The freedom of retirement, reduced working hours, or just fewer commitments in general make the later years of our lives the perfect time to travel. You can travel for longer, travel further, and even enjoy more than just one trip-of-a-lifetime thanks to being able to travel outside of school holidays!
Image by Ron Lach CC0
Best bits about travelling when you are older:
- Enjoy travelling for less money during term-times.
- Make the most of destinations without the hustle and bustle of high season tourism.
- Travel for longer, and for further if you no longer have work restrictions.
- Get more for your money with luxury travel, and long-haul multi destination adventures.
- Tap into adventures aimed at older travellers offered by dedicated over-70s tour operators.
Fun-fact: People who are over-50 are the fastest growing demographic of solo travellers!
What should you be aware of as an older traveller?
For the most part, nothing that you wouldn’t have to consider at any other age! You can sleep at a hostel along with the “young ones”, there are no international travel restrictions based on age, and if anything, greater life experience will keep you safe wherever you go. Travel insurance for seniors can be trickier to secure, especially if you are over 74 or have existing health conditions – but you don’t have to worry about that, we have it covered! More information below!
General travel safety tips (whatever your age):
- Don’t trust free wifi
- Keep the bling and fancy gadgets to a minimum
- Check the reviews of where you intend to stay
- Ask your accommodation what safety measures are in place
- Tell friends and family what your itinerary is, and if you plan to change it
- Let the hotel/hostel or someone know if you are planning a solo adventure
- Get the right travel insurance
Say goodbye to age-restrictive travel insurance policies!
At worldwideinsure.com we offer:
* Cover for most existing medical conditions *
* Policies that automatically cover travellers up to 74 years of age *
* Insurance options with NO AGE RESTRICTION, chat to the team for more info! *
Get a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
The GHIC replaces the EHIC, entitling the holder to the same free or reduced cost healthcare of the residents of the destination country. Bear in mind that this only entitles holders to medically necessary treatment and may not cover medications, equipment etc that comes as standard with the NHS. It also doesn’t recover additional costs such as repatriation.
These are just some of the reasons why the .gov site states:
“Your UK GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. You should take out private travel insurance before your trip. [The GHIC] may not cover all health costs and never covers being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation).” Find out more at gov.uk
Things you should consider if you have health restrictions:
Taking medicines abroad
Be aware that some prescription drugs available in the UK are not legally available in other countries, and others may be a controlled drug where you are limited by the amount you can take into the country. The types of medicines affected would be ones most likely to cause addictions, or those that are injected.
Pre-travel check list:
- Check with your destination country’s embassy or High Commission for information about controlled medications.
- Ask your GP to tell you if any of your medications are restricted in your chosen destination.
- Take enough medication to last your entire trip, plus a few days in case of delays.
- Get a GP letter to explain why you are taking medicines, which medicines you are taking and what doses are required.
- Take a copy of your prescriptions – This will help with issues at border control or security as well as if you lose your medication abroad and need to get more while you are away.
Arrange airport and airline assistance
If your medical condition means that you need early boarding, a wheelchair, or oxygen for the journey, contact the airline’s medical officer to make arrangements well in advance of your travel date. Assistance can take a while to arrange and may also require a “fit to fly” letter from your GP.
Older travellers are having the time of their lives!
If you are ready to book your next adventure, whether it is a longstay trip or a mini break abroad get in touch with our team to arrange the right travel insurance for YOU! For instant online quotes call 01892833338 – we can even arrange cover if you are already travelling!