Safety Tips for Senior Travellers

The number of senior travellers is growing every year, but some seniors risk their health and safety by not following some simple travelling rules and guidelines. Here are our top tips for senior travellers;

• Always research before you book anything, check our ‘Know Before you go’ page, the climate, the facilities and the resorts available.
• Buy a guide and phrase book for your chosen location.
• Always photocopy your important travel documents and prescriptions before you travel, and keep them in a separate location to the originals, just in case they are damaged, lost or stolen. Also make a note of important phone numbers.
• If you need a wheel chair or walking aid, make sure you arrange transportation around the airport, and that they are waiting for you at your destination.
• Always invest in quality travel insurance, and make sure you have declared any pre-existing medical conditions.
• Before you depart, it might be worth having a check-up with your doctor.
• If you use prescription medication make sure you have enough for your trip. Also make sure that you are allowed to carry your prescriptions into your chosen country, and how much you are allowed to carry in.
• Remember that there are restrictions on what you can carry in your hand luggage and checked cases, check with the airline or travel company before you travel to avoid delays and fines.
• Try to move around and stretch during your flight or journey, if you are going on a long journey, make sure you walk around or exercise at least once an hour.
• Just to be safe, drink bottled water.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash around with you. Do not wear expensive jewellery.
• Carry your change in a small purse and your notes in a money belt under your clothes; this should avoid flashing your purse and cash too often. Plus, if you are mugged you can hand over the coin purse as opposed to all your cash.
• Do not travel with valuables if you can help it, if you have to bring them along keep them, your travel documents and cash locked in a safe.
• Always lock your luggage.
• Only get in licensed taxis.
• Try to avoid walking alone or in small groups at night or down small streets.
• Always keep your bag close to you, use a bag which zips up or locks, and use a strap that goes across your body as opposed to on your shoulder. This should prevent anyone stealing your bag or pickpocketing you.
• If you’re travelling somewhere hot, make sure you wear a high factor of sun protection, drink plenty of fluids and take regular breaks in the shade.