For seniors looking forward to traveling in 2022, it’s never too early to get organized. Travel today can be challenging and exhausting but there are plenty of ways seniors on the move can make it easier and much less stressful. Here are six tips to ensure your next travel adventure is all you want it to be.
Senior Travel Tip #1 –
List personal health and medication information. Even active healthy seniors should be prepared for medical emergencies by compiling a complete list of all medical conditions and associated medications, including doses. Not only will this be necessary for other healthcare providers if you become ill or injured but in the event medications are lost or damaged as well. A good printable template for keeping all information together is from the National Institute on Aging in the document, “Tips for Talking With Your Doctor.”
Senior Travel Tip #2 –
Consider travel insurance. Perhaps never before have travelers faced so many uncertainties. From canceled flights to accidents to natural or man-made disasters. As COVID19 continues to wreak havoc, travel insurance is one way to be sure many contingencies are covered. In fact, travel insurance can cover much more than the cost of canceled flights. For those traveling out of the country, or outside their healthcare network, travel insurance can be a financial lifesaver should a senior require medical care for an illness or injury. It can also include medical evacuation coverage to make sure a senior can return home even while in a medical crisis. Other helpful add-ons include luggage insurance, rental car insurance and coverage that includes terrorist attacks and kidnapping ransom. Find out more about travel insurance and compare costs at travelinsurance.com.
Senior Travel Tip #3 –
Lighten up on luggage. When it comes to traveling, less baggage is always best, especially when traveling by plane, train or bus. Start by using luggage that is lightweight and rolls easily, like the options listed in the luggagerate.com blog, “8 Best Lightweight Luggage for Seniors in 2021.” When considering what to pack, think layers, especially if traveling somewhere cold, and assemble outfits with pieces that can be shared, like a top that works with two different pairs of pants. Also, pack clothes that can be used in both casual and more dressy situations like a dress that can go from poolside to the dining room. Don’t forget to pack lightweight footwear that is both durable and comfortable. For ideas about what clothes travel best, the Travel & Leisure magazine article, “These 19 Brands Make the Best Travel Clothes for Women and Men,” is a great resource.
Senior Travel Tip #4 –
Pack like a pro – Packing for travel means planning ahead. For starters, organizing all electronic devices that will be going along as well as cords and chargers, and adapters if traveling internationally. If traveling by public transportation make sure you have an extra set of clothes, as well as personal hygiene items like a toothbrush and all medications in your carry on. Also bring extra glasses, face masks and hand sanitizer and keep them handy in case you need them. Find out even more ways to pack perfectly, in the roadscholar.org blog, “Packing Tips.”
Senior Travel Tip #5 –
Read updates from airlines or other public transportation. Every public transportation provider is requiring masks onboard but it’s always best to check websites to be sure you have everything you need before you leave home. At airports be prepared to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to be screened while entering the boarding area. It’s important to note that the deadline for having a Real ID driver’s license (signified by a yellow star) was extended to May 2023 but having a passport and/or up-to-date driver’s license is always a good idea. Another change is that hand sanitizer containers of up to 12 ounces are temporarily allowed but other liquids are still limited to 3.4 ounces. An overview of all requirements and updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the Transportation Safety Administration’s website.
Senior Travel Tip #6 –
Sign up for TSA PreCheck. For seniors who travel often by air, signing up for TSA’s PreCheck can save a ton of time and eliminate standing in long lines, removing shoes or belts, or electronics. The process includes applying online, then a 10-minute in-person appointment for a background check and fingerprinting. When enrolled you will be given a Known Traveler Number to use when making reservations. Find out more on the TSA’s PreCheck website.
Freedom to travel is one of the highlights of retirement and at Ganton’s Countryside, and our residents appreciate knowing we will be here when they return. For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.
