In Turner PR’s Denver office, we work with hotels and real estate developments across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In order to best paint a picture to the media about our clients’ outstanding amenities, locations and dining, we always make sure we experience it first. That means a lot of travel.

Believe me, we aren’t complaining. In fact, we’re all so passionate about travel, to us, it’s the best part of the job. But it also means long hours aboard germy airplanes and lots of eating out. And now, while flu season is in full-swing, it’s especially hard to stay healthy when that’s on your agenda.

So, I’ve compiled a quick list of tried-and-true tips for staying healthy while you’re on the road, in the air or sailing the deep blue seas. You know the basics: get plenty of sleep, get a flu shot and wash your hands frequently.  But here’s a few tips you might not have heard, all of which we’ve found useful while jet-setting around the globe.

1. Hand sanitizer. It is your best friend people. Use it! Especially when traveling in third world countries where you may not have access to a clean bathroom everywhere you go. Germ-X makes one that comes in TSA-approved sizes and yummy scents like my personal favorite, Blastin’ Blueberry.
2. Your other best friend when you are traveling abroad? Bottled water. That may seem like a given, but don’t forget about the water you don’t actually drink. Be sure to ask for no ice in your cocktail, and use bottled water to brush your teeth.
3. Afraid airport food will get the better of you while you are on the road? Never fear – pack those little 100 calorie snack packs in your carry-on. They’ll save you when you get that second-layover-of-the-day Häagen-Dazs craving.
4. If you are going to be staying in a hotel for longer than three days, aim for one with a mini fridge, and as an added bonus, a microwave. You can stop by a local grocery store for some quick and easy dining options. Not only will this be easier on your wallet (unless you are a fan of paying $12 for a snack from the mini-bar), it might save you from an unhealthy morning bacon binge at the hotel’s restaurant.
5. Wear socks on days you’ll be flying. Why? You’ll be asked to take your shoes off at the airport, and so will millions of other passengers, many less hygienic than you. I certainly don’t want to come back from a weeklong vacation in paradise with a nasty case of foot fungus, and I doubt you do either!
6. Emergen-C and Airborne rock my socks off. Stick some in your carry-on. If you feel something coming on, self medicate immediately. And even if you aren’t feeling like you have a cold coming on, it’s smart to pre-empt the germs that are so easily transferred from person to person via the re-circulated air on planes. Even in times when we aren’t traveling much, in efforts to counteract the germs our staffers with kids or those that caught something on their last business trip bring into the office, we pop this stuff like candy and it makes a BIG difference.
7. Last but not least, be sure to take your laptop out of its case and place it ALONE in one of those TSA bins before you go thru security. Why you ask? Are there some crazy laptop-loving germs that will somehow infect me if I don’t do this?! No, but there are many angry passengers that think you should know this and are none too happy when the TSI has to back up the conveyor belt, lecture you on proper security protocol and then re-screen your belongings and those of everyone behind you. Forget the flu or a cold, this one might just save you from a black eye. You’re welcome!