Tips for senior travellers
This article is a practical guide filled with helpful tips for senior travellers.
Travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences at any stage of life. The past few years saw an increase in senior travellers around the. This can partly be explained by an aging population of the wealthy countries, but also by a shift in finance and mentality. Especially in Western countries many middle aged and elderly people were able to build up robust savings. When they are looking at their retirement, or recently retired, they decide to take advantage of their additional time and savings and explore the rest of the world, before it is too late.
Typical senior travellers
Generally speaking we can say that senior travellers
– Have more time to travel
– Are more flexible with their travel dates
– Have an higher budget
– Want to spend less time in a bus or car to travel from A to B
– Are looking for more comfort
– And are looking for a slower, more meaningful travel experience
Plan smart, not fast
This recommendation is valid for each traveller who has enough time available to plan well and travel at a meaningful pace. Slower-paced itineraries with more stops are often more enjoyable than trying to see as much as possible in a short amount of time.
As a senior traveller it is often easier to plan your vacation outside of the peak season. This will save you money and enables you to avoid overcrowded destinations.
The importance of a good travel insurance
Senior travellers are often young of spirit, but they do have to keep in mind that their bodies take more time to adapt and or recover. Therefore it is extra important to select a good travel insurance. Make sure that this insurance is well adapted to your personal medical conditions and the local circumstances in the country of your destination. You should also consider a cancellation insurance. The older you get, the more likely it is that you are confronted by an unexpected medical condition that can affect your travel capabilities. Or maybe it is even a sudden decrease in the health of one of your elderly family members.
Tip: Always read the fine print of your insurance contract, particularly regarding age limits and exclusions.
Travel light
We always recommend our clients in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia to try to travel as light as possible. Try to bring only as much luggage with you as you can actually carry. Avoid filling a big suitcase with small wheels. These are great at airports and smooth hallways, but uncomfortable on most streets, especially in South America. Of course, when available, it is always good to ask for assistance with carrying your luggage. But if assistance isn’t available, then you would still like to be able to move around. Same-day wash and dry laundry services are almost everywhere available. So try to bring clothes that are easily to combine and wash. In colder areas it is better to wear 2 thin layers, instead of 1 think layer of clothing.
Pay additional attention to your accommodation
When we get older we generally need a bit more sleep in a comfortable bed. More place in the bedroom, maar especially the bathroom, is also recommended. And, especially when you are less mobile, it is good to check if the bathroom offers additional support handrails. So called ‘walk-inn showers’ with a bigger shower head are also recommended. If you carry temperature sensitive medication with you, then it will be useful to have your own small fridge in your room. Other things to keep in mind are; the location of your room, if there is an elevator and if there is 24/7 someone at the reception. Also the location of your hotel is important. Some travellers like it when their hotel is a bit out of town, because there might be less noise. But if you are less mobile, an hotel outside of town will limit your freedom outside of the hotel. It is important to find a good balance.
Health recommendations for senior travellers
Before you plan your travels it is good to visit your doctor. Explain him/ her where you would like to go and ask if he/ she has any recommendation. If you are using medication, it is also important to ask your doctor to write you a prescription. Make sure that this prescription is translated at least in English, but ideally also in the language of the country you are going to visit. When bringing medication, it is preferable to also bring the original packaging and prescription. Try to bring additional supply and store this in both your hand luggage and your main luggage, in case one of them gets lost or even stolen. When possible, it is good to check if the medication that you’re using is also available at your travel destination.
Tip: Bring a small First Aid kit with you while travelling and hiking.
Check accessibility of touristic attractions
The older we get, the less flexible our body will become. So for senior travellers it is important to check the accessibility of the locations and tourist attractions they would like to visit. Especially if you (partly) need a walking stick, or wheelchair to move around. Archaeological sites like Machu Picchu often only have (very) limited access for people who are less mobile. This is because creating accessibility has to be done in a balance with trying to keep the archaeological site as authentic as possible. Your local travel agent can usually help you with more information about accessibility on tourist destinations.
Listen to your body while travelling
We are all different, so there isn’t one set of health recommendations to keep you fit. What helps is when you give you body more time to adapt. Give it time to adapt to new food, another sleeping rhythm, higher altitude, long travel distances, more (or even less) sunshine and other changes. When you feel tired or even sick, it often means that your body requests more time to adjust. To help your body it is important to stay hydrated. This often means that you need to drink a little more than you do at home, especially when travelling at an higher altitude. Our following article about altitude sickness provides more information. Be careful as well with receiving too much sun, either at a beach, or at high altitude. When you start feeling a little burned, you are actually already a bit too late.
Tip: On long journeys it can help the blood circulation in your legs and feet if you wear compression socks.
Discount for senior travellers
Several countries offer discounts for senior travellers of 65+ who want to visit tourist attractions, or even just to travel from A to B. Personally I have a double feeling about this discount. I think that it is great when this discount helps elderly people with a limited budget to travel more and get more joy out of the last years of their lives. Especially when traveling in expensive Western countries. However, In Ecuador I’ve witnessed a different side of this perk for seniors. In Ecuador all seniors of 65 years and older, national and international, get a 50% discount on transport. School kids get the same discount. Now there is this small town (Vilcabamba) which is located a little over an hour away from the closest city. In this town now live a lot of foreign expats. When travelling to the city they exercise their right to ask for a 50% discount, so they only pay 1 US$ instead of 2 US$ for the journey. At certain time of the day, before the schools start, or just after, these buses are often full with school kids and also a couple of elderly travellers. Long story short, all of them only pay half price for their journey, so the bus company hardly earns anything… My recommendation to senior travellers would be to be aware of where you travel, before asking for a discount. Do your really need this discount, or is your payment more useful for the local company?
Stay connected while travelling
When I really started my adventurous travelling in 2003 I still relied on internet café’s to communicate with family and friends. Nowadays almost everybody has a Smartphone and almost every travel destination has internet. Often it is also possible to buy a local telephone chip in the country where you are travelling, so you don’t even have to be in your hotel to stay connected. Still, it is important to also use these options, especially for senior travellers. People at home are likely a bit more concerned about you and you are also likely to have more elderly friends. Elderly people have higher health risks, so it is good to frequently stay in contact with each other. I also recommend to print your travel itinerary and leave ith with some of your family and close friends at home, so they always have a good idea of where you are.
Final Thoughts
Senior tours are more about comfort, curiosity, and connection with the people around you and yourself. With thoughtful planning and the right mindset, your journey can be deeply fulfilling and stress-free. Age often brings wisdom—and that wisdom can make you a smarter, more relaxed traveller.
But if you need any help with planning your travels to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, we will be happy to help you.
