Travel destinations for pollen allergy sufferers

To be spared from hay fever on vacation, you should know the allergens that trigger allergic reaction in you. Often, the culprit can be located using the pollen calendar. To be on the safe side, however, an allergy test is useful, because sometimes completely unexpected allergens hide behind the complaints.

If you know what triggers the pollen allergy, find out about the pollen load at the destination of your choice. In general, the following applies: in the south of Europe, the bloom begins earlier than in Central Europe. Here, the pollen load can already be quite high in March. Northern Europe, on the other hand, is later, here pollen allergy sufferers can still suffer from the annoying symptoms even in midsummer.

Choose your travel destinations wisely. Who is allergic to grass pollen will possibly suffer particularly from a sniffy nose when camping in the meadow. On the beach, however, less pollen flies through the air, and nothing stands in the way of a relaxing vacation.

There are also differences in the choice of accommodation: some hotels are especially adapted to people with allergies by furnishing the rooms as allergen-free as possible and by making special beds. Look here for seals of quality for allergy friendliness.

People with hay fever want one thing above all on vacation: to be outdoors without having to constantly sneeze and blow their nose. Breathing freely is a true luxury for some hay fever sufferers. The most suitable vacation spots are those where the pollen concentration is as low as possible, such as by the sea or on a ship on the high seas, on certain islands or in the mountains in higher regions.

Here is a small selection of where your trip could be going soon:

• Beach vacation by the sea: The fresh sea air, the dry sand and water wherever the eye looks are a relaxing place for allergy sufferers, where the respiratory tract is not irritated by pollen. On the Atlantic coast of France, Spain or Portugal, the wind blows inland from the sea. Thus, the beaches remain almost free of pollen and invite you to sunbathe without a handkerchief and nasal spray.
• Islands: On many islands in Germany, the pollen concentration in the air is less. For allergy sufferers and asthmatics particularly recommended are the East Frisian Islands, which offer a true rest cure for the respiratory tract due to a high iodine content in the sea breeze. The clean and salty air on Helgoland and Sylt is similarly healing. In general, the German North Sea and Baltic Sea islands enjoy a good reputation among allergy sufferers. The Canary Islands are also considered an allergy sufferer's paradise, since local trees hardly occur there.
• Cruises: You are surrounded by even more water and good sea air on a cruise - far away from birch trees, grasses and other plants that cause you breathing problems in everyday life. On the high seas, you breathe clean sea air all day and can enjoy every deep breath. Only when going ashore could pollen lurk in some cities. Here you should inform yourself in advance about a possible pollen load.
• Hiking in the mountains: The Alps are a good getaway for allergy sufferers in the spring, because the bloom is delayed here by the cooler climate by a few weeks. While hazel and birch in the lowlands already lead to sneezing attacks, the mountain air is still pure, especially in the higher regions from 1,500 meters. Even the grass blossoms only last about two weeks high up. In the Allgäu, Bad Hindelang has made a name for itself as a health resort for allergy sufferers. But Austria and Switzerland also offer in the mountains places like Obergurgl, Davos and St. Moritz, which are largely spared from pollen and even dust mites.
• City trip in the south: The further south you go, the less of the local pollen fly through the air - at least in the cities, where there are fewer green spaces. So if you can tolerate the heat well, you can relax on a city trip. Again, major cities near the sea such as Barcelona, Lisbon or Athens are best suited.

Even if the destination of choice is basically allergy-friendly, there is no guarantee that pollen does not fly through the air. Therefore, never travel unprepared and pack all the medications you also use at home for hay fever:

• antiallergic nasal spray (e.g. Pollival® Nasal Spray for acute symptoms)
• antiallergic eye drops (e.g. Pollival® eye drops for rapid improvement of symptoms)
• antihistamines in tablet form

Who suffers from allergic asthma should generally never travel without inhaler and medication. This is because even strange pollen can unexpectedly trigger an attack.