Hi there! So, I'm hesitating about taking a long trip. I'd like to go away for 2 to 3 months and travel across several continents. I’d love some advice. I often have unexplained allergies and need to follow a daily treatment for my diabetes (insulin). I think I can get authorization from my doctor to travel for 6 months with the treatment—is that correct? After those 6 months, is it possible (instead of bothering a relative to send the medication) to see a foreign doctor to get another 6-month travel authorization? How does it work at the airport? Do I need just one medication transport authorization, or do I have to request a new one in each country (once the treatment runs out) for both the flight and a DCI? Also, travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so will I have to pay for foreign consultations out of pocket? I’m not sure if I explained myself clearly. Oh, and just to repeat—travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so foreign consultations will be at my own expense? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hello,
Regarding customs and airport security checks, all you need is a certificate stating that you are diabetic, insulin-treated, with... list the names of your insulins, specify pens and/or syringes, your glucose meter, test strips, and lancets. It should also state that you must keep all this equipment with you at all times. It’s absolutely essential that this document be in English, and depending on where you’re going (South America), it would be good to have a Spanish translation as well. For some Asian countries, it might also be helpful to have a translation in the local language. Since I’ve never been there, I don’t know what the language skills of the staff at these checks are like in China, for example. In Thailand, the Philippines, and other frequently visited Asian countries, English is sufficient.
For other questions, I’m not familiar with French legislation.
If you use the search function, you’ll see this question has already been asked quite a few times.
Okay. Thanks for your reply. If I understood correctly, regarding the transport authorization for insulin, the authorization doesn’t need to be renewed after 6 months—it’s valid for life?
I’ve done this quite a bit for my patients—we’d redo it when the paper started to wear out or to keep the document from getting too outdated, so it was often once a year.
Just one last question and then I’ll stop bothering you. Is it possible to get the authorization renewed—and why not the DCI (if that also needs renewing)—with a doctor abroad to avoid all the back-and-forth between countries and France, even if it means paying full price for the consultation?
Right now, I have to admit I can’t answer that—I’m not in France and don’t know your regulations regarding health insurance there. In Switzerland, I just provide a certificate to justify carrying medical supplies for customs and airport security. We don’t have any restrictions on the quantities of medication dispensed here, and someone can easily buy a 12-month supply in advance without any issues. However, if you want to purchase your medication abroad, you’ll need the INN (International Nonproprietary Name). But showing your insulin packaging to the pharmacist should be enough—these products are internationally recognized without any problems.
Watch out for lancets. Make sure you bring enough with you.
I tried to buy lancets for someone in the south of France for a device purchased in Switzerland. For the same brand, the lancets are different in France—couldn’t get the model sold in Switzerland...
In Switzerland, there are also several models of lancing devices, and the lancets are different each time. But you can also prick your finger directly with a lancet, so it’s not too bad if you have to do without your lancing device because you couldn’t find compatible lancets.
For insulin pen needles, they’re standard. If by any chance the needle length you usually use (6 or 8 mm for adults) isn’t available, opt for a shorter one rather than a longer one—you absolutely must avoid injecting insulin into a muscle.
Basically, it’s always recommended to bring a little more supplies than strictly necessary, but for a long trip, that’s not always easy.
In Switzerland, are doctors allowed to provide a transport authorization for insulin as well as a generic prescription (INN) for French tourists traveling to Asia or South America, for example?
Alright. Thanks for all this info. I think the best time for a round-the-world trip is during retirement because budget-wise, you’ve saved your whole life and don’t have financial worries. But I’m really afraid that with my diabetes, my doctor won’t let me travel... It’s all about planning ahead, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to make this dream happen.
When planning a long trip, it's clear that being in decent shape helps. The most important thing is to have your diabetes as well-balanced as possible to prevent complications, which I’d say are the real limiting factor. If you have ophthalmological, kidney, or heart issues, those could definitely interfere with your plans. Diabetes alone shouldn’t hold you back.
I don’t understand the question—I’m not sure what travel risks you’re thinking of when flying? Other than a plane crash or seasickness on a cargo ship?
I did some research and read that people with chronic illnesses aren’t allowed on cargo trips and that air travel is strongly discouraged for elderly people with chronic conditions. So I was wondering about the potential risks.
For cargo ship travel, I don’t have any specific knowledge, but seasickness—if you’re prone to it—could contribute to destabilizing diabetes if you can’t eat or drink due to nausea. Plus, it’s a long trip with not many options to disembark whenever you want. For flights, there’s no contraindication if you can handle an altitude of 2,000m, which matches cabin pressurization. Then there are a number of formal or relative contraindications related to heart or lung issues or recent surgery, but a well-managed chronic condition isn’t a contraindication in itself.
Hi there,
I’m traveling to Portugal in October and I have Fernand Vidal syndrome. I’ve been prescribed a great treatment,
but it involves injections I have to give myself every two weeks. How do I transport them on the plane?
Thanks
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I have two American cousins. The older one was born in Paris, and his sister was born in California. The latter is planning a trip to Paris this summer, but she recently fell ill, and American doctors don’t know what’s wrong. I had the idea of letting her take advantage of her trip to get treated here, avoiding the high healthcare costs of the American system in the process. The problem is, I can’t find anything online about this—just testimonials from French people who used to be American, but nothing for a simple tourist.
I’m traveling to Portugal with my family and I have a treatment that requires injections. How can I take a flight with these? They look like injectable pens.
Thanks
We’re planning a trip to the Philippines from April 22 to May 8, 2026. Flight from Geneva with a layover in Turkey and Manila. Our itinerary: Angeles – Busuanga – Palawan…
The Philippines are a dream destination, but is it possible to travel there safely? I’ve heard that checked luggage often gets lost, tap water isn’t safe to drink, and mosquitoes are everywhere.
For water, what’s the best solution to carry in a backpack? Is a filtering water bottle 100% reliable?
For mosquitoes, should we treat our clothes with repellent? Are you vaccinated against hepatitis A, malaria, or dengue? Or is there an oral treatment to take?
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there’s travel insurance for someone who’s had a heart attack?
I can’t find an insurer that covers a pre-existing condition, even if it’s stable.
Thanks so much!
Hi everyone, next month my wife, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are flying to Thailand. It’ll be a great chance to soak up some sun—something we’ve been missing lately here in France! But speaking of sun, I burn easily, and our daughter even more so. I was wondering what SPF to get for sunscreen and whether it’s better to buy it there or before we leave? Thanks for your tips!
Hello,
We’re planning to spend 3 months in Madagascar starting in mid-February.
Areas: Mahajanga, Tulear, Diego Suarez, and Sainte Marie—the order isn’t set yet. We’ll either drive for part of the trip or take flights.
We’ve heard all sorts of things about required vaccines and medications (is anti-malarial mandatory?). What’s the exact situation for travelers?
I’ll come back to you for other topics (like finding a reliable driver, among others).
Thank you.
Best wishes to you all,
Nicole
We're about to go on an organized trip to South Africa, including Kruger Park. We were told that Malarone should preferably be taken in the evening at the same time during a meal. But it's hard to know what time we'll have dinner, especially since I've read that in South Africa, dinner is usually around 6 PM.
I'd love to hear from people who've been on organized trips to this destination and could share their experience. We were thinking of taking Malarone around 7:30 PM, assuming dinner would be closer to 7 PM than 6 PM. Also, if the meal ends up being earlier or later than when we take the pill, would a cookie or a piece of bread be enough to take with Malarone?
I’m planning to set off on a "round-the-world" trip/long journey at the start of next year, lasting between 4.5 and 6 months. For now, the itinerary looks like this: South Korea (2 weeks) -> Japan (1 month) -> New Zealand (1 month) -> Argentina (1 month) -> United States (1 month).
I’m on medication (paroxetine 20 mg/day) and was hoping to bring enough for the entire trip so I wouldn’t have to find a doctor on the spot, deal with a molecule that might be slightly different from what’s available in France, or wonder if that’s even a possibility. Basically, it seemed simpler on paper...
But after looking into the regulations for each country, it’s suddenly way less simple . Many seem to only allow the amount corresponding to the length of your "stay" in the country... Which is a problem if I arrive in Korea with 4.5 months’ worth of medication, for example.
After all that, and even though I’ll obviously contact the relevant authorities in each country (fingers crossed for a response 😛), here’s my question:
Has anyone here had any experience with this? (Even if it’s a different medication or different countries, any input would be helpful!)
I’m trying to plan a trip to Dubai with my mom. I’ve seen that some of our medications require prior authorization (sleeping pills, codeine, anti-anxiety meds, etc.).
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been in our situation. A friend of mine applied to bring her tramadol, but it was denied—though she needed high doses!
Has anyone here gone through this process? Do we *really* need a prescription in English?
We just found out my wife is pregnant, and we’ve planned a trip to the Barlavento Islands in Cape Verde this November.
We’d like to know if there’s a real risk of Zika contamination on those islands, because from what we’ve found online, the recorded cases are old and come from the Sotavento Islands.
We’re thinking about canceling our trip.
If you’ve recently traveled to Cape Verde or live there, do you have any thoughts on this?
hi, I’m looking for information about the possibility of returning to Thailand with a portable liquid oxygen system and whether it’s possible to recharge it in Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai. thanks
I’m starting a new discussion on this topic since there doesn’t seem to be a recent one.
I have several chronic conditions (including asthma and related ones), and I’m planning to travel for a year across different countries.
Generally, I understand it’s possible to travel with approved medications (which should be my case), but often with a limit of 3 months’ worth of treatment.
Since I’m going for 12 months, that means for three-quarters of my trip, I’d have more than 3 months’ worth of medication.
I plan to bring my prescriptions with the INN (International Nonproprietary Name), as well as the original packaging (even though it’s a nightmare, but from what I understand, it’s necessary). But I’m not sure if that’s enough...
Have any of you been in this situation before? How does it work at customs—do I need to declare everything that exceeds the 3-month limit? Do I need a letter from my doctors?
I'm currently in Bangkok: How can I find a good doctor for a consultation? It's for a friend who'd like a second medical opinion compared to what they got in their country of residence.
Any professionals you'd recommend? How much does it cost?
I’ve already visited quite a few countries across several continents, but I’m pretty new to Asia.
I’m planning a trip to Thailand in October or November, and I wanted to check about health precautions: malaria treatment, vaccinations (hepatitis A or others...).
I’ll mostly be in the northern region, around Chiang Mai, where I’ll spend a lot of time in nature and the mountains. Then I’ll head south to Phuket or Krabi and visit Khao Sok National Park. I’ll finish up in Bangkok, with a likely detour to Kanchanaburi.
From what I understand, for a stay of less than 60 days, I don’t need a visa (I’m a French national)? I just need to fill out the TDAC form 3 to 5 days before arrival?
Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone is heading to Cuba soon and could bring me some over-the-counter Sildenafil (viagra) tablets—available at Varadero Airport, among other places.
Hi everyone.
After years of traveling to the USA without any medical insurance subscriptions—and luckily never having any major health issues (though I did get a scorpion sting buried in the sand at CBSouth, 😇)—life has caught up with us, and we’re now being forced into "wisdom" and leaving our carefree days behind.
So, I’m looking for the best compromise for a 2-month health insurance plan.
I’ve read the discussions on this topic, but the most recent one is from last year, and I’d love your take on the current situation.
I’m familiar with the usual options like Europ Assistance and AXA, but I’ve just discovered Chapka and Heymondo (the latter seems interesting in terms of both price and coverage).
What do you think of these last two? How do they compare in terms of value for money against the bigger companies?
Hi,
We’ve planned a 3-week trip to Bali this summer with our 7-year-old daughter. The itinerary includes Sanur, Nusa Lembongan, Sidemen, Amed, and Ubud. The more time passes, the more we read about people getting sick—some with mild to severe traveler’s diarrhea, and many ending up in the hospital. We, as parents, have been through it in Egypt with pretty bad cases, but we’d really like to avoid that for our daughter. Even though there’s no zero risk, and we’ll be careful, can any of you reassure me? Not everyone got sick, right? I’d love to hear positive feedback from parents, but not just them 😊. Thanks in advance!
Hi there...
I’m traveling with a friend for a month in November.
We booked our round-trip tickets from Paris to Phnom Penh, and yes, I know—it was a mistake. We should’ve flown out of Laos, but here we are.
But is it doable to backpack through both countries in a relaxed way?
I’ve seen that the transport takes a while...
Thanks so much for your replies.
Hi there,
I’ve started looking into getting dental implants, possibly in Costa Rica or Mexico.
Do you have any clinics to recommend or ones I should avoid?
For the next steps, I need to choose between Cuba Medika or Medigo—these are agencies that help with medical procedures. Do you have any info on either of them?
Hi everyone, a question for those who’ve been lucky enough to visit Raja Ampat—should you consider preventive malaria treatment given its proximity to Papua? And how was the food hygiene situation?
Thanks for your feedback! !
For several years now, increased aggression has been observed in Cape fur seals.
At least 70 unprovoked attacks on humans.
It was recently confirmed that this is due to rabies.
The suspected origin is contamination in Namibia by jackals.
The contagion seems to be spreading.
Preventive vaccination (of the animals) is being considered.
Just a reminder:
Rabies affects all mammals.
Once symptoms appear—sometimes weeks or even months later—death is inevitable.
It’s the bite that transmits the disease.
There are so-called "furious" forms with aggression, but also forms without aggression.
In case of a bite, in addition to standard wound care, tetanus prevention… rabies prevention is essential.
Stay careful out there…
Seeing seals from a boat along the coast isn’t rare in these parts…
I need 2 dental implants and I'd like to get them done abroad (it's a question of price).
Thanks for helping me with my search (Turkey, Spain, Romania???)
Can you tell me if you're satisfied with the services provided by Dentist Miguel at Club Amigo in Holguin? I'd like to go there in mid-December. Is it worth the trip to get dental prosthetics done?
Thanks for getting back to me... Michelle from Quebec
Hello,
I’m looking for a dentist who can do a full lower-arch implant with a complete prosthesis. I’m in Quebec and available to travel to Cuba. Need full contact details. Thanks everyone!
My current plan is to get my teeth treated in Cuba, especially for dental implants.
Has anyone here had experience and could refer me to a good, affordable dentist?
I’d really appreciate it if you could give me an idea of the price for one implant, since I need at least 6 done.
Thanks so much!
