A quick comment in response to the Stallings remark about flip-flops as quick and easy when shedding shoes at airport security. What about all the bare, unprotected (maybe unwashed) feet that walk the same path as your bare feet? Gross. Almost as gross and sitting in a plane seat that someone with a short skirt, tight shorts, or bare legs just vacated. EEEWWW. It is my suggestion to ALWAYS wear comfortable, long slacks or sweats, and socks with slip-off shoes (no laces). That way you are protected from the yuck factor when traveling these much-used and abused airports and airplanes.

Dear me, how precious! What do you do in hotel rooms? Never mind Buddhist temples...

The response to the OP goes back to the thread about Lurkers on Fodors. People who are newbies or have never posted are put off by an established person having a snipe at tyhem like this. This person obviously has certain hang-ups and it doesn't enhance the board to tell them how precious they are.

None of the OP's points bother me, but they're entitled to their opinion.

We're all entitled to our opinions. I find the OP's post pretty silly and definitely over the top. Have no idea what other thread you're referencing.

One wonders how the OP would shake hands when meeting someone.

I agree with the OP. Airplanes are germ heaven! And airports probably aren't any better.

I always wear slacks with socks and slip on shoes and no jewelry except my watch when flying.

I also wipe down the tray table and armrests with Handiwipes. And I never use the airlines pillow or blanket.

Call me crazy, but since I've started doing this I haven't gotten sick on vacation.

Call me crazy but I never do this and I haven't gotten sick on vacation.

nelsonian, I'm sure many people don't get sick. But that wasn't my experience until I started taking the precautions above. I'm not a germaphobe and I see nothing wrong with taking reasonable measures to insure one's health.

Oh, I also take vitamins. Now how weird is that!

very!

Eh, people have their own germ tolerances and we should all take the precautions that make us feel most comfortable. For myself, I figure that my immune system is up to the task, so I don't worry much.

Under normal circumstances, my immune system works pretty well too. But traveling for 3+ weeks as we do takes a lot of stamina and I believe the change in time and diet can lower your resistance.

Would I get sick if I didn't take the precautions I mentioned above? Probably not, but it's not worth the chance of ruining my vacation.

"But traveling for 3+ weeks as we do takes a lot of stamina and I believe the change in time and diet can lower your resistance."

I've traveled for as long as ten months with nothing worse than one cold, and I didn't take any of these extreme precautions. I actually think that the more precautions you take, the less your immune system is challenged and the weaker it gets. Excessive caution may well be why we're seeing more asthma and allergies than we did back when kids played in (and sometimes ate) dirt.

Fine, thursdaysd, good for you!

This discussion just reminds me how weak many people are at risk assessment. Just read a report that the most deadly, germ laden spot in the house is the kitchen sink handle. Bathrooms are relatively germ free. I am guessing that the floor of the security area would be fairly clean even to bare feet. And the same for airline seats. But it doesn't hurt to wipe down trays because people handle the trays. But we all have our irrational fears. Have a cousin who will never carry an open drink into a bathroom. Same cousin will not get a flu shot because flu shots give you the flu.

But if your actions give you peace of mind, do it.

I actually feel the same as November_Moon and feel that our immune system is less effective because of all the precautions that are being taken, not just by bettyk but by many other people also.

I was reading an article the other day where two kids had done a science experiment, and actually proved that hand sanitizers had no effect at all, you may as well not washed your hands, the only effective way to kill bacteria etc was with soap.

Wow! Two kids and a science experiment! Really?

Well, they better tell the Centers for Disease Control:

According to research performed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand sanitizer is considered as effective at killing germs as washing your hands with soap and water, unless hands are visibly soiled.

The main point to remember, however, is that the alcohol content of the handrub must be at least 60 percent to be effective.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no03/05-0955.htm

That's interesting bettyk, maybe what the kids were using were less that 60% alcohol. We don't have a Center for Disease Control in New Zealand.

It's fairly obvious to me that these two kids were researching as a cover. They were really trying to get at the alcohol.

My bet is that they distilled it out of the handwash, added ice and a slice of lemon and wrote up some findings to get a mark!

One can be totally anal (sorry, pun not intentional) about hygiene, or just forget it. There’s an advert on TV in Australia for some insane household disinfectant. “Kills 99.9% of household germs.” Which means that the remnant, the 0.1%, will be really tough, breed without competition, and create such numbers that they will likely kill you.

Here’s something – the most virulent bacteria – Golden Staph for example – are to be found in hospitals. Not in airport screening lines, not on hotel sheets (refer http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...bed-sheets.cfm for a laugh), not on toilet seats.

Experience in Australia is that kids that grow up among dogs and cats are less prone to asthma. My grand-daughter has an intimate relationship with hers and our cats. Good thing – she’s pretty tough.

Peter, I am quite familiar with hospital infections as I got a Staph infection after my back surgery a couple of years ago. The reason hospitals have these infections is because somebody didn't properly clean their hands or their instruments.

I haven't been sick in quite awhile, but traveling to different locations can expose one to substances they aren't exposed to in their home environment -- familiar substances that they probably have built up an immunity to.

All I'm talking about is basic hygiene.