The word senior is defined differently everywhere, with some of places defining it by over 65, some over 60, some over 55, and some over 50. Really, most seniors are not actually very old at all in comparison to what many people picture. These years in a person’s life are a great time to take advantage of the many opportunities afforded you because of your senior status. You can get discounts on all kinds of things when traveling. There are many senior trip ideas that you can take advantage of – cruising, touring or independent travel are all options available.

Enjoy the sense of community offered when you on a trip catered toward seniors. People often have shared interests so there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends and mingle with like-minded people. If you are traveling as a senior, depending on your health, fitness and travel experience, you may want to take some special precautions.

Make sure to have a plan for medical emergencies. This is something that many people do not want to think about, but it is important for everybody to plan for, especially seniors. First of all, check into health insurance, there are plenty of seniors travel insurance options available. Make sure that everyone in your party has health insurance policies that will work in the destination areas on your itinerary. Also, find out about medical emergency plans, such as emergency phone numbers and services. Find out where the nearest hospital is located, and make a plan for how to get there. If the seniors in your party wear emergency pendants, take into account that these will likely not work overseas. Also make sure to bring all necessary medications and to refill prescriptions before leaving for your trip.

Make sure that your tour and travel plans are conducive to having seniors in your party. What this means is to make sure that you do not plan activities that include too much walking or standing without breaks. This is particularly relevant when traveling in the peak of Summer in many popular destinations like Italy and France.

Think about the climate and special considerations that will need to be taken for the season. Seniors are more susceptible to heat stroke and hypothermia, so be sure that everyone dresses appropriately and stays hydrated or warm. Do plenty of research when you are searching for your senior trip ideas.

The fun part of travel with seniors is all of the discounts and opportunities you can find if you have a senior in your party. Keep in mind though, when traveling with seniors, that in most cases not everyone in the party will get the discount – only the senior will. So, this may or may not end up being cheaper for everyone involved, depending on how the expenses are divided up. Also, remember that senior discounts are not always the best deals available. The following are some examples of places and services that may give discounts to senior travelers…

– Motels and hotels
– Restaurants
– Train passes
– Bus passes
– Car rental companies

Author Bio: Bronwyn White has over 20 years experience in the travel industry, gaining her experience as a travel agent, with airlines, government tourism boards and as a professional travel researcher. Visit her at http://www.seniorstraveltips.com/travel-with-seniors/

Category: Travel
Keywords: Travel With Seniors, senior trip ideas, senior destinations, seniors travel, senior travel, seniors,