Safety Tips for Seniors on Vacation

We’ve spent a lot of time giving information about places seniors can go on vacation that is economically feasible and friendly to older vacationers. But in this post, we will talk about tips for seniors on vacation that might help make their vacation better.

Being on vacation means being away to what is familiar, safe, and closeby. It means taking up roots and being on the road, having to pack up much of your belongings and trust in the road ahead. For many seniors, this is a scary thing. So we’ve provided a few sound travel tips from some of the experts that will help make sure you’ve remembered everything before you hit the road for that exciting voyage.

1. Safety First– Always start with safety when planning a trip and that includes a lot of things. Everything from remembering to pack all of your medications to taking extra clothing, snacks, flashlights, and warm blankets is important. List all of your medications that you are supposed to take with you, and make sure they all get securely packed. Next think about any type of disaster that you might encounter on a trip, such as being stranded in a snowstorm, flood, storms, or loss of wallet and take extra money, clothing, and anything else you might need in such conditions. Always have ample means of communication such as an emergency cell phone, in case you lose one of your cell phones while on the trip. Plan for every contingency, just in case it happens.
2. Plan your stops– Knowing where you are going to stay, how long you will be on the road each day, and other factors, will help you plan your trip and feel secure in knowing that you know where you are going to be each day and night. Make reservations long in advance of your trip so that you will know what your destination is.
3. Use GPS– With all of the modern technology, such as GPS these days, you can feel that you are in control of your journey at all times. Using GPS not only helps you stay on track for each destination or overnight stop, but it also tells you the approximate amount of time you’ll be traveling to get there. This extra tool gives you confidence while traveling and keeps you on the safe route to your destination.
4. Don’t travel alone. Whenever possible, take someone with you on your trip. If you are widowed or not married, take a friend with you that you enjoy being with. Having someone with you will likely make the trip more fun and gives you extra security. There really is safety in numbers.
5. Finally, don’t talk to strangers. Some people are helpful but there are some who may try to take advantage of seniors on vacation. So the old adage your mother told you is true, in general. Store clerks and gas station attendants are generally OK, but don’t allow strangers to chit-chat with you or get too close to your vehicle while traveling.

If you follow these travel tips, you will be more secure knowing that you packed everything you needed, planned every stop, and taken the right gear with you. Then don’t forget to be wise and be careful who you talk to when in a strange area that is unfamiliar to you. There is more information on how to be safe on vacation at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/76192  Have a safe, fun trip!