Senior Friendly Travel Destinations for Health and Wellness

Traveling gives us a wonderful chance to recharge our batteries and see new places. Senior-friendly destinations for health and wellness provide opportunities to refresh ourselves and experience new things. It keeps our minds sharp and our bodies moving, which becomes even more important as we age. Let's look at how choosing the right destination can boost your health and happiness during your golden years.

Senior and handicap accessible journeys will support your well-being and joy in retirement. First, you want to find inspiring ideas for senior-friendly destinations that are focused on wellness and comfort.

Why Accessibility Matters for Your Health

Choosing an accessible destination removes some of the stress from travel planning. When you know you can get around easily, you feel more confident and relaxed during your trip. This helps you enjoy every moment of your vacation.

Look for accessible spots that feature flat walking paths, which will encourage you to stay active without overdoing it. You can walk at your own pace and take breaks whenever you need to rest. These gentle exercises keep your joints flexible and your heart healthy without the risk of injury.

Nature Retreats for Mental Clarity

Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to clear your mind and reduce anxiety. Fresh air and green surroundings signal your brain to slow down and let go of daily worries. Many seniors find that a quiet trip to a park or a lake helps them sleep better at night.  Being in the forest or near bodies of water can be quite relaxing.

Consider visiting places which combine natural beauty with easy access such as city, state or national parks, local woodlands, beaches, lakes, or riversides, like the historic sites on the Snake River. You can explore many of these scenic areas without worrying about difficult terrain or steep climbs. Immersing yourself in such a peaceful environment refreshes your spirit and improves your overall mood.

Social Connections on the Road

Traveling to senior-friendly destinations leads to meeting new people with similar interests. Socializing keeps your brain active and fights off feelings of loneliness or isolation. You might strike up a conversation at a museum or share a meal with fellow travelers.

Group tours specifically designed for seniors are another great way to make friends while you explore. You can find tons of these all across many states such as Florida, including art tours in Miami and fishing tours in the Everglades. There are also organized tours in most major cities, including Washington, DC. These organized trips take care of the logistics so you can focus on having fun and connecting with others. Building these new relationships adds a layer of joy and purpose to your travel experience.

The advantages of tours is that the guides often take care of transportation, reservations, tickets for entry into various venues, etc.  You can relax and simply enjoy the experience.

Staying Safe and Healthy While You Explore

No matter where you choose to travel, it is wise to make sure your destination has good medical facilities nearby before you book your trip. Knowing that help is close will allow you to relax and focus on your adventure. It is also smart to pack a small health kit with your medications, a basic first-aid kit, and instructions on what to do in emergencies.

Depending on where you are hiking, you may also want to take along a GPS locator for hikers, which can make it easier for rescuers to find you if you are injured on a walking trail or other spot away from civilization.  You may also want to take a satellite phone.  Make sure you have fully charged your regular cell phone, and bring a back-up charger.  If you are in a wilderness area, bring along bear spray or something similar. It could come in handy against a variety of animals, including humans.  Bring plenty of water and a jacket.  Even in the desert, it can get cold if you get lost and are outdoors after dark.   

When picking a hotel, choose accommodations that prioritize safety features such as grab bars and elevators. Many hotels now offer rooms specifically designed to make your stay comfortable and worry-free, so ask about these amenities. Exploring senior-friendly destinations for health and wellness is a fulfilling and enriching travel experience, and something all seniors should enjoy.

Post and Photo credit: Logical Positions

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Is it Safe to Travel Alone? How Can You Make it Safer?

One of the activities which appeals to many new retirees is the ability to travel throughout the world.  A large number of retirees look forward to seeing exotic places and experiencing new adventures after they retire.  However, before you head off into the wild blue yonder, it may be worthwhile to research how to keep yourself safe, especially if you are planning to travel alone.

Treat Every Travel Location with Caution

Whether you are traveling in the United States or a foreign country, it is easy to get into "vacation mode," and assume that everyone is going to be friendly, helpful and honest.  While the vast majority of people you encounter are likely to be kind and welcoming, it only takes a few bad apples to ruin your trip.

A few years ago, two young male teachers I worked with decided to backpack across Europe during their summer vacation, staying in youth hostels. It seemed like an exciting adventure and an opportunity for them to travel widely on a budget.  However, one or both of them were robbed of their cash three times during their trip, always after falling asleep in a youth hostel.  One of them told me he would never stay in a hostel again.  If healthy young men can be robbed while traveling, senior citizens traveling alone need to be even more careful.

Even within the United States, I have had my debit card information stolen while traveling, with thieves attempting to use the stolen information while I was still away from home.  Fortunately, my bank was quick to pick up on the fraudulent activity, stop questionable charges, and contact me using my cell phone.  If it had not been for their vigilance, it could have ruined our trip.  Today, I no longer use my debit card when traveling and I am careful where I use my credit cards.

Certain Travel Destinations are Exceptionally Dangerous

While crimes can occur anywhere, Forbes Magazine published an article called "10 Most Dangerous Places for Women Travelers."  The list includes places where women tourists, in particular, are frequently the victims of assault or robbery.  It would be wise for men, as well, to be extra careful when visiting these spots.  The countries on their list are:

Egypt
Morocco
Jamaica
India
Peru
Bahamas
Colombia
Ecuador
Turkey
Guatemala
Mexico

Do not take these warnings lightly.  Years ago, my husband and I took our young children to Jamaica.  A few days prior to our arrival, rebels entered our resort and killed everyone in in the lobby of the hotel!  During our stay, a private party in the golf clubhouse was interrupted by more armed rebels, who robbed and terrified the guests.  Other countries on the above list can be just as dangerous.  Wandering around alone could be risky for anyone, let alone someone who appears to be elderly or frail.

How to Protect Yourself

There is no way to keep yourself completely safe when you travel.  However, there are a number of steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk of being a crime victim while you are traveling.
 
*  Before choosing a destination, check out the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories website to make sure there are no extraordinary reasons why you should avoid that country or a particular region within a country.

*  Ideally, it is best to travel in a group.  Join tour groups which are going to the areas which interest you.  The guide will try to avoid the most dangerous neighborhoods and there is usually safety in numbers.

*  Dress and behave appropriately for the area you are visiting.  For example, when traveling in the Middle East, women should dress conservatively with their shoulders, arms and knees covered, avoid making eye contact with men, and seek out local women when they are lost, need directions or seek other information.  Approaching a man can be viewed as flirting. In addition, it is wise to limit the amount of alcohol you consume and avoid drinking in bars with strangers.  In fact, this last recommendation is smart almost anywhere you travel, including within the United States.

*  Carry your cash, cell phone and important documents, such as your passport, in a money belt close to your body. Do not walk around looking at your phone.  It can be easily snatched by someone else. If you carry a purse or bag, choose a cross-body style and only use it for items which are easily replaceable, such as make-up, hair brush, maps, or brochures.

*  Do not walk around alone in a strange neighborhood after dark.  This is true almost everywhere, but particularly when you are in a foreign country. Take a cab from your hotel or a similar reliable, well-lit location.  Do not hail cabs on the street.

*  While at your hotel, take advantage of hotel safes, bring along a door stop to make it harder for someone to sneak into your room while you are sleeping or showering, and consider bringing along a battery operated, portable door alarm, which would wake you if someone enters.

*  Consider purchasing the "Travel Safety Handbook: Your Guide to Safer, Better Travel" for more ideas on keeping yourself safe on the road.  

If you take the precautions above, you are quite likely to be able to travel nearly anywhere and have a great time.  You've been waiting your entire life for the opportunity to enjoy unfettered travel.  Enjoy it!

If you are interested in more information about retirement travel, where to retire in the U.S. and abroad, Social Security, Medicare, retirement planning, common medical problems and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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International Travel Warnings and Alerts

Years ago, in the early 1980’s, my husband and I took our children and a teenage babysitter to Jamaica on vacation.  We stayed at a luxurious hotel with a spacious, open-air entry that was undergoing extensive repairs when we arrived. Marble tiles were being removed and replaced throughout the lobby.

After asking several employees about the repairs, one bell boy finally admitted to us that an anti-government revolutionary group had come into the hotel the week before and shot a number of people in the lobby.  Needless to say, this put a real damper on our vacation!  In those days, before the internet, it was not easy to get travel advisories before taking a vacation, so we knew nothing about the political unrest until we arrived.

A few years prior to that frightening trip to Jamaica, we took a trip to Cancun, Mexico, and arrived just as a hurricane was passing by.  Although this trip was only marginally affected by the hurricane (our hotel lost electricity for about 12 hours), it would have been nice to know about the hurricane before we left the United States.

Where to Get Travel Warnings

Today, anyone planning a trip abroad can get up-to-date travel warnings before making their reservations by going to the State Department travel website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel

When the State Department issues a travel warning, they do so because they believe that a long-term situation exists in certain countries which could make it dangerous or unstable to visit those locations.  In those situations, they recommend Americans avoid traveling to those spots.  It may also mean that the U.S. government has a limited ability to assist American citizens who choose to visit the countries because the embassy or consulate may have been closed or is operating with minimal staff.

The list of countries is extensive, but currently includes:  Pakistan, Libya, North Korea, Guinea, Mali, the West Bank and Gaza areas of Israel, Iraq, Congo, Kenya, Afghanistan, Haiti, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Colombia and parts of Mexico, as well as a number of other countries.  Of course, if you are traveling to those countries on government business, your situation is different. If you are considering traveling to undeveloped or dangerous countries or, even more importantly, retiring abroad, you will want to check the U.S. State Department website regularly.

The Difference Between Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts

Sometimes, rather than issue a travel warning, our government issues a travel alert.  When the government issues travel alerts, they are letting you know about short-term conditions that could pose significant risks to the security of American citizens.  The type of risks involved include natural disasters, such as hurricanes, high profile events such as major sporting competitions or international conferences, as well as recent or anticipated terrorist attacks and coups.  Since there are no active hurricanes or coups taking place as I write this, there are no current travel alerts to report.  However, a wise traveler would check out the travel alerts as well as the travel warnings before taking an international trip because both lists can change quickly.

With easy access to government websites on our computers and smart phones, no American citizen should experience the shock of arriving in a country in the middle of an uprising or just prior to a hurricane.  Although not all dangerous travel situations can be avoided, traveling is more pleasant when we can avoid major disasters and political unrest.

If you are interested in more tips about travel, where to retire in the United States or abroad, financial planning, common medical issues or changing family relationships, use the tab or pull-down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of helpful articles.

You may also be interested in reading:

Best Places to Retire Outside the US

Americans Retiring in Panama

Independent Travel vs. Guided Vacations

Retiring in Luxury to Hua Hin, Thailand

Live in Ecuador Comfortably on Social Security

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