Aussies have been warned as the Christmas-New Year break can be a time when people get brutally sick. The end of the year sees thousands of Aussies travel to see loved ones for the festive period, or while school holidays are on and workplaces are quiet.
Compare the Market has revealed exclusively to Yahoo Lifestyle that 73 per cent of Aussies have experienced illness of injury while on vacation. Gastro was the most common form (29 per cent) of sickness while on holiday, which is an infection of the gut that can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
While it's a relatively short-lasting sickness, it can ruin your travel plans, especially if it strikes when you're about to fly or hop on a boat.
Getting the cold or flu was the second most common (26 per cent), followed by food poisoning (17 per cent) and motion sickness (12 per cent).
Millennials were the most likely to get sick (38%) with food poisoning, while Gen X and Baby Boomers were (30%) were most likely to experience gastro.
Compare the Marker's travel expert, Catriona Rowntree, said some people have become so sick on holiday that they've needed to go to hospital.
"When our stress levels decrease, our cortisol levels reduce, leaving us open to all sorts of bugs," Catriona told Yahoo Lifestyle.
"It's no wonder we always get sick on holidays when we need the break the most. That's why I recommend taking your Vitamin C a few good weeks before take-off."
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Catriona said this is why travel insurance is "crucial" because it can help you if you need medical treatment or need to cancel your plans.
"I don't know how many times I've heard: 'it was the last run on the ski slope' or 'we were just about to head home when'... at the end of the day when we are tired, things inevitably go wrong," she said.
"Trust me on this one. I'm speaking from experience.
"Travel cover is often a small fraction of your holiday budget...it's money worth spent."
Should I get vaccinated before I go on holiday?
If you're heading overseas for your Christmas-New Year holiday, then it's best to get vaccinated.
Archana Koirala, Anthea Katelaris, Phoebe Williams are infectious diseases specialists and public health physicians, and they suggested getting the basics, like the measles or flu vaccine.
They added that other vaccines may be required, like typhoid, depending on where you're going, your health, or the activities involved in the holiday.
"Unfortunately, it's easy to overlook the importance of pre-travel vaccinations," they wrote in an article for The Conversation.
"That's particularly the case for those visiting friends and relatives, who are less likely to get vaccinated before leaving the country. Unfortunately, this is also the group at greater risk compared to other travellers.
"That's because they generally stay longer, are more likely to travel to rural areas, eat or drink local or untreated food and water, and have closer contact with the local population
Insuring your personal items can also save you headaches
Compare the Market also warned that it's worth insuring sporting items that you bring with you on holiday.
Whether it's golf clubs, surfboards, snowboards, skis or bikes, they can cost thousands of dollars to replace if they're lost or stolen.
Most insurance companies will have sport equipment as an additional extra in your coverage and it might only add a few dollars to the final bill.
But Compare the Market said you have to do your research to make sure you're not overcharged.
"The cost of travel insurance can vary greatly between insurers, levels of cover and optional extras, so buy a policy that matches your needs to avoid paying more than you have to," it said.
You will also likely need to pay for special baggage if you're flying with bulky sporting items.
Many airlines will require you to package them for the flight, which could be a protective case or a cardboard box, to ensure it can be easily stored.
Some airports will have boxes for sale for as little as $25, but you can also purchase these from retailers well before your flight.
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