post travel stomach issues

• Patient Care & Health Information
• Diseases & Conditions
• Traveler's diarrhea

Traveler's diarrhea may get better without any treatment. But while you're waiting, it's important to try to stay hydrated with safe liquids, such as bottled water or water with electrolytes such as an oral rehydration solution (see below). If you don't seem to be improving quickly, several medicines are available to help relieve symptoms.

Anti-motility agents. These medicines — which include loperamide and drugs containing diphenoxylate — provide prompt but temporary relief by:

• Reducing muscle spasms in your gastrointestinal tract.
• Slowing the transit time through your digestive system.
• Allowing more time for absorption.

Anti-motility medicines aren't recommended for infants or people with a fever or bloody diarrhea. This is because they can delay clearance of the infectious organisms and make the illness worse.

Also, stop using anti-motility agents after 48 hours if you have stomach pain or if your symptoms worsen and your diarrhea continues. In such cases, see a doctor. You may need blood or stool tests and treatment with an antibiotic.

• Bismuth subsalicylate. This nonprescription medicine can decrease the frequency of your stools and shorten the length of your illness. However, it isn't recommended for children, pregnant women or people who are allergic to aspirin.
• Antibiotics. If you have more than four loose stools a day or severe symptoms, including a fever or blood, pus or mucus in your stools, a doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Before you leave for your trip, talk to your doctor about taking a prescription with you in case you get a serious bout of traveler's diarrhea.

Avoiding dehydration

Dehydration is the most likely complication of traveler's diarrhea, so it's important to try to stay well hydrated.

An oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution is the best way to replace lost fluids. These solutions contain water and salts in specific proportions to replenish both fluids and electrolytes. They also contain glucose to enhance absorption in the intestinal tract.

Bottled oral rehydration products are available in drugstores in developed areas, and many pharmacies carry their own brands. You can find packets of powdered oral rehydration salts, labeled World Health Organization (WHO)- ORS , at stores, pharmacies and health agencies in most countries. Reconstitute the powder in bottled or boiled water according to the directions on the package.

If these products are unavailable, you can prepare your own rehydrating solution in an emergency by mixing together:

• 3/4 teaspoon table salt.
• 2 tablespoons sugar.
• 1 quart uncontaminated bottled or boiled water.
• Sugar-free flavor powder, such as Crystal Light (optional).

You or your child can drink the solution in small amounts throughout the day as a supplement to solid foods or formula, as long as dehydration persists. Small amounts reduce the likelihood of vomiting. Breastfed infants also can drink the solution but should continue nursing on demand.

If dehydration symptoms — such as dry mouth, intense thirst, little or no urination, dizziness, or extreme weakness — don't improve, seek medical care right away. Oral rehydration solutions are intended only for urgent short-term use.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you do get traveler's diarrhea, avoid caffeine, alcohol and dairy products, which may worsen symptoms or increase fluid loss. But keep drinking fluids.

Drink canned fruit juices, weak tea, clear soup, decaffeinated soda or sports drinks to replace lost fluids and minerals. Later, as your diarrhea improves, try a diet of easy-to-eat complex carbohydrates, such as salted crackers, bland cereals, bananas, applesauce, dry toast or bread, rice, potatoes, and plain noodles.

You may return to your normal diet as you feel you can tolerate it. Add dairy products, caffeinated beverages and high-fiber foods cautiously.

Preparing for your appointment

Call a doctor if you have diarrhea that is severe, lasts more than a few days or is bloody. If you are traveling, call an embassy or consulate for help locating a doctor. Other signs that you should seek medical attention include:

• A fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher.
• Ongoing vomiting.
• Signs of severe dehydration, including a dry mouth, muscle cramps, decreased urine output, dizziness or fatigue.

If you have diarrhea and you've just returned home from a trip abroad, share that trip information with your doctor when you call to make an appointment.

Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect.

Information to gather in advance

• Pre-appointment instructions. At the time you make your appointment, ask whether there are immediate self-care steps you can take to help recover more quickly.
• Symptom history. Write down any symptoms you've been experiencing and for how long.
• Medical history. Make a list of your key medical information, including other conditions for which you're being treated and any medicines, vitamins or supplements you're currently taking.
• Questions to ask your health care professional. Write down your questions in advance so that you can make the most of your time.

The list below suggests questions to ask about traveler's diarrhea.

• What's causing my symptoms?
• Are there any other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need?
• What treatment approach do you recommend?
• Are there any possible side effects from the medicines I'll be taking?
• Will my diarrhea or its treatment affect the other health conditions I have? How can I best manage these conditions together?
• What is the safest way for me to rehydrate?
• Do I need to follow any dietary restrictions and for how long?
• How soon after I begin treatment will I start to feel better?
• How long do you expect a full recovery to take?
• Am I contagious? How can I reduce my risk of passing my illness to others?
• What can I do to reduce my risk of this condition in the future?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask questions as they occur to you during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:

• What are your symptoms?
• When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
• Have you traveled recently?
• Where did you travel?
• Have you taken any antibiotics recently?
• Have your symptoms been getting better or worse?
• Have you noticed any blood in your stools?
• Have you experienced symptoms of dehydration, such as muscle cramps or fatigue?
• What treatments have you tried so far, if any?
• Have you been able to keep down any food or liquid?
• Are you pregnant?
• Are you being treated for any other medical conditions?
• Feldman M, et al., eds. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 25, 2021.
• LaRocque R, et al. Travelers' diarrhea: Microbiology, epidemiology, and prevention. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 26, 2021.
• Ferri FF. Traveler diarrhea. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 28, 2023.
• Diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea. Accessed April 27, 2023.
• Travelers' diarrhea. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/preparing-international-travelers/travelers-diarrhea. Accessed April 28, 2023.
• LaRocque R, et al. Travelers' diarrhea: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 26, 2021.
• Khanna S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. May 29, 2021.

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What Is Travelers' Diarrhea?

A bout of diarrhea after traveling can increase the risk of dehydration and other complications.

Kasandra Brabaw is a writer who focuses on health, sex/relationships, and stories for and about her communities including the LGBTQ+ and fat communities. Other than at Health, her work can be found at SELF, Women’s Health, VICE, and Refinery29.

• Travelers' Diarrhea Symptoms
• What Causes Travelers' Diarrhea?
• Is Travelers' Diarrhea Contagious?
• How Is Travelers' Diarrhea Diagnosed?
• Treatments for Travelers' Diarrhea
• How To Prevent Travelers' Diarrhea

Complications

• Coping With Travelers' Diarrhea

A Quick Review

Vacation is supposed to be a time of rest, but a case of travelers'  diarrhea  can make your trip a nightmare.

Travelers' diarrhea causes loose, watery stools, usually brought about by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Generally, mild cases of travelers' diarrhea resolve with hydration, rest, and a bland diet. Still, travelers' diarrhea may lead to complications, such as dehydration and malabsorption.

Travelers' diarrhea is one of the most common travel-related illnesses, affecting anywhere from 30% to 70% of travelers. Though travelers' diarrhea can occur anywhere in the world, it is more common when traveling to parts of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America.

Here, gastroenterologists explain what causes travelers' diarrhea, the symptoms, and how best to treat it so you can enjoy your vacation as much as possible.

Travelers' Diarrhea Symptoms

Travelers' diarrhea is a form of acute diarrhea that comes on while traveling. Acute diarrhea is sudden loose and watery stools . 

There are different levels of travelers' diarrhea (i.e., mild, acute, and severe). At varying severities, those levels can include symptoms like:

• Mild cramps
• Urgent loose stools
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bloody diarrhea

Symptoms can occur within a few hours to as long as a few weeks depending on the cause of the travelers' diarrhea. Bacterial travelers' diarrhea can last up to seven days. In contrast, viral travelers' diarrhea lasts about three days.

What Causes Travelers' Diarrhea?

Travelers' diarrhea spreads through fecal matter through contaminated food and water. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites cause travelers' diarrhea.

Bacteria account for about 80% to 90% of cases, while viruses make up about 5% to 15%. Less commonly, parasites, also known as protozoal pathogens, can cause travelers' diarrhea. Usually, those parasites are slower to manifest than bacteria and viruses.

Depending on the culprit, travelers' diarrhea may occur through non-inflammatory or inflammatory pathways. Non-inflammatory pathways reduce the ability of your intestines to absorb nutrients. As a result, your waste products increase. In contrast, inflammatory pathways damage your intestines, which increases bowel movements.

Risk Factors

Travelers' diarrhea is more likely to occur if you travel outside the country to a place with poor sanitation . A lack of clean water makes practicing proper hygiene and food preparation hard.

Other risk factors for travelers' diarrhea include:

• Warm climates
• A lack of refrigeration
• Inadequate food storage practices
• Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and antibiotic use
• Unprotected sex
• Age (i.e., older adults and young children)
• Health conditions affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) system
• Weak immune system

Is Travelers' Diarrhea Contagious?

Depending on the culprit, travelers' diarrhea can be contagious . For example, cruise ships are a common culprit of travelers' diarrhea. 

"Cruise ships are known for two viruses specifically that spread like wildfire," Rabia De Latour, MD , a gastroenterologist and assistant professor in the department of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told  Health . 

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting. Cruise ships help the virus spread because so many people stay in such proximity, and many people are not great at washing their hands before touching their faces or eating, noted Dr. De Latour.

In contrast, some cases of travelers' diarrhea are not spread between people. For instance, you may develop acute diarrhea because you are not used to the food or water in the place you are traveling.

"There may be different probiotic bacteria that live on lettuce or other foods there that you're just not accustomed to," explained Dr. De Latour. In that case, the diarrhea is about the change in environment, not an infection, and should clear up in a couple of days, added Dr. De Latour.

Traveling can be stressful, especially traveling internationally. For example, your body might respond with loose, watery stool if you are stressed and physically tired after a 12-hour flight. Diarrhea caused by stress isn't infectious and will get better quickly.

How Is Travelers' Diarrhea Diagnosed?

Healthcare providers can diagnose traveler's diarrhea by asking about your symptoms, recent travels outside the country, and what you ate. For example, having acute diarrhea three or more times within 24 hours or double the amount of regular bowel movements may signal travelers' diarrhea. 

A healthcare provider can palpate the stomach to check whether your abdomen is tender. Abdominal cramps, nausea , vomiting, and fever often accompany acute diarrhea.

Healthcare providers do not usually require laboratory tests or imaging to diagnose travelers' diarrhea. In contrast, a healthcare provider may acquire a stool sample if you have blood in your stool or feel like you need to pass stool even if your bowels are empty. 

In severe cases, a healthcare provider may send for X-rays of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder and an abdominal CT scan.  

Treatments for Travelers' Diarrhea

Treatment for travelers' diarrhea depends on the severity of the case and may include the following:

• Fluid replenishment:  To avoid dehydration , increasing your water intake is essential. Sports drinks and electrolyte mixes can help, too. In contrast, milk and fruit juices can worsen diarrhea, increasing the risk of dehydration. You may require oral rehydration salt or intravenous (IV) fluids to replenish fluids for severe cases. 
• Anti-diarrheal medicines:  A healthcare provider may advise taking an anti-diarrheal like loperamide for mild cases. 
• Antibiotics:  In some cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe a round of antibiotics. Common antibiotics for travelers' diarrhea include ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and rifaximin. The type of antibiotic may depend on your symptoms and where you are traveling. 

Mainly, mild to moderate cases of travelers' diarrhea involve supportive therapy. For many people with travelers' diarrhea, the illness simply runs its course. 

Try the following to make yourself as comfortable as possible:

• Hydrate to prevent dehydration .
• Get lots of rest.
• Eat small, gentle meals on your stomach , such as salty (e.g., pretzels, crackers, soup, sports drinks) and high-potassium (e.g., bananas, potatoes without the skin, fruit juices) foods.

How To Prevent Travelers' Diarrhea

Preventing travelers' diarrhea can be tricky, especially when traveling abroad. On a cruise ship , one of the best ways to avoid travelers' diarrhea is to watch where you put your hands, wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face, advised Dr. De Latour. Steer clear of buffet lines, where someone carrying norovirus could touch the food or serving utensils.

When traveling to underdeveloped countries, be careful what you eat and drink to prevent traveler's diarrhea. In the United States, many people are used to eating pasteurized foods partially sterilized through heat or irradiation. Sometimes, that is different in other countries.

"[G]etting that exposure to a digestive system that has never had an unpasteurized product, we would be very vulnerable," Christine Lee, MD , a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told Health . When traveling, be extra careful to check if something is pasteurized before you eat or drink it. You will want to avoid undercooked meats and seafood, too. 

"If you're traveling to an underdeveloped country, that might not be where you want to eat a rare steak," said Dr. Lee. The same goes for sushi made with raw fish or dishes like ceviche or tartare made with raw seafood and meat. Instead, cooked foods are your safest option while traveling anywhere you are unsure how safe the water is.

Fruit and vegetables are risky since they could have been washed in contaminated water. In that case, the fruit you can peel (e.g., bananas or oranges) may be the safest option.  

Finally, paying attention to what you drink is also vital in preventing travelers' diarrhea. Alcohol is considered safe because it can kill bacteria. Likewise, bottled drinks are safe if they have an unbroken seal. Boiled water is your next safest bet if those options are not available. 

Remember that contaminating water can get into your mouth in other ways, like showering and swimming . Try not to swallow during those times, brush your teeth with bottled water, and avoid ice in drinks, advised Dr. Lee.

Finally, a healthcare provider may advise taking precautions if traveling outside the country. For example, you might take two tabs of bismuth subsalicylate four times daily to decrease the risk of travelers' diarrhea. Usually, healthcare providers do not advise bismuth subsalicylate for pregnant people and children. 

A healthcare provider may recommend a round of antibiotics to prevent travelers' diarrhea if you are traveling to a high-risk area for a short period.

Most people with travelers' diarrhea make full recoveries. In rare, severe cases, complications can occur. For example, dehydration is one of the most common complications of travelers' diarrhea. Dehydration happens if you lose too many fluids through acute diarrhea, requiring immediate medical attention.

Other complications of travelers' diarrhea may include:

• Malabsorption:  This happens if the small intestine cannot absorb enough nutrients.
• Sepsis:  This is an infection that develops secondary to an existing one. Sepsis causes inflammation, which leads to organ damage and failure and, in some cases, death. 
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome:  This occurs if an infection damages the blood vessels in your kidneys.
• Reactive arthritides:  Some infections may cause painful and swollen joints.

Typically, those complications are more common in older adults and children younger than 4 than others.

Coping With Travelers' Diarrhea

To manage travelers' diarrhea, follow a healthcare provider's advice and treatment plan . Other steps to keep comfortable while your symptoms resolve include staying hydrated and practicing proper hygiene, such as handwashing. 

Mostly, people with travelers' diarrhea only require emergency medical attention if they are dehydrated. Consult a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not subside after 10 days.

Travelers' diarrhea causes acute diarrhea that comes on while traveling . You can avoid travelers' diarrhea as much as possible by watching what you eat and drink while traveling outside the country. To treat mild cases, staying hydrated is essential. 

Although you are at risk for diarrhea when traveling, it should not be scary. South America, Central America, Mexico, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia offer unique, enriching experiences worth the risk.

Connor BA. Travelers' diarrhea . In:  Travelers' Health . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2020.

Dunn N, Okafor CN. Travelers diarrhea . In:  StatPearls . StatPearls Publishing; 2023.

MedlinePlus. Traveler's diarrhea diet .

Related Articles

4 Common Gut Problems You Face When You Travel—and How to Fix Them

Three days into a dream vacation, and your GI tract has turned against you. What gives? It’s not bad timing; it’s travel that’s to blame, says Dawn Blatner, RDN, author of The Superfood Swap . “Stomach issues tend to happen any time we’re out of our routine,” she says. Which, unfortunately, means your yoga retreat and backpacking adventure  are prime targets for an intestinal temper tantrum.

But rather than spend the rest of your vacay holed up in your hotel bathroom, you can get your GI tract back on track and go see the sights—without forgoing the local flavor.

Keep reading for the quick fixes you need for the most common traveler tummy woes.

If you can’t go...swap that pina colada for a water bottle and a walk

Sipping frozen slushies by the pool or grapes at the vineyard is fine (in moderation!), as long as you’re still drinking enough water. If not, you could wind up dehydrated (and…cue the constipation). “Almost everyone gets dehydrated when they travel,” says Blatner, both because frilly drinks just seem more fun than downing plain water and because we’re not in our usual water-drinking routine (like making three trips to the water cooler to break up the afternoon at work).

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Quick fix: If doubling down on your water intake doesn’t get things moving, try going for a walk. Exercise—even low-impact activities, like yoga and walking— stimulates the gut , which means food has less time to sit in the large intestine, where water gets reabsorbed back into the body, drying out your waste. Gross, but true!

If you have traveler’s trots...focus on fiber

Americans aren’t used to the waterborne bacteria in other countries, so if you’re traveling abroad and diarrhea strikes, a glass of tap water may be the culprit. “But Turista or Traveler’s Diarrhea is really only a condition we get abroad,” says Blatner. “So if it strikes closer to home, it means you’re probably eating too much fat and not enough fiber.” A mega-dose of fat (like having queso fundido instead of your usual quinoa salad for lunch) speeds food through the large intestine, so there’s less time for water to get reabsorbed and your stool stays watery. But fiber slows gastric motility, and will help slow the trots.

Quick fix:   Soluble fiber should be your new BFF throughout the day, but Blatner recommends it especially at breakfast, when your options are probably more basic (and less tempting) anyway. Berries and avocados are both surprisingly high in fiber, and they pair well with fiber-rich oatmeal and whole wheat bread. And for some over-the-counter relief, reach for Imodium or its generic equivalent. “Some people have a more sensitive stomach than others, and you can take Imodium for a really long time without worry,” says Yuri Saito, MD, a professor of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic.

If you have bikini bloat...try the "plus one" rule

Okay, you probably haven’t gained 10 pounds within days of stepping off the plane, but the combination of overindulging and dietary changes can be a one-two punch for your waistline. Salty and dairy-rich foods can increase gas and water retention, says Blatner, while feasting with abandon can just make you feel gross. “When we’re on vacation, we tend to throw our usual routine out the window and go for it all,” she says.

Quick fix: If you’re lactose intolerant, know that your enzymes won’t change just because you crossed time zones or zip codes. Stick to your usual dairy avoidance  regimen (or pack the Beano, says Dr. Saito, which has enzymes that break down dairy in the digestive tract so it won’t cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea). And to help rein yourself in without feeling like you’re missing out, employ a “plus one” mentality. “At the start of the meal, ask yourself what you want to add to your entree: a drink, an appetizer, or a dessert,” says Blatner. Noshing on all three will have you loosening your belt by the car ride home, but if you pick just one, you can let loose without feeling like a blimp afterward.

If you're hangry about your options...make a plan!

Maybe you’re looking forward to a six-state road trip , but dread the idea of living on fast food for a week. Or you’re headed to Italy but worry you’ll chase a non-stop carb-fest with a serving of balloon-sized bloat (and more gelato). You could dig your heels into denial and hope that the perfect, healthy choice materializes—but you’re probably setting yourself up for frustration. “Some of the worst choices we make are when we’re starving and don’t have our go-to options available,” says Blatner.

Quick fix: Before you hit the road or the airport, hit the grocery store for some portable snacks. Roast chickpeas, almonds, and low-sodium jerky all get Blatner’s seal of approval—and if you pair those protein-rich eats with a piece of produce, you’ll be satiated for a few hours at least (and can avoid the hotel vending machines entirely). Also, carve out the time to research healthy(ish) eating options. “Your game plan may not be perfect, but planning even one meal a day gives you the freedom to make more important decisions during your adventures,” she says. In other words, less time fretting over where to eat—more time savoring each bite.

And did you know, you actually  can  find nutritious foods at the gas station ? Plus, here's what nutritionists always snack on .

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After Travel Tips

You may get infected during travel but not have symptoms until you get home. If you recently traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to your healthcare provider, and tell them about your travel.

Contact your healthcare provider if you feel sick

Contact your healthcare provider if you feel sick after your trip. Sharing the following information may help your healthcare provider identify possible diseases or infections:

• Your vaccination history.
• Where you traveled.
• Your reasons for traveling.
• Your travel activities, including swimming, hiking, etc.
• The timeframe of your vacation.
• Where you stayed, such as hotels, family or friends’ homes, hostels, or tents.
• What you ate and drank.
• Animals you had close contact with or touched.
• If you have any injuries, scratches, or bug bites.
• Health care or medications you received during your trip.
• Close contact with other people, including sexual encounters.
• If you got any tattoos or piercings.

If your healthcare provider has trouble determining why you are feeling sick, you may want to ask to speak with an infectious disease doctor or travel medicine specialist. Find a clinic for a travel medicine specialist.

Long-term Travelers

Long-term travelers, such as expatriate workers, Peace Corps volunteers, or missionaries, have a greater risk of getting infected, sometimes without symptoms, during travel. If you are a long-term traveler, consider having a thorough medical exam or interview with your healthcare provider after you return to the United States.

More Information:

• The Post Travel Evaluation in CDC Yellow Book
• Long-Term Travelers & Expatriates in CDC Yellow Book
• Screening Asymptomatic Returned Travelers in CDC Yellow Book

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Nothing brings a vacation to a screeching halt faster than a travel-borne stomach illness. Both the stress of traveling and changes to your regular diet play havoc on your digestive system and can bring on a myriad of stomach-related issues. Let’s explore some simple steps you can take to avoid travel stomach and arm you with proven tips to treat digestive problems if they do hit.

Be Prepared

When you travel to places where the climate or hygienic practices are not what your body is used to, or you want to sample the local cuisine, you have an increased risk of developing unpleasant digestive issues. As part of trip planning, the CDC encourages travelers to create a travel health kit for common medical emergencies. You should pack it in your carry-on bag and keep it with you all of the time. When it comes to traveler’s stomach, these items include oral rehydration salts for fluid replacement and OTC medications like Pepto Bismol or Imodium. You should also consult a doctor before your trip to get a prescription for an antibiotic you can take in case of diarrhea. Make sure you get guidance on when you should and should not take the medication. It could do more harm than good. You can also buy a travel-ready first-aid kit from Amazon for about $15 if you don't want to build one from scratch.

Some peoples get a traveler’s tummy because of the stress of the trip or a change in their routine or diet. But the most common culprit comes from an infectious agent like bacteria or parasites ingested after eating tainted food or drinking water. You can’t take your cue from locals who eat and drink because they have become accustomed to the bacteria and have built up an immunity to them.

How to Avoid Traveler's Stomach

There are simple ways to prevent traveler's tummy. The best way is to avoid exposure to the germs that cause this buzzkill of an illness. Here are some tips from the CDC and WHO that will help you avoid traveler's stomach all together:

·        Drink only beverages from sealed containers and pour them into a clean glass.

·        Don’t use ice cubes unless you can trust they came from clean water.

·        Only eat foods that are fully cooked and served hot.

·        Eat raw fruits and vegetables only if you can wash and peel them.

·        Avoid unpasteurized dairy products, including ice cream.

·        Wash your hands religiously with soap and water. If you can’t, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

·        Keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes, and nose. This also helps you from getting a cold or the flu.

·        Live by this mantra—hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Proven Treatment

Even if you faithfully follow the steps to avoid digestive issues, you may still come down with the traveler’s stomach. It usually starts with a sudden attack of diarrhea with cramps, nausea, and/or vomiting (you may or may not have a fever). In most cases, it clears up on its own in a couple of days. Once you have identified your symptoms as a traveler’s stomach, you’ll need to replace the massive amounts of fluid and electrolytes you lost.

Staying hydrated is a crucial part of staying healthy while treating your stomach issues. Taking the anti-motility agents can help cut down on the trips to the bathroom, but they can also aggravate your feelings of dehydration, so again (it can’t be stressed enough), drinking loads of water is key to treating traveler’s tummy.

Here are the essential steps in treating traveler’s diarrhea:

·        Replace fluids with water and by using an oral rehydration solution . Avoid caffeinated drinks as well as alcohol.

·        Take over the counter anti-motility drugs (the most common are Pepto Bismol and Imodium)

·        Ensure you’re rested. Being stronger helps you battle any digestive issues. Taking a magnesium glycinate supplement can improve jet lag and promote relaxation and sleep while traveling.

·        If recommended by a health care provider, take a regimen of antibiotics. Two common medicines are ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin.

Following this treatment advice can help resolve symptoms within just a few days, so you can get back to enjoying your trip.

When to Seek Medical Help

If your condition is accompanied by a fever or tiredness or diarrhea persists for more than a couple of days, you might want to get some medical attention. Here are signs that you need to see a medical professional:

·        You can’t keep down light foods or liquids and have frequent vomiting.

·        Your symptoms linger for more than 48 hours.

·        You have a fever of over 102 F.

·        You have severe abdominal pain.

·        You have blood or mucus in your stool.

Note: This article offers only information and is not a substitute for the advice of a medical professional. If in doubt, always err on the side of caution.

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5 Tips for Avoiding Traveler’s Stomach

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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Nothing can ruin a vacation like an upset stomach, but it’s a common occurrence for many travelers. We asked a doctor what causes digestive issues (like nausea, heartburn, bloating, and diarrhea) while traveling—and how to prevent it from happening. 

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Find out if the Water Is Safe

It’s important to find out if the water is safe to drink at your destination before you travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a Traveler’s Health page for every country that you can check to find out the potability of the water. 

If the water is not safe, you’ll need to change both your drinking and eating habits. Follow the popular adage: “peel it, boil it, cook it, or forget it” to stay healthy. 

For drinks:

• Drink only sealed, bottled water
• Avoid ice in drinks
• Use bottled water to brush your teeth
• Avoid fruit juices that may be mixed with tap water
• Only eat fruit that you can peel or wash in clean water
• Skip salads and fresh vegetables that have been washed in tap water
• Avoid food that is served at room temperature (rather than cold or hot)

6 Must-Have Filtered Water Bottles for Travel

Eat and Drink in Moderation

When you overindulge on rich foods and alcohol at home, you don’t feel well, so you shouldn’t be surprised if deviating from your normal moderate diet while traveling causes you to suffer bloating, heartburn, nausea, or other symptoms.

Of course, sampling all of the local delicacies is an essential part of travel, but you’ll feel better if you taste things in small portions—and add in plenty of water, fruits, and vegetables. 

Alcohol in particular can upset your stomach. Dr. Bill Miller, a biologist, infectious disease expert, and author of Bioverse: How the Cellular World Contains the Secrets to Life’s Biggest Questions , tells SmarterTravel, “Watch how much alcohol you consume since this can undermine your gut microbiome.”

Get Vaccinated

Although most traveler’s stomach issues go away within a few days, it’s possible that you could contract something more serious via food or drink. Check the CDC’s recommendations for vaccinations for your destination before you travel. 

Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for many destinations, and both diseases can cause severe stomach problems along with other health issues. 

Wash Your Hands

Oftentimes, digestive ailments while traveling are blamed on unfamiliar foods, but in reality, they can commonly be caused by bad hand hygiene. To stay healthy while traveling (and at home) always wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the restroom.

Do You Need to Be Vaccinated to Fly?

Pack Medication

Dr. Miller recommends packing Pepto-Bismol when you travel. “Reports indicate that bismuth subsalicylate (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol and its competitors) can effectively help to treat mild traveler’s diarrhea and also prevent it.” Dr. Miller advises taking Pepto-Bismol as a preventative measure before and during your trip to help ward off any symptoms of traveler’s stomach. 

A probiotic can be another helpful prophylaxis to prevent symptoms before they start. Dr. Miller recommends looking for “a well-formulated probiotic with multiple strains.” Align’s probiotic is highly recommended by many doctors, and doesn’t require refrigeration. 

If your preventative measures fail, Dr. Miller advises packing an antimotility drug such as Imodium , which can help with symptoms. 

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Why travel screws with your stomach & how to help.

by Colleen_Stinchcombe

Colleen_Stinchcombe

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“In general, I think the most common things that people get are upset stomach, bloated and constipation,” she says. Diarrhea can also occur — you may have heard of traveler’s diarrhea — but it’s usually related to an infection rather than general traveling.

Why does this happen?

“That in and of itself can just change the whole dynamic of the GI tract,” she says. Travel, especially by airplane, can also lead people to get dehydrated (I mean, who hasn’t sipped water sparingly so they don’t have to climb over their seat mate ask to get up for the lavatory?), which can lead to constipation.

These two things — a change in schedule and dehydration — are the main culprits, according to Cohen. It certainly doesn’t help that people who travel are often eating differently than they do at home. Whether it’s eating more carb- and fat-heavy foods or eating larger portions than normal, our gut is thrown for a bit of a loop. That can lead to constipation and other GI upset too. Cohen adds, “It kind of shifts the system.”

Sometimes you can experience what’s called traveler’s diarrhea, which reports say affects 40 to 60 percent of travelers.  Some cases are due to bacteria from food or water that causes illness, and may take a few days of your trip to recover from.

What can you do?

So, are your vacations doomed to gastrointestinal distress forever? Not necessarily. Cohen says there are several steps you can take to relieve the most common symptoms.

First, it must be said that if you’re already on a regimen to help alleviate constipation and bloating at home, continue that when you travel, she said. “You shouldn’t just stop because you’re going away,” she notes.

More: Can Using a Fitbit Have a Long-Term Impact on Your Health?

If you don’t have gut issues at home but do when you travel, Cohen recommends getting ahead of the issue. Before, during and after the trip, drink more water and eat more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Apples, bananas, and nut bars with good fiber content can make great travel snacks, she says. If you mainly struggle with bloating, try not to eat larger portions than usual at mealtimes. If you’re still having issues, look for herbal options. “Peppermint, ginger, [and] fennel are helpful for bloating,” she says. Look for foods or drinks that contain them.

Exercise can also be key, especially if you’re already active at home. “Just like your heart needs exercise, your colon needs exercise,” Cohen explains. Between long flights or car rides and a packed itinerary, it can be easy to let movement go by the wayside. But you don’t have to do an intense workout routine to help relieve symptoms, she adds. Even a long walk can help to get the colon moving.

More: Self-Care Retreats to Help You Recharge

Still feeling uncomfortable? “If they know they get really constipated and diet isn’t enough, then sometimes I make sure they bring a gentle over-the-counter either fiber or laxative to have in hand in case it starts happening,” Cohen says. She recommends that her patients take a fiber assist or gentle laxative as soon as they start feeling symptoms rather than waiting until the problem is making them seriously uncomfortable.

If you’re prone to get traveler’s diarrhea, or are headed to an area where this can be common (such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean ), it would benefit you to take a probiotic before and during your trip, and drink bottled water once you get to your destination as much as possible.

Ultimately, you should feel free to enjoy your wanderlust to the fullest, delicious local food included. Just give a little love to your gut along the way.

Before you go, check out these ways to stay hydrated during your trip:

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Kate Beckinsale's Health And Hospitalization Update: Illness And Tummy Troubles Survivor T-Shirt, Explained

“Buy gourmet cookies you can’t eat because your stomach hurts."

Details are scarce, but the 50-year-old has shared several posts on Instagram of herself in the hospital . She also recently suggested that she’s been dealing with stomach issues, although she hasn’t publicly revealed a diagnosis.

And while she hasn't confirmed the exact reason behind her hospital stay, though she has denied being treated for a ruptured cyst or endometriosis.

If you haven’t been following Kate on social media recently, it’s understandably to have questions—and that’s true even if you’ve been closely watching her posts.

Here’s what we know about her health journey so far.

March 10: Kate says she’s ‘sick’ in a since-deleted IG post

In early March, Kate shared an Instagram post that’s now been deleted to celebrate U.K. Mother's Day. In two of the pictures, Kate can be seen wearing a large black bow on her head while sitting in a hospital bed with tears in her eyes.

“Happy birthday and UK Mother’s Day this last week to my incredible mother,” she wrote in the caption. “Thank you to those that love us and support us when it’s shit and try to make sure there are some bits that aren’t. And for looking after our dogs when we can’t, and lead us to remember happy things when we can’t. And turn up when we are sick and sit with us. And send balloons and check in and pull us out of wells with love.”

Kate also wrote, “happy everything mama. Your fight for joy despite also welcoming tears is the experience of watching a warrior up close. I love you.”

March 12 and March 13: Kate's pets visit her

A few days later, Kate shared that she was still in the hospital. She posted a picture in her Instagram Story, per People , of her Pomeranian Myf hanging in a hospital bed with her. Kate wrote “Visitor” over top—and she did the same thing when her cat Willow came to visit the day before.

March 31: She celebrates Easter in the hospital

It’s not clear if Kate had a continuous hospital stay or if she was in and out of the hospital, but she also shared a picture of herself wearing bunny socks on the holiday from a hospital bed.

“Happy Easter 🐰🐇🐣,” she wrote in the post, which has since been removed, per People .

April 4: Kate shares more photos from her hospital stay

In early April, Kate shared more photos from the hospital, including a picture of herself posing alongside her friend, Jonathan Voluck. The two wore peanut-themed headbands as they posed for the camera.

“🥜🥜🌈🌈🖕🏻😢🌈🌈🥜🥜,” she wrote in the caption, per People . Kate also shared a photo of a rainbow in the sky, followed by a jar with the label, “F---s to give.” That post has also been removed.

April 17: Kate wears a 'Tummy Troubles Survivor' t-shirt

Kate gave the first clue that her health issues are stomach-related in mid-April, when she shared photos of herself posing in a T-shirt that read, “Tummy Troubles Survivor.” (The photos also shoed Myf hilariously wearing mittens that looked like hands on his paws.)

Kate kept the caption simple, writing, “💪🏼 🤍.”

She responded to one of her followers who said that her "ruptured cyst must have taken such a toll" on her. Replying in the comments section of the post, she wrote, "I didn’t have a ruptured cyst since 2019. But thank you so much for your kind wishes x."

April 20: Kate further hints at stomach issues

Kate shared a post about celebrating her late stepfather Roy’s birthday, noting that she’s been unable to take down her Christmas tree because they decorated it together. In her caption, she also referenced having stomach issues.

“Do all the things. Wallow, cry, celebrate, look at the wall in disbelief. Send your mum flowers. Swim in your mind with his idols. Google . Talk to your safe person. Avoid those with not quite enough bandwidth for this,” she said.

She also wrote, “Buy gourmet cookies you can’t eat because your stomach hurts. Maybe eat them anyway. Or don’t,” hinting that she’s still having digestive problems.

She ended on this note: “Laugh and cry when you receive an email from a dentist you took him to once, wishing your dead father a happy birthday. Do it all. Or do none. There’s no map. I’m with you all.”

I hope you feel better, Kate!

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Medical Mysteries: Years of hives and fevers traced to a startling cause

A california woman suffered from an episodic flu-like illness that defied explanation. its origin stunned her doctors..

There were few things Beth Sternlieb’s Los Angeles doctors could say with certainty about her baffling illness, but this much was clear: Although manageable for years, it had worsened dramatically.

For nearly two decades Sternlieb had been plagued by flu-like episodes that began with a headache and abdominal pain accompanied by fatigue, muscle aches and diarrhea. Within a day, a spotty red rash blanketed her abdomen.

A yoga and meditation teacher who worked at the University of California at Los Angeles’s pediatric pain program, Sternlieb had undergone numerous tests that failed to reveal the reason for the unidentified illness that occurred two or three times a year and lasted about five days. In 2004, after 17 years, the illness began occurring more frequently and Sternlieb never fully recovered between episodes. A year later she developed a high fever, chills and exhaustion that lasted five months and left her bedridden.

The startling and highly unusual cause was finally identified after Sternlieb underwent an operation that ended up curing her.

“It was a good thing my abdomen turned red because it caught the attention of my doctors,” Sternlieb said recently. “Something was really wrong, but no one imagined this.”

Bad case of flu

The first episode occurred in December 1987, two weeks after Sternlieb’s second child was born. “I became sicker than I had ever been,” said Sternlieb, then 37. “It was flu season and that year was a bad flu season,” so doctors attributed her illness to influenza.

Six months later the illness recurred, a pattern that prevailed for years.

At first Sternlieb didn’t pay much attention to the tiny red dots that covered her abdomen. The rash resembled a sunburn but wasn’t itchy or painful. Doctors ultimately decided it was hives , a common skin condition that can occur as an allergic reaction to food or drugs; often its cause is never discovered.

“I became sicker than I had ever been. ... It was flu season and that year was a bad flu season,” so doctors attributed her illness to influenza. — Beth Sternlieb

Her primary care doctor referred her to a rheumatologist, a physician who specializes in treating autoimmune diseases, whom she saw for several years. He ordered blood tests, which he said suggested the presence of an unspecified autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakenly attacks itself.

Over the years, Sternlieb noticed that the episodes seemed to occur during periods of stress “both good and bad,” including traveling, partying and too little sleep. “I thought it must have a psychological component,” she said.

She learned to incorporate the bouts into her life, relieved that no one had found anything serious. She hoped doctors would figure out what was wrong so they could treat and eradicate whatever it was.

Travel history

By 2005, Sternlieb’s equanimity was shattered by a sharp deterioration in her health.

That summer, she became seriously ill and did not recover. Her fever periodically spiked to 104 degrees, and she suffered from drenching night sweats as well as profound weakness and fatigue. She lost 15 pounds and, unable to work, spent most of her time in bed or on the couch. The rash that had been confined to her abdomen spread to her neck and torso. Blood tests showed elevated levels of inflammation and a high white blood cell count.

Sternlieb began seeing a new crop of specialists. An infectious-disease doctor combed through her travel history, which included a trip to India years earlier, ultimately ruling out malaria and other parasitic infections. Doctors considered and discarded a variety of diagnoses including fever of unknown origin , which can be associated with some autoimmune diseases; familial Mediterranean fever , an inherited genetic disorder that causes recurrent fevers and inflammation; as well as HIV and hepatitis.

That left an infection or an allergy as possible causes. The latter seemed unlikely despite recurrent hives, said Raffi Tachdjian , then a fellow in allergy and immunology at UCLA and one of the doctors Sternlieb consulted.

“Hives usually last 24 hours and are not like this, which was chronic," he recalled. “We needed to look deeper into anything unusual....It seemed that there was something packing some heat somewhere” that was triggering a reaction from Sternlieb’s immune system.

“We see this in sinuses where antibiotics don’t reach infected tissue” and result in a smoldering infection that becomes virtually impossible to eradicate with medication, he added.

A CT scan ordered by the infectious-disease doctor showed multiple uterine fibroids , common benign tumors that don’t require treatment unless they cause problems. The scan showed that one of the fibroids had grown very large and was possibly degenerating (dying) or necrotic (dead), which happens when a tumor loses its blood supply.

A degenerating fibroid can get very big very fast. But doctors were also concerned about the possibility of a rare cancer such as a leiomyosarcoma, which grows in smooth muscles including in uterine tissue. None of her doctors, including her new gynecologist Jessica Schneider , knew whether her long-standing illness and the fibroids were related.

And what explained the hives, which are not associated with fibroids or this cancer?

“It didn’t seem obvious that a fibroid would cause this,” said Schneider, a member of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group. “But it didn’t look like a typical fibroid, and I recommended we take it out.” Sternlieb, who said she worried she might still be sick after a hysterectomy, agreed.

During the December 2005 operation, Schneider removed eight fibroids. The largest measured a whopping 11 centimeters, the size of a large grapefruit.

Nearly 20 years later Schneider vividly remembers its unique characteristics. Typically a fibroid is a solid ball of muscle, she said. This one was full of pus that spurted explosively when it was touched with a scalpel.

“It was crazy,” said Schneider, who had never seen anything like it before and hasn’t since. She administered antibiotics and took a culture that she sent to the pathology lab for analysis.

Tachdjian remembers that Schneider called him just after she finished surgery to tell him what she had found.

“I thought ‘We need to know what the heck grew,’ ” Tachdjian said. “We were crossing our fingers that surgery would take care of it, whatever it was. But only time would tell.”

‘A nice nest’

A few weeks later, the first question was answered. The culture showed an unknown strain of salmonella , a common bacterial infection that is usually caused by contaminated food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that it causes more than 1.3 million illnesses annually and results in more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. Neither Sternlieb nor her doctors knew how or when she contracted salmonella, which is known to cause hives if it settles in the intestine, Tachdjian said.

In Sternlieb’s case, the bacteria had burrowed into only one fibroid; the other seven were free of salmonella.

“I kept asking older doctors if they’d ever seen anything like this, and they said they hadn’t.” — Jessica Schneider, gynecologist

“It probably seeded itself in the GI tract and thought ‘Here’s a nice nest for me,’ ” said Tachdjian, who practices in Santa Monica and is an associate clinical professor of medicine and pediatrics at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

But the duration of Sternlieb’s infection, its location in a uterine fibroid and the recurring hives made the case something of a fascinoma — medical slang for an unusual and unusually interesting case, a status that would be enhanced by the discovery of its source.

“I kept asking older doctors if they’d ever seen anything like this, and they said they hadn’t,” Schneider said. A search of medical journals conducted by Tachdjian turned up nothing similar.

Because salmonella is a reportable disease, California health officials were notified.

Several months after her operation, Sternlieb received a home visit from a public health nurse with startling news: Her infection had been traced not to food but to a reptile.

Turtles are known to harbor salmonella, one reason federal law has long banned the sale of small turtles because of the risk they pose to young children. Other reptiles and amphibians including snakes, frogs and lizards are also carriers, which is why public health officials stress the importance of handwashing after touching them.

But her family never had a pet reptile, Sternlieb said. Because her symptoms started shortly after giving birth, Sternlieb’s infectious-disease doctor suspected she might have contracted the infection in the hospital, possibly from a staff member. At times during pregnancy and before delivery, the mother’s immune system is suppressed to prevent it from rejecting the fetus.

Another possibility, said Sternlieb, who wracked her brain trying to recall possible reptile exposures from nearly two decades earlier, is that the infection was transmitted by a pet reptile at the nursery school her then-4-year-old son attended. But she added that he never brought a reptile home and that she doesn’t remember the school keeping such pets.

Schneider said she began to recover almost immediately after surgery and has never had another episode. Doctors deemed the surgery a cure.

Tachdjian said he suspects she was exposed in the hospital and added that it’s fortunate she underwent surgery when she did. Had the fibroid ruptured, Sternlieb could have developed sepsis , a potentially fatal infection that results from bacteria coursing through the bloodstream.

In 2010, Tachdjian, Schneider and two other doctors published a report of her case in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Their goal, Tachdjian said, was to alert other doctors to consider abdominal hives as a possible sign of a simmering pelvic infection.

“You want these reports so the next [doctor] that runs into something like this gets imaging quickly,” he said.

Send your solved medical mystery to [email protected] . No unsolved cases, please. Read previous mysteries at wapo.st/medicalmysteries .

A previous version of this article included frogs as reptiles known to carry salmonella. Frogs are amphibians. The article has been corrected.

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Kate Beckinsale Hinted at Having "Stomach" Issues Following Her Recent Hospitalization

The actress has yet to disclose the details of her mystery illness.

Alicia Brunker is a freelance writer who covers celebrity, royal, and fashion news for InStyle.com. She joined InStyle's digital team in 2017, and previously contributed to ELLE, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, and WWD.

After recently being released from the hospital, Kate Beckinsale is slowly opening up about what landed her there in the first place. 

On Saturday, the actress hinted at her ongoing health issues as she posted about her grieving process in light her stepfather Roy Battersby's death on Instagram. Urging her followers to "do all the things" while mourning a loved one, Beckinsale listed everything from "wallow" and "cry" to "take a bath or two" and "hug an animal or seven." She also suggested buying "gourmet cookies you can't eat because your stomach hurts," adding: "Maybe eat them anyway. Or don't." 

The mention seemingly confirmed that her mystery illness is related to her gut, as did another recent post that showed her sporting a "Tummy Troubles Survivor" T-shirt. In a slideshow of photos shared to her grid, Beckinsale can be seen posing with her Pomeranian, Myf, while wearing the graphic tee with a pair of light-wash jeans, a bedazzled belt, and her signature oversized hair bow.

Kate Beckinsale Instagram

Last month, Beckinsale first sparked concerns over her health after sharing several teary-eyed photos of herself from a hospital bed. “Thank you to those that love us and support us when it’s shit and try to make sure there are some bits that aren’t," she wrote in the caption. "And turn up when we are sick and sit with us." Before that, the Serendipity star was last seen publicly in February, looking happy and healthy at Netflix's 2024 SAG Awards Celebration in Los Angeles.

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This is nassim road, singapore’s most expensive street.

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This quiet, leafy road may not look like much on first glance. Scratch the surface and you will discover more multi-million-dollar mansions than you can shake a Hermès purse at and a neighborhood full of top-notch restaurants and exclusive hotels. This is Nassim Road, Singapore’s billionaire’s row.

Nassim Road is Singapore's most expensive and exclusive residential street. Photographer: Lionel ... [+] Ng/Bloomberg

Singapore: The World’s Fifth-Wealthiest City

Singapore is an island city-state measuring just 281 square miles. It is also the world’s fifth-wealthiest city according to the World's Wealthiest Cities Report 2023 . Singapore is currently home to 240,100 millionaires, 329 centi-millionaires, and 27 billionaires, says the report, with a higher number of high net worth (HNW) individuals than Asia’s richest city, Tokyo.

In Singapore, billionaire’s mansions are referred to as Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) and Nassim Road is full of them. The term Good Class Bungalows was coined in the 1980s by the Singapore Government that was seeking to protect landed properties from creeping development while looking to attract wealthy investors. For a house to qualify as a GCB, it must have a land area of at least 1,400 square meters, or 15,070 square feet, be no more than two stories high and located in one of the city’s 39 designated GCB areas. There are believed to be around 2,800 GCBs in Singapore, each with a price tag of tens of millions of dollars.

Drone shot of Botanic gardens with built up Singapore in the background. March 2018

This Is Nassim Road

Sadly, a walk along the almost mile-long Nassim Road will not reveal much about the houses or the people living in them. Most are either ultra-wealthy or celebrities (or both) and rumors about their identities are mainly based on hearsay. Nassim Road is also home to a number of embassies, including those of Japan, Pakistan, and the Philippines, as well as Eden Hall, the residence of the British High Commissioner and a place of great historical significance.

For most mere mortals, living Nassim Road is sadly off bounds, but that does not mean it is not worth a visit. So, if you are not here to buy property, what else can you do in Nassim Road?

Small pond in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

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Aew dynasty 2024 results winners and grades as swerve makes history, samsung galaxy users are reporting a serious new display problem, singapore botanic gardens.

Apart from wandering up the street to try to peer over the walls, there is not much to do in Nassim Road per-se, but the surrounding neighborhood is infinitely worth exploring. The top of Nassim Road will lead you directly into the Singapore Botanic Gardens , the city's first UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 1859, the modern-day space is not only filled with more than 10,000 different types of spectacular tropical plants, it is also a world-class scientific institution that has evelved from a British colonial botanic garden to a key center for research and plant conservation.

At the opposite end of Nassim Road, in the part closest to the city, you will find major thoroughfares like Tanglin Road and, of course, the legendary Orchard Road, known for its world-class shopping and myriad luxury hotels. While the central section of Orchard may be flashier and more touristy, the upper part, close to Nassim Road, is less ostentatious but no less exclusive. The jewelers, diamond dealers and fancy homeware stores will have you shopping like a crazy rich Asian in no time.

The new Conrad Singapore Orchard is surrounded by lush tropical greenery.

Where to stay

There are no hotels in Nassim Road itself but countless chic options nearby. The newly opened Conrad Singapore Orchard is very much in keeping with the Nassim Road vibe: elegant, relaxing and filled with greenery. Upon entering, guests are greeted by its most eye-catching artwork, Singapore Shower by Japanese sculptor Michio Ihara. Suspended from the ninth floor, it fills the atrium with glittering light as a tribute to the city’s infamous tropical rains. Nature references are found throughout—from the plantation shutters in the rooms to the hanging plants that adorn every floor of the atrium, and the lush tropical greenery that surrounds the exterior.

The services at Conrad Singapore Orchard are in keeping with its sophisticated surrounds. Like the 10 eating and and drinking spaces, that serve everything from Michelin-starred Cantonese dishes at Summer Palace to buffet-style Italian comfort food at Basilico and opulent afternoon teas at Tea Lounge. For mixology enthusiasts, Manhattan is a drinking destination in its own right , serving classic and signature cocktails, in addition to barrel-aged specialty drinks from the world's first in-hotel rickhouse. Guests are also encouraged to join a team of local arborists and botanists on the Edible Garden Walk, where they will get to try the edible botanicals found while strolling from the hotel to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

The sushi at Tomidou is as fresh as it gets.

Where to eat

While the streets around Nassim Road are packed with great places to eat, there is only one restaurant in the street itself. Fortunately, it is more than deserving of its illustrious address. Open last year, Tomidou is a Japanese sushi omakase restaurant expertly led by Japanese Executive Chef Akira Horikawa. His almost three decades-long experience includes 15 years at Tokyo’s legendary Ginza Kyubey restaurant, a favorite haunt of the rich and famous. Tomidou serves achingly fresh fish and seafood delivered specially from Toyosu fish market in Tokyo.

The sushi and sashimi at Tomidou may set a new standard for all your future sushi experiences.

Tomidou specializes in a series of omakase-style tasting menus—ranging from 12 to 18 dishes—and it goes without saying that the sushi and sashimi sections take center stage. Among the more unusual dishes, you will find the delectable Torigai or Japanese sea cockle, while the Signature Sushi Otoro is so impossibly smooth and tender, but at the same time deeply flavorful, that it may well set the standard for all your future sushi experiences.

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