Traveling with Multiple Sclerosis might seem daunting at first—especially if you’ve recently been diagnosed. Questions pop up: Can I still go on long trips? Will my medication stay safe? What happens if I get sick abroad? These are all valid concerns. But here’s the good news: with the right preparation and mindset, MS doesn’t have to stop you from seeing the world.
In this episode, I’ll share 10 practical tips for relaxed and enjoyable travel with MS—from choosing the right destinations and handling your medication on the road, to dealing with heat, jet lag, and time zones. I’ve personally traveled to places like Australia, Japan, Cuba, Namibia, and the US—some for leisure, others for work—and I’ll let you in on what worked for me, what didn’t, and how you can feel confident and safe while exploring the world.
Let’s dive into the first topic: travel destinations—because yes, even with MS, your dream trip is still possible.
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Travel Destinations
Maybe one of your concerns is that now, since you have Multiple Sclerosis, you can no longer travel. But you don’t need to worry. Since my diagnosis, I’ve been to Australia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, China, Namibia, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, England, Finland, the USA, and Cuba. In some of these countries, it was extremely hot, which doesn’t agree with me much, but I wanted to see them. I visited other countries for work and managed to fulfill my duties well, despite jet lag and MS.
On all these trips, I carried my injections in my hand luggage and made sure during business trips that my colleagues didn’t see them. Until 2020, I kept my diagnosis private, especially at work.
Always Carry Medications in Your Hand Luggage
If you’re undergoing a platform therapy and need to carry medication, you’ll need a medication passport for travel. You can get it from your neurologist. I always keep mine in my wallet so I don’t forget it before a trip.
Since I need to keep my injections cool, I always carry a small cooler bag that holds a sufficient number of syringes, plus a buffer for three days in case there are significant complications with the return journey. A volcano probably won’t erupt in Iceland again and shut down air traffic, but you never know. I clearly prefer to be safe.
I also carry cooling packs and resealable plastic bags. That way, I can ask the flight attendant or gas station, depending on the travel type, for new ice cubes without soaking the entire bag.
If you get infusions, plan the trip so it is before and after your trip, not in between and maybe ask your neurologist to slightly change the schedules appointment. Tablets are still better off in your hand luggage, so they can’t get lost.
Exact Timing for Medication
Since I’m supposed to take my medication at a precise time, my smartphone reminds me in time. Preferably with a discreet message, in case others are around. You could write something like „Be grateful.“ If your phone lights up and someone else reads the text, they’ll just think it’s a positive affirmation—which it also is. Having MS while living in a German-speaking country, where effective medications are covered by health insurance, really is a reason to be grateful. It significantly increases the chances of living a relatively worry-free life despite MS. If the situation is different for you, and you are not getting a sufficient disease-modifying treatment (DMT), you might want to check out, if there are clinical studies in your country, that fit for you.
If your dosing time becomes inconvenient due to a time zone change, you should gradually adjust it before your trip. Take your medication half an hour earlier or later each day. That way, your body only adjusts by half an hour per day, but you can easily achieve several hours‘ difference in just a few days. Your body gets used to the new time, and you won’t need to take medication in the middle of the night while on vacation.
Extreme Climates
On my trips to Australia, Namibia, Malaysia, and Cuba, the intense heat was tough. I handled it by staying well-hydrated—mostly water, no alcohol—and giving myself plenty of rest.
I swallowed my pride during a desert hike and was genuinely happy for the two ladies aged 68 and 75 who reached the goal faster than me. In return, I got some great photos of 500-year-old dried-up trees in Deadvlei. On the ride back, I had a pounding headache because I hadn’t drunk enough water—but the pictures stayed with me.
On another day, like most fellow travelers, I opted for the air-conditioned accommodation and pool. Meanwhile, the two older ladies spent another two hours walking through the city. Respect, no envy.
If you can afford it, more comfortable accommodations usually include a fridge in the room. You can also ask in advance. I did this both in Cuba and Namibia. In Namibia, we had a fridge on the tour bus, and in Cuba, the cooling packs lasted through each drive to the next place. Sometimes I stored my medication in the hotel’s fridge when there wasn’t one in the room. Everyone was always kind and helpful. And during business trips, it was never a problem. Business hotels always had a minibar in the room, which fit my injections.
While touring Korea with colleagues, my cooler bag was well-prepared and stored in my suitcase where it stayed cool and unnoticed.
Well-Protected While Traveling
You should definitely have international health insurance in case something does happen. It simply gives you peace of mind. I’ve never had to use mine so far.
Bring a printout with the most important information in the local language when traveling to a country where few people speak English. This also applies to remote regions. Using Google Translate or another translation service makes this easy. The following should be included:
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That you have Multiple Sclerosis
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What medication you take and how often
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Contact information for your neurologist and general practitioner at home
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Any other important considerations, such as intolerances or allergies
Vaccinations & More
Before my trip to Namibia, I got vaccinated against Hepatitis A & B. I also brought malaria prophylaxis with me. Since it hadn’t rained in seven years and there were no mosquitoes to be found, I didn’t technically need it. Still, I took it—my abstract fear of malaria, combined with MS, was stronger. For me, it was the right decision, but it’s something you should weigh carefully for yourself if you’re facing a similar choice.
Vaccinations with inactivated vaccines do not pose an increased risk for people with MS. However, the right timing should be discussed with your neurologist, as some immunotherapies (DMTs) can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine and prevent complete protection. Live vaccines should be discussed in more detail with your neurologist, as they may pose an increased risk for people with MS.
Further information is available from your national patient organization. In Germany and many other countries, there are government recommendations on which vaccinations should be given to the general population, and these also apply to people with MS. There are usually government recommendations on which vaccinations or precautions to take when traveling to a particular country, and these are updated regularly.
Visit Your Dream Destinations
Okay, money can be a limiting factor, but vacations come in all price ranges. And the more effort you put in, the cheaper it can get—even down to working locally in exchange for free room and board. Above all, don’t let your family or friends talk you out of a dream destination. It’s your life, and the things you didn’t do might one day become regrets. That would be a shame.
I went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef and took a diving course in Berlin through the university sports program. It was quite affordable, and if not enough students sign up, non-students can join for a slightly higher fee. My family was worried—diving is dangerous, and with Multiple Sclerosis, I was absolutely not supposed to do it. My neurologist gave me the go and had no additional comments besides sticking to the rules of safe scuba diving. So I did it, and it was amazing. We dove down 13 meters and saw beautiful coral and fish. An experience I’ll probably never forget.
So my advice to you is: live your dreams—if they’re financially possible. My neurologist saw no issue with diving. And in situations like this, I only care about his recommendations. If he strongly advised against something because of major health risks, I would let go of that dream—but not because of the worries of well-meaning people who aren’t experts in the field.
Of course, there are wonderful destinations close to home—you don’t always have to travel far. And travel outfitters today offer all kinds of assistance to help you get out into nature. I’m not someone who enjoys heading out with a spade and a roll of toilet paper. That just doesn’t feel right for me. My compromise is seeing the beautiful places I want to visit, but with more comfort than others my age might prefer. Backpacking rough isn’t for me—it would only stress me out. I’d rather spend a bit more, feel good, and travel comfortably.
Checklist for Traveling with Multiple Sclerosis
Here’s a summary of the most important points for you:
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Always carry medications in your hand luggage. Checked luggage can be delayed or lost. Bring enough cooling packs and ziplock bags for ice cubes if your medication needs to be cooled.
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Do the accommodations have a refrigerator in the room or somewhere safe from unauthorized access?
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Get a medication passport and keep it in your hand luggage. Security may ask for it.
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Weigh the risks of recommended vaccinations. Inactivated vaccines are safe. Discuss live vaccines with your neurologist. In some cases, a relapse is less dangerous than a life-threatening illness.
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Bring prophylactic medications and take them if needed. Talk to your neurologist about this.
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Print out key details about your medication and special considerations in the local language. Carry them with you, including contact details for your neurologist and general practitioner.
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Don’t push yourself too hard. Listen to your body and rest when it tells you to.
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Make your travel dreams come true, if you can afford the time, money, and family logistics.
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If traveling across time zones, gradually adjust your medication schedule before departure. Moving it by 30 minutes a day helps shift it without disrupting your sleep. Start early.
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Take out international health insurance if you don’t already have it. Keep the policy information in your hand luggage.
Enjoy your trip and soak up as much inspiration and experience as you can. The memories will always be yours—and later on, even the little challenges will often bring a smile to your face.
The Foreign Office or an adequate government institution provides up-to-date travel advisories for all countries.
See you soon and try to make the best out of your life,
Nele
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