Seniors Holiday Travel Tips: Updated 2023 Guide
The holidays are a joyous time to spend with friends and family. These seniors holiday travel tips can make a big difference. For many who live apart from each other, the holiday season is also filled with traveling. To make traveling and visits easier and more manageable, take a look at some of these holiday tips:
Seniors Holiday Travel Tips and Tricks
Consult with your doctor
Before you travel anywhere, it can be a good idea to visit your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to be away from home. If you take any medications, you may need to get prescriptions ahead of time and bring enough with you to cover your entire stay, especially if you are going out of the country. When going abroad, it is also important to consider senior health insurance. Medicare does not provide coverage outside of the U.S., so you may need to invest in supplemental insurance in case you or someone you are traveling with needs medical attention.
Travel off-peak
Once you have been cleared to travel, choose wisely on what days you plan to depart. On peak days, airports and public transportation stations will be swarmed with travelers. For Thanksgiving, the day before and the following Sunday are most likely to be extremely busy travel days. If you’re able, plan to arrive early or leave later to avoid traveling during these overcrowded times.
Leave enough time
More people traveling across the country means there will be longer lines at airports and on the road. It is important to leave more than enough time if you are traveling through or near a major city. Whether you are driving or flying, add extra time to your trip to ensure you don’t miss your plans.
Streamline travel plans
For seniors, an airport can be an exhausting experience, particularly if you have a layover. When planning a trip, think twice before booking connecting flights. A direct flight might be much more comfortable instead. You don’t want to be tired and stressed before you even reach your destination.
Avoid excessive lines
Nowadays, there are several modern technologies that are available to make traveling simpler and more efficient. If possible, reduce spending extra time in lines by getting into an early boarding group and printing out your boarding pass online at home. You can also check your luggage with curbside checking at the airport to avoid lines inside.
Pack light
Overpacking can add excess and unnecessary weight in your luggage, creating a burden on your traveling. If you bring a carry-on aboard your flight, bring any necessary medications and documents instead of putting them in your luggage. If your bags get lost, at least you will not be in a tough spot with your health.
While traveling
you are on a flight or in a car, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. Being in an airplane can easily dehydrate a person, so be sure to continually consume water. In addition, wash hands frequently when in a public airport or transportation center to reduce the risk of getting sick.
