The ultimate pre-travel guide for over 70s holidaymakers

Age reflects life experience. And reaching your senior years means there is the absolute freedom of living the dream. Ever wanted to go on a wild safari trip or a culture trip? Or perhaps tick off things from your bucket list? Travelling does get more rewarding with age, especially in your 70s, when you have more time to spend on travel and leisure. It’s a golden opportunity to start the next chapter in your life, filled with new experiences or revisit past, nostalgic memories.

While travelling during your senior years can do wonders for your mental and physical well being, like many things in life, the way we travel changes as we age. There are more tick boxes to fill, more things to consider and more things to prepare, especially at present. So once you choose your holiday destination, let us guide you with a few pre-travel tips and suggestions to ensure safety and reassurance for your next trip abroad:

Check the latest travel advice and entry requirements

Once you’ve chosen your holiday destination, consider keeping up-to-date with foreign travel advice for the country you will be visiting on the Foreign & Commonwealth website. The entry and health requirements for tourists can vary among countries, and it is subject to change depending on situations (health, economic, political, etc.) that might occur in the future.

So by checking the latest information on foreign travel safety and security, the COVID-19 situation and vaccination requirements, you can further plan for your trip or choose a different destination or region that is safer to travel to.

Find suitable accommodation and the nearest medical facilities

You may want to consider planning for your accommodation needs and finding the nearest medical facilities for the trip, especially if you have mobility issues or pre-existing medical conditions. You can also speak to the accommodation provider and discuss your needs and if they are able to make special arrangements, from wheelchair access, airport transfers to emergency transport.

While travelling abroad is an exhausting activity by itself, it can be more demanding, physically and mentally, for older travellers. So, you may need to take more precautions and allow extra time for your journey, especially when travelling to different time zones or new holiday destinations. It is also helpful to find out more about the climate and the region you are travelling to if you plan on being outdoors. And if you are doing any strenuous activities that require a lot of walking, consider doing it at a comfortable pace and plan for regular pit stops for rest and rehydration.

If you have health concerns, you may want to consider booking guided package tours for the trip. It can not only reduce your trip cost, but it can also provide safety and companionship for those

travelling alone. There is also the benefit of receiving immediate care in case of a medical emergency when you travel in organised groups.

Book a pre-travel medical assessment and get your medications and vaccinations

Regardless of your fitness level, it is always a good idea to get a pre-travel medical assessment, especially if you have underlying medical conditions. It will give you the opportunity to consult your doctor about any particular health condition and also check if you are medically fit to travel abroad.

In addition, you should consider getting a sufficient amount of routine medication for any pre-existing health problem before you are prescribed medications and vaccines for travel. Also, you can make a copy of the routine prescriptions for travel, as this will be useful if you run out of medicines or need treatment abroad.

Currently, anyone over the age of 70, regardless of medical condition(s), is deemed to be at high risk of experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19. Hence, it is highly recommended that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and follow current travel recommendations and guidelines to reduce the risk of infection during your holiday trip. Also, most travel insurance companies will only provide you with an insurance cover if you have received COVID-19 vaccinations.

Purchase a specialised travel insurance policy that meets your needs

While getting travel insurance is a personal choice, it is a must at present, when there are so many uncertainties and risks when travelling abroad, especially for over 70s travellers. To help you avoid the hassle of shopping for a policy, we’ve got you covered with Avanti, which offers specialised travel insurance for over 70s with pre-existing health issues. If you would like to find out their cover level, view more here.

Age should never be a barrier to travel. And we hope our pre-travel guide helps you to plan for a safer trip, so you can travel with confidence to places you’ve always wanted to, whether that means a culture trip, cruise or a worldwide tour