Before You Go
Pack a Travel Health Kit
- Insurance and credit card information
- Yellow WHO card for proof of vaccination
- Over the counter and prescription medications you may need (in original, labeled packaging) i.e. Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Pepto Bismol, Imodium, burn gel, Anbesol, etc. If you need to purchased medication abroad, be aware that counterfeit medications are a growing global issue.
- Hand sanitizer, sunscreen and insect repellant with DEET
- Spare glasses/contact lenses
- Bandage assortment, Moleskin and antibiotic ointment
- Tape, scissors and super glue
- Thermometer and cold medication
- Gatorade powder (to replace electrolytes in case of diarrhea)
- Water filtration system
Resources
Health insurance overseas
Find out if your current health insurance covers you for medical emergencies while traveling internationally. If not, purchase a short-term international health insurance policy. The State Department offers this to finding a policy that works best for you.
Registering your trip
We also recommend registering your travel itinerary with the State Department's . This free service provides you with up-to-date relevant information for where you will be traveling, as well as alerts from the nearest U.S. Embassy in an emergency.
CDC travel apps
If you have a smartphone, you can download the to make your trip a little simpler and healthier. We like TravWell, an all-encompassing guide to safe travel with packing lists, vaccination recommendations, emergency phone numbers and preparedness trips for your destination. We also like Can I Eat This?, a quick way to check which food and beverages are safe for consumption wherever you are (because no one wants traveler's diarrhea).