As the days count down towards the first day of your holiday it's easy to get caught up in activities such as finding cheap travel insurance or ensuring you have sufficient luggage space - and in the process it's possible to neglect some of the smaller factors that could have a detrimental effect on your trip. One such factor is travel sickness; if you've ever been unlucky enough to have suffered with it during a previous holiday then you'll want to make sure you do everything you can to prevent it this time around. Travel sickness occurs when our inner ear sends signals to our brain that we are experiencing movement but we are unable to witness the motion with our eyes, causing a discordance that leads to nausea, dizziness, fatigue and vomiting. Travel sickness, often referred to as motion sickness, can be suffered whether you're travelling by land, sea or air and can put a real downer on the start of your holiday. With that in mind, it's worth going out of your way to avoid it at all costs. Sit up front... If you're travelling by car, you're much less likely to suffer from travel sickness if you sit in the front passenger seat rather than in the back of the car - so, if possible, lay claim to the front seat. If you do get relegated to the back seat then open your window slightly to allow fresh air to circulate as this will help to keep nausea at bay. Also try to avoid reading for too long at a time as this can be a big contributor to travel sickness. ...or in the middle If you're travelling via aeroplane, however, your best bet is to book your seat right over the wings wherever possible; you'll feel less motion in the middle of the plane than if you were seated at either end. The middle is also the best place to be if you're travelling by boat for much the same reason - although if you sit out on the deck that will also help thanks to the fresh air and being able to see the horizon to determine movement. Be nice to your stomach Avoid carbonated drinks during your journey as these can exacerbate travel sickness; stick to still water if you can. You can help to settle your stomach by taking ginger tablets or peppermint oil; both are worth a try if you've suffered from travel sickness previously. Also avoid eating a heavy meal before you set off on your journey. Rest up beforehand Tiredness can really affect the severity with which you suffer from travel sickness so make sure you're well rested before your trip. Go to bed early and get the recommended amount of sleep in the days leading up to your holiday. You can also help yourself by being as organised as possible and having everything in place for your trip well in advance of your departure date; that way, you won't be kept up at night worrying that there's still lots to do as time ticks on. Stay relaxed It's incredibly important that you feel at ease during your journey as this will lessen the likelihood of you suffering from severe travel sickness. Dress in loose-fitting clothes for your journey to allow for maximum comfort, especially if you're in for a long trip. Once you're on your way, break out your MP3 player and listen to some relaxing music to distract yourself from thinking about any potential sickness. If possible, take a nap along the way. Travel sickness needn't ruin your holiday; meet it head on with preventative measures such as the ones above and you'll be off to the perfect start for your trip.

In the most recent travel chaos situation, thousands of Brits have been flown home from Tunisia on emergency flights following the outbreak of political riots in the tourist hot spot.

Over the past 12 months UK travellers have been hit with an unprecedented level of travel disruption, from volcanic ash clouds to strike action and tour operator and airline collapse to snow and ice bringing airports to a standstill.

For UK travellers January is often the most popular month for booking a holiday. Many people start planning the year ahead and book a holiday early in the New Year so they have something to look forward to during the remaining dark and dreary months of winter.

This year it would seem that as well as booking holidays, people are also taking out travel insurance to make sure they are covered should they find themselves in difficulties whilst travelling or on holiday. One travel insurance specialist has seen an increase of 250 percent on travel insurance policy purchases during the first few weeks of January alone, compared with the same period in 2010.

Unlike car insurance, travel insuranceis not a legal requirement. Taking out travel insurance is down to the discretion of the individual, as is the level of cover. Last year thousands of people found themselves considerably out of pocket when their travel plans were disrupted. This year, it would seem that people are making sure they are prepared for the worst by making sure they have taken out adequate cover.

Despite the many stories of travel chaos in 2010, the increase in Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and cost of living it would appear that people are still planning on travelling abroad in 2011. With the increase in travel insurance policy sales it is clear that people have not been put off travelling, but they are being more cautions and making sure they do all they can to protect themselves from any unexpected disasters and disruptions.

There are many different types of travel insurance, from single trip policies and annual multi trip insurance to medical travel insurance and winter sports travel insurance. Getting the right travel insurance policy for the trip and the type of traveller is vital. Taking out the wrong sort of policy, or not understanding the clauses, could mean that travellers are not covered for all that they think they should be. Unfortunately travel insurance is not a one size fits all so people are advised to shop around to find the best type of insurance.

Looking back on 2010 and at the problems travellers have already encountered in 2011 it is not unrealistic to assume that people may find themselves being disrupted, either while travelling or whilst on holiday during this year. Although having the right travel insurance in place won't stop the disruption, it may well make it easier to deal with in terms of return travel, cover for unexpected overnight accommodation and holiday costs.