30-Second Summary

Feeling nauseous while travelling can take the excitement out of a holiday surprisingly quickly. Whether it's a winding bus journey, turbulence during a flight, a rough ferry crossing or an unsettled stomach after arriving somewhere new, travel nausea can have several causes.

The good news? Simple strategies — including choosing the right seat, staying hydrated, eating sensibly and preparing your travel health kit — can make the journey more comfortable. Certain ingredients, including ginger, may also help relieve nausea, while some Australian-listed travel health products are specifically indicated for reducing motion sickness symptoms.

Quick Answer

What helps with nausea while travelling?

If you're feeling queasy, try getting some fresh air, looking towards the horizon, avoiding reading or scrolling on your phone and taking small sips of water.

A light snack may help, while ginger has a long history of use for digestive discomfort and nausea.

It's also worth considering a travel health product specifically formulated to help relieve nausea and motion sickness symptoms before you leave home.

For example, The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula contains ginger extract and is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (AUST L 522493), with permitted indications for relieving nausea and reducing symptoms of motion, travel and sea sickness.

Why This Matters

You know that feeling.

You're halfway through a beautiful coastal drive, the scenery is spectacular, and suddenly you're not interested in looking at anything except the nearest place to stop.

Or perhaps you're on a ferry, wondering why everyone else seems perfectly comfortable while your stomach has other ideas.

Travel nausea is common, but there's something interesting about it.

Sometimes the problem isn't actually in your stomach at all.

1. Why Does Travelling Make You Feel Nauseous?

One of the most common causes is motion sickness.

Your brain relies on information from your eyes, inner ears and body to understand how you're moving.

But sometimes those signals don't agree.

Imagine sitting inside a moving car while reading your phone.

Your inner ear detects movement, but your eyes are focused on a screen that appears stationary.

Your brain receives conflicting information — and nausea can follow.

This explains why you might feel perfectly fine driving along a winding road but become queasy sitting in the back seat.

Of course, motion sickness isn't the only explanation. Dehydration, anxiety, migraines, unfamiliar foods, certain medications and gastrointestinal infections can also cause nausea.

Understanding what's behind that unsettled feeling is the first step towards managing it.

2. Choose Your Seat Carefully

Where you sit can make a surprising difference.

On a plane, a seat near the wings generally experiences less noticeable movement than one towards the rear.

On a boat or ferry, the middle of the vessel, closer to the waterline, usually experiences less motion than the bow or upper decks.

In a car, facing forward and looking through the windscreen can help. Avoid reading or staring down at your phone.

On a bus, a forward-facing seat towards the front may be more comfortable.

And wherever possible, look towards the horizon. Giving your eyes a stable visual reference can help your brain make sense of the movement.

💡 Did You Know?

Motion sickness isn't necessarily something you simply grow out of.

Some people remain susceptible throughout adulthood, and sensitivity can vary depending on the type of movement and other circumstances.

You might be perfectly comfortable on an aircraft but struggle with a winding mountain road or a choppy boat crossing.

3. What Should You Eat Before Travelling?

There's no need to board a flight or ferry with an empty stomach if that makes you feel worse.

Equally, a very large, rich or greasy meal immediately before travelling may leave you uncomfortable.

A light, familiar meal or snack is often a sensible middle ground.

Think toast, crackers, a banana or something you know agrees with you.

If you're already feeling nauseous, small amounts of bland food may be easier to tolerate.

And go easy on alcohol, particularly before a journey where you expect considerable movement.

4. Don't Overlook Hydration

Not drinking enough can leave you feeling unwell, while nausea itself can make the thought of drinking unpleasant.

Rather than gulping down a large bottle of water, try small, regular sips instead.

If you're vomiting or experiencing diarrhoea, replacing lost fluids and electrolytes becomes particularly important.

Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and magnesium support normal fluid balance, nerve signalling and muscle function.

When developing The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula, we wanted to bring together ingredients that support several aspects of travel gut health, including electrolyte balance and nausea.

For significant dehydration caused by vomiting or diarrhoea, a properly formulated oral rehydration solution containing glucose and electrolytes may be needed.

5. Can Ginger Help With Travel Nausea?

Ginger has been used traditionally for digestive discomfort and nausea for centuries.

But there's more to this familiar kitchen ingredient than its flavour.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) contains naturally occurring compounds, including gingerols and shogaols, which have been studied for their effects on nausea and digestive function.

Research suggests ginger may help certain types of nausea, although evidence for motion sickness specifically is mixed.

This is one reason we included ginger root extract in The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula.

Our formula is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, with permitted indications including:

• Relieving nausea

• Reducing the occurrence of nausea and vomiting

• Helping reduce the occurrence of motion, travel and sea sickness symptoms

These indications apply to the finished formulation and don't mean ginger alone will prevent motion sickness in every traveller.

And remember, a ginger-flavoured sweet isn't necessarily the same as a formulation containing a specified quantity of ginger extract.

6. Prepare Before Motion Sickness Strikes

If you know you're prone to motion sickness, planning ahead makes sense.

Choosing a suitable seat, avoiding heavy meals and keeping your eyes on the horizon can help.

You may also wish to consider a product specifically intended to relieve nausea and motion sickness symptoms.

The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula is one option worth considering, with listed indications for nausea and motion sickness alongside digestive health and electrolyte balance.

For more severe motion sickness, certain pharmacy medicines can also be effective, particularly when taken before symptoms begin.

Some can cause drowsiness or interact with other medications, so speak with your pharmacist about the most appropriate option.

7. When Nausea Might Be Something More

There's an important difference between feeling queasy on a ferry and developing nausea alongside diarrhoea, fever or abdominal pain after arriving overseas.

The latter could indicate a gastrointestinal infection, including travellers' diarrhoea.

Don't automatically assume every unsettled stomach is motion sickness.

If nausea progresses to vomiting or diarrhoea, preventing dehydration becomes a priority.

Seek medical attention if you cannot keep fluids down, develop signs of significant dehydration, severe abdominal pain or blood in your stool or vomit, or if symptoms persist or worsen.

For practical advice, read What To Do If You Get Travellers' Diarrhoea: Recovery, Hydration & When to Seek Medical Advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I feel nauseous in a car but not on a plane?

Different types of movement affect people differently. Repeated bends, acceleration and looking down at a phone can make car travel uncomfortable, even for people who rarely experience motion sickness when flying.

Is it better to close my eyes when I feel motion sick?

It can be. If you cannot see a stable horizon, closing your eyes may reduce conflicting visual information. Resting your head and breathing slowly may also help.

Can ginger help relieve motion sickness?

Ginger has a recognised history of traditional use for nausea, although clinical evidence for motion sickness specifically is mixed.

It's included in certain Australian-listed therapeutic formulations, including The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula, which has permitted indications for relieving nausea and motion sickness symptoms.

Can children get travel nausea?

Absolutely. Children can be particularly susceptible.

Try fresh air, a forward-facing view, regular breaks and activities that don't involve reading or screens.

Before giving children any motion sickness product, check the age-appropriate directions and seek advice from a pharmacist or healthcare professional.

Can electrolytes help with nausea?

Electrolytes don't directly correct the sensory mismatch that causes motion sickness. However, they support normal fluid balance and become particularly important when nausea is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhoea.

Evidence Snapshot

Last reviewed: October 2026

This article draws on established travel health guidance and information from:

• Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

• Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods — The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula, AUST L 522493

• CDC Yellow Book — Motion Sickness

• NHS — Motion Sickness

• Published research on ginger and nausea

The Belly Solution's listed therapeutic indications include relieving nausea and symptoms of motion, travel and sea sickness. As with other listed medicines, these indications are sponsor-certified and subject to TGA regulatory requirements; ARTG listing does not mean the TGA has individually evaluated the product's clinical efficacy before listing.

This article is intended for educational purposes and will be reviewed periodically as new evidence becomes available.

The Bottom Line

Travel nausea can strike at the most inconvenient moment, but understanding what's causing it puts you in a better position to manage it.

Choose your seat carefully. Keep your eyes on the horizon. Eat lightly, stay hydrated and consider a travel health product specifically formulated to help relieve nausea and motion sickness symptoms.

With ingredients including ginger extract, probiotics, prebiotic fibre and electrolytes, The Belly Solution's Probiotic + Prebiotic + Electrolyte Rehydration Formula was developed with the wider challenges of travel gut health in mind.

A little preparation can mean spending less time worrying about your stomach and more time enjoying the journey.

Continue Your Travel Health Journey

Before your next trip, you may also find these articles helpful:

• Long-Haul Flight Survival: How to Arrive Feeling Better

• Why Electrolytes Matter More Than Most Travellers Realise

• What Is Saccharomyces boulardii? Why Travellers Are Talking About This Unique Probiotic

• How to Choose a Travel Health Product You Can Trust: Why TGA Listing Matters

• What To Do If You Get Travellers' Diarrhoea: Recovery, Hydration & When to Seek Medical Advice