Travel for Seniors: Tips for a Safe and Healthy Vacation Abroad
- Maria DiCicco
- 5 hours ago
- 12 min read
When we book a vacation it is rare that we consider the toil it may take on the body. Instead, we focus in on the fun, the food and the attractions. Rightfully so!
But after consulting with friends and family in their senior years, I've discovered that there's a lot left unsaid for senior travel - and I'm here to hopefully address some of your travel concerns as a senior traveler.
Below, find tips for a healthy vacation abroad (primarily with Europe in mind) and how to stay alert for potential hazards. You've got this!
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In this article find details on:
Short on Time?This article optimizes the senior traveler experience with first-hand tips and advice like safety walking on cobblestones, booking hotel rooms with senior needs in mind, and how to avoid the struggles of crowds and transportation. Here's a few valuable resources from this article that you'll want to put in your back pocket: Booking Tools
Travel Insurance |
Planning Travel for Seniors
Do Not Plan a Sprint....Or Even a Marathon
First things first - the days of '10 countries in 10 days' kind of European travel is probably really challenging as you get older, for the sheer 'travel of it all'. Making train schedules, dragging bags, and finding taxis across foreign cities is just a bit more tiresome.
Plan micro trips - hone in on one or two locations or regions.
Or, take a cruise and let the travel be planned out for you.
Learn more about how to book a cruise here.
Another great option is to sign up with a group like SmarTours!
Book the Right Accommodations
I am a firm believer in Booking.com - it is the single platform that I book every single hotel stay with. The thing is, when you are a senior traveler not every type of accommodation will suit your needs.
You may want to specifically filter your searches to find rooms with private bathrooms (surprisingly not so common in Europe - you'll end up sharing one down the hall), high ceilings (old timbered ceilings are great for bumping your noggin!) - check the hotel photos, accessible showers or bathrooms, and hotels with elevators.
Another important note is the proximity to the attractions you want to see. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to not have to walk as far.
For more tips on using Booking.com, check out my guide here.
Arrange Transportation from the Airport in Advance
This is my best advice for senior travelers who aren't too savvy making their own arrangements abroad. Arriving in a new country it can be very overwhelming with taxis, hawkers, trains and foot traffic.
If you know your destination, taxis are easy but unpredictable in service. You may get ripped off, your bags may even be stolen, and you may not feel comfortable with the route. These are all things that have happened in my travels.
Instead, consult this guide about getting to your hotel from the airport overseas, or consider browsing available options for transportation directly on a platform called KiwiTaxi.
KiwiTaxi makes transfers easy, affordable, and reliable - and you can do it from your computer at home before you ever step foot abroad.
Pack Only What You Can Carry
I said this in another round up of tips for what to pack for a cruise and the mentality is the same here - if you can't lift it over your head into an overhead bin on a train, plane or bus, you shouldn't be carrying it.
Furthermore, for larger bags, can you put it into the trunk of a taxi? Can you lift it up stairs? Most hotels in Europe do not have an elevator.
If you cannot physically carry your own luggage, leave it at home.
One option for senior travelers is to consider luggage storage. Bounce is a worldwide tool that offers luggage storage at the most random of storefronts. It could be a hotel, a laundromat, or a dry cleaner! These places partner to securely store luggage and for a good price, too. If you have the need for luggage storage, consider booking through Bounce.
Healthy Tips for Senior Travelers
Bring All of Your Medications (And the Prescriptions)
It is important that you bring your prescription information with you when you travel. There is no Walgreens or CVS, or Walmart to pick up grab and go items like cough medicine or even your prescription. Instead, pharmacies are everywhere but extremely different than in the US.
Read my article about getting medicine abroad here, it is very important!
You need to know that going into a foreign pharmacy you have to sort of 'prove' that you are ill (cough, cough, sniffle) and that you are allowed to get specific pharmaceuticals. You'll talk directly with the pharmacist, so have your Google Translate app handy. Having your script on hand will make the process much easier.
Familiarize Yourself with Senior Travel Insurance and Hospitals
It's ok to be afraid of a foreign hospital experience. No one wants it, and no one plans for it, but I've experienced it and it's just as smooth operating as it would be anywhere else in the world. Hospitals will treat you if you need treatment.
Be prepared by always having a few things on hand digitally - your passport (a photo of it is fine), any important medical history, and a copy or photo of your home insurance card.
When my daughter had to go to the ER in Spain, all they asked for was her passport and proof that she was insured somewhere in the world. Because she has an Italian passport (we are dual citizens), she didn't pay a penny for the visit.
I can't say the same for Americans abroad, however I will warn you that if you are on a cruise ship and get COVID or another issue, going to the ship doctor may cost you THOUSANDS of dollars.
I can corroborate this based on stories from my parents friends. I'm not saying to avoid treatment if you need it, but even with travel insurance you may be facing a hefty bottom dollar. Keep this in mind and consider perhaps getting treatment on shore if you are cruising and it is not too serious.
A note on travel insurance: I've never bought travel insurance unless it is required of me. I typically utilize the insurance benefits from my credit card. However, if you require travel insurance it is good to review your options:
Senior Travel Insurance Options:
These cover anything from flight disruptions to food poisoning. Visit each website to learn about their specific coverage.
Take Naps
It's ok to take naps. Babies do it. Moms who drink too much at lunch do it. You can too! I jest, but in all seriousness traveling abroad you will be walking almost constantly. Your tired body needs to rest and recharge. Spaniards came up with the Siesta for a reason!
Even if you don't nap (20 minutes is the recommended time so as to not overdo it), you can rest quietly and journal, sit in bed and stare at the ceiling with your thoughts, or have a cup of tea and do some people watching out your window.
Take a Cafe Break
On the same vein as naps, taking cafe breaks during a day or touring abroad is a great way to regroup your spirits. Whether it's just for a Coca-Cola (which is always so much better outside the US, iykyk), or if you are getting a mid-day espresso boost, be sure to take a moment to recharge.
Pro tip: schedule this down time into your itinerary!
Tips on Tours for Seniors
Plan and Time Your Tours Right
Crowds are suffocating to me - which is why I rarely visit the hot spots anymore and look to find the off the beaten path places, like these off the beaten path options in Rome.
But alas, everyone wants to see the Colosseum and everyone wants to see the Louvre, so you've got to play the game.
The game:
Buy tickets online in advance. Tiqets is a perfect platform for this. They have skip the line tickets for most major attractions. Check it out here.
Plan for morning hours before the heat of day and crowds
Plan around meal times (in Europe midday meals are very important and can often shut down businesses between 1-4pm). In other words, check museum hours and go when people might be eating!
Pro tip: look for senior ticket rates, they are very common in Europe!
By having these tips up your sleeve, you'll avoid exhaustion from hot summer sun, overwhelming crowds of pushy tourists, and often have a much more enjoyable experience.
Do you also hate crowds? Consider visiting your destination in the off season!
Beware Your Footwear
I am the worst offender of this - but never put form over function, especially into your '70s. Be practical, always. Pack shoes that have seen thick and thin with you - your road warriors.
Streets abroad are often much older than in the US (I'm talking ancient) and you need to be prepared to walk on steep and uneven surfaces all day long.
Take Care on Cobblestones
No one wants to break bones on vacation, so be extra cautious on cobbled streets. Find your footing carefully and take your time. Stones can be slippery from the wear and tear of time, or even worse in rain, and often they are misshaped and awkward to walk on.
I suggest bringing a walking stick for this purpose! It will help with balance and take a load off your knees. It doesn't need to be an 'old lady cane' - go for something practical, stylish, and portable, like this one on Amazon.
The fat rubber tip will work very well on ancient streets, and you don't need to worry about how you might look - I see people using these all over Europe, of every age group.
Prepare for Public Toilets
It's funny, a girlfriend of mine in her late '70s was telling me about her vacation to Italy recently and she was surprised you had to pay for the use of public toilets in many instances. I'd written about this before (in fact, it's the reason my blog has the name that it does), and it's super common across the globe to pay for bathroom privileges.
Always pack your own tissues for toilets, and come prepared with coins to get additional TP from bathroom assistants. (Wondering whether you need cash abroad? Consult my guide here).
Bathrooms are generally hit and miss around the world - I've seen REALLY gruesome in China and Nepal, and still survived. If in Asia you may see "Western Toilets" - what we are used to in the US - or Eastern squat toilets.
Even sometimes in very rural areas of Europe you may find unique toilets with even more unique flushers. In a word, it's always an experience.
My advice - embrace the change and practice your squat. If you are physically unable to, perhaps consider bringing your own travel toilet seat covers.
While I personally find these to be an unnecessary purchase, everyone sees public toilets differently. Just be aware that a grand majority of toilets across the globe prefer that toilet paper, toilet covers, and any other items used in the stall be disposed of in a waste bin, primarily due to old plumbing!
This is one of those things Americans just need to get used to. Here's my list of a bunch of other culture shocks American travelers get when they travel to Europe.
Also keep in mind that in heavily touristed areas the local hotels and restaurants are extremely strict about allowing you to use their bathroom. I had a potty situation with my kid recently in Collioure and I had seen the public toilets (akin to the below classic pic from France decades ago) and I wasn't about to use it for her to go poop. So I begged and pleaded and showed how cute she was at the hotels and restaurants and still no one cared.
Bottom line - if you see a clean (and free!) bathroom, use it. You never know when you'll find another bathroom.
Consider Twice About Public Transportation (Especially in Train Stations)
There are some senior travelers that I would simply suggest do not take public transportation, like trains and metros. I remember in Japan I had my daughter and her stroller, and it felt like a marathon picking her up, the stroller too, and then marching up and down stairs to different platforms. We constantly searched for elevators and would end up turned around in the stations.
My in-laws even got stuck for several hours in a train station elevator and missed their train. Yikes!
Aside from the stairs, train stations are crowded, bustling, chaotic and confusing. It is easy to lose sight of your bags (petty theft can be common, especially for unaware seniors - here's some tips to avoid getting pickpocketed abroad), and the whole experience can be too much.
Buses are fine, but honestly very uncomfortable after awhile. Sometimes you can't avoid bus travel, so plan ahead by researching whether or not the buses have a toilet on board (back to the previous point!), and if you can choose your seat online in advance so you get your preferred seat. Sitting by the front you are less likely to get nauseous.
For bus travel made easy, look at BusBud for fares or Big Bus Tours for hop-on-hop-off style entertainment.
Am I trying to scare you? No way! If you are steady on your feet, able to read a train map or use your Google Maps to figure out where you are going, by all means - train travel is great!
This article only serves to make the unaware aware of what could potentially become a challenge.
Consider these transportation options instead:
DayTrip: an admittedly higher priced option, DayTrip offers a luxurious private car service from one destination to another, with the opportunity to stop at famous landmarks and attractions along the way. Check it out here.
Viator: A popular platform for booking tours, there are also pre-arranged transportation options. You can essentially book a taxi or car service in advance here. Try out Viator here.
KiwiTaxi, mentioned above in airport transportation, is also a good choice but typically is better used for hotel to airport and vice versa (versus city to city travel).
Comfort for Senior Travelers
Understand How To Call Home (And How to Use the Internet)
Besides safety check-ins with loved ones and the general desire to keep in touch at home, there may be times you want to browse the internet for restaurants or travel tips but you're not connected. Cruise ship internet is expensive and WiFi can be spotty, unreliable or only found in cafes (and who wants to spend their cafe time on their phone anyway?).
That's why you need to have a good plan for cell coverage when you are abroad. I've rounded up my favorite options here:
It's good to note how you will check emails and access tour tickets, etc, so having a solid internet game plan is a savvy tip for senior travelers!
Don't Underestimate Jet Lag
The list goes on, but jet lag is a real downer on the first few days of a vacation. I like to think I've managed jet lag (here's my tips), but as I get older I realize even I'm struggling.
My best advice, especially for senior travelers, goes back to the first item on this page - don't plan too much! Dedicate your entire first evening or day to settling in at your hotel and taking care of yourself. Take a nap if need be, take a hot shower, and have a nice meal out on the town.
Try to avoid crashing and burning right away - you'll regret it when you are up at 3am the next day. Instead, push to at least 8pm on night one, and do not plan a single thing for the following day.
Once I planned a big tour of the Tower of London the morning after I arrived in England, and we nearly slept through our alarm and missed it. It was a massive struggle to get moving, and I placed undue stress on the day for no reason. The Tower of London can wait.
So, day one and day two should be leisurely. By day three you'll be golden!
Expect Dietary Restrictions to Be a Challenge
I know that every American expects every foreigner to speak English, but they don't. Or, sometimes they do but don't want you to know it!
In any case, you cannot expect to go to a foreign country, sit down in a restaurant, and get your dietary restrictions met. There is a certain stubbornness, especially in Europe, that food is served exactly right and should not be changed. In Spain, there's really only one proper way to order a steak - 'a punto', meaning just right. But, it may be too rare for some.
Salt is not an additive one uses abroad (except heavily on good steaks), and to ask for it can almost be an insult. And ice? Fugget-about-it. Don't ask for ice in Europe, you'll get dirty looks or laughter. Or if you are lucky, maybe one single ice cube in a cup.
My point is, to expect any dietary needs to be met in the kitchen may leave you hungry. You can easily find vegetarian dishes, or perhaps even gluten-free if you know what to look for, but expect that any food decisions need to be made by you by choosing properly from the menu. Special order meals are not common (ordering a plain chicken breast with vegetables, for instance).
My advice - you can ALWAYS ask. But be prepared for disappointment. If you need something very specific, it may be best to research your restaurants online in advance and study the menus.
My Final Word of Advice on Senior Travel
Take it slow. Travel is exhausting for everyone. It really is. The reality of travel is it's not always pretty, it's not always easy, and it isn't always a good time.
You know yourself and your limits better than anyone else. If you need to stop, stop. If you need anything - address those needs.
Be prepared, arm yourself with knowledge, and you'll have an amazing trip!
