Nicaragua.

India.

Honestly? Orlando. I ate at a Maggiano's and got the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had.

I've been to a lot of the places already mentioned on this thread, and travelled extensively in South America, but I am always really careful when I travel outside the US. So go figure, I got sick in Florida.

India and China hands down. Disgusting and dirty food.

I've been to a bunch of off the beaten path places and never got really sick. Some tips are to eat some local yogurt when you get there to get some of the good bacteria in, brush your teeth with bottled water (check the seal to see if it's been resealed, which may mean it's just local water in the bottle), avoid seafood, especially shellfish, no ice , and if you need a drink while out and about, get a brand name Coke.

However, if you are living somewhere for more than 3 months, start sucking it up and eat the local food. Most of the places I lived overseas for more than six months were in Europe or the better parts of Asia.

I picked up giardia in Tanzania, but I let my guard down (believed the lonely planet that a particular restaurant had purified water and could be trusted with ice). I've been all over Asia (china, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India) without getting more than the 24 hour runs, but vigilance is everything.

Anonymous wrote:I went to Guatemala two summers in a row for a few weeks. Both times when I returned I was terribly sick for 1-3 weeks with intestinal issues. Weird thing was I didn't have any issues when I was there - symptoms started within 12 hours or returning home.

My cousin went there on a missions project or something. Came home and noticed this bump on her face that got bigger quickly. Went to the Dr's and found out that an INSECT had laid eggs in her CHEEK.

It was effing awful! 20 years later she still has a scar there!

*Sorry for tangent.

China. I was working in Switzerland at the time with colleagues that included Chinese who had been in Europe for several years. We went to Beijing as a large group and even the Chinese got sick. Different bacteria and whatnot.

Anonymous wrote:What about you, OP?

I've never been out of the country. So I'm curious to hear about others who have.

What about you, OP?

I went to Guatemala two summers in a row for a few weeks. Both times when I returned I was terribly sick for 1-3 weeks with intestinal issues. Weird thing was I didn't have any issues when I was there - symptoms started within 12 hours or returning home.

France. Too much food/too much rich food.
I got the sickest in India but it was from accidentally drinking shower water. If I hadn't been paranoid about my food then I'm sure India would have been the worst.

Mumbai, India. I caught something intestinal that took a year to resolve. Saw dozens of US doctors...

India. I lost 10 lbs in a week. Ugh.

Curious to hear the different places you've eaten and can say it was the hardest adjustment for the stomach