15 Travel Mistakes People Over Age 60 Should Avoid
Traveling is one of life’s best experiences. There’s nothing quite like discovering a new destination, culture, cuisine, and scenery.
However, travel also involves many decisions and choices. For those over age 60, certain travel mistakes are common. Here, you’ll find a guide on what to avoid before your next trip.
1. Not Purchasing Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is beneficial for both young adults and seniors, especially for those over age 60. Travel insurance can cover aspects of your vacation like trip cancellation, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, baggage loss, and more depending on the type of insurance and the coverage provided. It’s a smart purchase before a trip, offering peace of mind while traveling.
2. Planning Every Second Of Your Trip
It’s common for the older generation to plan every moment of their trip, from breakfast to dinner and bedtime. People over 60 often enjoy filling their days with restaurant reservations, tours, sightseeing, and more.
However, it’s best to plan only some details of your trip. You might discover something you love and want to spend more time there or get a local recommendation to check out. Plan enough to see some bucket list items but leave some flexibility to explore spontaneously.
3. Choosing The Wrong Destination
Choosing the wrong destination is a common mistake for people over 60, especially those who don’t travel often. It’s important to pick a place that interests you without choosing one that is more popular with younger generations.
Another example of choosing the wrong destination is planning an extensive European trip when you haven’t traveled much before. It’s better to start small, like with a trip to the Caribbean, and gradually build up to more extensive travels as you become more comfortable with the process.
4. Only Visiting Touristy Places
Another common mistake travelers must avoid is visiting only touristy spots, including popular attractions and restaurants. For example, in Rome, Italy, while it’s essential to see the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain, you should also explore local shops, restaurants, parks, and other less touristy places to experience the local Italian culture truly. This approach gives you a more authentic experience.
5. Over Packing
This is a big one. Many people over 60 tend to pack one or more checked bags when traveling to a new destination. This approach is not only inconvenient, but it’s also unnecessary. You don’t need to pack everything you own for a vacation.
Overpacking is also expensive due to additional baggage fees, and it wastes time deciding what to wear. I recommend avoiding overpacking altogether by just using a carry-on. This way, you eliminate these hassles and the worry of losing your bags.
6. Having Too Much Cash On Hand
While having some cash on hand is essential, you shouldn’t carry hundreds of dollars. Many destinations are known for pickpocketing, and losing a large amount of money can significantly impact your vacation. Although having some cash is essential since some places only accept it, it’s important not to carry too much.
I recommend getting a card with no foreign transaction fees so that you don’t have to pay a fee to withdraw money from an ATM in a different country. This way, you can withdraw small amounts from ATMs throughout your trip, and you never have too much cash on you.
7. Not Trying Local Dishes
This is another common mistake travelers need to avoid. Whether visiting a new city in your home country or traveling abroad, researching the local cuisine in advance is always a good idea.
Trying local dishes can be a fun experience, and you might discover a new favorite food. If you don’t like it, you can always revert to your usual choices.
8. Having Too Many Layovers
This tip is crucial for travelers over 60, particularly when going abroad. I suggest opting for direct flights or flights with just one layover. Travel days can be physically taxing, so choosing the shortest and most straightforward flight route to reach your destination is best.
Plus, multiple layovers increase the risk of missing flights and add unnecessary travel time to your day.
9. Not Wearing Comfortable Shoes
Having comfortable footwear is essential while on vacation. Since you’ll be exploring new landscapes, views, and attractions, it’s crucial for your feet to feel at ease, especially considering the amount of walking you’ll likely do.
Uncomfortable shoes can lead to blisters and ruin your vacation days. I suggest investing in quality tennis shoes before your trip and testing them beforehand to ensure they are broken in and comfortable.
10. Picking A Hotel Based On Appearance And Not Location
Many travelers are drawn to hotels for their impressive exterior, stylish interiors, upscale amenities, dining options, and more. However, prioritizing a hotel’s location is far more crucial.
Opting for a luxurious hotel 30 minutes away from your main attractions can result in constant commuting back and forth, wasting valuable time. I recommend selecting a hotel in a central location to minimize walking, using rideshare services, or hailing taxis. This is especially important for travelers over 60 who prefer not to spend the entire day on their feet.
11. Going On Too Many Tours
Guided tours are an incredible way to explore attractions, learn more, and see things from a local’s viewpoint. However, I don’t recommend spending your entire vacation on tours of famous sights.
Instead, I suggest balancing your experiences by participating in a few tours while allowing time to discover places by yourself. This approach enables you to explore at your own pace and uncover hidden gems independently.
12. Not Learning Some Common Phrases Before Heading Abroad
Learning some essential phrases before traveling to another country is beneficial. I suggest mastering greetings like hello and goodbye, basic needs such as asking for the bathroom, and a few local food terms.
This helps in communicating with locals and demonstrating respect for their culture and comes in handy when reading signs and menus or understanding buildings while you’re there.
13. Shopping At Name Brand Stores Rather Than Local Shops
Many travelers overlook the charm of local boutiques in favor of shopping at well-known global brands. While brands like H&M, Zara, and TJMaxx are popular and enjoyable to visit in the US and Europe, exploring local stores can offer a more authentic experience and allow you to support local businesses.
You might even stumble upon unique home decor pieces or clothing items that become your favorites, serving as souvenirs of your time in that city or country!
14. Not Checking Your Phone Plan Before Leaving
These days, many phone plans offer excellent international coverage at affordable prices. However, it’s essential to check with your provider before traveling abroad.
You wouldn’t want to return from your trip to find a hefty bill of hundreds or even thousands of dollars due to roaming charges you weren’t aware of beforehand!
15. Not Downloading Google Maps Offline Before Leaving The Country
Google Maps is helpful for travelers, especially those over 60, but many don’t use it enough. I always suggest downloading Google Maps and the area you plan to visit for your vacation spot.
If your cell service isn’t great, you can still get directions offline and feel confident exploring a new place.
Have You Made Any Of These Mistakes Before?
Let us know in the comments!
