Travel Health Advice for Autumn 2026 How to Stay Healthy on Every Journey

Welcome to Travel Advice Bureau: your trusted guide and essential companion for safer, healthier journeys. Whether you are chasing late-season sunshine, visiting family overseas, attending business meetings or planning a longer escape, thoughtful preparation can help you feel confident from departure to return.

Autumn travel has its own rhythm. Cooler weather in the UK often coincides with increased circulation of respiratory illnesses, while many destinations still experience warm days, mosquitoes and food- and water-related risks. Our aim is simple: to provide practical, expert travel health advice that helps you enjoy your next adventure while making sensible decisions for your health.

“Travel vaccines protect you from serious illnesses usually found in other countries.” : NHS travel vaccination guidance

Start your health preparations early

Get ready at least four to six weeks before departure, particularly if you are visiting several countries or travelling to a destination with specific vaccination requirements.

Book an appointment with a GP, pharmacist or travel health professional to discuss:

• Routine vaccinations, including measles protection, which should be up to date for all travellers.

• Destination-specific vaccines such as hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies or Japanese encephalitis, depending on your itinerary.

• Malaria prevention or other insect-borne disease precautions where relevant.

• Existing medical conditions, pregnancy, allergies or recent surgery.

• Whether you need additional advice for altitude, diving, winter sports or adventure activities.

The right travel vaccination advice depends on where you are going, which regions you will visit, how long you will stay and what you plan to do. Check the NHS travel vaccination guidance and the destination information on TravelHealthPro before your appointment.

Rules and health risks can change during 2026, so review official advice shortly before leaving. Our Destinations page is also a useful starting point for building your destination checklist.

Prepare for autumn bugs and respiratory illnesses

Autumn can bring a noticeable increase in influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses in many parts of the world. Local climate matters too: tropical destinations may continue to have mosquito activity, while cooler regions can mean more time in crowded indoor spaces.

Protect yourself with a few straightforward habits:

• Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating and after using public transport or the toilet.

• Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol for situations where soap and water are unavailable.

• Consider a well-fitting, high-quality mask for busy airports, aircraft cabins or crowded indoor venues when respiratory illnesses are circulating.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and dispose of tissues promptly.

• Avoid sharing drinks, cutlery or personal items with someone who is unwell.

• Protect against insect bites with suitable repellent, long sleeves and trousers, mosquito nets or treated clothing where recommended.

• Check local health alerts before visiting areas affected by outbreaks.

If you develop a fever, breathing difficulty or significant flu-like symptoms before departure, seek medical advice and consider whether postponing travel is sensible. If you become ill abroad, contact your insurer and seek local medical care. Tell the clinician where you have travelled and when.

Pack a practical travel health kit

Build your kit around your destination, your health needs and the length of your trip. Pack essential items in your hand luggage, not only in checked baggage.

Your kit could include:

• Prescription medication for the full trip, plus a small delay allowance.

• Medicines for pain or fever, allergies, coughs and colds, where suitable for you.

• Oral rehydration salts and a treatment for diarrhoea recommended by a pharmacist.

• Plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister pads and a small dressing.

• Hand sanitiser, tissues and disposable bags.

• Insect repellent containing an appropriate active ingredient, such as DEET, picaridin or IR3535.

• Sunscreen and lip balm: autumn sun can still be strong, particularly near the equator or at altitude.

• A thermometer, if useful for your family.

• A reusable water bottle, filled after airport security.

• Any destination-specific items, such as water purification tablets or a mosquito net.

Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging. Carry a copy of your prescription and a list showing the medicine name, strength and dosage. For controlled or restricted medicines, ask your doctor for a letter and check the rules of the destination embassy before travelling. Country regulations can differ considerably.

The UK Government advises that controlled medicines must be carried in hand luggage when entering or leaving the UK and that travellers may need proof that the medicine was prescribed for them. Read the latest guidance on taking medicine in or out of the UK.

Stay well on long-haul flights

Long journeys can affect your sleep, hydration, circulation and appetite. A few small decisions can make the flight and first day at your destination much easier.

Reduce jet lag

Get your body ready gradually:

• Move your bedtime and waking time slightly towards your destination time zone in the days before departure.

• Set your watch to destination time when you board.

• Use daylight after arrival to help your body adjust.

• Keep naps short, ideally around 20–30 minutes.

• Eat light meals and follow local mealtimes as soon as practical.

• Ask a healthcare professional before using melatonin or other sleep aids.

Hydrate sensibly

Cabin air is dry, and alcohol can disrupt sleep as well as leave you feeling worse after landing. Drink water regularly, limit alcohol and avoid relying on excessive caffeine to stay awake. Take an empty reusable bottle through security and fill it before boarding where facilities allow.

Move to reduce DVT risk

On long flights, walk around the cabin when it is safe to do so. While seated, flex your ankles, move your feet and gently contract your calf muscles every so often. Wear comfortable clothing and avoid sitting with your legs crossed for long periods.

If you have previously had a blood clot, are pregnant, have recently had surgery, take oestrogen medication or have another risk factor, ask your doctor whether you need extra precautions or compression stockings. Seek urgent medical attention if you develop unexplained breathlessness, chest pain or painful swelling in a leg during or after travel.

Be careful with food and water abroad

Food and water safety advice is not about avoiding local cuisine: it is about choosing food that has been stored, prepared and cooked safely.

As a general guide:

• Drink bottled, boiled or reliably treated water where tap water quality is uncertain.

• Check that bottled water is properly sealed.

• Avoid ice unless you know it was made with safe water.

• Choose food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot.

• Wash fruit before peeling it, or choose fruit you can peel yourself.

• Be cautious with raw seafood, undercooked meat, unpasteurised dairy and salads washed in unsafe water.

• Choose busy food stalls where ingredients are cooked in front of you and turnover is high.

• Wash your hands before meals.

If you experience severe or persistent diarrhoea, blood in your stool, repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration, contact a medical professional. Do not assume every illness is simply “something you ate”.

From Paul

I have learned that the best health kit is the one you can reach quickly. On one autumn trip, my checked bag decided to take a holiday of its own and arrived a day later. My medication, spare glasses and basic toiletries were safely in my cabin bag, which turned a frustrating delay into a manageable inconvenience.

My tip is simple: make a small “first 24 hours” pouch and keep it beside your passport. Put in your essential medication, a few plasters, hand sanitiser, tissues, a water bottle and any documents you may need. You will be glad you did.

: Paul WalkerDendle, CEO, Travel Advice Bureau

Review insurance and healthcare cover for 2026

Do not confuse a GHIC or EHIC with travel insurance. These cards can help eligible travellers access medically necessary state healthcare in certain European countries, but they do not generally cover private treatment, repatriation, mountain rescue or every associated cost.

Before you travel, check that your policy includes:

• Emergency medical treatment and hospital care.

• Medical evacuation or repatriation.

• All destinations, including transit countries.

• Pre-existing physical and mental health conditions.

• Activities such as hiking, skiing, diving or motorbike hire.

• The full length of your trip, particularly for long stays.

• A 24-hour assistance helpline.

Declare existing conditions honestly, including investigations or pending treatment where required. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel insurance guidance warns that unsuitable cover could leave you responsible for substantial emergency expenses.

Keep your policy number and emergency telephone number in your phone, wallet and email. Share them with someone at home too.

Plan for airports, immigration and delays

Good travel safety advice includes reducing unnecessary stress at the airport.

If you are driving, pre-book airport parking and allow extra time for autumn weather, roadworks and busy departure periods. Keep medication, documents and a small snack accessible rather than buried in the boot or checked baggage.

Use these practical hacks to navigate immigration more smoothly:

• Complete online entry forms or electronic travel authorisations before leaving home, using official government websites only.

• Keep your passport, accommodation address, return or onward ticket and insurance details together.

• Check whether you are eligible to use e-gates and follow the instructions carefully.

• Do not queue-hop or photograph restricted areas; follow airport and border staff directions.

• If you have mobility, medication or health needs, contact the airline before travelling and request assistance in advance.

• Keep your answers clear and accurate. Immigration officers may ask about the purpose and length of your visit.

If a flight is cancelled or heavily delayed, EU 261 may provide rights to assistance, re-routing or reimbursement on eligible journeys. Depending on the circumstances, airlines may need to provide meals, refreshments and overnight accommodation. The rules do not replace medical insurance, but they can help you access food, rest and a hotel during a disruption. Check the official EU air passenger rights guidance and keep receipts for reasonable expenses.

Make longer stays feel more comfortable

For an extended autumn break, a self-catering apartment can make it easier to maintain familiar routines: preparing simple meals, storing medication correctly, doing laundry and resting away from crowded hotel spaces.

We recommend exploring Worldwide Apartments as a sensible option for travellers seeking the comforts of home. Its accommodation includes apartments and holiday properties across Italy, Sardinia and the continent, with destinations such as the Venetian Riviera, Emilia-Romagna and several regions of Sardinia. A home-from-home base can be especially useful for families, older travellers and anyone managing dietary or health needs during a longer stay.

Your autumn 2026 health checklist

Before you go, make sure you have:

• Checked destination-specific health and entry advice.

• Arranged travel vaccination advice at least four to six weeks ahead where possible.

• Packed medication in original packaging and in your hand luggage.

• Obtained letters for controlled or restricted medicines.

• Bought comprehensive travel insurance and declared existing conditions.

• Prepared for respiratory illnesses and local insect risks.

• Planned safe food and water choices.

• Considered jet lag and DVT prevention for long-haul journeys.

• Saved emergency contacts, insurance details and accommodation information.

• Checked airport parking, flight updates and immigration requirements.

Let us guide you towards a healthier, more confident journey. For destination-specific questions, explore our Travel Resources, browse our FAQs or contact Travel Advice Bureau. Your next adventure starts here.