• It’s the festive season as well as the end-year school holidays in Singapore now – so this means that many Singaporean couples and families will definitely be either heading off on their holidays, or else busy finding the best flight tickets online or getting the best flight booking deals… already in preparation for their next trip.

While some Singaporeans may just nip over to affordable regional destinations such as Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia for a quick weekend getaway, others will be going on their highly-anticipated annual holidays, to further-away destinations such as Europe or the United States, possibly which they’ve been saving up the whole year for.

For myself, I have just got back from a short weekend getaway to Bintan, in Indonesia, but I’ve got two trips lined up for next year, to the Netherlands, as well as to Chicago in the United States. And I’m looking forward to them.

It’s exciting to see, with your own eyes, world-famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower in France, Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, or the Statue of Liberty in the United States – as well as to experience the cooler temperatures that are unheard of in sunny, tropical Singapore.

But in order to get there, you would need to endure a long-haul flight – which usually aren’t many people’s idea of fun. With two long-haul trips coming up for myself, these tips are for me, as much as you.

Furthermore, the worst thing is that airplanes are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, and the last thing you want is for your body to pick up these and fall sick soon after arriving at your destination. And as well, jet-lag and crossing multiple time zones only makes traveling worse.

However, with a few quick tips, you can arrive at your destination healthy and in tip-top condition to enjoy a great vacation.

(1) Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.

An airplane cabin is very dry and this dehydrates the body. So make sure that you remain hydrated on board your flight. Bring along an empty bottle and refill it with water when you board the plane.

That’s because the bottles or cups of water that you get from the flight attendants are usually not enough – do note that you need a minimum of six to eight glasses of water daily.

Also, remember to stay away from caffeine, alcohol or soft drinks, too, because these will dehydrate you further.

(2) Wear comfortable clothes

Don’t bother with wearing suits or high heels on board long-haul flights. Instead, choose something comfortable and loose so that you will be able to relax and rest on board your flight. The worst thing that you want in terms of comfort, is to have the waistline from your skinny jeans pressing into your belly.

Getting some rest during the flight will help you to feel fresher when you arrive at your destination, and less lethargic.

(3) Load up on vitamins

In the days prior to your flight, increase your intake of vitamins, such as Vitamin C to boost your immunity. This will help you to stay strong during your trip and you’ll be less susceptible to the germs and bacteria floating in the recycled air and dry atmosphere on board the flight.

(4) Keep Moving

Staying in your seat for hours on end may increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis, which leads to blood clots. This is the last thing you want. So try and make sure you keep moving on the flight to keep your blood circulating. Wearing compression socks will help to keep blood clots at bay, too. Do some ankle rotation exercises whilst in your seat, and remember to stand up and walk around at least once every one or two hours.

With these travel tips now up your sleeve, I hope that these help you to reach your holiday destination in a healthy shape and tip-top condition for all the exploring, sightseeing and eating that can possibly fit into your itinerary.

When you arrive at your destination, you’ve got to be fit to stomach the foreign food. In Europe, you will not be able to enjoy a plate of chicken rice like in Singapore.

So you should eat, for example, Fish & Chips in England. You may not be able to have rice everyday. So stay in a great shape before arriving, to withstand changes in your diet.

Have a pleasant flight and a great holiday.

This article has been written in collaboration with Traveloka.