A family who got struck by a terrible dose of 'the runs' whilst trying to enjoy a vacation in some delightful location and had a horrible holiday, spending 7 days in the apartment. Somebody's friend or relative who foolishly drank the local drinking water, suffered horrific stomachache and fever and has not been the same since. One of the kids gets bitten by some exotic insect and suffers a scary reaction.

Unfortunately, the end result is usually the same, it usually spoiled the vacation, emptied the bank and put them off foreign holidays for a few years.

Of course, you don't want to end up the same, so here are a few pointers to safeguard your loved ones and make sure that that you enjoy your trip abroad:

Before departing

Clearly you aren't able to forecast every potential problem, there are a few steps you should take to make sure that you all enjoy your holiday.

* Before leaving for your vaction destination, go visit your physician and discuss any health issues that may turn into a problem during your vacation.

* If anyone in your party suffers with motion sickness, there are a few basic precautions you must take to improve the problem. When traveling by car, make sure you sit in the front passenger seat and keep looking outside the car. If on a boat or ship, sit as close to the middle of the vessel. When flying, make sure you sit near the wing of the aircraft. If anyone in your family suffers with very bad travel sickness you may want to consider one of the branded motion sickness medications.

* Make sure that you take first aid supplies that may be required in your chosen destination.

* Make sure to take the contact details of your pharmacy and medical center.

Get the right travel insurance

Health insurance policies are not the same, so assess your particular circumstances and needs and make sure that your travel policy provides the cover that you need. Before you begin your trip, become an expert on your health policy and in particular, the limits of its coverage. If you are not sure over bits of the insurance policy, make sure you get an explanation before your departure date. Don't forget to include the travel policy with your passport and tickets.

* When choosing your health policy, make sure that you are aware of the full cost of each insurance policy?

* When choosing your insurance policy, check for age criteria or health restrictions that that might apply.

* When deciding on your travel policy, compare the highest sums each health policy will pay.

* When selecting your health policy, make sure you know whether each policy forces you to only make use of their specified doctors and medical centers.

Food safety on your vacation

Perhaps the worst thing that can happen to you on your holiday, is to get a serious stomach upset or food poisoning. Here are a few tips to help you maintain good health in your chosen destination:

* If possible, avoid eating risky foods. Some food types are safer to eat than others, eg. food that needs cooking is usually safe, also fresh vegetables that have to be peeled prior to consumption.

* Don't take chances with the tap water. Make sure you only drink branded bottled water, and make a point of checking the seal to make sure it is not an old bottle that has been filled with potentially dangerous local water by unscrupulous shopkeepers. If you worried over the safety of the local water, it is sensible to stay clear of ice cubes in your drinks. If circumstances force you to use the tap water, make sure you boil it for 10 minutes first..

* Certainly the most crucial advice, don't accept foods that are touched by human hands before reaching your plate.