I felt the magic of swiss herbs in Ricola® Herb & Throat drops as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. #swissherbs

By now the snow is probably long gone and the sun is shining in your state. I don't know about you, but when everyone else is doing their spring cleaning, I am busy doing a little spring cleaning of my passport and frequent flier programs! Between the lovely weather and inexpensive, off-season pricing of many popular vacation destinations, NOW is the time to jet off to somewhere new and exciting. Not to mention that school is almost out - have you started planning your summer vacations yet?

Wherever you're going or whatever you're planning on doing, one of the most important things to keep in mind is taking care of your health here at home and while on the road...or in the sky. Between spring allergies and all of the germs that are out there, many people catch a cold or just generally feel sluggish and under the weather while they are away from home - and is that any way to spend a vacation?! The answer is NO. I put together A Traveler's Guide to Staying Healthy as a little resource for all of my traveling pals so that you will feel like your fabulous self, no matter where you're going this spring! Hint: you better bring your Ricola® Revitalizing Herb Drops!

A Traveler's Guide to Staying Healthy

Get a good night's sleep. It can be tempting to want to stay up late and get up early while on vacation; of course we want to make the most of our trips and squeeze every last minute of fun out of them! But a good night's sleep is the foundation to feeling good and staying healthy. Try to maintain your normal sleep schedule while away from home - this is especially important for the kids!

Drink plenty of fluids, especially in warmer climates. I always bring a reusable water bottle with me when I travel. It's an economical way to always have a drink on hand, and if you buy an insulated water bottle, you can enjoy COLD water while you're sweating your fanny off! I once fell off my bike while riding around Key West on a hot summer day...it hurt like heck but it was a great lesson learned - I will never allow myself to get heat exhaustion again!

Don't forget the sunscreen. Believe me, this should go without saying, but it's one of the top things that people forget to bring with them when they travel. No one wants a nasty sunburn - and the fever and chills that sometimes accompany them - while they're on vacation. I found miniature sunblock tubes a while back and make sure that there is always one or two in all of my bags - even my purse!

Bring your vitamins and supplements with you. Whatever you normally take at home, bring it with you! If your body is used to a certain intake of vitamins and supplements, you will feel the effects if you stop taking them on vacation. I take B12 every day and Melatonin at night, so I always bring them with me when I travel.

I also bring a few medical-type supplies, like Advil, Benadryl (in case of accidental shellfish consumption because I am allergic), CharcoCaps in case my stomach is really upset, Dramamine and Band-Aids. And of course, Ricola Revitalizing Herb Drops!

A funny story about Ricola Revitalizing Herb Drops...when I was in the Bahamas earlier this year, it seemed that all of the journalists traveling with me were coughing and sneezing. I always carry at least a few Ricola herb drops with me, so I would hand one over whenever one of my new friends started coughing. At one point, someone joked that I should be an ambassador for Ricola. I replied, "I am an ambassador!" And she said I was doing an excellent job. Ha!

Really, can you imagine being in the Bahamas and going into a coughing fit every time you stepped outside? How on earth could you enjoy that beautiful scenery when you're busy coughing up a storm?

I love the Ricola Revitalizing Herb Drops not just for dealing with colds, coughs and sneezes, but also just for a little boost of energy when I am feeling sluggish - which often happens after a long flight. All of that recycled air, being cramped up in a tiny seat in coach, and experiencing changing pressure during the flight - it's a recipe for disaster! Ricola® Revitalizing Herb Drops are really helpful in giving me a natural boost, thanks to their effervescent center and refreshing lemon flavor.

Ricola Revitalizing Herb Drops are made with ginseng as well as a punch of B Vitamins to aid in restoring energy as well as a mixture of Swiss alpine herbs. The combination of these herbs play a role in easing a cough, soothing a sore throat, and generally aiding in feeling better.

They also contain Chrüterchraft, a natural herb found only in Ricola products from Switzerland! So naturally, they're always in my purse, in my nightstand, and of course, in my traveling bag! You can read more about the ingredients and benefits of Ricola Revitalizing Herb Drops in this post I wrote last year when they were first released on the market!

It's so important to take care of yourself, especially while traveling. You never know what kind of exciting adventure you may have - don't risk not being up for the challenge!

You can find out more about the Ricola brand here, and make sure to follow @RicolaUSA on Twitter and like the Ricola Facebook Page!