Each year, baby boomers in the United States spend approximately $157 billion on tourism. In 2023, they are expected to take between four to five leisure trips. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just beginning, traveling as an older adult is not quite the same as when you were in your twenties, thirties, or even forties. As you plan your next adventure, make sure to consider any restrictions you may face, and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance if needed. The better prepared you are, the more you can ensure that your trip will be a success.

Take care of details

Planning a trip is always exciting, but it’s also essential to detail your plans for the journey to help ensure you get the most out of your trip. Even if you are more of a go-with-the-flow type of traveler, knowing the basics of your destination can help you plan for potential issues. This will help you to anticipate and prepare for possible issues that may arise due to any physical or medical restrictions you have, as well as knowing what items you to bring and tasks that need to be done in advance.

Establish a budget
If you’re traveling on a fixed income, setting up a daily budget is a good idea. Booking airfare and hotels in advance can help you save money. Before you leave on your journey, make sure to do some research on your destination so you can plan and budget accordingly. It might be a good idea to add a bit extra for contingencies. Make sure to talk to anyone else you’re traveling with so everyone knows what the budget looks like.

Check your documentation
Before leaving, gather all necessary information and documents, such as your medical and travel insurance, hotel bookings, airline or train tickets, and car rental confirmation. For international travel, make sure your current passport is still valid. If it’s going to expire within three to six months of the end of your trip, you’ll want to renew it; some countries won’t allow entry if your passport is due to expire before the end of your trip. Apply for a new one as soon as possible, as it can take up to thirteen weeks to receive it, longer if you never had one before. 

Don’t overdo it
When planning your trip, consider any physical limitations and strike a good balance between what you want to do and what you can do. If you intend to participate in activities requiring a lot of effort, try to find ways to do them more moderately. For example, if you’re interested in hiking or biking, opt for trails that are not too steep and difficult, particularly if your knees are not in the best condition. Finally, never underestimate the importance of downtime. Be sure to get approval from your doctor if you have any preexisting medical conditions.

Focus on your health

As we age, we tend to become more vulnerable to certain diseases and conditions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a fabulous, adventurous trip. Just be sure to acknowledge your risks and plan accordingly before you make your final travel arrangements. 

Do your research
Because older adults can have a more difficult time fighting off infection, consider visiting the CDC website to check for recommended vaccinations and warnings of potential health risks and diseases at your travel destination. These may include malaria, yellow fever, and other fast-spreading infectious diseases that may put you at risk, especially if you’re immunocompromised.

Stand up and move around
If your trip consists of long car or plane rides, be sure to make frequent stops along the way or get out of your plane seat to stretch. This can help avoid stiffness, edema in your legs or feet, and other more serious conditions like deep vein thrombosis (vein clotting), which can occur if you sit for too many hours. 

Get health insurance
Check your health insurance coverage if you are traveling overseas. Most companies do not cover your health costs outside the country, so you may need to purchase international health care insurance.

Other tips to consider

In addition to the aforementioned travel tips, there are some additional factors to consider during the planning process.

Search for discounts
If you’re an AARP member, you can take advantage of their many travel discounts, including flights, hotels, cruises, and excursions.

Download travel apps
For trips abroad, you can download several secure apps to help make your travel safer and easier. For example, WhatsApp enables you to place phone or video calls and send pictures, videos, and messages to friends and family, even without phone service, as long as you have an internet connection. Other apps, such as translator apps, can help you with language barriers when visiting a foreign-speaking country.

Pack prudently
Transporting heavy luggage when traveling can become quite cumbersome and physically problematic. So, depending on your trip, pack as lightly as possible, especially if you are touring; many tours will require you to handle your own luggage.

Vacations are a time for making lasting memories and creating a new chapter in your story. So go ahead and check off those items on your bucket list, and take the opportunity to learn about new cultures, discover new places, and connect with different people.