Jamie Woodhall in Washroom Services On July 28, 2026, 12:11 pm

Don’t let these unwanted companions spoil your holiday: tips for staying healthy while travelling

Picture your dream summer getaway: sun-drenched beaches, poolside relaxation and vibrant local festivals. But while you’re busy packing your bags, invisible ‘germy’ hitchhikers could be preparing to join you wherever you go. To help ensure a great holiday, there is one essential travel companion you can’t afford to leave behind: excellent hygiene habits.

The risks of holiday infections

Research by Initial Washroom Hygiene previously revealed a startling statistic: 33% of people admit they don’t always wash their hands after using the toilet. In high-traffic areas such as airports, hotels, and festivals, you constantly come into contact with surfaces that hundreds or even thousands of potentially contaminated hands may have touched. You can’t control other people’s washroom habits, but you can control how you protect yourself. To help you enjoy a healthy and illness-free break, we have compiled some essential, expert-backed tips to keep you safe in holiday places, from the departure lounge to your final destination. This article covers:

How to master on-the-go hand hygiene

When you are travelling, your hands are your primary point of contact with the world and, consequently, the primary route for germs. Mastering a few simple hand hygiene habits and knowing how to navigate shared facilities can make the difference between a dream holiday and a trip cut short by illness.

The golden rule: wash and sanitise often

It sounds simple, but practising consistent hand hygiene is one of the single most effective ways to shield yourself from spreading germs and catching infections while away. To keep yourself safe, keep these rules in mind:

Know when to wash: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating. You should also wash them immediately after visiting the toilet or using any public facilities, such as transit terminals or service stations.
The power of soap and water: Whenever possible, choose running water and soap. Spend at least 20 seconds scrubbing all parts of your hands, including the backs, between your fingers and under your nails.
Deploy a ‘belt & braces’ approach: When you’re on the go, clean running water isn’t always available. In these moments, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser to quickly reduce germs on your hands until you can reach a sink. Also, that bottle of drinking water you should be carrying for hydration is also an emergency source of clean water for hands, cuts and bites (if it can be spared).

How to use shared washrooms

Communal washrooms, campsite showers, festival portaloos and hostel bathrooms are high-risk zones for cross contamination. To protect yourself in these shared spaces, follow these precautions:

Never go barefoot: Avoid walking barefoot in any communal shower or toilet area. Going barefoot in wet, shared environments significantly increases your risk of fungal and bacterial infections.
Pack shower footwear: Always wear flip-flops, sliders or water-resistant footwear when using communal bathing or toilet facilities. This simple barrier keeps your feet safe from lingering pathogens.
Mind your hands: While in a shared washroom, try to limit what you directly touch. Use a paper towel, toilet paper, or your elbow to open cubicle doors and turn on taps. And don’t forget to wash your own hands afterwards.

How to navigate high-touch hotspots

When you travel, you inevitably cross paths with public surfaces that have been touched by hundreds of people before you. Knowing exactly where these germs hide is your best defence against an unwanted illness.

Busy transit hubs and event venues are bustling with activity, with lots of communal surfaces and are prime locations for these invisible germ networks.

To protect yourself, keep a close eye on these everyday items and implement these simple habits:

Spot the germ magnets: Be highly mindful of frequently touched surfaces such as aeroplane tray tables, handrails, lift buttons and television remote controls.
Watch the washrooms: Door handles, taps and portaloos are also major hotspots for bacterial transfer.
Wipe before you touch: Use antibacterial wipes to clean down surfaces like tray tables and remotes as soon as you encounter them.
Use the hands-free approach: Avoid direct contact with shared washroom surfaces by using your sleeves, elbows, or a piece of toilet paper to open doors and turn on taps.

Staying safe and responsible at your destination

While personal hand hygiene is your primary shield, staying healthy on holiday also means adapting to your specific environment and showing respect for the places you visit.

Insect bite protection

Depending on where your flight lands, the local wildlife might present more than just a minor annoyance. Mosquitoes and other biting insects in certain parts of the world can carry serious diseases.

Check before you fly: Research and review destination-specific health advice well in advance of your trip. This is particularly critical if you are travelling to tropical climates where insect-borne illnesses are more common.
Pack the right repellent: Do not assume you will be near a shop selling suitable repellent when you arrive. Make sure you pack a reliable, high-quality insect repellent in your travel kit. Wearing long sleeves, trousers and shoes during mosquitoes’ evening feeding time is advisable to help prevent being bitten. Wear repellent too, as some mosquitoes can bite through clothing.

Respecting shared spaces

Good hygiene is not just about protecting yourself; it is also about protecting the local communities and fellow travellers around you. When we visit busy holiday destinations, our collective footprints add up quickly, making public courtesy essential.

Dispose of waste properly: Keep public areas, beaches, campsites and festival grounds cleaner and safer for everyone by always disposing of your rubbish in designated bins.
Avoid outdoor sanitation issues: Never resort to inappropriate outdoor sanitation. Always seek out and use proper, designated washroom facilities to prevent the spread of bacteria and contamination in public environments.

Inspecting your accommodation before settling in

Your hotel room, hostel, or temporary rental might look clean at first glance, but a quick preventative check can save your holiday from a hygiene disaster. Before you unpack your bags or lie down on the bed, take a few minutes to inspect your surroundings.

Examine the bedding and furniture: Carefully check the mattresses, bed frame, bedding and nearby furniture for any signs of bed bugs or poor hygiene.
Check the washroom: In basic accommodation, check it is clean, the toilets flush and there is clean water. Remember, in developing countries, you may have a squat toilet, a container of water and a plastic bowl for flushing.
Check for ants: In tropical countries, check for ant trails indoors, especially the widespread tiny, biting pharaoh ant, which can make nests in the tiniest spaces and will find any tiny crumb of food (including bodily fluids and dead insects) left lying around.
Check the mosquito screens: In tropical countries, even in areas where mosquito-borne diseases are absent, mosquito bites can be highly irritating. Check that your accommodation has screens on windows and doorways and they have no holes in them or these annoying insects will find a way in. Also, check the ceilings and walls for lurking mosquitoes, especially in darker areas in the washroom.
Act fast: Catching these issues before you settle into the accommodation allows you to address them with management immediately, helping you avoid hygiene issues during your stay.

The essential travel hygiene checklist

When packing for a holiday or a day trip, having a dedicated “hygiene kit” can save you from a world of discomfort. Here is a summary of the essential items you should always have in your bag:

1. Hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser: Essential for quickly killing germs on your hands when clean running water and soap are out of reach. Antibacterial hand wipes: Perfect for physically removing dirt from hands and disinfecting high-touch surfaces like aeroplane tray tables, rental car steering wheels, and public transport handrails.

2. Water (for drinking and cleaning)

Bottles of clean water: Staying hydrated is key to preventing fatigue and muscle cramps, keeping cool, keeping your brain functioning and healthy, helping digestion and kidney function, and reducing the risk of urinary tract infections.
A backup cleaning supply: A bottle of drinking water is useful for handwashing, rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth, or for quickly cleaning cuts and insect bites (which puncture the skin and let germs in) when you are not near a tap.

3. Insect repellent

Use an effective repellent: Essential if you are travelling to hot or tropical climates where mosquitoes and other insects carry diseases. Only use recommended insect repellent formulae, 50% DEET is widely considered the most effective, but there are alternatives.

4. Travel-sized toiletries

Pocket tissues and toilet paper: Public washrooms, festival portaloos and transit stations frequently run out of paper. Keeping your own travel-sized packets of tissues or toilet paper on hand ensures you are never caught off guard.
Travel tip: take out the cardboard tube from a toilet roll, pull the tissue out from the middle, put the roll in a small plastic bag, tie it, and feed tissue through the top. Then you can pull lengths of tissue as needed, keeping the roll clean and dry, and hang it up if needed. Also, use the roll for general-purpose wiping, cleaning and drying in any situation.

5. Footwear

Flip-flops, crocs or sliders: Crucial for communal showers, campsite washrooms or hotel pool areas. Wearing these keeps your bare feet from making direct contact with wet floors, significantly reducing the risk of fungal infections.
Shoes or trainers: Protect your feet when walking on rugged or dusty terrain and from insect bites.

The solution to stress-free holidays

No one wants their long-awaited summer holiday interrupted by an unexpected illness. While it is impossible to control how clean public spaces are or how diligent other travellers are with their own hygiene, you hold the power to protect yourself and your loved ones. By incorporating a few quick, mindful habits into your travel routine, you can significantly lower your risk of picking up unwanted bugs and focus on having a happy holiday.

Jamie Woodhall, the UK Technical & Innovations Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, perfectly captures why these simple steps are so vital: “Illness on holiday is many people’s worst nightmare, yet with a third of people in the UK confessing to not washing their hands after using the toilet*, it is not surprising that high traffic areas such as airports and hotels can be hotbeds for infection.

“Whilst we can only be responsible for our own washroom habits, simple preventative actions like carrying a travel-sized hand sanitiser and a pack of antibacterial wipes can help to keep you and your family safe and healthy whilst in transit and when you arrive at your destination.”

By prioritising your health and staying vigilant about hygiene, you can turn potential risks into peace of mind. Prepare well, stay clean and focus on creating wonderful memories on your next adventure.

*About the research
The research was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Initial Washroom Hygiene, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative UK respondents (aged 18+). The data was collected between 02.02.2026 and 04.02.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge, adhering to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.