you get the card and they can be transferred to the following travel programs:

  • Aer Lingus
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
  • United MileagePlus®
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • IHG® Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy™
  • World of Hyatt®
  • Wyndham Rewards®

Girls Trip 2024 to the Netherlands: Amazing Moments

On By Travels with MelindaIn Amsterdam, Girls Trip, Netherlands, The Hague, Travel, travel essentials, travel hacks, Travel medical care, travel tips, travelling, vacationLeave a comment

Travelling is always magical, so to end 2024, I’m celebrating by sharing the details of my fall trip to the Netherlands. Then, it’s on to 2025 and new adventures exploring the world! On my recent Girls Trip, we enjoyed a string of moments I hope I never forget. They were special and unique to our Netherlands adventure. Girls trips are important to me for many reasons. It’s quality time with my sisters who live far away. Though we have done video chats weekly since the pandemic, the fun of exploring new places and having great adventures together is precious to me.

While we did have an itinerary and had discussed in general what we wanted to see and do on our Netherlands trip in September, we remained flexible and pivoted based on how we were feeling each day and the weather. Sure delays happen and other issues can crop up but if you take these bumps in stride, take a deep breath and enjoy the journey, then the travel magic will unfold. One special day, we jumped on a tram in Den Haag aka The Hague going in the wrong direction, so we enjoyed seeing Delft a day early and then got on the tram going in the “right” direction to walk the beach at the North Sea. It all worked out and was a lovely day. Go with the flow! As Patti and I wandered around The Hague, we tried out new names for a girls trip blog. This was the winner: Ladies Who Get Lost (but have fun).

We enjoyed a wide variety of global cuisines in this expat friendly city where many international folks work at the nearby Peace Palace (take a tour here, either in the building or in the garden-both are special and only available at certain times of the year) and International Peace Court. One rainy night we looked out our hotel room window and saw the lights shining bright at a Filipino restaurant so out we went. Entering the festive place, the host informed us that a private party had taken over most of the restaurant for a buffet and karaoke night but, if we didn’t mind, we could still be seated and eat. Party on! We had a blast listening to all the singers take turns, though we declined when invited to join in, preferring to be the audience vs. the talent. This is an evening I won’t soon forget and it would have been so easy to go somewhere a little quieter but we had a blast. We also had great Italian close by our hotel and an amazing Chinese dinner in the largest Chinatown in the Netherlands.

My favorite liquids in the Hague varied from locally brewed liquors to the fresh mint infused tea served almost everywhere. At the Van Cleef distillery in business since 1842, we ordered one liquor tasting with multiple shots and, after quickly tasting that one, we ordered another. Heaven on our palates! From apple pie to salted caramel and raspberry and cherry infused liquors, we were sad to hear that they didn’t ship to the US. So we bought a few bottles, got some plastic travel bottles from the dept. store Primark to put the liquor in vs. the glass bottles they came in, and safely transported our liquor home to enjoy! I love that Patti kept her liquor in the spritz container and gave herself a quick spray into her mouth when she needed a shot.

Our other favorite liquid beverage on our trip was their very special mint tea. Imagine our surprise when we ordered mint tea only to have actual huge mint leaves come in the hot water. It was really a herbal infusion, like drinking a mint garden in your mouth. This wasn’t just a house specialty-it was available almost everywhere we went. Back in the US, I have never seen it done like this-probably too many rules about randomly serving fresh leaves. Does every café have a mint garden out back or on the roof? Fresh mint delivered daily? I would travel there again just to have this specialty. Oh, and I’d probably grab some of that booze too while I was there and take it back.

Having passed by a crystal spiritual store, Ananda Spiritual Living, on one of our jaunts, Patti and I went back to shop for some souvenirs. They had a huge variety of crystals and all things spiritual. Their tarot reader was available (only $15 each-very reasonable!) so we each took a turn to see what the cards would tell us. Mine was spot on, affirming all the changes that would soon be happening in our lives as our whole generational family moves from Boise to Baltimore in January. Whether you believe in Tarot or not, it was a unique experience and isn’t that what travel is all about? Do what you wouldn’t normally do back at home!

Having heard about the Hague forest on our walking tour, we decided to strike out and try to find it one morning. After a quick smudge on a park bench for my new crystal gifted to me by Patti, I looked up and saw a herd of deer in the close distance. WTH! Right across from the train station in Den Hague is a deer preserve where a large herd roams and the bucks bellow. We watched as they were fed by the park employees and saw the bucks try to assert dominance with a few well placed head butts. Oh fellas, chill out!

The main place to explore art in The Hague is the Mauritshuis Museum: https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/, where the famous Girl with the Pearl earring painting by Vermeer is their centerpiece. This museum is centrally located in The Hague and after visiting, you can stroll the wide path by the moat with the island. It’s a truly lovely museum with cozy rooms to view the art.

About those “bumps in the road” that can happen when you travel, we ended up in the Hague Emergency Room at the local hospital one night. Patti had gotten an infection in a cut on her finger and it was looking like it needed medical attention. Here is my advice if this happens to you when you are travelling. If at a hotel, go to your front desk and get their recommendation on closest pharmacy, doctor, hospital, etc. depending on what you need. There might even be possibility of doctor visiting you at hotel if your medical condition warrants it or calling an ambulance. We thought we might be able to get medicine at a pharmacy to help her. Many European pharmacists are able to talk to customers and prescribe medications without a doctor’s order. So off we went to the nearest pharmacy open in the evening which happened to be at a hospital. The pharmacist took one look at Patti’s wound and said we should go to ER and doctor would have to look at it and prescribe an antibiotic. So off we went! $300 and a few hours later, we just barely made it to the pharmacy to get our required drugs to take care of Patti before they closed. Quite an adventure! Make sure you travel with a list of any medications you are taking and any medical conditions (like high blood pressure) that might affect what a doctor might prescribe.

Once we left the Hague and went to Amsterdam, we had a more structured schedule-so many museums, canals, etc. to see! Our hotel, the Apollo Marriott, was right on a major intersection of canals and our room had a corner window eye level with the water. Lovely! While a bit out of the downtown core, it was a quick tram to all the sights. One highlight for us was going to a historic church for an art installation featuring Van Gogh and Rembrandt art projected onto the walls and ceilings while we lay on a big bean bag on the floor and took it all in. So. Groovy. We were probably the only ones attending who weren’t high but it was still mind blowing and I will never forgot the experience. Seek out these type of events when you travel-you won’t regret it!

Needing some immersion in nature, we sought out the big urban Vondelpark. With wide paths winding through the park and lots of forest and lake space, we enjoyed the beautiful day. We had a wildlife encounter with an array of different birds including a green parakeet flying around. We finally took a seat, took off our shoes and socks and felt the grass ourselves while the guys next to us enjoyed their cigar size joint blowing our way. Meditating and taking in the “fresh” air, we got our chakras aligned and well. We also got in touch with all the water that is everywhere in the Netherlands with canal tours and a trip to the Windmill Village, Zaanse Schans. We booked a tour to visit this scenic place through Viator and it included the bus trip (about an hour each way) plus a visit to a clog-making workshop and cheese farm. Once we got to the windmills, we got to go inside, climb up to the top and hear all about the history of the windmills. Well worth a half day visit if you have time.

Of course, when in Amsterdam, trips to museums are warranted as some of the best in the world are there. Get tickets in advance online for all visits. Start at the Van Gogh Museum to admire masterpieces by Van Gogh, The Museum about Vincent van Gogh in Amsterdam – Van Gogh Museum. Visit the Rijks museum and see iconic Dutch art, including Rembrandt’s works, https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en. Of course, you need to tour the historic Anne Frank House while in Amsterdam and learn about her life during WWII. Book your tickets the minute they become available for the date you want-this is a “must see” for all tourists and they sell out fast: Home | Anne Frank House.

Our last night of the trip warranted a fancy place for dinner so off we went to The Siren for good food, cocktails and great photos of the amazing interior featuring “the siren” the place is named after. Make reservations at:  Home – The Siren and treat yourself to a night out in Amsterdam. Enjoy the journey!

Trip Prep-don’t forget these 10 essentials!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, packing tips, Travel, travel essentials, travel hacks, Travel medical care, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Now, we travel ALOT and I’m currently deep into preparing my packing list for our month in London that starts in just a few days, so I thought I would share some of my trip prep tips on what NOT to forget to pack.

Honestly, even with all my experience, I still manage to forget things that I later find that I need when I’m in a new country. So, for me AND for you, here is a list of 10 items you may not think you need until it is 1 a.m. in Lisbon or you’re roaming the British countryside by train:

  • First aid kit including ice packs and wraps.  After the hand getting crushed by the ferry bathroom door incident in New Zealand, the falling off the curb and rolling an ankle in Vietnam and slipping down rain-covered stairs in Lisbon, we learned the hard way that you may get hurt while travelling so you need a robust number of supplies to self-treat yourself just in case.  Countries in Europe have pharmacies (identified by a big green cross on the outside) but in other countries like India and Vietnam, you are SOL if you do not plan ahead.  Even the ferry in New Zealand had NO FIRST AID KIT!  That has to be against some law, right? So, depending on where you are going, pack accordingly. Note: ice is not a thing in many countries, thus pack an ice pack, the kind you smash and it gets cold quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be holding a can of Coke on your ankle like Thom did in Vietnam on vacation.
  • OTC meds (especially sleeping aids like Advil PM) because when the party on the street outside your Airbnb just gets going at midnight, you are going to need help getting asleep. Pack those ear plugs too. Or you can just go out and join in the revelry.
  • Day pack to carry the first aid kit, umbrella, raincoat, suntan lotion, snacks, when you take that train ride to Sintra for the day. 
  • Water bottle to refill as needed (remember to go through TSA with it empty!). You can fill up in the many European fountains on the streets. Just check to see if public water is clean and not going to get you sick before partaking.
  • Bluetooth music speaker is a “nice to have” to enjoy music while gazing at the water from your balcony. You can buy really small portable ones so you can stream your music at the cottage in Ireland or the beach.  On Waiheke Island, our Airbnb had a great Bluetooth Bose speaker that we used daily. When we arrived in Portugal on our next trip and there was no such thing provided, we really missed the music at night while we wrote out our stories of the day.
  • Ziplock baggies of all sizes for that lotion that leaks, the seashells you collect, the wet bathing suit you need to pack, etc. Not to mention in Europe, you need a quart size one for your liquids to get through security. 
  • Kleenex-it isn’t the same in other countries and your nose will be hurt by the roughness of local tissues. Pack a few travel packs with you.
  • Downy wrinkle releaser plus does it all and we used it every day on a recent trip. One travel size bottle lasted us for a two-week trip.  Love this stuff! You can dewrinkle your clothes, freshen up your room and even works with ironing clothes if you do that, which I don’t. 
  • Travel blanket/pillow is something I never knew I needed until I bought one and now it is my all-time favorite essential. I can use it was a pillow if needed or unzip the cover and pull out the blanket if I get cold on the plane/train and use it in the hotel room to get cozy. Slips over the handle of your carry-on. Trust me, you want this item!
  • Portable power charger bank you can take everywhere with you to charge your phone when it dies at 10 pm while you are trying to get an Uber to take you home in a rainstorm in London.  

For a packing list template, go to https://travelswithmelinda.com/packing-checklist/ and for more travel essentials, see my list of recommended items here: https://travelswithmelinda.com/travels-essentials/

Enjoy the journey!

Travel Tips | Medical Care Abroad

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Medical Care Abroad, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, Travel medical care, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized2 Comments

Plan for the unexpected! You don’t want to be googling for the nearest hospital or how to call an ambulance during a medical emergency when visiting a foreign country. Trust me-been there, done that!

When Thom and I both got Covid while in Florence on a trip, the first thing I did was start researching local medical care. I was surprised that they didn’t have the urgent care centers like we do in the US where you can just walk in and see a doctor with no appointment. In Florence, if you need immediate medical care, you have to go to the emergency room at the hospital. Some cities will have medical clinics, some won’t. However, pharmacists are very helpful in European countries. They will talk to you, ask about symptoms, and suggest medications. In Florence, I was able to get several meds that helped us with our mild Covid symptoms. I did have to buy a thermometer and an oximeter in Italy, both of which I now travel with on all our trips.

After travelling to Vietnam from our home base in China during my work assignment there, we started travelling with a robust first aid kit. Thom rolled his ankle stepping off a curb our first night in Hanoi on a vacation. We quickly found out that there is no ice in Vietnam, at least none that we could find, so he held a cold Coke can to his ankle to reduce the swelling. The pharmacies were not stocked well like Europe, but we finally found a wrap and he hobbled around on our Halong Bay cruise. Now we travel with an instant ice pack and that wrap.

I decided to write this post to help others when we stayed last month at a quaint Swiss hotel in Chur that was a wood beam concussion obstacle course (see pic above) waiting to happen. If/when Thom knocked himself out after running into a beam, I wondered what I would do. Did I want to depend on the night help that may or may not be staffing the hotel front desk? Do they even have a hospital here in the middle of the Alps? Luckily, we didn’t hurt ourselves on those charming low beams but next time I travel, I will be better prepared and research in advance so if, God forbid, something happens, I can quickly take the appropriate action. I put together the following list to help me and now you to prepare for possible medical issues you may encounter when you travel.

Practical tips when you are travelling:

  1. Go to the nearest pharmacy (look for green cross sign-see pictures above) but don’t expect them to be open 24/7 like in the US. European pharmacists act like doctors in many regards and will talk with you, ask questions and can diagnose and prescribe medicine for many simple medical issues like sore throats, muscle pain, migraines, etc. My husband got what he needed from a pharmacist in Basel, Switzerland on a recent trip-easy and cheap! The pharmacist interviewed Thom and gave him meds for a persistent cough.
  2. Call 112 in most European countries for urgent medical assistance (the US 911 equivalent) or call an Uber/taxi yourself and go directly to the nearest hospital if the condition warrants it. House calls might be possible. If you are staying at hotel or an Airbnb, ask the front desk/host to assist you in finding a doctor who can come and see you.
  3. Handling medical costs-Nearly all European countries have a universal health care system. Each country will have different payment arrangements for health care, and it is not all “free” for travelers as some might assume. However, the costs are minimal compared to medical costs in the US for the uninsured. You may be asked to pay out of pocket for any medical treatment. Check your medical insurance policy before you travel. You may not be covered when you are outside the US. If you are on Medicare, it doesn’t cover healthcare during international travel. However, some Medicare Advantage (like Part C) plans may cover certain emergencies if they occur outside the United States. Check out any travel insurance plans and compare before you buy. Notify the company immediately that you purchased travel insurance from if you have to use it for an injury. They can work directly with the hospital/doctor to get bills paid-here are some sites to research:

Travel Insurance Quotes Online – TravelSafe

Buy Now | iTravelInsured Travel SE – IMG (imglobal.com)

Travel Medical Insurance (betins.com

TRAVEL MEDICAL PACKING LIST

Prescription meds (preferably packed in labeled original containers) If you forget them, ask the pharmacist for them even if you don’t have a prescription on you-they may give them to you or, better yet, take a picture of your prescription and show it to the pharmacist. Certain drugs in Europe are over the counter and don’t need a prescription like they do in the US. Make sure to follow new directions given as some meds may be stronger than the US version. The pharmacist in Paris gave me prescription thyroid meds that I forgot on a trip and didn’t need any documentation to prove I was taking it. Pack extra meds in case you are delayed.

Over The Counter Meds:

Nyquil/Dayquil

Cough suppressant

Saline nasal spray-good for preventing bloody noses

Tylenol or Advil PM (helpful to aid sleeping while adjusting to time zones)

Suntan lotion and sunburn relief (aloe vera gel)

Pain reliever: Tylenol and/or ibuprofen

Benadryl

Imodium

Tagamet

Laxatives or stool softeners

Motion sickness meds

Eye drops

Medical help:

Antibacterial wipes (clean that airplane seat space)

Hand sanitizer (so handy when using public transportation)

Self-adhesive wrap

Tiny scissors to cut gauze, etc.

Instant cold pack

Antibiotic ointment

Antiseptic to clean wounds

Band-Aids (all sizes)

Moleskin (to cover blisters)

Gauze

Medical tape

Calamine lotion

Tweezers (removing splinters, etc.)

Thermometer

Oximeter

Covid tests

Face masks-handy for areas with bad AQI and crowded spaces

Dental:

Travel Fixodent

Dental repair kit

Back issues:

Blow up pillow for hard seat (trains, concerts, etc.)

Back brace

Hair ties to make Denny roll out of towels (for back issues)

Walking stick (collapsible)

Salon PAS

CBD cream

Knee brace

Plug in heating pad (after long day of walking, we fought over who got this first)

Be safe with your travel emergency kit:

  • Make a list of all your prescription meds and take a doctor’s note that explains any prescription opioids or medications with needles. You never know when TSA may ask questions.
  • If you are travelling with kids, keep the first aid kit out of reach and locked.

With some planning and preparations before you travel, any emergency that comes up that is minor can be handled with your travel emergency kit. For serious illnesses and injuries, seek out medical care immediately. Enjoy a healthy and safe journey!

Key sites to check out before you travel:

Go to the US embassy’s site and select where you are travelling and look under the “US Citizens Services” section for medical services information.

France/Paris https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/france/paris/healthcare/emergencies/emergencies-in-paris and https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-paris/useful-info/health-in-paris

General https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/health-care-during-travel