9 secrets to staying healthy on sun vacations

6. Watch what you eat
Eat like a finicky little kid. All raw food contains a contamination risk, so eat only cooked, still-hot food. Avoid raw salads and unpasteurized milk products, and only eat fruit you've washed and peeled yourself. And remember, while street meat can be yummy and tempting, buying food and drinks from street vendors mean an increased risk of getting ill. (Antimicrobial medications may help if you get traveller's diarrhea, so see your doctor before you leave so you can bring some with you, just in case.)

7. Keep up with vaccinations
Immunizations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid are highly recommended. Hepatitis A and typhoid can be transmitted through contaminated food, while hepatitis B is transmitted through bodily fluids. Your doctor might also suggest booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria and measles. These shots take time to offer protection, so see your doc four to six weeks before you take off. If you're heading into the wilderness, a rabies shot is also a good idea.

8. Protect against malaria
Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes and is a serious illness that can cause kidney failure, coma and even death if not immediately treated. So if you're heading into Kingston, Jamaica, Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic, or certain rural areas of Mexico including Oaxaca, Quintana, Sinaloa, Tabasco and parts of Sonora, Chihuahua and Durango, see your doctor about getting a preventative drug. Make sure you follow through by taking it vigilantly, before, during and after your vacation, exactly per your doctor's directions. Even if you're going to a malaria-free zone, you can take the extra step of protecting yourself from irritating bites with an insect repellant containing DEET.

9. Stay alert
Especially if you're away on a girls-only vacation or are hitting the nightclubs in party-heavy Mexican locales like Cancun, Mazatlan and Acapulco, which are known for a criminal element, it's important to stay with your friends and keep an eye on your drinks so they can't be drugged. Also, when you use bank machines, try to do so during the daytime, in large commercial establishments (like your hotel lobby).

And finally, don't forget your sunscreen -- SPF 30, please.

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