Tips For the Older Traveler 

Make travel plans well in advance when selection is greatest, and you can go and come when it’s best and most convenient for you. This will help keep you calmer and more relaxed.

Try to avoid peak travel times. Airport terminals and train stations will be teeming with other travelers. Hustle and bustle and mass confusion are very likely. This is not necessarily the best situation for those who don’t move as quickly as they used to. It will also be easier for someone meeting your plane or train.

If traveling by plane, arrive at the airport well before boarding time. Lines for baggage and security check will be long. Give yourself plenty of time so as to avoid being delayed. Delay is not always a good idea for seniors taking high blood pressure medication.

“Pack light.” Select tops and bottoms that are interchangeable. This way you can create new outfits without taking additional clothing. It cuts down on the number of matching shoes you’ll need, and your suitcase won’t be as heavy. Be sure to take all the necessary medication plus a little extra in case you return later than planned or you accidentally drop a pill. Arthritic fingers can be clumsy at times. Keep medication on your person not in your suitcase.

Always carry a list of medication currently being taken and the name(s) of doctor(s) who might need to be contacted. This is a good idea even when not traveling. Also have an ICE list (In Case of Emergency) if there should be a problem en route.

Try to get an aisle seat, so you can leave easily to visit the restroom. Older bladders often require more frequent attention.

Take along food and/or snacks that are appropriate for you. Food courts and snack machines don’t always have what’s compatible with special diets.

With so many people traveling so often these days, and with so much luggage looking alike, it can sometimes be difficult to identify your own baggage on the conveyor belt at your destination airport. To help spot your bag quickly, tie some colorful ribbon or yarn to the handle. You’ll know which belongs to you even if the bag next to yours is identical. Also, make sure you have a name tag attached.

Overall, these tips and tricks have helped me to have the best traveling experience as a senior traveler.