Travel Medicine: Buy Convenient Travel Packets

Travelling is fun, but it can also be a pain if you're not well-prepared. It's always a good idea to carry a travel medicine kit with you, especially if you're going to be away for a long time. While you can usually find medicines for common ailments like migraines or allergies wherever you're headed, it's better to be safe than sorry.

You can buy ready-made travel medicine kits online from places like Amazon, or you can make your own. If you're making your own, here are some things you might want to include: anti-diarrhoea medicine, antihistamines for allergies, painkillers, antacid medicine for an upset stomach, anti-nausea medicine, and motion sickness medicine. You can buy travel-sized packs of some of these medicines, or transfer them into travel-sized containers if you're not flying.

Don't forget to also pack some essential first-aid supplies like bandages and antiseptic ointment, and to check the rules about what you can and can't take with you when travelling, especially if you're flying.

Travel medicine kits

A typical travel medicine kit contains a variety of essential medications and first-aid supplies. Here are some key components to consider when building your travel medicine kit:

Medications

• Pain and Fever Relief: Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin are essential for addressing headaches, pain, and fever.
• Anti-Diarrhea Medicine: Diarrhea can be a common travel ailment, so having medications like Imodium or Pepto-Bismol is crucial.
• Motion Sickness Medicine: If you're prone to motion sickness or plan to engage in activities like hiking or boating, consider adding motion sickness medication such as Dramamine or Meclizine.
• Antihistamines: For allergy relief, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine or other allergy medications are important.
• Antacid Medicine: To manage heartburn or indigestion, pack an antacid like TUMS chewable tablets.
• Antibiotics: Consult your healthcare provider for any specific antibiotics you may need, especially if travelling to regions with unique health risks.
• Antimalarial Medicine: If your travel destination recommends it, include antimalarial medication prescribed by your healthcare professional.
• Cough and Cold Medicines: Pack remedies for coughs and colds, such as throat lozenges or expectorants.
• Sedative or Sleep Aid: A mild sedative or sleep aid can be useful for jet lag or sleep disturbances during travel.

First-Aid Supplies

• Bandages: Include a variety of bandage sizes, butterfly bandages, and gauze pads to dress minor cuts and scrapes.
• Adhesive Tape: This helps secure gauze and bandages in place.
• Scissors: Rounded-tip scissors can be useful for cutting tape or clothing in an emergency, but check local laws, as these may not be allowed in carry-on luggage.
• Safety Pins: Safety pins are handy for fastening splints, bandages, or torn clothing.
• Antiseptic Wipes: These are dual-purpose, serving to disinfect wounds and clean hands.
• Tweezers: Useful for removing splinters, foreign objects, or ticks from the skin. Tweezers may also be restricted in carry-on luggage.
• Disposable Gloves: To protect your hands and reduce the risk of infection when treating wounds, include a pair of disposable rubber gloves.
• Thermometer: A non-mercury, non-glass thermometer is essential for monitoring temperatures if illness occurs.
• Calamine Lotion: This provides relief from itching and irritation caused by insect bites or poison ivy.
• Hydrocortisone Cream: To soothe skin irritation from rashes, pack hydrocortisone cream.
• Sunscreen: Choose a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
• Insect Repellent: Select a repellent suitable for your destination, ideally with an active ingredient like DEET or picaridin.

Other Essentials

• Medical Documentation: Bring copies of your prescriptions, immunisation records, and other relevant medical documents.
• Contact Information: Include a contact card with the details of a close contact and your healthcare professional back home.
• Lodging Information: Keep the address and contact details of your accommodation(s) handy.
• US Embassy Details: Note the location and contact information of the nearest US embassy or consulate at your destination.
• Water Purification Tablets: Depending on your destination's water quality, these can be crucial for safe drinking water.
• Hand Sanitizer: Opt for a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol to maintain hygiene, especially when access to soap and water is limited.

Remember to check the regulations of your specific destination, as some countries have restrictions on the types and amounts of medications allowed. Always consult your healthcare provider for advice tailored to your specific needs and health conditions.

Travel-size storage containers

Amazon

Amazon offers a wide range of travel-size storage containers, including:

• TSA-approved silicone travel containers in various pack sizes, perfect for storing toiletries.
• Leak-proof plastic travel bottles, ideal for carrying shampoo, conditioner, and other liquid toiletries.
• Refillable cosmetic containers and jars in different sizes and materials, such as plastic and acrylic.
• Travel pill organisers with multiple compartments and labels to help you stay on top of your medication while on the move.
• First aid kits, including portable and travel-sized options, to ensure you're prepared for any minor injuries or ailments during your trip.

Target

Target also offers a variety of travel-size storage options, including:

• Packing cubes to make packing and unpacking a breeze and maximise space efficiency.
• Toiletry bags to store your travel-sized medicine packets and other self-care essentials.
• Pill cases to keep your medication organised and easily accessible during your travels.

Travel-size personal care products

Amazon

Amazon offers a wide range of travel medicine kits, including the TravelPakRx Travel Medicine Kit. This kit contains 63 tablets across 6 different types of travel medications, such as acetaminophen, bismuth, diphenhydramine, loperamide, meclizine, and electrolytes. The kit is designed to treat common travel ailments like fever, pain, headache, traveller's diarrhoea, nausea, dizziness, motion sickness, insomnia, upset stomach, heartburn, allergies, and dehydration. It is compact, TSA-approved, and recommended by pharmacists.

Amazon also provides a variety of other travel-size personal care products, such as pill organisers, first aid kits, motion sickness relief, pain relievers, and fever reducers.

All Travel Sizes

All Travel Sizes is a website that offers a range of travel-size and sample-size products, including toiletries, medical supplies, and accessories. They have a commitment to customer service and competitive prices. The website is easy to navigate, and they offer free shipping for orders over $40 in the US. Some of the medical products they offer include sunscreen, lip balm with aloe, multipurpose solution for contact lenses, and pantiliners.

Travel-size beauty products

Where to Buy

You can find travel-size beauty products at various retailers, both online and in physical stores. Some popular options include:

• Sephora (formerly Feelunique)
• Amazon
• Boots
• Selfridges
• Specialty travel or outdoor stores

Product Options

The range of travel-size beauty products available is extensive. You can find miniatures of almost any cosmetic product, including:

• Skincare: Moisturisers, cleansers, toners, serums, face oils, sunscreens, etc.
• Makeup: Mascara, lipstick, foundation, eyeshadow, blush, etc.
• Haircare: Shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, hairspray, dry shampoo, etc.
• Fragrance: Perfumes and colognes in smaller bottles or rollerballs
• Personal Care: Deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, hand cream, etc.

Benefits

• Space-saving: They take up minimal space in your luggage or carry-on bag.
• Convenience: No need to transfer products into smaller containers.
• Variety: You can try multiple products or switch up your routine without committing to full-size items.
• Compliance: Travel-size products adhere to airline liquid restrictions, making packing and security checks a breeze.

Considerations

There are a few things to keep in mind when using travel-size beauty products:

• Cost: Sometimes, the price per ounce of travel-size products can be higher than their full-size counterparts.
• Availability: Not all products come in travel sizes, and certain items may be harder to find in miniature versions.
• Sustainability: While travel sizes are convenient, they may contribute to more packaging waste. Consider refilling travel bottles with your favourite products to reduce waste.

Planning and Packing

When preparing for your next trip, consider making a list of the beauty products you use daily and look for travel-size options. If you're travelling with hand luggage only, pay close attention to liquid allowances, typically restricted to containers holding less than 100ml. Transferring products to reusable travel bottles can help maximise space and ensure you have just what you need.

Carry-on luggage restrictions

When packing medication in your carry-on luggage, it is recommended that you clearly label your medication to facilitate the screening process. Medication in a pill or solid form can be brought in unlimited amounts as long as it is screened. You can request a visual inspection instead of X-ray screening if you prefer, but this must be done before the medication has begun going through the X-ray on the conveyor belt.

Liquid medication is allowed in carry-on bags in excess of 3.4 ounces or 100ml, in reasonable quantities for the flight. You must inform the officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the start of the screening checkpoint process, as they will be subject to additional screening. Medically required liquids do not need to be placed in a zip-top bag and the 100ml liquid limit generally doesn't apply to these items.

It is not necessary to present your medication to an officer or notify them of any medication you are carrying unless it is in liquid form. However, it is helpful to know exactly what you have in case they ask. You may also want to consider keeping a detailed list of your medications on your smartphone or in your wallet.

Different countries have different rules for travellers with medication, especially controlled substances such as painkillers and sedatives. Before travelling internationally, research your destination to see what requirements they have for travelling with prescriptions. You may need a doctor's note explaining why you are taking specific prescriptions, and you may want to consider translating this into the local language.

Frequently asked questions