A travel insurance company has given its five most important tips to bear in mind when taking an all-inclusive holiday.
Grant Winter, a compliance officer, has warned Britons to be on the lookout for illnesses that can be common when eating and drinking at resorts in popular tourist destinations.
Diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and hepatitis A can be contracted by eating in contaminated restaurants and bars.
But for travellers anxious about being attacked abroad, Mr Winter has shared what to look out for when enjoying the hotel buffet.
A travel insurer has revealed what you should avoid eating or drinking when dining at an all-inclusive resort on holiday (File image)
Always drink bottled water
First of all, Mr Winter recommended that people drink bottled water, as its purity and quality can always be guaranteed.
When purchasing bottled water, she advised to always make sure the bottle cap is sealed tightly before drinking.
Grant said: ‘If for whatever reason you cannot access bottled water, only drink tap water that has been boiled and use chlorine or iodine tablets to sterilise the water.
“Always make sure to avoid prolonged exposure to iodine; this method is not best when performed more than once or twice,” she said. The express.
Arrive early to the buffet
Moving on to the importance of food safety, the travel insurer said that one should always avoid eating cooked food that has been left out for a long period.
With this in mind, she said you should always try to get to the all-inclusive buffet earlier rather than later to avoid being left with food that hasn’t been freshly cooked to your order.
She added: “It is also best to avoid foods where flies are buzzing and to only eat raw fruit and vegetables that we have peeled ourselves to reduce the risk of contamination.”
Never put ice in your drinks
Keeping in mind his earlier advice about drinking only bottled water, Grant says you should also be careful with ice in your drinks.
Grant added: ‘Don’t forget the risk of ice cubes in your drinks.
‘In many cases, they are likely made from untreated tap water (however, some large resorts use bottled water, so it’s best to check), which can lead to illness.’
Make sure your food is hot
Grant Winter, a compliance officer at the travel insurance company, warns that food and drink in some countries popular with Britons as holiday destinations (file image)
Giving his penultimate piece of advice, Grant said that regardless of where you’re eating, you should always check if the food is piping hot before taking a bite.
And he adds that this is something that needs to be taken into account even more when eating out.
Giving an example, he said: “Eating tropical fish that has not been cooked properly can lead to ciguatera poisoning, and unpasteurized dairy products, such as ice cream from a street vendor, can harbor salmonella, e. coli, listeria or campylobacter, causing food poisoning.”
Practice good personal hygiene
Sharing his fifth and final tip, the travel safety expert said good hygiene is even more important when abroad.
Grant said: ‘While it may seem obvious, personal hygiene should be a number one priority when abroad to help avoid food poisoning and contamination.
‘Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food, and make sure you carry an alcohol-based hand gel to use when you are out and about before eating any food.’