Travel is a great way for seniors to stay young in spirit and feel energized! Although international travel can be challenging for people of all ages, it can be a bit more stressful for seniors due to health and mobility concerns.
The good news is that a little extra knowledge and preparation can help you smooth out what might otherwise be a bumpy trip. Here are a few tips for over 65 international travelers to bring more relaxation and enjoyment to your overseas trips.
What Can I Do Before My Trip to Help It Go Smoother?
Planning: It’s always important to plan before a trip. When planning your adventure, you’ll want to research your destination thoroughly to see if you can get there safely. This includes making sure the accommodations are accessible and that there is sufficient healthcare available. You’ll also want to find out if there are any travel restrictions that may affect you. For instance, on certain cruises and long flights, you may be required to confirm you’re in good enough health. Another example is that European rental car companies won’t rent cars to people over a certain age, and the age limit varies by country.
Visit Your Doctor: It’s best to consult with your doctor before traveling internationally, especially if you have a chronic condition or recently had surgery. Ask about getting vaccinated for infectious diseases that you may be exposed to at your destinations. Get an extended supply of prescription medicines in case your return is delayed and obtain proper notes for liquid medicines. If you have a medical condition that could set off an airport security alarm, such as surgical hip and knee implants, get a doctor’s statement or bring the device’s description card.
Passport: Check your passport to make sure it doesn’t expire within 6 months of your arrival date. Some countries will deny entry to travelers if their passport expires within 6 months of their arrival date.
Travel Documents: Gather your travel documents, including your passport, driver’s license, copy of birth certificate, emergency contact information, medical and prescription information, travel itinerary, and ticket receipts for events or other prepaid activities. To be extra safe, make two copies of your travel documents, one to bring in a checked bag and one in a carry-on bag, in case one of them is lost. If your passport or wallet is lost or stolen, an extra copy can help speed up assistance at the consulate or improve your chance of being allowed to board a plane. It’s also smart to keep a scanned copy of your travel documents with someone at home in case you lose your extra copy.
Insurance Policy Provisions: Having access to your travel insurance details can help you get answers to urgent questions faster. Many travel insurance companies have a mobile app that can hold your policy information, or you can scan the hard copy policy and load it onto a mobile device.
Credit Cards: Contact your credit card company to alert them to the countries you will visit so their fraud department doesn’t put a hold on the card when you use it overseas.
Packing: Trying to lug around heavy bags can contribute to lifting injuries and falls, so your trip will be safer if you pack light. One rule of thumb is to make sure you can lift each bag into a luggage locker yourself. Limiting yourself to one rolling suitcase and a medium-size over-the-shoulder carry-on bag is ideal. Be willing to take fewer clothing items and do laundry more often. To learn more, check out Rick Steves’ tips for packing lightly.
If you can’t pack light, ask for help with your luggage at every point of your trip. A useful tip for travelers over 65 is to use a luggage delivery service, such as Luggage Forward. They will transport bulky items directly to hotels or cruises in over 200 countries worldwide.
How Can I Stay Healthy While Traveling?
Medications: Pack a full supply of prescription medicines, vitamins, and supplements to cover your entire trip and also potential return delays. This way you won’t have to buy them overseas. Keep your prescription medicines in pharmacy bottles because loose pills may not be allowed through customs. Always keep a few days’ supply of your medicines with you in case you are separated from your checked bags for a while.
If your medication is a liquid and requires that you also have syringes, pumps, freezer packs, or IV bags, the TSA will allow you to carry it all on the plane. Check the TSA’s rules, so you know how to pack them. For more information, check this article about Traveling With Prescription Medications Internationally.
Disability: If your mobility is limited, here is an article with many tips and resources for travelers with disabilities. You may also consider hiring a travel companion to assist you on your trip from a service such as SYNERGY HomeCare. If you wear hearing aids, be sure to bring spare batteries because it can be difficult to find specific sizes in some countries.
Stretch Your Legs: This is a very important tip for travelers over 65! Long flights, car rides and train travel mean being seated for a long period of time. A serious risk for senior travelers is deep vein thrombosis brought on by lack of movement. On long flights or the train try to get an aisle seat which makes it easier to stand, stretch and use the restroom. Be sure to stop every few hours if you’re on the highway to take a short break, walk around a little and get a good stretch. If you’re not allowed to or able to stand, stretch your toes up and back, bring your knee into your chest, and roll your feet around.
Stay Hydrated: It’s easy to get dehydrated while traveling, particularly while flying at high altitudes. It’s important to carry a water bottle with you and sip it often during travel. Skip the alcohol because it can also cause dehydration.
Bring Snacks: Bring healthy snacks with you and keep them close by in case you need to take medicine and to keep from getting too hungry. Pack them in plastic zippered bags so they don’t leak in your luggage.
How Can I Keep Safe While Traveling?
Know Your Travel Details: Thoroughly review your travel itinerary with someone at home to try to avoid unexpected surprises. Check departure and arrival times and gates, airport terminal maps, and immigration information. If you’re required to complete immigration or customs forms during your flight, don’t be afraid to ask the flight attendant for help if you need it. If traveling by car, check weather and road construction detours, and make sure you know how to use GPS navigation.
Don’t Publicize Trip on Social Media: There have been many reported cases of thieves using social media to target homes when the owner announces they’re going on a long trip. Facebook’s default privacy policy isn’t private, so unless you have strict privacy settings enabled, your posts can be open to many other people beyond your close friends. You also might want to consider asking a trusted friend or family member to house sit while you’re away.
Beware of Free Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is not secure, so don’t access private documents or online banking information while using it.
Anti-Theft Bags and Clothes: Use an anti-theft bag or fanny pack that is designed to cover, protect, and conceal your belongings to discourage pickpockets. Fake wallets and money belts can also protect against theft. You can even buy pickpocket proof clothes that come with deep, inside zippers and magnetically sealed pockets to keep valuables safe.
Hotel Safe: Check with your hotel to see if it has a safe in your room and make sure the code works before putting your belongings in it. It’s a good place to store your passport, jewelry, or excess cash.
Pay with Cash: Credit card fraud is prevalent in tourist destinations, so it’s safer to use cash for most purchases when you travel. Getting foreign currency is easier than it used to be. Check with your home bank to see if you can use your debit card to get cash from ATMs at your destination, and if there are fees. You might even get a better conversion rate that way. If you plan to pay by credit card, you’ll want to take a backup card in case there is fraud on your primary one.
Cell Phone: Bring a cell phone that you’re not afraid to use. Some cell phones don’t have a network connection outside the U.S. Others that do connect may charge roaming fees. Check with your cellular service provider to see if your current plan allows international calling. If they don’t, see if it can be activated, rent an international phone, or buy an unlocked phone with an international SIM card.
Do I need Travel Insurance?
Medical Insurance: Senior travelers should always buy travel medical insurance. In fact, the CDC formally recommends this to ensure that older travelers are safe, especially overseas. This is possibly the most important tip for travelers over 65. Medicare and Medicaid don’t cover most medical expenses outside of the U.S., so travel medical insurance helps you get the medical attention you need without facing big medical bills. Some minor coverage may be available through an extra Medigap plan, but there’s usually a lifetime benefit cap for expenses outside the U.S. The cost of travel medical insurance is a bit higher for seniors because they’re more likely to need medical care, but it’s well worth it. Good Neighbor Insurance offers several affordable travel health insurance plans for seniors.
Evacuation: Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you have a medical emergency while overseas, the State Department cannot pay to bring you home. Neither Congress or the President can help when natural disasters or political upheavals strike. Medical evacuation is extremely expensive, so make sure medical evacuation is part of your travel insurance policy.
Trip Cancellation: There are probably more reasons that seniors might have to cancel their trip, so it’s wise to buy trip cancellation insurance. The typical plan allows you to cancel for certain covered reasons, such as natural disasters or airline issues. But it’s probably better to buy a plan that includes Cancel for Any Reason coverage, which gives you much more flexibility to be reimbursed for trip expenses when your reason isn’t covered by the policy.
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Travel Insurance from Good Neighbor Insurance is a simple and an inexpensive way to make sure you are covered for any medical emergencies. Visit Good Neighbor Insurance at www.gninsurance.com for your next overseas trip and get a free quote. Or call us at 480-813-9100.
