I’ve suffered with motion sickness for as long as I can remember and my parents remember me suffering before that too. There has been many a family holiday growing up when I would vomit mid journey to our destination. I’d always hoped with age I’d grow out of it as many people do but I never did. I still suffer as badly as ever despite all of the traveling I do. Motion sickness is horrible but I won’t let it stop me from traveling and seeing the world. I’ve found many tricks for helping ease the symptoms and thought I’d share them because neither should you let motion sickness stop you from traveling.
25 Tips for traveling with motion sickness
1 Always carry water with you during any journey
2 Stock up on medication before you leave your home country – pills have never worked for me so I use these motion sickness bands and they are a life saver (most of the time)
Motion sickness bands are best brought so they are tight and best replaced if they become lose, I normally buy kids sized ones because I have small wrists. They are available from most pharmacies and often at the airport or other transport hubs.
3 Make sure you take said medication before you travel – I’ve make countless mistakes where I put my motion sickness bands on after the journey has started and they have little effect
4 Don’t drink alcohol the night before a long journey, I ALWAYS get travel sick when I’m hungover even with my bands on
5 If water doesn’t help then grab a fizzy drink, Sprite always helps me
6 Make the most of every stop, even if you don’t need the toilet get out of the transport and enjoy the fresh air
7 Sleep, the only thing that can help me feel better once I get sick, especially if I cannot get out of the transport this is my only way of getting through
8 DON’T read, look at your phone, be the map reader etc. anything that involves looking down is bound to make your travel sickness come on, instead look out of the window
9 Carry food you know will settle easily and is plain on your stomach, I’ve often gone hungry on long journeys because the food choices are limited and I know it will make me sick
For traveling by car
10 Sit in the front of the car or even better offer to drive, I have NEVER been travel sick while driving
11 Open the window if you start to feel sick, I always find the fresh air helps
12 Travel with a carrier bag incase everything else fails
13 Ask the driver to take main roads these are often straighter and less likely to cause motion sickness
For traveling by boat
14 Choose a seat where you can see the horizon and focus on that if you feel the least bit queasy
15 Sit on the deck or in an air conditioned room rather than near to where food is served the smell can often make motion sickness worse
For traveling by train
16 Choose a seat facing in the direction of travel and sit nearest to the aisle incase you need to make a break for the toilet
17 Suss out where the nearest toilet and window is, you might need the fresh air or not make it to the toilet to vomit if you don’t know where it is
For traveling by plane
18 Pick your seat wisely… I like to sit by the window so I can see out as this helps me but often sitting in the aisle seat so you can make a run for the toilet is a good option
For traveling by coach/bus
19 Pick a seat in the middle of the coach, sitting above the wheels is suppose to be worse for motion sickness
20 Don’t keep turning around to talk to your friend behind, I promise you won’t miss out on much just for those few hours away from them
For traveling by subway/metro/tube or even busy trains
21 Don’t get on a packed carriage, either walk to an emptier one or wait for the next train
22 Stand near to the door so you get the air and have space to breathe each time the door opens, there is nothing worse than being crammed under someones armpit when you feel sick
23 Try and grab a seat, I always feel guilty sitting down in full carriages but quite often I can’t stand up once I’m feeling travel sick
Finally
24 Makes sure you have directions to your end point easily available, last thing you want after getting off the transport travel sick is having to stress about where you need to get to
25 Oh and don’t ever risk it without medication, you’ll only regret it
I’ve heard people say ginger is also good but everyone is different when it comes to dealing with motion sickness and it is best to just figure out what works best for you. The above are by no means going to work for everyone but many of the tips will certainly make life easier for you.
Do you have any more tips to add to this list? I’d love to hear them!
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Tags: Advice Health Motion Sickness Tips Travel Sickness