Whether it's a one-night stand or a week-long fling, nothing quite beats a holiday romance. But before you start canoodling on the beach or sneaking out of your hotel room at midnight for a lustful pedalo ride, there are a few precautions you should take note of. Each year, thousands of travellers catch an STI abroad. The scale of the problem is stark. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than one million curable sexually transmitted infections are acquired every day worldwide among people aged 15–49. And while condomless sex plays a massive role in this infection rate – with CDC guidance published in 2025 stating that around half of travellers who have casual sex abroad do so without a condom – even those who wrap up could still be putting themselves at risk without realising it. So, to ensure the only thing you bring home from your trip is a fridge magnet, here is some important advice.
Don’t Leave Condoms in a Beach Bag or Hot Car
According to condoms.uk, there are several common holiday habits that could result in you catching an STI. One potential trap travellers might unknowingly fall into is leaving their condoms in a hot environment. Dr Babak Ashrafi, clinical lead at Superdrug Online Doctor, tells Metro: ‘Condoms are built to last, but latex isn’t built for a hot car or a baking beach bag. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures weakens the material, making it far more likely to split during sex. Before you use one, check it: if the packaging looks damaged or the condom feels brittle or dried out, bin it and use a fresh one.’ Gemma Nice, sex and relationships coach, adds that it’s unsurprising summer holidays create the perfect conditions for accidental condom damage, sharing that it’s common for travellers to carry them around in pockets, suitcases or bags for hours in high temperatures without thinking about it.
Wash Any Sun Cream Off Your Hands Before Using a Condom
As it turns out, SPF and condoms don’t mix well. Gemma shares that if you’re applying sun tan lotion throughout the day, you might want to pause and head to the sink before opening a condom wrapper. What a lot of people might not know, Dr Ashrafi explains, is that ‘latex is a natural rubber, making it porous and reactive. When oily or greasy substances like SPF, aftersun, or body lotion come into contact with it, they break down the material at a molecular level, significantly increasing the risk of breakage.’ If you want to avoid any chance at catching an infection, it’s best to always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling a condom, especially after applying sunscreen.
Get Tested for Any STIs Before You Travel
While this advice is incredibly helpful, truly the most important thing to remember is to get tested – and often. New data released in May 2026 from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows that sexually transmitted infections reached record levels across Europe in 2024. The agency believes this figure has been driven by sharp rises in gonorrhoea and syphilis, and widening gaps in testing and prevention.
Here's Why You Should Also Avoid Swimming Pool Sex
Getting frisky under the water might sound like a fantasy come true, but pharmacist Thorrun Govind tells Metro that if you’re considering getting it on in a pool it’s probably not worth the hassle. ‘Having sex underwater isn’t automatically dangerous, but it introduces risks that people often don’t think about,’ she explains. ‘Water environments increase exposure to chemicals, bacteria and irritation. Dirt or organic matter in environments such as lakes or poorly maintained hot tubs and pools can mean the vagina’s delicate balance of bacteria and PH that protects against infections gets disrupted.’ Pharmacist Govind says. That being said, if you do want to have sex in a pool, what we’ve shared probably won’t deter you. So, here’s what you should know. Sex expert Gigi Engle shares that if you are going to go for it, oral sex is your best option. This is because ‘the water pretty much washes away all your body’s natural lubrication so intercourse can be a little painful or uncomfortable.’
