Top 12 Helpful Travel Tips for Seniors

Traveling is good for seniors. It provides an opportunity to explore new areas, stay engaged with the world, and finally take those long-anticipated trips you have always dreamt about.

As we get older, we become more vulnerable to illness and injury. Accidents can occur at any place, and injuries may take an extended period of time to recover from and be very costly. That’s why it’s important for senior travelers to be fully aware and to plan for the unexpected.

Traveling as a senior shouldn’t be complicated. Here are some of our travel tips for globe-trotting senior citizens.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide:

• How to prepare for international requirements, such as customs forms and destination-specific regulations
• Strategies for maintaining mobility and hydration to travel comfortably
• Why senior-specific travel insurance is your most important tool abroad for your financial and physical safety

1. Know What to Expect on Your Trip

Get as much information as you can about your travel, including the flight departure and arrival times, terminal maps, immigration information, etc., to avoid any surprises. You may be required to complete immigration forms or customs forms during the flight. Don’t be afraid to ask the flight attendant for help before you land so your forms are ready.

Make sure you understand the destination country’s customs regulations to avoid bringing items that are not allowed. For example, you can’t bring fruit, seeds, or plants back into the U.S., and if you are caught, you may face fines or other legal problems.

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes

From the moment you are at the airport to when you are at your destination, comfortable shoes are a must, no matter the age. If you are going on a trip where you are walking and exploring around a lot, the right shoes can make or break your trip. Along with comfortable shoes, don’t forget comfortable socks!

3. Select an Aisle Seat on Long Flights

When the flight is long, you don’t want to have to negotiate with your seatmates when you need to stretch, use the restroom, or ask the flight attendant a question. The freedom to move about is less restricted from an aisle seat. If you are traveling with another person, choose seats that are across the aisle from each other, so you can be nearby and still have equal mobility.

When you are cramped in an airplane flying for many hours, it’s critical to wriggle, stretch, stand, and even move about when you can. Even if the seatbelt sign remains on, and you aren’t supposed to get up and stroll about the aisles, you can stretch your toes up and back, bring your knee into your chest, and roll your feet about. This can be easier with an aisle seat.

4. Keep Medicines Handy

Travelers should always have a full supply’s worth of their important medications in their carry-on and keep them handy, in their seat to avoid having to get up and dig in your bag in the overhead bin. But why that much?

If you check your bag and then the flight is delayed, it’s hard, if not impossible, for the airline to retrieve your bag – even if the reason is something as critical as accessing your medication. Keep plenty with you so that you can make it through the flight, in case of a potential delay to your destination.

5. Print and Share Your Travel Documents

Print and/or have your travel documents handy. Make a backup copy of your itinerary and send it to those you are visiting, so they know when your plane is arriving and can make arrangements if it is delayed. Plus, you should leave a copy with a friend or family member back home.

Have copies of your travel insurance, your passport ID page, your visas, emergency contacts, and medical information with you. If your flight is canceled, your passport is stolen, or your prescriptions are lost, you can call your travel insurance company for help.

6. Skip the Alcohol and Drink Lots of Water

Flying at high altitudes is extremely dehydrating and most people think as long as they are sitting quietly they don’t need a lot of water. Unfortunately, this is how many seniors get into severe trouble – they accidentally get dehydrated.

Have a water bottle with you and fill it at one of the airport cafes after you pass through security. Keep sipping the water all throughout your flight. Drinking water has the added benefit of getting you up and moving too, even if it’s just to the lavatory.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Attendants for Help

While flying has changed significantly from the roomy and comfortable flights of long ago, the crew members are there to help passengers and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help lifting your bag into place, or getting a cup of water, for example. Many passengers around you are also willing and happy to help as well.

8. Have Healthy Snacks On Hand

Don’t let yourself get too hungry either – have a few healthy snacks on hand. Some nuts, sliced fruit, or energy bars are all good options. Depending on the airline, snacks may only be available for purchase, and it’s more simple to have what you like on hand rather than taking your chances with the food carts.

Pack your snacks in plastic zippered bags, so they don’t leak in your bag, and be sure they are handy to you so you don’t have to retrieve your bag from the overhead bin.

9. Pack Your Luggage Lightly

Packing on the lighter side means you can move around and carry your luggage with no stress. If anything, try to fit it all in a single carry-on and a light tote bag. Carrying a lighter piece of luggage helps reduce the risk of a potential injury, and puts less strain on your joints, ensuring you can travel with minimal stress and more confidence. Plus, you can fit more items and souvenirs from your trip!

10. Enjoy Your Trip and Travel Slow

You may have heard of the term slow travel, but what does it exactly mean? It means to enjoy your trip at your own pace. Don’t try to overschedule your itinerary, so it can open up your schedule to other activities that may come spontaneously, or if you need quiet time in your hotel. When you set your own travel pace, you can experience more enjoyment while still achieving the items on your bucket list.

11. Buy Travel Insurance

This is our number one tip, and for a good reason. Senior travel insurance can help keep you physically safe and financially secure. If you incur an injury or contract an illness while abroad, travel insurance ensures that you get the medical attention you need without facing mountains of medical bills later. Medicare won’t cover you while you’re abroad so you need this added protection. While travel insurance for seniors can cost a little bit more, it’s still inexpensive compared to the cost of your trip. You may not need to use it, and in fact, we hope you don’t, but knowing you’re covered if things hit a snag can give you the peace of mind and confidence necessary to explore the world.

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors with Pre-Existing Conditions: iTravelInsured Travel LX

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Seniors: Pathway Premium

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors with High Medical Coverage: Trip Protection Choice

12. Buy Travel Insurance with Cancel For Any Reason Coverage

It’s a good idea to make sure your travel insurance plan includes Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. Basic travel insurance will allow you to cancel your trip for a limited number of covered reasons and still get reimbursed. Acceptable reasons involve circumstances beyond the insured’s control, like natural disasters or airline issues. But if CFAR is included in your plan, you have the flexibility to cancel your travel plans for literally any reason and still recoup your prepaid travel expenses. 

How Can I Compare the Best Senior Travel Insurance Plans?

Traveling as a senior should be an enjoyable experience. When using a travel insurance comparison website like VisitorsCoverage, you can compare plans side-by-side, finding the best insurance plan for your needs. If you have any questions, our Customer Success Team is happy to help!

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance for Seniors