It might not be at the top of the list when it comes to pre-vacation planning, but checking the chance of getting sick is an important consideration.
No one wants to spend any free time being ill, especially when you've been looking forward to an exotic – and often pricey –break. For those worried about falling ill, Forbes magazine has ranked destinations that have a reputation for being the wrong kind of tourist trap.
Technology analysts from Forbes sifted through nearly 2.4 million messages posted on travel forums containing the words "salmonella," "gastroenteritis," "e-coli" and "food poisoning." The data was then cross-referenced with vaccine recommendations and other medical advice, as well as the risk of contracting malaria and other diseases.
Destinations where consuming tap water is not recommended were also included. A final score out of 100 was then assigned to each destination.
Tap water and vaccinations
The destination with the greatest risk of getting sick in Europe is Benidorm, in the southeast of Spain, with a score of 26.4/100. The most common ailments are stomach pain and food poisoning. Of the 52,000 travel forum posts related to Benidorm, 4.5% of tourists complained about it. Tap water, on the other hand, is safe to drink and no vaccination is required.
London also scored badly (21.7/100), followed by the Sunny Beach Resort in Bulgaria (21.5/100). The US Center for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) does not recommend consuming drinking water at the resort, whilst the UK’s NHS Fit for Travel website advises getting a tetanus vaccine booster. Paris (France) and Tenerife (Spain) close out the top five.
In terms of international destinations, those who have booked a holiday in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic are advised to be careful., as the destination scores 90.4/100. Nearly 10% of the messages posted on this destination report diseases contracted during their trip. The NHS advises getting vaccinated against tetanus and hepatitis A. Other tips include avoiding drinking water and remembering to begin taking antimalarial medication before leaving.
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In second place is the seaside resort of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt (83.5/100). Food poisoning is mentioned in 11% of the messages related to this destination. Two vaccines (against polio and tetanus) are also recommended. Like Punta Cana, drinking water should not be consumed.
Finally, with a score of 70.6/100, Sal in Cape Verde took third place, with two Mexican destinations, Playa Del Carmen and Cape San Lucas taking fourth and fifth.
The full lists and report can be found here.
