Getting the opportunity to travel is one of the greatest pleasures in life, especially when it comes to long-term travel. It gives you a chance to truly thrive, break away from normal life, and, most of all, experience a whole new culture. It is important to realise that even luxury travel can be risky and solo travel has its own risks, such as being alone if you have an accident or fall ill.
The same can be said when traveling around as a senior citizen. It’s not inherently dangerous, but there can be more risks involved. So, if you’re a senior or an older friend or relative is considering going on a trip, here are some ways to keep yourself or them safe!
Have a talk with your doctor
It’s strongly recommended to have a discussion with your doctor before doing anything. Some medications may need to be stored in a certain way, for example insulin should be kept in a fridge. Plus, your doctor may have general advice for you and your medical conditions. Your doctor can also advise you about travelling safely, any vaccinations you may need and dealing with medical emergencies abroad. In addition, a regular checkup is an important part of good health and should be taken seriously by everyone. Overall, before leaving, it’s best to just go ahead and see a doctor in hopes of no medical emergency happening while aboard.
It is also very important to take out adequate travel insurance. Some firms such as Saga specialise in holiday cover for older tourists.
Consider booking a tour
Nowadays, a lot of senior citizens prefer to go the route of booking a package holiday. It’s a lot easier for travelling, as you get to see everything you want and it’s all organised for you. Something like the Emu Run Uluru tours would be a perfect option for senior travellers who want to indulge in the wild side while still being safe. There are various types of tours, ones where you’re with a group the entire time or ones that give you more free time to choose your own activities. In the end, it’s going to be up to you and what you think works best. Tours are ideal for keeping safe, learning about the location, and you’re going to have the chance to meet new people too!
Be wary of scams
When it comes to travelling, scams are everywhere, and it’s fairly challenging to avoid them. No matter what country or city you go to (including the one you live in), there are probably plenty of scams happening. It’s strongly recommended to avoid businesses, including kiosks, that come off as sketchy. Also, if you need to convert currency, try to convert it somewhere, like a currency exchange at an airport or train station. You can even talk to your hotel staff about potential scams in the area to watch out for. In the end, seniors are often targets, so you need to do some research so you can avoid scams. If possible, book tickets through the venue itself rather than a third party. Remember if something looks too good to be true it probably is.
Avoid looking too much like a tourist
When it comes to senior citizens in particular, it tends to be fairly obvious if they’re a tourist or not. The standard cartoon tourist outfit, button-up short sleeve shirt, hat, shorts, bag, hiking boots, and camera around the neck all seem to point out, “Hey I’m a tourist”. It’s strongly not recommended to dress like this as you’re going to be a bigger target for scams.