Senior Travel Tips

On April 21, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Retired Men's Club of Wauwatosa. The topic was "Senior Travel Tips" and I thought that some of the key points from that presentation may be of interest.

1. Research and plan - take the time to investigate your destination including culture, climate, and language. Use the internet, guidebooks, and your travel agent to determine if your prospective vacation destination is right for you. If you travel with a wheelchair, scooter, or guide dog, make sure to verify that all aspects of your trip including airline, hotels, and excursions will be able to accommodate these.

2. Packing - wheeled luggage is a must. If you are still traveling with bags from the early 1970's (wheeled luggage was made available to the traveling public in 1974), it's time to dispose of these obsolete antiques and purchase some new bags. Virtually all luggage, from a duffel to the largest suitcase, is now available with wheels. When you are purchasing luggage, remember to consider size and weight. Most major airlines have weight restrictions on checked bags and charge for bags that are too heavy or large. Also, keep in mind that you are probably going to have to schlep your bags during some portion of your trip, so keeping bags light is in everybody's best interest.

Each airline has its own rules regarding carry-on baggage but in general it must be of a size and shape to allow for storage in overhead compartments or underneath the seat. Remember to carry everything you will need with you on the flight; medication, eyeglasses, cell phone, sunglasses, bottled water, reading material, and most importantly your travel documentation (government issued photo i.d. for domestic flights, passport for international flights as well as boarding passes).

3. Traveling with medication - Keep all medication in the original, labeled container. Ask your physician for a list of your prescriptions. Make sure to get the non-generic name of the medication, especially if you are traveling abroad (the generic version of your prescription may not be available outside the U.S.) and find out if your medications are legal in the countries that you are visiting.

4. Pre-trip medical check-up - Consultant your physician prior to your trip, especially if you have had recent surgery or been treated for a medical condition. Share your itinerary with your doctor so that he/she can advise you regarding required or recommended vaccinations as well as counsel you about dietary concerns, time zone differences, and other factors which may impact your health while traveling.

5. Travel Insurance (don't leave home without it) - It is important to protect yourself as well as your trip investment which is why you'll want to consider a policy which protects you if you must cancel or interrupt your trip. Other benefits to consider when selecting a travel insurance policy are trip delay, emergency medical evacuation, and baggage delay, to name a few. Your travel agent can help you find the right coverage for you.

6. Information To Carry With You -
a. Your physician's phone number
b. Your travel agent's contact information; phone, fax and/or email
c. Contact information for airline
d. Phone number for US Embassy
e. Photo copy of the front page of your passport (keep separate from other travel documents)