While travelling alone can seem daunting to many people, it can be a great way for seniors to reconnect with themselves and rediscover their sense of adventure. Whether you have your heart set on a luxury cruise, an escape to a far-away winery, or a short trip to a nearby city, TuGo’s got you covered. If you’ve been looking forward to taking that long-awaited post-retirement trip where you’re calling the shots, we’ve come up with 5 tips to help you make the most of your solo travels.
1. Start small by staying within North America
If it’s the first time in a long time (or ever!) that you’ll be travelling alone, consider staying closer to home. Taking a weekend trip to a nearby city or visiting a place you’ve already been, can help you ease into the idea of flying solo.
For more experienced travellers—who are confident about travelling, but nervous about being alone—consider choosing a place similar to where you’re from. Travelling to destinations where you speak the language or cities throughout the United States are suitable places to ease you into travelling alone. You’ll have a sense of how everything already works while not worrying about a language barrier if you get stuck. Plus, meeting new people and connecting with locals will be easier!
2. Consider a group trip for your first solo trip
Depending on where you’d like to visit and what you’d like to do when you get there, it can sometimes be better to travel as part of a tour group, rather than travelling solo. If you’re a mature traveller, assessing how challenging a destination might be given your health and mobility can help you plan a safe, comfortable trip.
If having a little extra support in case something goes wrong is important to you, it might be nice to have a tour guide to turn to. Additionally, group trips are a fantastic way to meet fellow travellers and usually offer a more structured itinerary, if you prefer a schedule. Resources like Senior Discover Tours, or Go Ahead Tours offer guided tours specifically for travellers over 60.
3. Be conscious of your physical limits
Many mature travellers feel young at heart and may sometimes plan trips that are too physically challenging. This tends to cause trouble, so it’s essential to be practical about your physical abilities. Speaking with your doctor to assess your physical abilities can keep you from getting into an awkward situation—or worse—injuring yourself while you’re away. Knowing how far you can comfortably walk, bike or hike can really affect how much you enjoy your trip.
Plan trips according to what’s best for you and your interests at this stage of life. Maybe you’re not the hiker you used to be, but you’ve become passionate about cooking; skipping a hike through the Dolomites to sample some of Italy’s finest cuisine instead, is a worthy swap. Adapting doesn’t mean giving up on your dream destinations; it could be as simple as swapping a few activities.
4. Purchase the right travel insurance
Your needs in other areas of your life have changed as you’ve gotten older—travel insurance is no different. It’s best to work with an insurance broker to customize your coverage to make sure you have the right coverage. The type of plan you need will depend on a few factors like:
- Your destination
- The length of your trip
- How often you’re travelling
- Whether you have a pre-existing medical condition
- How much flexibility you’re looking for
Travel insurance protects you from the unexpected while you’re away. Depending on your coverage, anything from emergency medical events to trip interruptions or lost baggage can be covered.
Learn more about the value of Travel Medical Insurance for Seniors in this blog post.
5. Use technology to make travelling easier
There’s no reason to bring a bunch of devices you won’t use on your trip but knowing a few smartphone tricks can be helpful for solo travellers. Using your smartphone to pre-save the addresses of your accommodations and to see the areas on Google Street View before you visit are great ways to make your technology work for you. You can also try out the Google Translate app for translation while you’re away.
Tip: Add your travel insurance provider to your emergency contacts. Make sure that you save the correct emergency number- these can be different depending on your destination! If your policy is with TuGo, check out “What to Do in a Medical Emergency”.
Plus! If you’ve purchased travel insurance through TuGo, you’ll also have access to our complimentary MyFlytTM service at no extra cost. If your departing or connecting flight is delayed for more than 2 hours, you’ll instantly get access to an airport lounge pass or a cash payout in your preferred payment type via text message or email, right to your smartphone.
Have a communication plan just in case
Before you leave home, plan who you’ll contact and how in case there’s an emergency.
Solving problems when you’re away can be tough; being alone and under stress can make it even more difficult. If you’ve recently purchased a new phone ahead of your trip, make sure you’re comfortable using it. For solo travellers, it’s extra important to ensure your friends and loved ones can easily reach you; and it’s ideal to inform them of your trip itinerary before your departure. Also, scheduling a quick text or call check-in can give you both comfort that you’re safely enjoying your solo adventure.
Bonus tip: Leave a copy of your travel insurance policy with someone at home in case of an emergency. Inform them that they’ll be your emergency contact in case something happens while you’re away.
Safe travels,
Angie
