Don't you just love the excitement of landing at the airport of a foreign country, knowing that you have a week or more of relaxation ahead of you?

With our unpredictable British climate, it's not surprising that more and more of us are heading to the sunshine and sandy beaches of Turkey -- and Alanya in particular -- for our hard-earned holidays.

To ensure that the holiday's as enjoyable as it should be, there are a few things to bear in mind. One of them is understanding how to stay healthy on holiday.

Nobody likes to be ill, and being ill in a foreign country can be a traumatic and difficult experience. Follow these tips and you'll have a greater chance of making the most of your stay so that you can enjoy a healthy holiday without needing your travel insurance.

• Drink plenty of water. It's recommended that you drink between 1.5 and 3 litres of water a day. During the hot summer months of July and August this can be increased to 2 - 4 litres; more if you're particularly active.

'While the tap water shouldn't affect your health in Turkey, it does contain some minerals that we're not used to so, for the sake of a happy, healthy holiday without wasted time spent in the 'small room', it's advisable that you drink bottled water.

• Avoid Mixing Alcoholic Drinks. If you enjoy a drink, stick to one type. Mixing your drinks can cause you to become drunk much quicker than you'd expect, as does drinking alcohol through a straw.

Remember that alcohol leads to dehydration so remember to drink plenty of water, too. You really don't want to be using your travel insurance just because you drank too much, do you?

• Respect The Sun's Strength. One of the greatest dangers to your health in Turkey is the sun, especially if you spend time outdoors between 11 - 3 when it's at its highest.

Always use a sunscreen with at least factor 15 and apply plenty. Apply under clothing, too, as the thin fabrics worn in hot climates are rarely enough to keep the sun from reaching your skin.

The sun can also damage eyes so wear sunglasses and remember that children are especially vulnerable to sun's strong rays.

Sunburn is painful and can ruin an otherwise happy, healthy holiday. It can also lead to skin cancer.

• Check The Swimming Pool. For the sake of your health, in Turkey it's usual for hotel owners to keep pools clean but there will always be exceptions. Make sure the pool where you're staying is cleaned regularly. If it isn't, don't use it.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are plentiful in Alanya and are known as "eczane". Most are open until late, have English speaking staff and can recommend medications for the most common health problems such as sunstroke, minor infections and diarrhoea.

Should you need special medicines that are only available on prescription, you should first check with the pharmacy to find out whether it can be delivered. Every pharmacy has a list of all medicines available in Turkey. If you prescription is available, you'll need to visit a doctor's surgery to have a prescription written for you. If you have the necessary health cover (enquire at the Post Office before travelling), you will be reimbursed for any medical expenses related to prescription drugs but do discuss this with the GP beforehand.

Hospitals

To help ensure that you have a healthy holiday, there are four hospitals in Alanya, one of which is a state run hospital, one is a university hospital and two are privately owned. Remember to enquire about health cover at the Post Office before travelling.

How to stay healthy whilst on holiday in Turkey is really a matter of common sense. If you follow the guidelines above and don't put yourself into dangerous situations, you should enjoy a relaxing holiday that will be everything you dreamed of.