Brits on holiday – ‘The stress factor’

This week, a new travel survey has discovered that Brits are among the most worrisome when it comes to organising a holiday with almost 50% confessing that it really stresses them out.  For almost a quarter of British travellers, preparation, planning and booking is the source of great stress, from the more serious issues such as budget restrictions to the more practical – i.e. what clothes to pack.

Unsurprisingly, losing travel documents is reported to be one of the top concerns for two thirds of Brits, followed by packing the right items namely having enough pairs of ‘shoes’ was cited as a prime concern for 23% of British women (proving the female penchant for an abundance of footwear remains ‘up there’ in the list of top priorities).

One finding that did stand out to us here at i-interpret4u, was the number of British holidaymakers (over a quarter), who said that falling ill while abroad is a main concern.  To be honest, it’s no great surprise that people worry about being poorly overseas; the change in climate, water and diet can wreak havoc for many and the prospect of seeking medical attention in a country where you don’t speak the language can be daunting to say the least.  Add to that the worry of being away from home and the safety of your own doctor’s surgery, it’s no wonder the whole thought fills us with dread.

How can you avoid it? The truth is you can’t.  You could try all of the usual recommendations and avoid seafood, ice in your drinks, lying out in the sun for too long; but you could still become ill regardless (and nature has a way of bestowing these experiences upon us at the most inconvenient of times).  The best we can do is to be prepared. 

 A well-stocked first aid kit is a must, access to plenty of drinking water, adequate travel/health insurance should you need urgent medical attention in hospital while overseas and the ability to communicate in a given language, should the need arise.  When you’re poorly the last thing you need is something else to add to your stress, knowing you can describe your symptoms, how you feel as well as any allergies, family history etc. could be just the peace of mind you need.