Travel is one of the top activities seniors look forward to in retirement
life. See some top places to visit, and tips on how to plan your vacation to avoid travel woes.
7 tips for senior travel including planning, saving money, and best places
for seniors to travel including vacations for the adventure lover.
1. Plan Ahead
If you are one of those people who likes adventure and won’t be put off if you arrive at a
destination and there are no motel rooms this might not apply to you. However, for the rest of us, planning ahead means travel
with a predictable, favorable outcome. Make reservations in advance, online or directly through your
favorite travel agent. Most airlines offer better rates if you book at least two weeks in advance,
saving you money for example. Go online and look for things to do at your various travel destinations so you won’t miss
the best the area has to offer. If there are friends or family you want to visit, let them know when you will be arriving.
If you are driving, take maps, plan your trip for side trips or take the shortest routes but have everything planned out ahead.
GPS is great, especially if you are traveling to places you’ve never been to before.Although
most senior discount fares are gone, Southwest Airlines still offer some as does Amtrak. In addition, you might
find some travel for seniors special offers here . .
2. Security Checkpoints
Always
dress in shoes that are easily removed when you fly. Security at the airport makes all passengers remove their shoes before
they go through the scanner. Whenever we travel, for example, we always have to take into account TSA will
be doing a wand body scan of my wife because she had a knee replacement. If you are in a wheelchair at the airport,
going through security, access to and through TSA may actually be quicker than through the long line of other travelers. If
you or your partner is in a wheelchair, security will use a wand while he or she is seated.
Many men and women over 50 take prescription medications on a daily basis. If you
take medications, make sure they are in the proper size containers. All prescription and over-the-counter medications should
be placed in a one quart zip-lock freezer bag, including copies of prescriptions in your carry-on bag.
Do not place pill combinations separately into a separate plastic box as "the
next combined dosage." They will never get through security.
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3. Destination and Travel Options
The world of travel for seniorsl is open to just about every age. And there are many
tour companies and cruise lines to choose from. Many of these tours and cruises are totally planned and some specialize in
'accessible vacation lifestyles', which cater to individuals who have special needs and disabilities.
You may want to look for one that caters to your particular needs, and degree of mobility. Of note: cruise and tour accommodations are typically priced on a per-person basis based on double-occupancy.
Therefore, when choosing a tour or cruise, travel as a couple, or invite a friend with whom you wouldn’t mind sharing
a room. Otherwise you may be spending your vacation with a perfect stranger with totally different needs or have a personality
you can't stand. One nice thing about cruises, and one I believe is the reason many seniors use this mode
of travel is; meals are included as well as entertainment and the cruise lines offer tours for their customers that can
be booked in advance (or once you are onboard, but you may be limited if they are sold out so again, plan ahead). For many,
a cruise is the ultimate way to travel for seniors and considered the ultimate travel escape for seniors .
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4. Special
Services If you require special services, be sure to request them
in advance. This could include a free wheelchair service for anyone who has trouble walking long distances. If you are on
a long flight that serves meals and you have special dietary needs, make sure you advise the airline via the reservation system
you use to book your flight. If you require airport staff to carry
your luggage, remember to tip them.If you don't make and confirm all of these requests
at the time of reservation, the airline, train or bus line has no obligation to make them available at check-in or en route.
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5. Your Documentation
A government passport is accepted as the highest level of identification
by federal TSA security officers and the border if you are traveling by car or bus.
If you or you do not already have a passport, it is important that you not wait until the last minute to apply for
one. It can take several weeks before your passport is sent to you after making application. Your ‘official
photograph’ can be taken at local AAA offices, many large drug stores and smaller studios that advertise
Passport Photography. They are never flattering. Sorry, but personal photos are not acceptable. Two copies of the photograph
must be sent in along with your application.
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Travel for seniors can be more difficult, especially if you are on prescription drugs. When we were in
Europe, one of the travelers needed to have a prescription filled. It took a huge effort and time to get it filled
so always plan for the unexpected. Even if you have just filled your prescriptions, request copies of prescriptions and/or
statements of medical conditions from your physicians etc. before leaving on your trip just in case something happens to the
medication, ie: loss or theft.
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