As someone who has traveled with seniors, I know it can be challenging to organize a trip. But trust me, it can be a fun and unique experience for everyone. It’s important to take certain precautions and plan.
In this post, I’ll share some tips and insights based on my personal experience of traveling with elderly loved ones, so you can enjoy your trip and create lasting memories without any unnecessary stress or challenges.
Check their travel documents and prepare their visa applications
Before planning a trip with seniors, there are several important things to consider. First, it is crucial to check their travel documents, such as passports, and make sure they are up to date. Some countries require visas, so it is essential to check the expiration of existing visas and prepare their visa applications if necessary.
Purchase Travel Insurance
It is highly recommended to remind or help elders purchase travel insurance to ensure they are protected in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Some travel insurance only covers adults up to a certain age limit, so be sure to check the details of the policy before purchasing.
Request Special Assistance from Airlines
For those who need special assistance, such as wheelchair assistance, it is important to request these services from the airlines beforehand. In addition, if they need specific meal types, reach out to the airline directly before your trip. Some airlines, like Cathay Pacific, allow passengers to select their meals when they check in online.
Rent a wheelchair
If renting a wheelchair is within your budget, it is also a good idea to consider reserving one. I traveled with my grandmother a few times, she does not use a wheelchair at home, as she can walk short distances. However, her knees get painful when she walks for too long, so we rented a wheelchair for her so she explore the places with us.
I have tried renting a wheelchair in Japan and Taiwan. For Japan, they will send the wheelchair to your pick-up location, which is quite convenient. You can read about my rental experience here. As for Taiwan, we went to pick it up at a local wheelchair shop, which was near our accommodation.
Bring their medicines
When packing for the trip, it is essential to bring medicine because some of it might not be available in the country of your destination. Always bring enough regular medications that last the entire trip, and for safety, bring along medicines for diarrhea, and dizziness too.
Help seniors pack their luggage
Always check the weather before you pack their luggage. You would not want them to get sick during the trip, so it is important to always pack enough clothes appropriate for the weather. It is better to bring a thicker jacket in case the place you are going is cold. Also, remind them to bring chargers for their devices, appropriate shoes for the occasion, and personal items such as eyeglasses, dentures cleansers, etc.
Research intensively
To avoid getting lost during your travels, it is highly recommended that you conduct thorough research beforehand. This can be a challenging task, but it is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. One of the first things you should do is look up the shortest and most direct routes to your destinations. This will help you save time and avoid getting lost in unfamiliar areas. I usually use Google Maps Street View to check out the route, it is very useful.
In addition to finding the best routes, it is also important to research nearby restaurants and other amenities. This will help you plan your day more efficiently and ensure that you have access to food and other necessities when you need them.
When using public transportation, it is important to be aware that not all exits of subway stations have elevators. This can be a problem if you have heavy luggage or mobility issues. To avoid this, look for exits that have escalators or elevators. This will make your journey much more comfortable. With my family, some family members would walk faster to check if the route in front is suitable for elders or not. If there is no language barrier, we would also ask the staff at the stations for directions.
Review the hotels before booking
Book accommodations that have a great location, it will make life easier for you and the seniors. My personal preference is near the city center, preferably near subway or train stations. Most of the time, I book hotels when traveling with seniors. But I also tried booking Airbnb on some occasions, so that it is easier to look after them. However, some Airbnbs are located in residential areas and might be difficult to find, so keep this in mind when looking for accommodations.
Check for Senior Discounts
Depending on where you are taking your seniors, some attractions offer senior discounts that apply to foreigners, so it is worth checking out if they are available.
Take it easy
Never plan a jam-packed itinerary when traveling with elders. When traveling to places with different time zones, we all need time to adjust and recover from jet lag. So, for the first two days, plan easy routes and explore nearby areas.
Plan breaks
Some seniors are used to taking naps, plan your itinerary so that you can bring them back to the hotel to rest and you can take a couple of hours to explore places on your own. If going back to the hotel is not an option, bring them to a cafe for a quick snack so they can rest before continuing on your journey. If they like massages, going for a massage is a good idea, too!
Be Flexible
Flexibility is key when traveling with seniors. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan or a flexible schedule that you can swap around depending on the weather and the situation of the elders. This could include going to shopping malls, indoor activities, or alternative routes that are less affected by bad weather.
Plan your meal
Meals are a very important part of the trip. The last thing you want is to get sick or get food poisoning.
- Tap water in some countries is not safe to drink. So, when unsure of the water source, just buy bottled water.
- When going to places with night markets such as Taiwan and Thailand, observe the food stalls before you buy the food. Make sure the stall is clean and food is not at risk of being contaminated. If you want to let them try the street food, choose a food stall where the food is freshly cooked and prepared.
- Besides night markets, some local food may be not suitable for their tastes. For instance, when traveling to Thailand or Korea, most foods are spicy. Even though they said they could change it to a non-spicy dish, the food is still too spicy for us. So, do some research and bring them to restaurants that offer food that they are familiar with.
Ask them how they feel
Traveling with seniors is different than traveling solo or with friends. When traveling with seniors, you have to be aware of their energy levels. Ask them how they are feeling, and also see if they enjoy a particular activity or not. Most of the time, my parents would say they were fine, but I could see from the way they walked that they were getting tired.
Join local tours
Lastly, join local tours. I am not against planning everything on your own, but sometimes joining a tour is a better choice. And I am not talking about the tours from travel agencies. Here’s why:
The downside of joining a tour from travel agencies
When I first traveled with my parents, we took a tour from Hong Kong to Thailand. It was great because everything was planned out by the travel agency. However, the downside is it is not flexible. We have to wake up very early and stick to their schedule. We visited some places with limited time and visited some places that we were not interested in at all, but we had no choice because it was included in the itinerary.
The downside of DIY/self-guided trips
A few years later, when I had the opportunity to travel with friends, we went to Taiwan. We did not join a tour and planned everything by ourselves. It was fun and felt like an adventure. We went to famous day trip destinations, Jiufen and Shifen, by train. Everything went smoothly, we did not get lost, but at the end of the day, we were exhausted. The trains going back to Taipei were full of tourists, and there were no seats available. This is not the kind of situation that you want the seniors to experience.
Lesson learned
After the two experiences, I learned that joining a local tour is the solution. The next time I went with my parents to Jiufen and Shifen, we joined a local tour. It was much better and we were able to spend more time at each destination, and it was less stressful knowing that the transportation was taken care of.
So, instead of commuting, consider joining local tours, especially for attractions that are far away. This can avoid the risks of getting pushed around by other commuters. Also, you don’t have to worry that seniors have to stand due to limited seats on the train. It will be more expensive than commuting, but it will save you time and stress. It is a win-win situation.
Book from a trusted platform
That said, please do some research and be cautious when booking a local tour. A few years ago, I booked a local tour to Moreton Island, but they failed to pick us up and there was no one answering the hotline too. I eventually got a refund, but it ruined our trip.
So, another lesson learned, I only book local tours from trusted platforms like Klook, KKday, etc. I joined a few of Klook’s day tours, such as Melbourne’s Philip Island Tour, and Taiwan’s Jiufen tour, and it was a smooth experience.
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed reading this long post. I hope these tips can help you make the most of your trip and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone.