Travel sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting messages from the eyes and the balance organs in the ear about the body's degree of movement. When travelling within an enclosed space such as a car, the hair cells in the inner ear detect continuous movement, whereas the eyes tell the brain that it is relatively motionless. Travel sickness can be made worse by the smell of food, exhaust fumes or anxiety.

Certain products, such as hyoscine, cinnarizine, meclozine or promethazine, can help prevent and relieve travel sickness. Make sure you ask who the product is for and whether drowsiness will be a problem €“ for example, if they will be driving. Examples: Joy- Rides, Stugeron 15, Sea Legs.

Wearing an acupressure band on the wrist or sniffing peppermint or ginger oil may also help to relieve nausea.