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title: "Eating while travelling: how to avoid stomach trouble"
description: "Neither shutting yourself in the hotel nor eating anything at all. The practical rules of people who travel a lot and what to do if it catches you anyway."
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# Eating while travelling without taking chances: rules that work almost everywhere

> Neither shutting yourself in the hotel nor eating anything at all. The practical rules of people who travel a lot and what to do if it catches you anyway.

[Home](https://getgigapass.com/en) › [Blog](https://getgigapass.com/en/blog) › Eating while travelling without taking chances: rules that work almost everywhere

On the road

Neither shutting yourself in the hotel nor eating anything at all. The practical rules of people who travel a lot and what to do if it catches you anyway.

**Nerea Aguilar** 10 Aug 2026 5 min Photo by Mathijs Beks on Unsplash

In this article › The rules that do work › The water › Allergies and intolerances › If it happens anyway

The number-one cause of a lost day on a trip is nothing exotic: it is your stomach. And almost all of it is avoided with simple rules that do not force you to give up eating well.

## The rules that do work

1. Eat where there is a queue of local people: high turnover means freshly made food.
2. Prefer what is cooked in front of you to what has been sitting out for a while.
3. Where the water is not drinkable, also be careful with ice, washed salads and already-peeled fruit.
4. Fruit you can peel yourself is among the safest things there are.
5. And for the first two days, go carefully: the change of diet is novelty enough on its own.

The first rule is the one that surprises most: busy street stalls are usually safer than an empty restaurant with a buffet.

## The water

In places where the tap water is not drinkable, bottled and sealed, and be careful when brushing your teeth. A refillable bottle with a filter solves the problem on long trips and saves buying plastic every day.

## Allergies and intolerances

Carry the explanation written in the local language, not translated on the spot. A card with the clear sentence and the specific ingredients works far better than a translator in the middle of a noisy kitchen.

## If it happens anyway

- Rehydration before anything else.
- Bland food in small amounts for a day.
- Careful with anti-diarrhoeals if there is a fever: in that case, better to ask.
- And if it lasts more than two days or there is a high fever, call the insurer before setting off on your own.

The right order for that is in [what to do if you fall ill while travelling](https://getgigapass.com/en/blog/falling-ill-on-a-trip).

These are travel habits, not medical advice. Any symptom that does not improve goes to a professional, and that is exactly what your insurer's assistance is for.

Know where you're going?

Pick your destination, days and data. Install it before you leave and pay once.

[See destinations](https://getgigapass.com/en#destinos)

Nerea AguilarTravelling connected

She has spent eight years writing about travelling without running out of data. What happens after you land interests her more than the spec sheet.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is street food safe?**

With a queue of local people, yes: the high turnover means freshly made food. Safer than an empty restaurant with a buffet.

**What do I need to watch with the water?**

Where the tap water is not drinkable, bottled and sealed, and also careful with ice, salads and brushing your teeth.

**How do I explain an allergy?**

With a card written in the local language, with the specific ingredients. It works better than translating on the spot.

**What do I do if the food disagrees with me?**

Rehydration, bland food and caution with anti-diarrhoeals if there is a fever. If it lasts more than two days, call your insurer.

## Keep reading

- [On the road](https://getgigapass.com/en/blog/travelling-alone-for-the-first-time) | Travelling alone for the first time: what actually needs preparing | 6 min
- [On the road](https://getgigapass.com/en/blog/public-transport-unfamiliar-city) | Public transport in a city you don't know: sorted in ten minutes | 5 min
- [On the road](https://getgigapass.com/en/blog/travel-photos-on-your-phone) | Travel photos on your phone: four things that change the result | 5 min