Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, taking a long trip can be both exciting and exhausting. No matter the reason for your trip, you’re undoubtedly going to find some time to take in the sights and attractions in your destination, sample the local cuisine, and take some amazing photographs. 

It can be easy to forget about the usual health and fitness regime you stick to at home when you’re traveling – especially if you’re on a long vacation – but staying fit and healthy is essential for making the most of your trip. 

After all, you know that you’re not going to enjoy yourself if you spend half your trip recovering in bed, or worse, at the hospital. 

Thankfully, there’s plenty you can do to stay fit and healthy during a long trip. 

Make Sure You Get Your Shots

If you’re traveling to a location where there’s a higher risk of contracting diseases such as yellow fever, rabies, cholera, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever or another nasty illness, then be sure to protect yourself before you set off. 

According to this travel clinic in Ottawa, it’s important to have a one-to-one consultation with a doctor experienced in travel medicine. Do this a few weeks before your trip, as some vaccines will have a longer incubation period than others. You want to make sure that you are fully immune before you go! 

Get Plenty of Sleep

The most important thing that you can do when traveling is get enough sleep. This is especially true if you’re spending long days exploring; you’re going to be worn out, and as tempting as that beach party might sound, your body will definitely thank you more for letting it have a solid eight hours’ of shut-eye.

Traveling can be harsh on your body – after all, you’ve been dragging your luggage to and from destinations, and simply being in a hotter climate than you’re used to can take a toll. Make the most of that vacation time, and spend as much of it as you can resting. 

Walk as Much as You Can

You’re on vacation, so you don’t want to waste precious sightseeing hours on a stationary bike in the gym! The good news is that when you’ve got so much to see, you can easily fit exercise into your day – and make sure to see all the sights on your itinerary, too. 

Plus, small walks can add up throughout the day. If you’re heading to a different city for the day and the train station is just a mile away from your hotel, walking there instead of jumping on a bus or the metro can be a good way to squeeze some physical activity in and see more of your destination in the meantime. 

Remember to Eat Breakfast

If you’re staying at a hotel that offers a free breakfast option, it’s well worth skipping the lie-in to get up and take advantage of it. But even if you’ve not got breakfast included in your stay, don’t skip the most important meal of the day just because you’re going to eat out for lunch and dinner. 

It’s easy enough to make your own breakfasts in a hotel room if you’re trying to save money on food. Take some instant oatmeal packets with you – all you need is some hot water to make them up or buy cereal and fruit at a local supermarket. If you’ve got a room with a mini-fridge, don’t fill it to the brim with drinks; keep some breakfast essentials like yogurt in there too. 

Long trips can be tons of fun, but they can be hard on your body, so look after yourself when you travel.