Advice: Healthier Traveling - Tips to Ease the Stress of Allergies Away From Home. The fact is that one in four Americans suffer from allergies according to the Center for Disease Control and A Cornell University survey found that an even greater number - one-third - reported having allergies or traveling with family members who had allergic reactions. PURE Solutions: the company that creates allergy-friendly hotel rooms worldwide has offered a few tips for vacationers.

We have already spread the news about the option of PURE rooms for travelers but when allergen free rooms are not available a backup plan is essential. And not surprising PURE Solutions has a few points to remember:

Ask for an allergy-free, pet-free, and no smoking hotel room. Increasingly hotels, notably those in major cities, are responding to worldwide consumer interest in and demand for more healthy accommodations. The closer you can come to enjoying a PURE room, the more enjoyable your trip will be.

Sleep on the sunny side. Sunshine and dry air minimize the growth of various types of irritants and contaminants, so try to get a hotel room that is bright and sunny, and well away from such facilities as swimming pools.

Feel the air. Air circulation is key to a healthy hotel room so make sure that yours has good ventilation.

Do not open the window. It may run counter to the “fresh air is always good for you” myth, but air conditioning is often a wise idea when traveling by car and staying in a hotel room, particularly for those who have allergies or are sensitive to air-born pollutants. Air conditioning helps keep humidity low, ideally at 50 percent or lower because moisture is generally needed for bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to grow.

Know your destination. Allergy and pollen seasons, temperatures and humidity, rainy and dry seasons all vary around the country and the world. The more you know about conditions in your destination at the time of your visit, the easier it is to prepare for possible discomfort. Try to plan your trip for a time of the year when indoor and outdoor pollutants are at a minimum.

Bring medications for each family member. Be sure to plan ahead, even consult a doctor if necessary, to ensure that you are prepared to combat whatever allergy or irritant might rear its ugly head during your travels. Have medications, especially anything needed for a sudden serious allergic reaction, readily available at all time. And it’s always wise to know something about available medical facilities and services when traveling to foreign countries.

Drink plenty of water. Whether it’s on an airplane or in a car, whether you are enjoying hot weather or vigorous exercise, keep your body full of fluids, especially fresh, clean water. When traveling internationally to some parts of the world, it is always wise to stick to bottled water, just to be safe. FYI: Juice and soda do not count.

Be careful with food. New culinary traditions, ingredients and cooking methods can take some getting used to, even when there is absolutely nothing wrong or ill-prepared about the meal. If you are traveling to exotic destinations, get advice about what and where is safe to eat. And it’s always a good idea to have an over-the-counter remedy on hand just in case.

Take sunscreen for every family mamber. Pausing occasionally to apply sun block is an easy way to avoid a sunburn – and possible more serious problems years from now – that could ruin a day or two of vacation.

And, of course, ask for PURE room wherever you go. The more you ask the quicker hotels around the world will have them. To find a hotel that offers PURE rooms, go to www.PURERoom.com

About PURE Solutions North America. PURE Solutions has innovated a system for hotels and conference centers that provides PURE rooms, an allergy-friendly room which results in indoor environments that have been treated to remove 98% of bacteria and viruses. The PURE room concept utilizes state-of-the-art purification techniques whereby each room is treated comprehensively to remove allergens and irritants from all surfaces, fabrics and air flow.  More than 50 of the nation’s top hotels have installed PURE to date and this system is being adopted at a rapid rate by hotels worldwide.

Content provided by PURE Solutions. Copyright 2010.