Getting sick while traveling is no fun. Not only can it slow you down and keep you from enjoying your destination, it can also be a costly expense. Visiting a doctor in a foreign country, after all, probably isn't part of your health plan -- and buying medicine cabinet essentials in a resort gift shop or on a cruise ship isn't going to be budget-friendly either.
The good news is that most of what you'll ever need will fit into your carry-on. These simple lifesavers are tiny and lightweight -- and none of them are in liquid form, so they won't take up precious room in your TSA-approved quart-sized bag of toiletries.
Aspirin/Acetaminophen
From relieving pain to reducing a fever, a few of these pills is essential in your travel kit. They'll take care of everything from sore muscles from skiing or toting luggage to sudden problems with teeth or joints. Best of all, they come in individual foil packets, so you don't even have to pack an entire bottle.
Bonine
Is there anything worse than feeling nauseous? Even if you're not prone to motion sickness, you never know when there will be an exception. Sure, you'll want to pack some Bonine before cruising, just in case there are rough seas, but crazy drivers, scenic mountainous roads, water taxis, and swaying trains can also cause the travel condition.
Oscillococcinum
You can't pronounce it, but the important thing is that these tiny pellets can relieve flu-like symptoms. Oscillococcinum is just one of the many travel-friendly homeopathic medicines available from Boiron. Other road-worthy gems are for sinus congestion, cold symptoms, food poisoning and more.
Adhesive Bandages
Think that walking through museums and shopping promenades isn't a full contact sport? Your feet could argue otherwise. Pack a few adhesive bandages for unexpected blisters and other cuts. (Ladies, they'll protect torn nails in a pinch, too.)
Imodium
For travelers, diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control, usually brought about from unsanitary food handling. An antidiarrheal such as Imodium will save you from having to be by a bathroom all day.
Benadyrl
Bug bites, pollen, dusty hotel rooms, or even your grandma's cat -- all of these things can cause allergies while you're traveling. Clear your head with an over-the-counter allergy medication, such as Benadryl.
Cold-EEZE
When you feel a cold start to come on, the sooner you can react, the less intense it will be. Cold-EEZE lozenges are loaded with zinc gluconate and are clinically proven to shorten the duration of the common cold by almost half.