Vacation travel is in full swing and regular traveling business people need to be aware of what’s lurking on the plane, in the hotel duvet, or in the hotel cooler, to name just a few.

Let’s start from the beginning; packing for the trip –

Tip #1: Since TSA personnel may search your luggage, prevent the spread of germs by packing your personal items in plastic bags.

Before and during the flight –

Tip #2: Be sure to get a full eight hours of rest the night before your flight, drink plenty of water before and during the flight to prevent dehydration, and consider taking an extra vitamin C boost to ward off pesky germs.

Tip #3: Use sanitary napkins to clean the armrest and tray table, and use them to open the bathroom door, flush the toilet, and turn on the faucet.

Tip #4: Do not put items in seat pockets (from dirty diapers to used tissues) and avoid using airline pillows and blankets, which are rarely washed or disinfected.

The hotel room; let’s focus on the remote control, phone, duvet, glasses and cooler as they are the dirtiest and most unsanitary items in a hotel room –

Tip #5: Place your luggage in the luggage rack provided, not on the bed or the floor. When luggage is not in use, be sure to keep it closed so bed bugs don’t become stowaways.

Tip #6: Clean the remote control with a warm, damp cloth or sanitary napkin. The remote control is rarely sanitized by cleaning staff, but it often harbors the most germs.

Tip #7: After cleaning the remote, go to the phone, which is rarely disinfected.

Tip #8: Remove the duvet from the bed, fold it and store it in the closet. The hotel’s housekeeping staff have confirmed that duvets are only washed when there are visible stains.

Tip #9: Do not use glasses for drinking; use only plastic cups sealed in plastic. To find out why, watch this disturbing video from Fox 5 in Atlanta, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6uQC9MM5cQ.

Tip #10: If you need to chill some drinks, be sure to use the plastic bag included with the ice bucket. If one is not provided, please call the front desk and ask for one. Like the remote control and the phone, ice buckets are rarely cleaned.

If necessary, make the room child-friendly.

Tip #11: Wipe down all hard surfaces with sanitary wipes (doorknobs, dresser knobs, refrigerator, microwave, etc.), check under the bed and all dresser drawers for potentially harmful items and if any toys fall on the floor, be sure to disinfect them. them immediately.

As a general rule, remember to wash your hands as often as possible at the airport, on the plane, and in the hotel. Germs lurk everywhere, but with a little preparation and following the 11 essential travel tips above, you and your family can stay germ-free.

Do you have any other tips to add? Have a related story to share? We would love to hear from you!