Travel Wellness Tips Debunked

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There are a lot of myths when it comes to traveling. Some of these myths have to do with the area of wellness. Things that we have heard in the past or just naturally assumed, may not be true and we could be putting our health at risk.

Here are a few of the most common travel wellness tips debunked.

Airplanes Are Thoroughly Cleaned Between Flights
Not!  Airplanes may look fairly clean when you first get on board, but that doesn’t mean that they have undergone a thorough cleaning between flights. Flight attendants don’t have a lot of time to sanitize things once a flight is finished. What this means is that while they will pick up trash and wipe up any spills they see, don’t expect them to wipe down food trays or seats in between passengers. Read more on our post Things to Avoid on an Airplane.

Don’t Travel In The Winter To Avoid Sickness
A lot of individuals avoid traveling in the winter because they think that it will make them sick. In all actuality, cold weather has nothing to do with it. You won’t get a cold because the temperature is cold. Germs are what makes you sick, so instead of foregoing winter travel, opt to take preventative measures to stay well. Wash your hands often, make sure you stay hydrated and get plenty of rest when you are traveling. Of course in cold weather make sure you dress in layers so that you stay warm.

You Can Eat What You Want If You Are Active
You may have been told that you can eat what you want while you are on vacation because you will just burn off the calories anyways. Sure, you will probably be very active if you plan to go on a walking tour, do some hiking or spend a lot of your time exploring a city. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can eat what you want. You may actually be taking in more calories than you are burning even if you are very active. While it is okay to splurge a bit, don’t eat everything in sight when you are on vacation as you may just end up gaining a few pounds.

You Can Just Relax Once You Get To A Hotel Room
After a long flight have you ever just kicked off your shoes and plopped down on the bed in your hotel room to catch a few winks? Well, this isn’t a good idea as a hotel room can be very dirty. Floors do get vacuumed or swept after the previous travelers check out, but they are very rarely deep cleaned. As far as the comforter on the bed goes, it probably hasn’t been washed in a while. It’s not uncommon for hotels to not wash them in between guests unless they appear to be dirty. We always take a can of travel sized Lysol spray and use them for the sheets, pillows, remote controls, room phone, light switches and bathrooms.

Another information blog you can read over is Avoid These Things to Stay Healthy While Traveling.

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Sue Lobo
Sue Lobo is a four-time Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist (2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026) and Senior Travel Advisor at Atlas Travel Center, one of the most decorated travel agencies in the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in the travel industry, Sue has planned, booked, and personally accompanied trips for thousands of clients — from first-time cruisers to seasoned luxury travelers who have circled the globe multiple times. Sue's areas of deep expertise include ocean and river cruising, European tours, group travel coordination, luxury travel, honeymoon planning, and family vacation design. She is a CLIA-certified cruise specialist and works within an agency that holds IATA and ARC accreditation and maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Over her career, Sue has been involved in more than 30,000 bookings and has personally coordinated over 200 travel groups — from faith-based group cruises and HBCU alumni trips to women's retreats, family reunions, and corporate incentive travel. What sets Sue apart is not just the credentials — it is the firsthand experience behind them. Sue has personally traveled to more than 20 countries across three continents, including Cuba, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout Europe. She has sailed on dozens of cruise ships across nearly every major line, walked the river cruise routes she recommends, and eaten at the restaurants she suggests to clients. Her recommendations come from personal experience, not brochures. In addition to advising clients, Sue writes extensively about travel for The Traveler's Atlas blog — covering everything from cruise line comparisons and overtourism trends to destination guides and practical travel tips. Her writing is grounded in the same expertise she brings to every client conversation: honest, specific, and built on decades of real-world travel experience. Sue is based in the United States and available to help travelers plan cruises, European tours, group trips, river cruises, honeymoons, family vacations, and more. To work with Sue, contact Atlas Travel Center at atlastravelweb.com.