Health

Vaccines, medicines, insurance and the health rules that apply at the border.

Before you travel

See a doctor 4-6 weeks before a trip and ask which vaccines and precautions suit your destination and the length of your stay. Keep routine vaccines up to date. Where mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue occur, use repellent and wear long sleeves at dawn and dusk. Malaria risk exists in some regions, so ask a travel doctor. Some countries require a yellow-fever certificate if you arrive from a yellow-fever area.

Medicines

Bring prescription medicines in their original packaging with a doctor's letter. Medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic ingredients (some painkillers, ADHD and sleep medicines) are controlled in many countries, so check the customs rules of your destination before you fly.

Insurance

Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment, evacuation and motorbike riding if you plan to ride (many policies exclude it without a licence and helmet). Some private hospitals ask for a guarantee of payment before treatment, so keep your insurer's emergency contact with you.