How to travel the world in your 60s
Just because you are getting older it doesn’t mean that your traveling days are over. Of course, you might need to slow down a bit and work around your physical limitations, but visiting different places around the world and exploring new cultures in your 60’s is definitely possible. To help you navigate through big cities and go on new adventures, here is our list of useful tips for senior travelers.
- Make Smart Connections
Instead of making connections in massive airports where you’ll need to drag your suitcases through multiple terminals, choose a smaller airport for a better and easier flight connection. You will also save valuable time and avoid long lines at the passport control.
- Get Travel Insurance
As a senior traveler, you are more likely to need travel insurance. In case you get sick or need extra medication, investing in a medical insurance while traveling overseas might come in handy. Senior travelers with pre-existing conditions should pay attention on the type of medical services that are covered in their insurance.
- Watch What You Eat
Travelers in their 60s are known to have more sensitive stomachs and some of them are on restricted diets. Therefore, it is necessary to watch what you eat while traveling the world. It is recommended to avoid spicy food, as well as dishes with high levels of cholesterol. In case you are taking any medication, make sure to talk to your doctor before the trip and find out if these medications interfere with certain foods.
- Pack Light
If you are a senior traveler in your 60s, make sure to pack light. This means taking fewer clothing items and fitting everything inside a roll-aboard suitcase. Instead of dragging your big bag through airports and having to carry heavy luggage to your hotel room, try to pack only the necessities and fit them all in two smaller bags.
- Accommodation
If you have mobility problems and find it difficult to climb stairs, request a room on the ground floor. Senior travelers should also book accommodation which is close to their arrival point. Staying in the city center comes with many advantages and provides easy access to major sightseeing attractions.
- Medications and Health
The best thing to do is take a full supply of all the necessary medication with you. There is a chance that a pharmacy in a foreign country doesn’t have the medication you are taking and running out of medication during your travel is definitely not something you want to happen. Travelers with hearing aids should bring extra batteries, as it can be quite difficult to find a specific size on other continents.
- Take Advantage of Senior Discounts
The great thing about being a senior traveler is that you are eligible for a variety of discounts. All you need to do is show your passport and ask if there are discounts available for senior citizens and tourists. From concert tickets to entry fees to sightseeing attractions, there are many places that offer senior discounts. If you are traveling to Europe, countries like Belgium, Austria, Germany, and Italy offer rail discounts to holders of a senior card which can be purchased at the local train station. If you wish to make some extra cash while traveling, you can always rent out your empty driveway as a parking spot.
To sum it all up, it’s relatively easy to travel the world when you’re old. Whether you are a senior citizen who is visiting his relatives in a city across the state or an elderly person who is planning to travel to a different continent and explore new things, these tips will definitely help you on your travels.
Sarah Kearns is a hard working mother of three daughters. She is a Senior Communications Manager for BizDb, an online resource with information about businesses in the UK. She loves cooking, reading history books and writing about green living.