3 Retirement Travel Tips to Help You Plan Your Vacation
You’ve worked hard and are now able to enjoy life in your retirement years. Many people dream of traveling the world, but just how do you get started and what special considerations should you take? We’ve compiled a list of three topics to think on as you begin to plan trips to new and exciting destinations.
Visit Your Doctor
Travel planning should always include a visit to your doctor, no matter what you age, though this can be especially important for senior citizens. Make sure to fill any prescriptions, and advise your doctor of where you are going, the length of time and any other pertinent facts about your travel. Your doctor will then be able to advise of any additional preventatives to consider or immunizations that are recommended. The availability and quality of healthcare can vary greatly from country to country, which makes it a good idea to do a little research into what is available where you are going, should you need it.
Your physician will be able to discuss with you any limitations that are appropriate, helping to ensure that you don’t over-police yourself and miss out on all the fun. This is also a good time to stock up a basic first aid kit for travel, as most resorts and hotels are legally unable to distribute medicine, even a simple aspirin.
Research Your Destination
This is the fun part! Surely there are places you’ve dreamed of visiting, that have always called to you, or that you’ve heard about from other’s travel stories. You may wish to visit the lands of your ancestry or travel to a friend’s home abroad. No matter your method for choosing a destination, doing a deep dive into travel locales can be just as much fun as the travel itself. It can be most helpful to have a general idea of what the local customs are and to read up on some everyday logistics such as the national language, currency and typical weather to expect.
Taking time to think about and discuss your goals and wish list for your trip can go a long way in making sure that everyone traveling has a good time. Take inventory of the things that you just can’t miss and those that you won’t lose sleep over skipping. Know yourself. If you thrive in a bustling urban setting or fancy waking up to bird song, those preferences can go a long way into helping you choose the specific accommodations that will be best for your vacation. If you are uncertain of the activities available once you arrive, reach out to the resort Guest Services Concierge, they can be a wealth of knowledge, even assisting with tour reservations.
Purchase Travel Insurance
While perhaps this is not the most glamorous of pre-travel tasks, it can prove quite handy in all kinds of situations. Part of the fun of travel is the unexpected, from finding a new favorite fruit you’ve never tried before to stumbling upon a local cultural celebration. Less thrilling surprises are the unfortunate experiences of lost luggage, illness or untimely weather delays. Save yourself the hassle by making sure to purchase travel insurance prior to your departure.
When shopping for travel insurance, be sure to look into all of your options and read the fine print of what each plan covers and does not cover so that you can choose the coverage that is best for you. Once that decision has been made, be sure to tuck the paperwork in with your other travel documents so that it is handy, should you need it.
A final tip is to double-check the expiration date of your passport as you may be unable to travel if it is expiring within three months of your trip. Better safe than sorry! Not retired yet? It’s never too early to start dreaming about the locales you will visit once given the chance, and to start budgeting accordingly. By ensuring that these three preparations are completed, you will be ready to enjoy all that travel has to offer during your retirement. After all, you’ve worked hard to get to this point!
