I also worry about the harshness of disinfectant wipes.

For my Brazilian jiu jitsu, where there is a constant risk of skin infections (no different from wrestling and other “mat sports”), I just take a shower without soap after each training session.

While I use a non-disinfecting soap for my daily morning shower, I find that a post training “water only” shower is plenty to rinse off sweat, contaminants, and generally just knock down the “bad bacteria and fungus” count without decimating the “good” bacteria count and otherwise drying out my skin (research “commensual skin bacteria” for the word on our “natural” bacterial friends). Between rinsing off and scrupulously washing my judo uniform after every class, I’ve never had a skin infection (though I have had an allergic reaction to the enzymes in some detergents, rubbed into my skin via friction from the judo uniform while drilling and sparring – hence a switch to Trader Joes ultra-mild laundry soap).

So I think a baby wipe should be more than sufficient for getting bacterial grime off, at least enough to the point where what’s left won’t be dangerous.

But I think some disinfecting wipes or gel might still be good for the toilet seat. And I use flip-flops religiously when using hotel/motel showers. I always either have socks or flops on.

2. Keep fingers away from nostrils, mouth, and eyes. That’s as delicately as I can say it – but the truth is, colds and flus are transmitted by CONTACT not by air (unless there is a massive sneeze in the vicinity and you inhale the droplets!). We touch something, we scratch a nostril, try to dig something out of our teeth, or scratch our eyes – and BAM, infected.

3. Take an aisle seat on flights over 3 hours – there was a recent article that DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is twice as likely to happen for window seats. No explanation given, but my guess is that someone snoozing next to a window just doesn’t want the hassle of getting out of their seat. Plus they are probably sound asleep, unlike those of us on the aisle, constantly shifting position so we can catch a little sleep. The old exercises they used to have on pull-out cards are great for warding off DVT – little knee raises onto tip toe, stretching arms overhead etc. – it’s too bad they are hard to find these days. The article on DVT indicated MODERATE drinking (alcohol) can help ward off DVT since alcohol inhibits clotting, but if I were to follow that principle, I’d take a “10 mg” baby/stroke aspirin instead. Alcohol dehydrates and makes jet lag worse.

4. Consider a “youth hostel bed sack” – Cocoon makes an ultralight silk one, REI makes a slightly heavier, bulkier version out of synthetic fabric. Two words: lice and bed bugs. Ok, 3 words.

Your comments about keeping our regular routine before departure is absolutely right. Don’t go “couch potato” if you regularly exercise; don’t go beserk at the gym if you do; don’t lose sleep packing and fretting. Our goal should be: if I weren’t traveling I wouldn’t be getting sick, so why does travel make me a “magnet” for every cold and flu in town?