Senior citizens are now considered one of the fastest growing demographics in travel, while travel was once seen as a pastime of the young and responsibility-free, there’s truly no age limit on travel in 2017!

In fact, older travelers are more likely to globetrot than the younger generation. And they’re more intrepid too! “Quite often one hears of grannies and grandads cycling across the United States or Canada, or from Helsinki to Gibraltar, or from Mexico to Patagonia.” This 90 year old woman with cancer said no to chemo and yes to traveling the world in a camper.

Some of this trend can be attributed to the growth of the widowed and divorced, rising growth of “indies” and the growing longevity and vitality of those in their senior years. Travel is a great way to keep physically and mentally fit once you’re retired, and to take part in social life.

So with this in mind, we’ve put together the following travel tips for retirees. Because it does become more important to plan carefully and cleverly with your age.

Are You Retired? Explore the World with These Tips!

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Senior citizens are now considered one of the fastest growing demographics in travel, So with this in mind, we’ve put together the following travel tips for retirees.

Senior citizens are now considered one of the fastest growing demographics in travel, So with this in mind, we’ve put together the following travel tips for retirees.

Pre – Trip Medical Examination

Before hitting the road, it’s a good idea to book a full body medical check-up, so you can make sure your health is in order before you go. This becomes more important if you have conditions like heart disease, or have recently undergone surgery. And don’t forget any travel vaccinations you may need.

If traveling into a different time zone and you take regular medications, it’s very important to plan out your timing, and know when you need to take your pills when you’re overseas.

Also make sure you carry enough medicine with you, as well as your prescription if you need it re-filled. For travelers who have diabetes, be sure to keep an updated diet chart with you.

Pre Book Your Accommodation

Spontaneous travel is fantastic when you’re young, though it does gets considerably harder as you get older. So we highly recommending pre-booking your accommodation. Wandering the streets all day searching for the last bed available in Rome with your luggage in tow is not my idea of fun!

Pre booking your accommodation also means the property has advanced notice to accommodate any special requests, like an accessible room on the ground floor, or providing a wheelchair.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is important for travelers of any age, however, if you’re a senior citizen and more risk of getting sick in an alien land, etc, travel insurance is essential.

The medical expenses in other countries are very expensive, and even a small fracture or visit to a dentist can cost a lot. But some countries are beginning to require health coverage as a mandatory condition of entry, meaning travelers no longer have the choice to travel without a plan.

For example, the Schengen Area is a zone in Europe made up of 26 countries, and anyone who needs to apply for the Schengen visa to enter Europe must have international health insurance. Schengen travel insurance covers travellers in case of any medical emergency, loss of baggage, passport, etc. in any of its member countries.

Keep Copies of Your Documents

Regardless of whether you’re traveling for a year, a month, or a day, you should always make multiple copies of your important documents – passport, flight information etc (you only need to photocopy the information page of your passport with your photo and name on it).

Place a photocopy in each piece of luggage, keeping them hidden, and leave an extra copy at home. These days senior citizens are very tech savvy, so be sure to scan and keep an electronic copy too (email it to yourself or store in a password protected file on your computer).

Also remember to share your itinerary with trusted friends and immediate family. This is so they can keep track of your whereabouts while you travel.  For any reason that something happens back at home, they can contact you immediately.

Carry Some Snacks

Foods affect us differently as get older, and sometimes retirees may not have the stomach for ethnic cuisine. If you know you have a problem with trying new foods, you should carry small snacks and ready-to-eat food so you’re not going hungry.

These should be light to carry. If traveling internationally with food products, make sure you read the immigration card of your destination country and declare anything you need to.

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Senior citizens are now considered one of the fastest growing demographics in travel, So with this in mind, we’ve put together the following travel tips for retirees.

Senior citizens are now considered one of the fastest growing demographics in travel, So with this in mind, we’ve put together the following travel tips for retirees.

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

Photo credits: Tourists in London by Garry Knight.