Planning Travel for Seniors? 5 Tips for a Great Trip

Today's seniors travel and enjoy their retirement like never before. But planning a group trip for older Americans takes some special considerations to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone.

If you're planning this type of group outing, what should you remember? Here are five important things to keep in mind.

Most public facilities as well as hotels are required to provide for those with mobility challenges. But research the bus company you'll use to make sure they can accommodate everyone's particular needs within your group. When booking blocks of rooms at hotels, request accessible options and to be near the elevator. Check with travelers to see if they have specific access needs that you can research before the trip.

Long days on a bus can be challenging for older bodies, especially if a person has joint issues or bladder challenges. Break up road trips into shorter chunks with plenty of rest and meal breaks. Not everyone will need more breaks, but they're worth offering to those who aren't used to the long haul.

One good way to break up travel days is to schedule small sightseeing stops along the way. Taking a road trip to D.C, for instance? Why not stop for seafood in North Carolina or a brewery tour in Virginia? You break up travel days and get a chance to experience something local and unique.

If traveling to a destination you've never visited, the temptation is to overbook your activities. However, not everyone in your group is likely to be up for long sightseeing days. Pushing too hard may result in some people having to skip activities, getting overly tired, or even getting sick. And older travelers might susceptible to Sundowners, where they have mental and memory difficulties in the evening hours.

Scale back your expectations, perhaps adding a day or two onto the overall travel time in order to get to everything the group wants to see or do. Allow more time for those who like to sightsee at a slower pace or who have trouble getting around.

Older travelers shouldn't be called on to do everything alone. Trekking up and down buses, hauling around luggage, and walking to and from various sites can be taxing on those who deserve to enjoy their trip. Even if you encourage people to travel light, the rigors of road trips can be hard.

One easy solution is to arrange for one or more able-bodied persons to aid the older travelers in your group as needed. These assistants can help with luggage, fetch items for older guests, arrange for the group's tickets or seating, and assist guests with mobility.

Younger helpers will undoubtedly be a hit among your older guests, providing fun and lightening everyone's load. If this isn't possible, work with hotels and sightseeing stops to arrange for assistance or direct you to the best facilities for older ones.

Make sure your group is prepared for certain potential emergencies before heading out. Hopefully, nothing will happen that mars your trip, of course. But you should be prepared in case of medical issues, weather delays, or simple homesickness.

Travelers should carry prescriptions for important medication with them, perhaps arranging with their medical providers to have an at least one week's extra medication. Write down emergency contacts for everyone in the group and make sure you have everyone's cellular numbers. Ask about any special health concerns that may come up (such as diabetes, epilepsy, food allergies, or mental health issues).

At Jean's Bus Service, we specialize in bus travel both down the East Coast and throughout the U.S. Talk with our travel experts for more tips when planning a senior group's trip. We can help you meet everyone's needs so you create a trip of a lifetime for your friends or clients.