The suitcase is coming out. The summer clothes are going away. And somewhere between booking your flight and deciding how many swimsuits you actually need, there is one more thing to add to your winter travel checklist: your travel health plan.

For many Canadians, winter means heading somewhere warmer. Whether you’re spending the season in Mexico, escaping to the Caribbean, relaxing at an all-inclusive resort, or travelling somewhere else sunny, a little preparation before leaving Canada can help you enjoy your trip with greater peace of mind.

At Virtual Travel Clinic, we help Canadians prepare for international travel with virtual travel health consultations, personalized vaccine recommendations, and travel prescription support.

So before you trade your winter boots for sandals, here’s your snowbird travel health checklist.

Your Snowbird Travel Health Checklist

Not sure where to start? Use this quick checklist before your next winter getaway.

Your recommendations can vary depending on your destination, activities, length of stay, accommodation, travel history, and personal health history.

1. Start With Your Destination

“Mexico” or “the Caribbean” might sound like one destination, but travel health recommendations can vary significantly between countries and even between regions.

A traveller staying at an all-inclusive resort for two weeks may have different considerations than someone spending several months travelling through rural areas.

Before your trip, think about:

• Which country or countries are you visiting?
• Which cities or regions will you be staying in?
• How long will you be away?
• Are you staying at a resort, hotel, rental, or private residence?
• Will you be spending time in rural areas?
• Are you planning outdoor or adventure activities?
• Are you visiting friends or relatives?
• Will you be travelling between multiple destinations?

These details help a travel health professional understand your itinerary and provide more personalized recommendations. Virtual Travel Clinic consultations are designed around your destination, planned activities, and medical and immunization history.

2. Review Your Travel Vaccines

Winter travel doesn’t mean you can skip the vaccines.

Depending on where you’re going, you may be advised to consider vaccines that help protect against diseases encountered internationally.

Travel vaccine recommendations can include:

Not everyone needs every vaccine.

That’s why a travel health consultation is more useful than simply searching for a generic “winter travel vaccine list”. Your recommendations should take your individual trip into account.

3. Don’t Forget About Travel Prescriptions

Travel health planning isn’t just about vaccines.

Depending on your destination and medical history, a travel health professional may discuss medications to help prevent or treat certain travel-related illnesses.

Travel prescription discussions may include:

• Malaria prevention medication
• Traveller’s diarrhea treatment
• Altitude sickness prevention
• Other destination-specific medications

Virtual Travel Clinic offers specialized consultations for areas such as malaria and traveller’s diarrhea, as well as comprehensive consultations that include destination-specific advice and prescriptions for travel vaccines and medications where appropriate.

A prescription isn’t automatically appropriate for every traveller. Your travel health professional will assess your itinerary and individual circumstances before making recommendations.

4. Is Malaria a Concern for Your Winter Escape?

Depending on where you’re travelling, malaria may be something to discuss before you leave Canada.

Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, and the risk varies depending on the destination and region.

If your winter travel plans include an area where malaria occurs, your travel health plan may include:

• Mosquito bite prevention
• Insect repellent
• Protective clothing
• Accommodation considerations
• Preventive medication, when appropriate

Even if you’re staying at a resort, don’t assume mosquitoes aren’t part of the itinerary.

A travel health consultation can help determine whether malaria prevention is relevant to your specific destination.

5. Be Smart About Food and Water

One of the quickest ways to turn a relaxing vacation into a very unrelaxing vacation?

Traveller’s diarrhea.

Traveller’s diarrhea is one of the most common health concerns experienced by people travelling internationally.

Food and water precautions can help reduce your risk.

A few simple habits:

Wash your hands regularly.

Especially before eating and after using the washroom.

Be mindful of drinking water.

Follow local guidance about whether tap water is safe to drink.

Think about ice, too.

If you’re unsure about the water supply, ask about the ice being used in drinks.

Choose food carefully.

Freshly prepared and thoroughly cooked foods are generally preferable when travelling in areas where foodborne illness is more common.

And if you’re concerned about traveller’s diarrhea, you can discuss prevention and treatment options before departure.

6. Pack Your Travel Health Kit

You have your passport.

You have your sunglasses.

You have approximately 14 outfits for a 7-day vacation.

Now let’s talk about your health kit.

Snowbird Travel Health Kit

If you’re travelling for several months, make sure you plan ahead for your regular prescriptions as well.

7. Give Yourself Enough Time

Ideally, travel health planning shouldn’t be a last-minute item on your airport checklist.

Virtual Travel Clinic recommends having a travel medicine consultation 2 to 6 weeks before your trip when possible. This allows time for vaccines to take effect and for multi-dose vaccine schedules when required.

That said, last-minute travel doesn’t mean you should skip travel health planning altogether.

If your flight is coming up sooner, recommendations can be customized based on the amount of time available before departure.

A simple timeline

8. Travelling for the Whole Winter?

Snowbirds aren’t always gone for two weeks.

If you’re spending several months outside Canada, your travel health planning may look different from someone taking a short vacation.

Consider:

• How long you’ll be away
• Whether you’ll travel between countries
• Access to pharmacies at your destination
• Your regular medications
• Your planned activities
• Whether you’ll spend time in rural areas
• Your access to healthcare while abroad

Longer trips can mean more exposure to different environments and health risks, so your itinerary should be part of your travel health assessment.

9. Travelling to an All-Inclusive Resort?

If your idea of winter travel is a beach chair, a book, and absolutely nothing on your schedule, we get it.

But resort travel still comes with travel health considerations.

Virtual Travel Clinic offers a specialized Resorts Travel Medical Consultation for travellers staying at all-inclusive resorts and hotels. This consultation includes a destination assessment, travel health recommendations, and prescriptions for select vaccines and medications where appropriate.

Remember that “all-inclusive” doesn’t necessarily mean “risk-free”.

You can still encounter foodborne illnesses, mosquito bites, sun exposure, dehydration, and other travel-related health concerns.

10. Don’t Forget Your Regular Medications

If you’re spending the winter somewhere warm, your regular medications are coming with you.

Before departure:

• Make sure you have enough medication for your trip
• Keep medications properly stored
• Keep important medication information accessible
• Understand any requirements for travelling with your medications
• Plan ahead if you’ll need additional prescriptions

If you’re going to be away for an extended period, it’s especially important to think about medication access before you leave Canada.

When Should Snowbirds Book a Travel Health Consultation?

If you’re a Canadian snowbird planning to leave in the fall or winter, September and October are excellent times to start thinking about your travel health needs.

The earlier you plan, the more time you have to:

• Review your destination
• Discuss recommended vaccines
• Plan prescriptions
• Prepare for malaria risk if applicable
• Build your travel health kit
• Ask questions about staying healthy abroad

And if you’re already counting down the days until departure, don’t worry.

Virtual Travel Clinic also supports travellers with last-minute travel plans and can customize recommendations based on the time available before departure.

Your Snowbird Travel Health Checklist

Before you head south, make sure you can check these off:

Destination

☐ I know which countries and regions I’ll be visiting.

Vaccines

☐ I’ve reviewed my routine and travel vaccine needs.

Prescriptions

☐ I’ve discussed any travel medications I may need.

Malaria

☐ I’ve checked whether malaria is a concern for my destination.

Food & Water

☐ I know how to reduce my risk of food and water-related illness.

Medications

☐ I have enough of my regular medications for my trip.

Travel Health Kit

☐ I’ve packed the essentials.

Consultation

☐ I’ve spoken with a travel health professional about my itinerary.

If you’ve checked all the boxes, you’re one step closer to swapping snow for sunshine.

FAQ’s