20 Unhealthy Habits To Avoid On Vacation

A vacation is a great time to let loose and indulge. But too much of a good thing? That brings a whole lotta bad. So go head and, you know, enjoy cocktails. But keep in mind too much drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Drinking too much in a new setting that is unfamiliar can also lead one to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, which makes travelers completely vulnerable. Know when to say when.

It's great to come back from a vacay with a sun-kissed glow on your skin. But too much sun exposure can lead to burns and sun poisoning. So don't forget to lather up with that sunscreen. And bring a hat!

Vacations are no time for a diet, but they're also not the time to totally throw caution to the wind and eat whatever you can get your hands on. Enjoy new and different foods without going crazy. Try to avoid binging your way through vacation.

It can be jarring to travel to another time zone and attempt to regulate your sleep and body clock. But a lack of sleep can lead to health issues as well as impaired judgement. Try to get on the new time zone as quickly as possible to avoid a vacation of sleep deprivaition.

It may be difficult to keep up your normal exercise routine while on holiday, but that doesn't mean you can't get up and move at some point in the day. If you can't get to a gym, at least take a walk. And don't forget about those hotel stairs, which are a great way to squeeze in some cardio.

It's easy to forget to drink water when you're busy enjoying the sights, but dehydration can definitely ruin your trip. So make sure to drink water as often as possible.

We all have those friends that bring out the worst in us. Let's call them bad influences. Traveling with a bad influence can lead you to make choices that put you in harm's way and get you into trouble. So choose your travel buddies carefully. Your life could depend on them.

If you're unfamiliar with trails or terrain, it's best to consult an expert before embarking on your adventure hiking vacation. It's easy to get lost or in over your head in unfamiliar territory.

In different countries there are different standards of safety regarding day trips, ferry boats, water sports and small planes. Check those out before you embark on your journey. The risks could be fatal.

Vacations are a great time to step out of one's comfort zone. But go too far and you could put yourself physically and emotionally in harm's way. So proceed, but with caution.

It may sound fun to "just go with it" on your vacation and not research where you're going, but not having a firm understanding of the culture, weather and political climate where you're going could put your in harm's way. Go ahead and relax, after doing a bit of research and due diligence on where you're going.

Whether it's uncomfortable shoes or a lack of the right outerwear, not traveling with the right gear can ruin your trip and make you vulnerable to inclement weather or worse. So invest or borrow the right stuff. You'll be happy you did.

Eating food one's allergic to, or not traveling with appropriate medical relief, can turn fatal—fast. So be prepared with whatever medical intervention you need to deal with your allergies. You might not be able to find relief on the road.

If you're a person who relies on prescriptions, it's not a good idea to travel without your medication. Doctors and pharmacies aren't always as available on vacation as they are at home. Not to mention, your insurance may not cover the cost of those prescriptions when you travel to another country.

It's great to want to see it all. But if seeing all is draining and exhausting, you're more likely to come home with a cold than with a head full of memories.

It may sound silly that taking pictures can be fatal, but it can. Remember the gal who fell off a cliff taking a photo at the Grand Canyon? So yeah, pay attention when taking all those photos.

It may seem like a good idea to skip a meal to save time and squeeze in more on the itinerary. But going without food breaks can actually cause you to eat more later. Plus, hangry moods never make a vacation better. So take the time to eat on the road, even if that means you get to the next site a bit later.

When you're on vacation, it may not be as easy to find a way to clean your hands. Or, you can just plain forget because of all that vacation fun. But eating with dirty hands is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get sick. So wash up or carry wipes in your bag, because the world is dirty. And so are your hands.

If you live in a town that boasts drinkable tap water, it may be shocking that most of the world relies on bottled water. Drinking unfiltered water that your body isn't used to can lead to a whole host of stomach issues you'd rather not explore on holiday. So suck it up and buy that bottled water. Or ask your hotel if their water is filtered.

Street food can be a great way to discover new cuisines around the world. It can also be a great way to discover that foods aren't always cooked with the same standards around the world as they are back home. So do be adventurous in what you eat, but also make sure you're eating somewhere with a clean kitchen and fresh food.