My Number One Travel Tip. Ever. (at the moment… )

What I’m about to say may seem like the most obvious thing in the world to you. Honestly, it always has for me. Yet, it can be easy to get lazy, impatient, to cut corners. So, just hear me out.

Boil your water. Tap water that is. When in developing countries, even when in cities. No, almost-boiled is not good enough. No, steaming is not the same thing. I mean a loud, rolling boil, for five straight minutes. It takes forever when you’re waiting, especially when using a weak gas range on a very windy rooftop. No matter what, the extra time is worth it.

Right now, this is the most disgusting I’ve felt probably ever (OK, no, the night of the norovirus in 2011 still wins). I thought I knew this kind of sickness, but I knew nothing.

If it’s already too late for you, here are some pointers

Don’t expect it to pass in a day or two. Seriously, give it 4 or 5 days. Don’t book anything except for your current room (or a better one in the same vicinity) for the next couple of days. You will need a toilet close at all times. You will feel too weak to even leave the hostel.

If you do need to go out, stock up on snacks and toilet paper. You probably don’t wanna be the one asking for a new roll of toilet paper multiple times a day. Just invest a couple dollars and be prepared. In terms of snacks, get things that require no prep and are quite bland. I’m talking soda crackers. You won’t be able to stomach much, but it’s nice to have something in your system. Of course, plenty of water (and sugary beverages, if you can stomach them) goes without saying.

Don’t push yourself. You don’t need to guess that you’ll be better tomorrow night (unless you’ve already gone ahead and made commitments that you can’t push ahead). You don’t need to worry about spending a little more for one more night and day of rest. Don’t overthink, just rest. You won’t be able to enjoy anything anyway.

Don’t freak out. There might be moments in there where you think this is the worst you’ve ever felt. You might have aches and chills and a fever and feel dizzy. This is not abnormal for this kind of water-borne illness. Make sure you are drinking enough (dehydration is the real risk) and give your body time to heal itself.