Travelling can be an excellent way to stimulate the mind and connect to the broader community, especially senior citizens. Traveling means having fun while exploring new environments and meeting new people to help you stay socially engaged and physically active. Along with gaining a unique experience of the world, you also get to spend time with your loved one, take a break from your daily repetitive routine and expose yourself to new surroundings and new adventures.
Growing older does not certainly mean keeping yourself away from new beginnings and adventures. In fact, according to surveys, people between the age of 55 and 75 are likely to take one trip in a year while they anticipate taking at least five or more trips.
Travelling can be stressful for senior travelers, but we come here bearing good news. With our tips, you can feel more at ease about your traveling plans and worry less about being more vulnerable to illness and injury.
Tip Number One: Buy Travel Insurance
Medical insurance can help keep you mentally, physically, and financially secure. In case of any emergency or injury while abroad, travel insurance ensures that you get the medical attention you need without spending all your travel savings and emergency savings just on the medical bills. Travel insurance is necessary when traveling abroad since medicare does not cover you outside your country. However, the insurance can be a bit more costly, but knowing it would cover all your emergency crises and protect you from financial instability could give you peace of mind even if you don’t use your insurance in every tip.
Tip Number Two: Pack Medications
Packing your medical supplies is necessary because finding the same medication outside your country may be challenging. Take an entire collection of prescription medication and nonprescription medications like vitamins and supplements. Ask your doctor and get an official prescription or notes for the required drugs you should travel with. You can also pack a small first aid kit with gauges, bandages, headache pills, epinephrine pens, medicines to treat an upset stomach, control nausea, vomiting, etc. You can also ask your healthcare provider if you are to avoid any food and keep their contact number with you at all times, just in case of emergency.
Tip Number Three: Ask About Senior Discounts
Whether you are planning to travel with family or solo, you can find and avail of senior discounts in many places, including museums, churches, trains tickets, and other tourist attractions. Some airlines offer reduced fares for older people though this discount is not advertised much and you may have to ask one of the staff members for it yourself. Some airlines offer these special packages online, such as Delta Airlines and United Airlines. You can also check in through budget-friendly airlines, for example, Spirit.
Tip Number Four: Select an Aisle Seat on Long Flights
Long flights can be exhausting and uncomfortable, and not all seatmates are up for seat exchange negotiations. To avoid such problems, we suggest booking an aisle seat which would allow you to have more freedom to use the restroom without disturbing anyone and adequate space to stretch your legs. Moreover, your freedom to move would be less restricted, and you can easily ask the flight attendant for assistance.