25 Tips For Travelling With Motion Sickness

I’ve suffered with motion sickness for as long as I can remember and my parents remember me suffering before that too. There has been many a family holiday growing up when I would vomit mid journey to our destination. I’d always hoped with age I’d grow out of it as many people do but I never did. I still suffer as badly as ever despite all of the travelling I do. Motion sickness is horrible but I won’t let it stop me from travelling and seeing the world. I’ve found many tricks for helping ease the symptoms and thought I’d share them because neither should you let motion sickness stop you from travelling.

25 Tips for travelling with motion sickness

1 Always carry water with you during any journey

2 Stock up on medication before you leave your home country – pills have never worked for me so I use these motion sickness bands and they are a life saver (most of the time)

Motion sickness bands are best brought so they are tight and best replaced if they become lose, I normally buy kids sized ones because I have small wrists. They are available from most pharmacies and often at the airport or other transport hubs. 

3 Make sure you take said medication before you travel – I’ve make countless mistakes where I put my motion sickness bands on after the journey has started and they have little effect

4 Don’t drink alcohol the night before a long journey, I ALWAYS get travel sick when I’m hungover even with my bands on

5 If water doesn’t help then grab a fizzy drink, Sprite always helps me

6 Make the most of every stop, even if you don’t need the toilet get out of the transport and enjoy the fresh air

7 Sleep, the only thing that can help me feel better once I get sick, especially if I cannot get out of the transport this is my only way of getting through

8 DON’T read, look at your phone, be the map reader etc. anything that involves looking down is bound to make your travel sickness come on, instead look out of the window

9 Carry food you know will settle easily and is plain on your stomach, I’ve often gone hungry on long journeys because the food choices are limited and I know it will make me sick

For travelling by car

10 Sit in the front of the car or even better offer to drive, I have NEVER been travel sick while driving

11 Open the window if you start to feel sick, I always find the fresh air helps

12 Travel with a carrier bag incase everything else fails

13 Ask the driver to take main roads these are often straighter and less likely to cause motion sickness

For travelling by boat

14 Choose a seat where you can see the horizon and focus on that if you feel the least bit queasy

15 Sit on the deck or in an air conditioned room rather than near to where food is served the smell can often make motion sickness worse

For travelling by train

16 Choose a seat facing in the direction of travel and sit nearest to the aisle incase you need to make a break for the toilet

17 Suss out where the nearest toilet and window is, you might need the fresh air or not make it to the toilet to vomit if you don’t know where it is

For travelling by plane

18 Pick your seat wisely… I like to sit by the window so I can see out as this helps me but often sitting in the aisle seat so you can make a run for the toilet is a good option

For travelling by coach/bus

19 Pick a seat in the middle of the coach, sitting above the wheels is suppose to be worse for motion sickness

20 Don’t keep turning around to talk to your friend behind, I promise you won’t miss out on much just for those few hours away from them

For travelling by subway/metro/tube or even busy trains

21 Don’t get on a packed carriage, either walk to an emptier one or wait for the next train

22 Stand near to the door so you get the air and have space to breathe each time the door opens, there is nothing worse than being crammed under someones armpit when you feel sick

23 Try and grab a seat, I always feel guilty sitting down in full carriages but quite often I can’t stand up once I’m feeling travel sick

Finally

24 Makes sure you have directions to your end point easily available, last thing you want after getting off the transport travel sick is having to stress about where you need to get to

25 Oh and don’t ever risk it without medication, you’ll only regret it

I’ve heard people say ginger is also good but everyone is different when it comes to dealing with motion sickness and it is best to just figure out what works best for you. The above are by no means going to work for everyone but many of the tips will certainly make life easier for you.

Do you have any more tips to add to this list? I’d love to hear them!

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