As thousands of UK holidaymakers head to the airport this summer for a relaxing trip in a hot country, many of these travellers will be doing anything they can to stay healthy.
Nobody likes getting sick, especially when they have used annual leave to take time off work.
Unfortunately, the chances of becoming unwell when travelling can be high, due to the mixture of strangers in planes and airports.
From crammed flights and airports, to hotel rooms and pools with unknown hygiene standards - it's no wonder so many people end up sick while on holiday.
Thankfully, health experts have come to the rescue to discuss the major health risks at play when abroad, and how to avoid them.
Airports
Dr Donald Grant, from The Independent Pharmacy, said: "Airports often become crowded and therefore they present multiple hygiene risks.
"Touching surfaces, using airport bathrooms and being in close proximity to others can cause bacteria to spread, so it’s important to be hygiene-alert."
Another hygiene risk is the amount of times your passport, luggage and boarding pass is handed between strangers - and you can't always check they've been washing their hands correctly.
Dr Angela Rai, a GP from the London General Practice, has recommended that people regularly wash their hands or apply hand sanitiser as you make your way through the airport.
She added: "Washing your hands or using hand sanitiser helps reduce the risk of transmission of lots of different infections, including viral infections, coughs and colds and potentially gastrointestinal infections as well."
Flying
Dr Preethi Daniel, deputy medical director at London Doctors Clinic, explained how easy it is to catch a bug while travelling abroad via an airplane this summer.
Dr Daniel said: "If someone is sitting next to you [on an airplane] and they have a cold, it may well be that you might catch one.
"There are hundreds of viruses that cause illness and the fact that you are mixing with people from all over the world means exposure to viruses and bugs your body may not be used to already."
However, it's not just the airborne viruses you should be worried about, as Grant added: "Again, it’s important to wash or sanitise your hands frequently during your flight, especially before eating or drinking, after using the bathroom, or if you’ve touched your armrest, tray table or TV screen."
To be extra safe, it may be an option to wipe down your plane table and armrests with an antibacterial wipe before using them.
Hotel rooms
Dr Grant explained: "While all hotel rooms should be thoroughly cleaned between each guest’s stay, you can never be fully sure that your room is bacteria-free.
"To be on the safe side, take some disinfectant wipes and give the surfaces a good wipe down when you arrive — and don’t forget the TV remote, which may have been handled by hundreds of people without being cleaned."
It is also important to be super careful with the eating and drinking utensils you use in your hotel room, without having cleaned them yourself first.
Grant added: "You should avoid using drinking glasses or mugs provided by the hotel without cleaning them thoroughly first."
Food and drink
When eating out abroad, it is important to keep an eye out for any hygiene warning signs in local cafes, bars or restaurants.
Dr Daniel advised people to, "check for cleanliness even in established restaurants; paying particular attention to the state of tablecloths, cutlery, glasses and whether the tables are wiped down properly."
When looking out for buzzing insects nearby, she warned: "They are often loaded with pathogens as they do not discriminate between feeding on food or faeces.
"E. coli, salmonella or shigella are some of the most common causes of gastrointestinal infections on holiday.
"Hepatitis A and typhoid are other infections you can contract from contaminated food or water."
People are also warned against drinking tap water abroad unless you are sure it is safe to consume - and to be aware of water being used in the preparation of other food and drink.
Dr Rai added that ice is also a worry, as it could have been made with tap water - and "things like salads and raw vegetables that have been washed in that water".
Dr Daniel adds: "Stick to peelable fruit. Bananas, mangoes and the like are perfectly fine to eat. Avoid anything that has already been peeled, chopped and is waiting in handy takeaway sizes for you."
Swimwear and towels
Dr Daniel warned that infections can be caught through poor hygiene if you don't wash your bathing suits and towels correctly.
She said: "Unpleasant odours and growth of bacteria are some of the risks of poor hygiene when it comes to swimwear and beach towels.
"They trap moisture, which could leave you vulnerable to getting infections such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush."
Grant says: "Be mindful that your towel is likely getting dirtier on holiday than it would be at home — especially if you’re taking it to the beach or the pool.
"You should change or wash your towel at least every other day."
And unless you have overpacked and have a different swimsuit for every day of the week, it is advisable to give it a wash while on your holidays.
Dr Rai said: "You’re meant to wash your swimwear after every time you wear it, because you have to treat it like your underwear."
And if you don't have access to a washing machine on holiday, Dr Rai said you can make do, adding: "Just gently hand wash your swimwear every time you use it with warm soapy water then hang it up to dry."
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