5 Ways to Stay Healthy During Holiday Travel

Prevention,Flu Season,Vaccines,Healthy Holidays

5 Ways to Stay Healthy During Holiday Travel

12.21.2025 | 3 min read

Traveling is fun, especially during the holidays, but being around so many people right in the heart of flu season can weaken your immune system and expose you to new germs.

There are preventative measures you can take while traveling to lower your odds of getting sick. These tips are most applicable to travelers who are flying but can also benefit those preparing for a lengthy road trip.

How can I boost my immune system while traveling?

Hydrate

Drinking lots of water is always important, and it should be a priority for anyone traveling. Get your trip off on the right foot by avoiding alcohol while on the plane. Want something more flavorful? Bring packets of dissolvable electrolytes to mix into your water. You can also pack low-sugar sports drinks or carry water on to the plane.

Wash your hands often and sanitize

When you’re in and out of different airports or rest stops, use those times to thoroughly wash your hands. Did you know that 97% of people fail to properly wash their hands? You should wet, lather with soap, then scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) detailed guidance for more information. You could also pack a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer, and be sure it has a strength of at least 60% alcohol.

Stay current on vaccinations

Getting a yearly flu shot is the best way to reduce the risk from flu and its potentially serious complications. If you didn't get vaccinated against the flu earlier in the fall, it's better to get vaccinated late than not at all.

Flu activity peaks between December and February. Most health care insurance plans cover the annual flu vaccination as part of preventive care. Flu vaccination is often available at no or low cost to people who do not have insurance.

Sneak in walking or other forms of physical activity

Failure to exercise regularly makes you more likely to catch a cold than someone who does work out often. Obviously, it’s not feasible to break out a full-on exercise regimen during breaks in travel, but there are creative ways to get your steps up.

At a rest stop, take 10 minutes to walk, jog, or do jumping jacks. Those 10 minutes count toward the recommended minutes of physical activity you need every week. At an airport, walk to your gate, when possible, instead of taking a shuttle, and avoid a moving walkway. Any physical activity is better than none, and even light walking can help your immune system fight infection.

Avoid peak travel times, if possible

This tip applies more to those booking flights. You can’t always choose our travel time, but when you have the luxury to do so, travel during non-peak times, like the middle of the week and mid-morning or midday instead of the early morning or evening. This strategy can help minimize your exposure to germs, while also keeping you on your normal sleep schedule.

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