I’m a travel insurer… here are the FIVE things you need to be wary of when going on an all-inclusive holiday

A travel insurer has provided five top tips on what to look out for when going on an all-inclusive holiday.

Grant Winter, a compliance officer, has warned Britons to be vigilant about illnesses and conditions that can be common when eating and drinking on package holidays to popular holiday destinations.

Diseases such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A can be contracted by eating in contaminated restaurants and bars.

For anxious travelers worried about getting shot abroad, Mr. Winter shared what to look for when dining at a hotel buffet.

Always drink bottled water

Firstly, Mr Winter advised people to drink bottled water, as its purity and quality can always be guaranteed.

When purchasing bottled water, he advised to always make sure the bottle cap is properly closed before drinking it.

Grant said: ‘If for any reason you don’t have access to bottled water, only drink boiled tap water and use chlorine tablets or iodine to sterilise the water.

“However, always make sure you avoid prolonged exposure to iodine – this method is not the best if you do it more than once or twice,” he told The Express.

Come early to the buffet

On the importance of food safety: The travel insurer said you should always avoid eating cooked food that has been sitting for a long time.

With this in mind, he said, you should always aim to arrive at the all-inclusive buffet as early as possible so that you’re not left with food that hasn’t been freshly prepared to your order.

He added: ‘It is also better to avoid foods that have flies buzzing around them and to only eat raw fruit and vegetables that you have peeled yourself to reduce the risk of contamination.’

Never put ice in your drinks

Keeping his earlier tip of only drinking bottled water in mind, Grant says you should also be careful with ice in your drinks.

Grant explained further: ‘Remember that ice cubes in your drinks pose a risk.

‘In many cases these are likely to be made from untreated tap water (some large resorts use bottled water though, so it’s wise to check), which could make you ill.’

Check if your food is hot

Grant Winter, a compliance officer at the travel insurer, warns that food and drink in some countries are popular with Britons as holiday destinations (File photo)

Grant gave his penultimate tip: no matter where you eat, always check to make sure the food is piping hot before taking a bite.

He adds that you should pay extra attention to this when dining out abroad.

He gave an example: ‘Eating tropical fish that has not been cooked properly can lead to ciguatera fish poisoning. And unpasteurized dairy products, such as ice cream from a street vendor, can contain salmonella, e. coli, listeria or campylobacter, which can lead to food poisoning.’

Maintain good personal hygiene

The travel safety expert shared his fifth and final tip, saying that good hygiene is extra important abroad.

Grant said: ‘Although it may sound obvious, personal hygiene should be a top priority abroad to prevent food poisoning and contamination.

‘Always wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food. Also make sure you carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to use when you’re out and about and before you eat.’