Top Travel Tips: How to Avoid Travel Dehydration

Travel dehydration is a common impact of traveling. A number of factors can contribute to travel dehydration including a disruption in your daily routine, less access to water, and dryness caused by flying at high altitudes. When mild dehydration sets in, many people do not even realize they are becoming dehydrated, so looking out for symptoms is a good way to prevent and overcome dehydration during travel. One of the top travel tips to keep in mind is to consider your water intake during travel.

Whether you’re traveling by plane, car, train, or bus, we are all susceptible to travel dehydration. Following our travel packing checklist and bringing along some kind of hydration powder like DripDrop can decrease chances of becoming dehydrating and alleviate mild to moderate symptoms.

Symptoms of Travel Dehydration

Dehydration symptoms can be so common that people do not initially recognize them as symptoms of becoming dehydrated. If you experience any of the symptoms below, you may be experiencing mild dehydration. Keeping a refillable water bottle with you during travel can help avoid and alleviate dehydration, but using hydration powder packets such as DripDrop are also proven to dramatically help. DripDrop includes three times the electrolytes found in traditional sports drinks with unmatchable flavor.

Keep a lookout for these common symptoms offered by the Cleveland Clinic:

Headache
Extreme thirst
Dry mouth or dry cough
Less frequent urination
Dark-colored urine
Fatigue
Dizziness
Confusion

How to Avoid Travel Dehydration

Drink More Water than Usual

Planning ahead is easily one of the top travel tips no matter where or how you’re traveling. This will help you avoid leaving behind important items and prepare your body for long travel. Part of planning ahead includes drinking more water even before you’ve left for your trip. Try to consume more water than normal a few days to one week before you plan to travel. Typically, six to eight glasses of water per day is recommended, but if you’re traveling (particularly long distances), you should try to incorporate an additional two glasses per day.

Bring a Reusable Bottle with You

Sometimes the greatest cause of travel dehydration is simply a lack of available water. Whether you’re traveling in a car, train, or bus for extended periods of time or taking an airplane, it’s likely that water isn’t as convenient to come by as it is at home. If you’re driving to your destination, pack plenty of extra water for the ride. You may travel through stretches without gas stations, and you don’t want to be stuck without water.

If you’re traveling by plane, a reusable water bottle is one of the handiest items you can bring along. Airport security checkpoints in U.S. airports do not allow liquids over 3.4 oz in carry on bags. But you can bring an empty water bottle and easily access refill stations found in most airports. Make sure to fill your bottle before you board the plane to ensure access throughout the flight. If you also bring hydration powder to add electrolytes to your water, helping your body function properly, you can also store this in your carry-on bag and add to your water as needed.

Avoid Coffee and Alcoholic Drinks

Coffee and alcohol both have diuretic effects, meaning they increase urine production. Losing more water than normal causes your body to become dehydrated — especially if you’re not taking in enough water to replace what you’ve lost. Though it may be tempting to grab a cup of coffee before your road trip or enjoy a cold beer at the airport, these items can contribute to dehydration. It’s best to avoid caffeine and alcohol for these reasons, but if you do feel the need to consume either substance, be diligent about drinking extra water to replace the water you’ve lost.

Pack Electrolyte Hydration Powder

Electrolytes are just as important to your bodily functions as water. Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals help regulate many functions of your body including strengthening immunity, promoting good sleep, and reducing stress and anxiety — functions you definitely want your body to be doing during travel.

Water itself does not include electrolytes, which is why it’s important to get these from other sources. Hydration powder mixes like DripDrop includes electrolytes to help regulate your body and reduce mild to moderate dehydration symptoms. Traveling with hydration powder mixes is an excellent way to help your body fight dehydration, and they’re easy to make room for in suitcases and carry-ons.