Travel is all about freedom and fun—not scrambling to find medicine in a new city. I learned this the hard way in Rome, walking around late at night trying to find a pharmacy for my wife. That was the moment I realized I needed to start packing smarter. For our Rome Must sees check that out here.
After too many trips of overpaying for tiny packs of medicine at airports, cruise shops, or local stores (if I could even find them), I finally put together my own travel medicine kit. This isn’t about carrying a giant pill case—it’s about having the right travel medication essentials so small stuff doesn’t derail your plans.
Quick Note on Traveling Abroad: Some countries are very strict about what you can bring in. For example, Japan has strict rules about certain medications. We learned this firsthand, but thankfully they had pharmacies on practically every corner and were amazing and had everything we needed. So—do your homework before you pack. The CDC’s Pack Smart Guide is a great place to start.
Travel Medication Essentials: What to Always Bring
Here are the basics that cover most common travel medication needs:
- Motion sickness: Cars, boats, or planes—motion sickness can sneak up on anyone. Over-the-counter options like Dramamine work well, but if you don’t like the drowsy “zombie” feeling, check out Meclizine (Costco sells it behind the pharmacy counter—no prescription needed, and it’s usually under $5). For stronger cases, talk to your doctor about a scopolamine patch. My wife gets motion sick easily and swears by it—it sticks behind your ear and lasts up to three days.
- Upset stomach: New foods and different water can throw your stomach off. Bring Imodium (for diarrhea) and something like Pepcid or Tums for heartburn or indigestion.
- Pain & inflammation: Headaches, sore muscles, even that random bump on the shin—Tylenol or Advil usually cover it.
- Allergies: Whether it’s seasonal pollen, a surprise cat, or that mystery flower on a hike, pack your usual antihistamine (Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl).
- Colds & flu: A stuffy nose or cough on vacation is no fun. Bring along a basic decongestant or cough suppressant, depending on what usually hits you. Bonus: consider a flu shot if you’re traveling during peak season (WHO Travel Health Info).
Travel Medications Checklist: Packing Tips
- Talk to your doctor first. Especially if you take daily prescriptions or have medical conditions. If your trip overlaps when you’d normally need a refill, take care of it before you leave. My wife needs certain medications daily, and without them our vacation would have been cut short—so don’t leave this one to chance.
- Keep prescriptions in original bottles. Customs can be strict (see TSA guidelines on traveling with medications).
- Stay organized. A small travel case keeps things easy to grab in your backpack and keeps everything organized
- Follow TSA rules. Liquids and gels (like cough syrup) need to fit in that quart bag.
- Don’t go overboard. Bring what you’ll realistically use—no need to take an entire medicine cabinet.
- Check local rules. What’s normal at CVS might be banned overseas.
- Think about insurance. Travel insurance can be a lifesaver if you ever need medical care abroad. We finally bought it for the first time after visiting more than 25 countries. Thankfully, we didn’t need it—but it gave us peace of mind knowing we were covered if something went wrong.
Why a Travel Medicine Kit Saves You Time and Money
This isn’t about being paranoid—it’s about being prepared. A tiny travel medicine kit can mean the difference between enjoying your cruise or spending the day in your cabin wishing you had packed smarter.
So, before your next adventure, take 10 minutes to toss these essentials into your bag. Trust me—you’ll thank yourself later.
By packing a smart set of medications to take on a cruise, flight, or road trip, you’ll be ready for the unexpected without losing precious vacation time. Trust me—it’s a lot better to be enjoying your evening than wandering around a foreign city at midnight looking for a pharmacy.
Bon voyage, and here’s to smooth sailing (and fewer pharmacy runs)!
