You don't want to be holed up in your Thai bungalow for the wrong reasons.

Traveller's diarrhoea is a common woe so, before you leave home, get a prescription for an antibiotic. Noroxin is prescribed for bacterial food poisoning and Fasigyn treats giardia (a parasite contracted through unsanitised water), explains WH health expert Dr Ginni Mansberg. Don't forget Imodium to stem the flow and hydrating sachets like Gastrolyte ($15.44 for 10). When stocking up on bottled H2O, check the seal isn't broken; it's not uncommon for vendors or hotel staff to refill used bottles. Don't down drinks with ice, sing in the shower (remember Charlotte's mishap in Sex and the City?), or brush your teeth under the tap. Stick with fruits and vegies you can peel - the outer layer helps prevent against contamination.

You're afraid of getting sick Ks from home, without a chemist in sight.

Just do what any good Brownie would do: be prepared. Take a first-aid kit with thermometer, bandages, antiseptic cream (like Dettol, $3.22 for 30g), a blister kit (like Scholl's Blister Stop Prevention Kit, $10.45), for trudging around the Acropolis, hand sanitiser, some earplugs (to silence those drunk roommates), mosquito repellent, anti-inflammatories, painkillers, cold and flu tablets and antihistamines (to kill the itch of bites and rashes). You'll also want an ample supply of your meds with copies of prescriptions you could need - with generic names, as brands often differ overseas.

You've booked a big-arse yacht in the Whitsundays. Only, the waves could have you bent over a super-small loo.

Forget the pressure-point wristbands, says Dr Jonny Bowden, a nutritionist and author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth ($39.95, Fair Winds Press). They'll only make you look like an extra from Semi-Pro. Instead, get a prescription for Stemitil capsules, which can treat even the most vomitous sailor. The OTC medicine Kwells ($4.99 for 10 tablets) is also good. Setting sail tomorrow? Pop 1000 to 2000mg of ginger today (try Blackmores Travel Calm Ginger, $19.95 for 60 tablets). Studies show it's as successful as some anti-nausea drugs. Even a glass of ginger ale can help. Bon Voyage!

THE PLANE FACTS

Where to sit to survive

A seat at the back of the plane might be closer to the loo, but it won't necessarily help in an accident. According to a study by Britain's Greenwich University, your chance of escaping a fire while at the rear is 53 per cent. Researchers examined crashes and fires and spoke to almost 2000 survivors. The best place to sit, unsurprisingly, is the emergency exit row and the rows in front and behind it. Your odds of surviving decline at six or more rows away from the exit, whether you're at the front or the rear. Wherever you sit, always look for the nearest exit, regardless of how yawn-worthy the trolley dolly's safety spiel is.