For many readers here, the safety of your teenage children travelling overseas may not be the only thing you worry about. There’s always your parents who decide they too want to take While you may subscribe to the saying that “you’re only as old as you feel”, being a senior DOES play a role when you’re travelling. Unfortunately, the older you get, the more likely you are to be targeted by thieves, frauds, and other bad guys. So, how do you stay safe when you’re travelling as a senior?
1. Travel as part of a group While exploring a strange city or country by yourself may seem like the ultimate adventure, it also makes you more of a target. Since seniors travelling abroad are already a target, you shouldn’t do anything that encourages people to victimize you! That’s why travelling as part of a group is so important. And, as an added benefit, travelling with a group of people can be a whole lot more fun than going alone! If you don’t have a group of relatives or friends that you can travel with, sign up for various tours at your destination. That way, you’ll get to see all of the attractions you’re interested in, without having to wander around in a strange place all by yourself.
2. Buy travel insurance No one likes to think of doom and gloom before they go on vacation, but unless you’re willing to risk losing a ton of money, you need to consider the “what ifs”. For example, what would happen if you got sick or injured on your trip? If you’re planning on leaving the country, your regular health insurance won’t cover you! Or, what if someone steals your luggage or all of your money while you’re gone? If you don’t have some sort of safety net, you could lose everything!
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Luckily, it’s easy to get a safety net. All you have to do is buy travel insurance! Seniors especially should get travel insurance because so many of them are living on a fixed income and can’t afford to pay for everything that could potentially go wrong. If you do a lot of travelling, look into multi-trip travel insurance. These policies last for a specific period of time — like a year — instead of just for one trip. That way, you can travel as much as you want without having to buy a new policy every time you leave! Fortunately, Australian seniors travel insurance is a very common purchase, so you’ll have plenty of policy options to choose from. That makes it easier to save money. But if you’re really looking to get covered on a budget, see if you qualify for any “special” policies — like travel insurance for people over 80, for example. Oftentimes, these special offerings come at a discounted rate.
3. Talk to your doctor before you leave Even if you feel fine, it’s wise to get a check-up before you head abroad. That way, you’ll be less likely to have a scary surprise while you’re gone. Also, be sure to find out if you need any vaccinations before you leave. And, if you really want to be prepared, find out what kinds of medical facilities there are in the area you’ll be visiting. That way, you’ll know exactly where to go if something goes wrong. If you have any pre-existing medical issues, talk to your doctor about how travelling will affect them. You may need to avoid certain activities. At the very least, make sure your prescriptions won’t run out while you’re gone! And speaking of pre-existing conditions, there’s actually travel insurance that specifically caters to them! So, if you’re worried that your health will make it tough to find a good policy, don’t be.
