I have always loved to travel. My children and grandchildren all live out of town, so visiting them often involves a road trip. Holidays almost always mean travel for us. I like to fly off for vacations in tropical locations, go to business meetings in other states or countries, and just see and experience everything that I can. Travel is still a love of mine, but how I approach it now might be a little different from when I was younger. When I was younger, it seemed easy to work all week, throw things in a bag and hop in the car for a 6-hour trip to the beach on the spur of the moment. I could do all that with 4 kids and a dog in tow and still be bright and sassy Monday morning for work. Not so much anymore. Now, it takes more planning and consideration to enjoy (or even survive) a long trip.
Just because I am over 60 doesn’t mean I have to lose my love of travel, but things such as cost, health, safety &mobility and comfort play a bigger role than they used to. And I am not alone as a senior that likes to travel. Traveling is a good way to stimulate your mind, connect with society, and just have fun. Exploring new places and seeing new things can help older adults stay more physically active and socially engaged (Senior Travel, Twitter, 2024). A 2019 AARP survey of adults between the age of 54 and 72 found that virtually all of them planned a domestic trip and nearly one third planned to take at least four or more trips. Surprisingly, almost half of the participants claimed they expected to travel both domestically and internationally.
Cost of Travel may play a bigger role for older travelers, especially those who are retired. I was doing research for a trip of my own and discovered many more discounts geared toward senior travelers than I thought I would. I have been a member (not an affiliate) of AARP for a long time, and they have a lot of really good information about senior travelers’ discounts on their website and in the magazine that you get with membership. According to their website, some of the discounts for members may include $200 off an airplane flight, 15% off in some restaurants, 30% certain car rentals and 10% off at hotels and resorts. This makes the annual membership well worth the price of around $20 (depending on which membership you select).
I also did not know that several airlines do offer a specific senior discount, but they don’t necessarily advertise it, you just must know to ask. American, Delta and United all have some discounts for senior flights. It is always good to compare the senior discounts to other incentives such as credit card miles to see which is the better deal.
Many hotel chains also offer discounts for senior citizens. Some of the ones I found were:
Hilton
Radisson
Best Western
Ritz-Carlton
Hyatt
Best Western
Country Inn & Suites
Most of the cruise lines also offer discounts for seniors, Norwegian, Carnival, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean all advertise discounted rates for those over 55.
Basically, I think it is important to do your research and don’t be afraid to ask. I have found that these companies won’t always offer discounts on their own, but if you inquire about them, they are there.
Health, Safety, Mobility and Comfort are obviously important at any age when traveling. As we get older, we may face more challenges concerning our health, safety and mobility when traveling. We may be more vulnerable to injury, sickness or even crime. Many older adults are on medications, have more health problems or are less mobile than younger people. Some of the tips that I think are important for travelers, whether it by car, plane or other means include:
Arm yourself with immunity. I am a broken record in this regard, but I feel strongly that older adults should stay current with their immunizations, including Influenza, Covid and Pneumonia. I’m also a big fan of Vitamin C supplements. The best I have found are the Cymbiotika Liposomal Vitamin C. You can find them at: https://cymbiotika.com/PAMELASLOOP
Check with your own healthcare provider and find out if there are any special healthcare precautions you should take prior to travelling.
Get a list of your medications and medical issues in writing and carry one with you. Keep all your medications in their original bottles with the prescription labels intact. Always put them in your carry-on bag if you are traveling by plane in case your luggage is lost, or you are delayed.
Stay hydrated when traveling, especially by plane. Airplane air is very dry so bring a big bottle of water with you and drink often even if you don’t feel thirsty. Ask for water instead of alcohol or coffee. Hydration is also important for car travel. Dehydration can exacerbate conditions such as constipation which we definitely don’t want.
Why walk if you can ride? Request a wheelchair or ask for a courtesy shuttle if you need to when going to the airport. Modern airports can be massive, and some older travelers may have trouble getting to the gate. The airport courtesy shuttles and wheelchairs are free of charge.
If you travel by air, TSA precheck is worth its weight in gold. You can avoid the longer lines, moving through security much more easily. I applied for mine through my American Express credit card. You can also apply online at https://tsa.gov/precheck
Protect yourself against DVT (deep vein thrombosis). DVT happens when blood clots form in your veins and block the blood flow. This usually occurs in the legs. Sitting for a long time in a plane, train or car can increase the risk of this. Take frequent breaks to walk around and exercise your legs. Some research suggests that wearing compression stockings may help reduce the risk of dangerous DVTs. I got mine from Nurse Yard. They have a lot of styles and colors. Here is a link:
If you have a mobility issue, need assistance or extra time when boarding a plane, you may ask to join the preboarding group. Just ask the attendant at the gate. My husband has a mobility issue, and we travel with a pet. We never have an issue joining the preboarding group when we ask at the gate.
Comfort while traveling is super important for an enjoyable trip. I have found that the right shoes and clothes are essential, especially for walking around an airport, going through security and riding in planes, trains or cars. I am always cold, so I make sure to have something with a sleeve. I like this travel outfit from Amazon, it is warm but not too hot, soft and comfy. The shoes have good support but slip off and on easily.
The link for the shoes is here: https://amzn.to/49sc996
The link for the travel outfit is: https://amzn.to/3OHx4eT
Finally, older adults may seem like more of a target for petty crime when traveling. Never show cash. Leave the good jewelry at home and make use of the safe when staying in a hotel or resort.
While traveling as an older adult may come with its own set of challenges, it can be very enriching and rewarding. It can help our minds, bodies and souls and I hope to keep seeing and experiencing as much as I can for many years!
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