The Best Senior Travel Tips For Your Next Vacation

When you turn 60, bear in mind that you do not just stop traveling. If anything, traveling when you are older means much more than what it meant when you were young. You have a lifetime of knowledge, allowing you to appreciate new experiences you will have on your next vacation. And if not traveling, what else did you work so hard all these years?

 

Being older doesn't mean you stop traveling or cannot at all the way you used to. We are not talking about moving into a luxurious hotel right from a hostel. We are talking about physical limitations that are a big concern for senior travel. You can work around those issues. Moreover, the fact that you are older than other travelers, you get to experience the world in a completely different way as compared to others. 

 

There are a few tips that ensure your senior travel journey is safe and is a pleasant experience. 

 

Here are a few senior travel advice curated carefully after talking to traveling experts and other senior travelers like you.

 

1. Get Travel Insurance 

 

When you plan to step out on your next voyage, please keep in mind you need to get travel insurance off your list of things to do. Travel insurance is, in fact, the first thing you should check off of your list. It is truly essential for senior travelers, who are more at risk of falling or hurting themselves, getting sick, or require extra medication in conditions where their travel plans are either disrupted or delayed. 

 

There is nothing more wrong than being in a new country and finding yourself in gullible situations like these and not knowing what to do next or if you will be covered. 

 

Insurance will cost you an extra $100-200 but is entirely worth it, considering, and God forbid, something does go wrong while you are traveling. 

 

Do not tell people about your absence

 

Though hotels seem to be safe, the truth is that the world is still filled with people bearing bad intentions, and there is nothing we can do about it. These people can come in and target your belongings. A few tactics can avoid these blunders for your senior travel plans. 

 

Whenever you head out for your excursion or sightseeing for the day, do not put the “clean my room” sign on your door. The sign is an open invitation to let people know that the hotel room is empty. Thieves do know that people often leave behind their extra money, jewelry, or even some important documents in their rooms. Thieves can open the locks and get in and take it all away. So, you do not have to advertise your absence. 

 

If you want to get your hotel room cleaned, simply call the front desk of your hotel when you are going out, so they can send someone to your room to clean it up. 

 

Also, ensure that you always have a safety chain engaged on your hotel room door whenever you are inside. Moreover, when getting a room, ask for a room near the elevator. Not only will it help you in getting around the hotel easily, but it also will deter thieves on account of more foot traffic. Not staying on the ground floor is another tip you should consider as it avoids people from entering your room through the window. 

 

2. Go easy on your stomach

 

 

Like it or not, senior travelers do have sensitive tummies and are usually on restricted diets. It is understandable that you are out and are looking to explore more food options, but it could have some undesirable consequences as far as your stomach is concerned. 

 

Avoid having any stomach issues. To do that, avoid all the food you think you could eat in your younger days. You could have easily finished a full heavy bratwurst breakfast in Germany or finished spicy curries in India, but be cautious; you are not the same 25 years old now. So, unless you are looking to spend more time in your hotel bathroom than exploring new locations during your vacation, you would want to stay away from heavy, cheesy, and spicy meals. 

 

Moreover, if you are on certain medications, talk to your doctor before voyaging out. Chances are, a few medicines do not go well with certain food items. 

 

3. Keep track of your medications

 

 

Speaking of medication, senior travelers also need to take care of their medication, just how they are taking care of their passport and money. Do not send them off in your checked luggage, and do not leave them out in your hotel room, all over the place. Travel with enough medication that lasts you an extra day or two during your journey, in cases where your trip is delayed.  

 

If you are carrying some very essential medicines, keep a paper with their names written on them, along with their dosages. So if you run out of them, you can replace them with new ones from a nearby pharmacy. If there are certain brands of medicines, write down their generic names as well, so you can find them easily in a new country. 

 

4. Keep your fancy things hidden

 

 

A significant perk of being a senior traveler is that you can afford some fancy things you could not have in your younger days. However, this can also turn out to be a disadvantage. Carrying and purchasing nice items like gold jewelry, expensive watches, or fancy gadgets makes you a target in some places. 

 

People believe that older people on their senior travel journey are less aware of their surroundings and can be unsteady on their feet. This makes them an easier target in a lot of places. 

 

So, try to keep your fancier items hidden. Keep track of your cash, your passport, your expensive jewelry, and other gadgets. 

 

Unless you are going to Diane Keaton’s party or performing duets with Cher, you might want to consider leaving your expensive items at home. 

PS: Your new smartphone can take pretty good pictures too.

 

5. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing 

 

 

On your next senior travel journey, you will most likely be walking around, touring the new locations throughout the day. To do that successfully, try to wear nice, breathable, and comfortable clothes and shoes to stay steady and active throughout the day. 

 

Even small kitten heels are a big no-no as your traveling companion. These shoes can make you more prone to ankle sprains and falling. This tip comes in handy for people who have balance issues. Therefore, ensure you have a great, comfortable pair of flats that will help you stay active and balanced during your traveling and touring. 

 

Tip: They do not have to be ugly shoes, just flat shoes

 

Keep in mind these tips for your next senior travel journey. Do not be discouraged from traveling after reading these tips. These leisure travel tips were carefully curated to ensure your traveling plans do not fail and you can have a nice time, the same way you did in your 70’s and 80’s. Happy traveling to you!