Motion sickness can make even a short journey extremely difficult. It may affect people travelling by car, bus, train, plane, ferry or cruise ship. For families, the worry about someone feeling sick can be almost as stressful as the symptoms themselves.
This guide explains what causes motion sickness, how to plan ahead, what to do when symptoms begin, and which remedies are worth considering. It also covers advice for children travelling with motion sickness, autistic travellers and people with sensory sensitivities. The aim is not to promise a cure, but to help you make journeys more manageable.
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Important: This is general travel information for those who experience motion sickness when travelling, not individual medical advice. Seek advice from a pharmacist or healthcare professional before using motion sickness medicines, especially for children, during pregnancy, or when taking other medicines.
Quick Tips for Travelling With Motion Sickness
- Choose a seat where movement is less noticeable and you can look ahead.
- Look towards the horizon or a distant fixed point when possible.
- Avoid reading, scrolling or watching videos if these worsen symptoms.
- Keep air flowing and avoid strong smells where practical.
- Eat lightly before travelling; avoid heavy meals and excess alcohol.
- Plan breaks and keep water, tissues and sick bags accessible.
- If using medicine, check the correct product, dose, timing and age restrictions with a pharmacist before departure.
- Remember that no device, wristband, patch or app is guaranteed to prevent motion sickness.
What Is Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness is a group of symptoms that can occur when the brain receives conflicting information about movement. Your inner ears sense changes in motion and balance, while your eyes and other senses may be reporting something different.
For example, a passenger reading a book in a moving car sees a relatively still page, while the balance system detects acceleration and turns. The mismatch can trigger nausea and other symptoms.
Motion sickness is sometimes called car sickness, travel sickness, sea sickness or airsickness, depending on the journey. These names describe the setting rather than completely different conditions.
Common Motion Sickness Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
- Nausea or an unsettled stomach.
- Vomiting.
- Dizziness or feeling light-headed.
- Cold sweats or clammy skin.
- Paleness.
- Yawning, tiredness or unusual drowsiness.
- Headache or increased saliva.
- Loss of appetite or a general feeling of discomfort.
Symptoms can develop gradually or come on quickly. Some people feel better soon after the movement stops, while others take longer to recover.
Who Is More Likely to Experience Motion Sickness?
Anyone can experience motion sickness, although susceptibility varies. Children are often affected, particularly from around the age of two through later childhood. Migraine and certain vestibular conditions can also be associated with increased susceptibility. Previous episodes can make future journeys worrying, but anxiety and motion sickness are not the same thing.
Autism, ADHD or disability does not automatically mean a person will develop motion sickness. However, communication differences, sensory preferences, medical conditions or difficulty describing early nausea may change how families recognise and manage it.
How to Prepare Before a Journey
Plan the Route and Travel Time
Where possible, choose a route with fewer winding roads, frequent stops or abrupt changes in movement. Allow extra time so that a rest break does not create pressure to rush. For ferries and flights, check the operator’s guidance and consider what you will do if a journey is delayed.
Choose Food and Drinks Carefully
Try a light meal or snack rather than travelling immediately after a large, heavy meal. Keep water available. Avoid excess alcohol. Some people prefer plain crackers or other familiar foods. Do not force food on someone who already feels nauseous.
Pack a Motion Sickness Kit
- Several sealable sick bags.
- Tissues, wipes and a small towel.
- A spare set of clothes, especially for children.
- A leakproof bag for soiled items.
- Water and suitable familiar snacks.
- Any prescribed or pharmacist-recommended medicine, kept in its original packaging.
- Headphones and downloaded audio entertainment.
- Comfort items or sensory supports chosen by the traveller.
Keep the kit within easy reach rather than at the bottom of a suitcase.
Travelling With Motion Sickness by Car
Car journeys can be challenging because of repeated braking, acceleration and turns. Where safe and legal, looking forwards through the windscreen can help the eyes register the same movement the body feels.
Adults may find the front passenger seat more comfortable. Children must use an age- and size-appropriate restraint and travel in a legally permitted position; never compromise child-seat safety to reduce nausea.
Avoid reading and screen use if these trigger symptoms. Try familiar music, an audiobook or conversation instead. Keep the car comfortably ventilated and schedule breaks on longer journeys.
Helpful guides for people who experience motion sickness when travelling:
- iPhone motion sickness settings
- Android motion sickness settings
- App for motion sickness – coming soon
Travelling With Motion Sickness by Bus or Coach
Seats facing forwards and closer to the front may make it easier to look ahead, although the most comfortable position varies by vehicle. If you can reserve a seat, consider avoiding rear-facing seats and positions where looking outside is difficult.
Carry sick bags and water in hand luggage. On an organised coach trip, tell the organiser in advance if you may need planned breaks or easier access to a toilet. Do not assume a coach can stop immediately or has an onboard toilet.
If you coach has curtains, you can try closing the ones to cover the window near your seat. Try using sunglasses or a hood up if you are struggling.
Travelling With Motion Sickness by Train
Many people tolerate trains well, but curves, tilting trains, backwards-facing seats and looking at a screen can still cause discomfort.
If seat selection is offered, try a forward-facing seat with a view outside. Looking into the distance may help. If the journey includes tunnels or long periods without an outside view, switch to audio entertainment if reading feels uncomfortable.
Some rail services allow seat changes when space is available, but this cannot be guaranteed. Check the operator’s seating and accessibility arrangements before travel.
Travelling With Motion Sickness by Plane
Airsickness may be triggered by turbulence, take-off, landing or prolonged movement. Some travellers prefer seats near the wings, where the sensation of pitching may be less noticeable than at the ends of the aircraft.
Choose a window seat if looking outside helps, although cloud cover and darkness may limit the view. Keep sick bags accessible and tell cabin crew if you feel unwell. Follow crew instructions and remain seated with your seat belt fastened when required.
Do not take a new sedating travel sickness medicine for the first time immediately before flying without professional advice. Some medicines cause drowsiness, dry mouth or other side effects, and not all are suitable for children or particular medical conditions.
Travelling by Ferry or Cruise Ship With Sea Sickness
Ships can produce rolling, pitching and other movements that are especially noticeable in rough seas. A position closer to the centre of the vessel and on a lower deck may feel steadier than high or far-forward areas, although the best option depends on the ship.
Looking towards the horizon and spending time in fresh air, where safe and permitted, may help. Avoid reading when symptoms begin. On a cruise, ask about medical facilities and how to seek assistance before you need them.
For additional planning around sound, crowds and movement, see the guide to the different sensory environments of cruise ships. If cabin layout and accessibility are also important, the article on finding accessible cruise ship cabins offers further planning information.
What to Do When Motion Sickness Starts
- Stop the triggering activity. Put down the book or phone if looking at it is making symptoms worse.
- Look ahead or close your eyes. Choose whichever feels more comfortable; focusing on the horizon can help some people.
- Keep your head as still as practical. Rest against a headrest if available.
- Get fresh air. Open a vent or move to an appropriate outdoor area if it is safe.
- Try slow, steady breathing. Do not force deep breathing if it makes dizziness worse.
- Take a break when possible. On a road journey, stop somewhere safe and allow time to recover.
- Drink small sips of water. This can be particularly useful after vomiting, provided the person can drink safely.
Seek medical advice if vomiting is repeated, the traveller cannot keep fluids down, or symptoms are unusually severe.
Motion Sickness Medicines: What Travellers Should Know
Several medicines are used to prevent or reduce motion sickness. Availability and suitability differ by country, age and medical history. In the UK, options may include antihistamines such as cinnarizine or promethazine and antimuscarinic medicines such as hyoscine. Some products are tablets or liquids; some hyoscine products are skin patches.
These medicines can cause side effects, including drowsiness, blurred vision or dry mouth, and may interact with other medicines. Certain products are unsuitable for young children or people with specific conditions. The best time to take a medicine also varies; some work better when taken before the journey.
Do not use an adult dose for a child or assume that a patch is drug-free. Ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional which option, if any, is appropriate, and follow the product information. If travelling internationally, check the destination’s medicine import rules before packing medication.
Our personal experience after consulting a pharmacist about our sons motion sickness was to use the brand Kwells and the specific tablet for children. He can either have half or a full tablet at once and that should last hime around 12 hours. We find he needs to take it about 30 mins before we head out in the car or straight away when we wake up on a cruise and he also needs to eat – but only something small.
Drug-Free Motion Sickness Aids
Families often ask about products that do not involve conventional travel sickness medicines. Common examples include acupressure wristbands, liquid-horizon glasses, handheld electrical stimulation devices, non-medicated body stickers and ginger sweets.
These options have very different mechanisms and levels of evidence. Some may be comfortable or reassuring for particular travellers, but none should be described as a guaranteed cure. Acupressure wristbands have inconsistent evidence for motion sickness. Claims for stickers, special glasses and handheld devices are often based on limited or manufacturer-led information. Ginger is sometimes suggested for nausea, but evidence specifically for preventing motion sickness is uncertain.
Be careful with patches advertised as natural: some contain active ingredients or medicines. Check the full label and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure. For children, also consider choking hazards, skin sensitivity, product age guidance and discomfort from pressure or electrical stimulation.
Can Phone Settings and Apps Help?
Some phones offer animated movement cues intended to make the movement of a vehicle more visible while someone looks at the screen. Apple’s Vehicle Motion Cues and Google’s Motion Assist are examples, although compatibility depends on device and software version. Third-party Android apps also offer moving dots or horizon overlays.
These features may help some passengers but are not established treatments and will not suit everyone. If using a screen makes nausea worse, stopping screen use is usually more sensible than continuing to scroll through discomfort.
Try any new setting before a long journey and make sure it does not interfere with an accessibility or communication app.
Travelling With Motion Sickness and Autism
For an autistic traveller, the physical sensation of nausea may be accompanied by difficulties with unfamiliar smells, unexpected stops, crowded transport or a change to a preferred routine. Some people may not recognise or communicate the earliest symptoms in the usual way.
Ask the traveller what helps them feel comfortable and explain the plan before leaving. A simple visual sequence might show the journey, planned stops, where sick bags are kept and what happens if they need a break. Give the person a clear way to request help, including through AAC or another communication method if needed.
Do not introduce several unfamiliar remedies at once. Tight wristbands, sticky patches, pulsing devices and moving screen graphics may be unpleasant for someone with particular sensory preferences. Familiar clothes, accessible sick bags and a calm response to accidents can be more valuable than a complicated product routine.
Helping Children Who Experience Travel Sickness
Children may describe motion sickness as a sore tummy, feeling hot or simply wanting to stop. Younger children may become pale, unusually quiet, restless or sleepy before vomiting.
Plan regular opportunities to pause, offer age-appropriate screen-free activities and keep spare clothing close. Explain that they can tell you if they feel unwell and that you will help them. Avoid blame or embarrassment if they vomit.
Before giving any medicine, check the child’s age, weight where relevant, medical conditions and the product’s dosing instructions with a pharmacist or clinician. Do not use a product merely because its packaging says natural or suitable for travel.
Motion Sickness and Accessibility Needs
Some travellers cannot easily change seats, look out of a window, close their eyes or move to an outdoor deck. A wheelchair user may need to remain in a designated secured position, and someone with low vision may not benefit from visual-horizon strategies.
Adapt the plan to the person’s actual needs rather than treating standard advice as a requirement. Contact transport providers in advance to discuss accessible seating, toilet access, support during delays and any relevant assistance. Do not move mobility equipment or remove safety restraints to manage nausea.
When to Seek Medical Help
Motion sickness usually improves when the movement stops. Speak to a healthcare professional if symptoms are frequent, unexpectedly severe, getting worse or continuing well after travel, particularly if the person has not previously experienced motion sickness.
Seek urgent medical help for warning signs such as severe dehydration, fainting, new weakness, severe headache, chest pain, confusion, persistent vomiting or other concerning symptoms. These can have causes other than motion sickness.
If you are travelling in the UK, our guide explains how to see a doctor who is not your regular GP.
FAQ About Travelling With Motion Sickness
What Is the Best Way to Prevent Motion Sickness?
There is no single method that works for everyone. Looking ahead, reducing screen use, choosing a suitable seat and planning breaks are practical first steps. A pharmacist can advise whether preventive medicine is appropriate.
Is Motion Sickness Worse in Cars or on Boats?
It depends on the person and the movement involved. Winding roads may trigger car sickness, while rolling seas can cause sea sickness. Someone who tolerates one form of transport may still feel unwell on another.
Does Looking at Your Phone Cause Motion Sickness?
It can contribute to symptoms in a moving vehicle because the eyes focus on a relatively still screen while the body senses motion. Some people can use screens without difficulty, while others feel better avoiding them.
Do Motion Sickness Wristbands Work?
Evidence is mixed and they do not reliably prevent motion sickness. Some travellers still choose to try them because they are non-medicinal and easy to carry.
Are Travel Sickness Patches Drug-Free?
Not necessarily. Some patches contain hyoscine, which is a medicine, and others contain herbal ingredients. Check the label carefully and seek pharmacist advice if uncertain.
Can Autistic Children Experience Motion Sickness?
Yes. Autistic children can experience motion sickness just like other children. Their sensory preferences or communication needs may affect how they describe symptoms and which coping strategies are comfortable.
Can Motion Sickness Continue After a Journey?
Some symptoms may take time to settle. Persistent sensations of movement, dizziness or nausea after travel should be discussed with a healthcare professional, as other conditions may need consideration.
Should I Give My Child Travel Sickness Medicine Before a Journey?
Some medicines are intended to be taken before travel, but timing, age limits and suitability vary. Ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional and follow the specific product instructions.
Trusted Sources for Further Advice
For general prevention advice and when to seek help, consult the NHS guide to motion sickness. The CDC Yellow Book motion sickness guidance provides a more detailed overview of prevention and treatments. These sources are particularly useful for checking whether a proposed remedy is supported by evidence.
Continue Planning Your Trip as Someone With Motion Sickness
- Start with our guide to travelling with motion sickness
- Travelling with an iPhone? Learn how to turn one iPhones motion sickness settings
- Android users can learn how to use motion sickness settings on Android in our guide
- Read about the different sensory environments of cruise ships, including how movement, cabin location and onboard surroundings can affect your experience
- Our guide to finding accessible cruise ship cabins includes cabin considersations to avoid nausea
- Our guide to over-the-counter medication in Thailand has a section on travel sickness and nausea
- Travelling to Taiwan? Read our guide to over-the-counter medication in Taiwan for nausea advice
Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children
- Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
- Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
- Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
- Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children
- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
- Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling
- Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world
- Always alerted last minute that the little one needs a toilet? Find a toilet anywhere with this app
- Turn travels into adventures with these map-based games for families
Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With Our Guides
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