The best ways to avoid travel sickness

BERLIN: Bags and children are all safely aboard the train or car, now all that's left to do is look forward to your upcoming holiday — if it weren't for that little devil called travel sickness.

Here are some of the best ways to deal with it, irrespective of your mode of transport.

Stay distracted

The key to avoiding travel sickness is distraction, according to Tomas Jelinek, from the Berlin Centre for Travel & Tropical Medicine.

This is the reason that the driver is usually spared: "because you have to concentrate on a task," says Jelinek.

Unfortunately, it's often the kids who are particularly affected by travel sickness — and letting them take the wheel is usually not an option.

Instead, playing games like "I spy with my little eye" is a good way to distract them, while adults often find it helpful to engage in conversation, keeping them from thinking about feeling nauseous.

However, by all means try to stay away from your phone, as concentrating on letters or a film will confuse the brain further, warns Jelinek.

Find the right spot

Meanwhile, choosing the right place to sit can also make a difference, irrespective of your mode of transport.

If you are on a bus trip, then go for a spot behind the front axle. If you're on a car journey, you are best off in the passenger seat.

For children, the best spot is the middle of the backseat, as they have an unobstructed view facing forward here.

Often, people are less likely to suffer from travel sickness on the train, as the speed is relatively constant and the tracks are usually fairly straight.

For some, though, it's not comfortable if they are not facing the direction of travel — so try to pick a seat looking forwards, not back.

When you're flying, you'll want to make sure you are seated above the wings, say experts.

It is harder for many to travel by ship. If the waves are making you feel unwell, try to stretch out in the cabin. That may not be possible if there are no beds available, as is often the case on ferries or pleasure boats, but try and sit right in the middle of the boat as that's the most stable place on board.

Look ahead

Meanwhile, it's not just where you are but also where you look that matters.

Experts typically recommend picking a faraway point and focusing on it to feel better, and if that's too boring, put some headphones in and listen to music or a podcast while you're staring out.

Another good idea to help against feeling ill while travelling is to take a break and get some air.

Of course, plane passengers don't have this option. In that case, they should just try to go up and down the aisles a bit. A seat with less shaking could be beneficial too. These are usually found far up in the front of the plane, as well as in the centre aisles.

On a ship, if the sea and weather allow, stand by the outer railing and keep looking at the horizon.

What (not) to eat

And last but not least, prepare for a tough journey that's likely to give you travel sickness by avoiding alcohol and milk products, as well as making sure you have food in your stomach, but not too much.

Before a car ride, children are better off eating something light like bread, fruit or raw vegetables.

Medication can generally help as a last resort, but it also makes you tired. If you need to stay alert during your journey, it's better to avoid it altogether, or try to find an alternative, like ginger root.

The science behind travel sickness is that your brain is receiving contradictory signals — the body is immobile while your sense of balance registers movement.