Learn about what you need to do to stay healthy by reading location-specific advice and visiting your doctor for any needed vaccinations. Do your research: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers’ Health website has a wealth of information related to disease risks, including location-specific advice, vaccination guidelines, and a disease directory. More general travel health information is available at the MedlinePlus Traveler’s Health website, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Talk to your doctor: We encourage you to have routine vaccinations up to date before any travel, and to speak with your medical provider about any additional location-specific precautions, such as additional vaccinations and malaria protection, to take for your itinerary. Please plan ahead, as some vaccinations require boosters at specific intervals to be effective. Carrying medications: If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, bring enough for your trip; it may be impossible to refill them while you are traveling. Keep all medications in their original labeled containers and wait until you arrive at your destination to put them in your daily medication dispenser. Keep all necessary medications in your carry-on luggage. You may want to bring a note from your physician explaining your required medications, especially if you use syringes or other unusual supplies. Some over-the-counter medications in the United States are listed as controlled substances in other countries, and possession of these medications may carry heavy penalties. Please refer to the US Department of State’s website for travelers and look up any known restrictions prior to packing your medications. Motion sickness: Don’t let the fear of motion sickness deter you from ship-based trips! Some of the most breathtaking sights and regions of the world are only accessible by ship. You can find natural and medical solutions to seasickness; refer to our guide to managing seasickness. Altitude sickness: A few of our trips visit high elevations, where the low oxygen levels can cause altitude sickness for some travelers. The CDC provides information on altitude sickness. The symptoms of altitude sickness are similar to those of a hangover: tiredness, headache, and vomiting. You can usually control it symptomatically – for example with rest, water, and aspirin. Very rarely, people experience severe altitude sickness, which may be deadly if not immediately treated. If you find yourself experiencing any symptoms at altitude, please let your trip leader know so they can take appropriate measures. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, especially heart or lung disease, are pregnant, are diabetic, or are thinking of a travel itinerary that involves more than a 9,000ft increase in altitude on any given day, please talk to your doctor about your itinerary.