---

Travel health tips and advice from other backpackers

- Make sure you check for insects and little creatures before crouching to pee in the jungle. Toria Letts

---

- Trust your instincts always (and don’t get totally drunk/off your face, as then they don’t work!). Cara Grayling

---

- Travelling is about taking risks but don’t be an easy target - use common sense. Lorraine Bridges

---

- Put sun tan lotion on your feet and ears as it’s frigging painful if you don’t. Suzanne Leeson

---

- Make sure you have adequate insurance for when you're away. Tori Oram

---

- Stay safe, don’t go off the beaten track alone and keep your wits about you. Vikki Barnes

---

- Get to your accommodation before dark. Be assertive if you’re getting hassled - in this situation, never worry that you’re being rude. Don’t be too stingy - pay for things that matter (doctors, safe forms of transport, bottled water). Take a personal attack alarm. Jess Fitch

---

- Never have any valuable items on show. - Don't wear expensive jewellery: it's too tempting - If you have a shoulder bag/purse carry under clothes. Carolyn Martin

---

- Moneybelt, moneybelt, moneybelt! - keep all your valuables and important documents in it and wear it at all times! - As soon as you arrive in a new country, buy a pot of locally-produced yoghurt and get it down your neck. Your stomach will then build up tolerance to the local bacteria, therefore avoiding the dreaded Delhi belly! Rachel Ricks

---

- Never trust a stranger, whether in your own country or elsewhere - but do try and discern when someone is genuinely trying to help you out of a tight spot. Basically, keep a hand on your bag, and don't put yourself in any awkward situations. Louisa Hill

---

- Be very careful with drugs, etc. Nobody wants to end up in a third world hospital, prison, or receiving the death penalty (in some countries you get this for possessing drugs)! Adrian Slack

---

- Always keep some staple food and water while travelling on buses and trains. Indu Shakyu

---

- Keep taking on the water whilst you're travelling - it's not a safety thing, it's just that if you dehydrate you'll be grouchy and won't enjoy the trip as much! Stef Marianski

---

- Always tell people where you are going and when you'll be back. Jez Green

---

- Know at least how to basically defend yourself just in case. As in Miss Congeniality "always remember to SING - solarplexus, instep, nose, groin!" It sounds daft but think about it - you're on a night out in heels/clumpy walking boots... how much is it gonna hurt when you stamp on their foot! Looney poodle

---

Click here >> if you've got any health and safety tips and post them on the messageboard. We're always on the look-out for travel tip gems - it's great to learn from the wisdom of others.