Travelling can be tough even on the fittest people in their prime; it’s stressful, busy, and hugely tiring. So you can imagine how much tougher it is on your aging parents and relatives! Age brings it’s own benefits and pitfalls, but we believe that restricted traveling capacity shouldn’t be one of the common cons because, with some support, there’s no reason why elderly individuals should not be able to travel in relative comfort with minimal stress. Here’s how you can begin to minimize the stress and discomfort that long journeys can often cause for elderly travelers.

Plan ahead and do some research

When you’re traveling with aging parents it’s really important that you do your research well in advance to make sure that all the travel arrangements and accommodations are going to be compatible with any special requirements they may have. Look into the shortest most direct routes, the most suitable methods of travel, and the accommodations which meet any specific needs (for example ground floor accommodations or elevator access). You could also look into senior discounts; they’re rarer now than ever, but some companies still offer them.

Request Special Services and prepare for security

If your parents or relatives have particular conditions or needs, passing through security and airport traversal in general, can be a pain. If you think that a wheelchair service can be of help be sure to let the airport and airline know in advance as they have no obligation to meet such needs at check-in. If a wheelchair is needed, then the security screening can be completed sitting down, but even if a wheelchair is unnecessary you can still request that elderly members of your party have a wand screening to the side. Any steel implants such as those found in hip or knee replacements will set off sensors, but if you bring a physician’s note explaining their presence it won’t cause too much issue.

Make sure comfortable, slip-on shoes are worn for ease and speed.

Have all documents to hand

When traveling abroad it’s really key to make sure that everyone has a government issued passport in advance, and furthermore to make at least three sets of copies of all important documents. This means passports, boarding passes, medical certificates, prescriptions, travel tickets, insurance documents and cards, and of course your itinerary. Put one set on your carry-on, one set in your checked luggage, and keep one at home. Make sure you have the phone number of your family doctor should you need to call for a consultation while abroad.

Pack Smarter

The smartest thing to do, if you can, is to put everything utterly essential, everything you would need if your luggage was lost, in your carry-on. This means prescriptions and prescription medications (and over-the-counter stuff if you have a brand preference), any medical statements or physician’s notes, and of course some hygiene essentials. A clean set of underwear, a small stick deodorant, wet wipes, and some talcum powder can go a long way to making you feel more comfortable if your luggage goes missing.

Hide your money

It’s key that you protect your elderly travel companions from the kinds of thieves who might prey on their vulnerability. Things like the Passage Wallet do a lot of good here; this is a money holder which hides under clothing and is attached with a neck cord. You could also consider money belts, or hidden wallets; it’s all about what works best for the person in question.

Comfort

Once safety is out of the way you can think about comfort; a travel pillow and blanket never go amiss is making flights more comfortable, and soft, comfortable clothes which allow room to breathe are also a good idea.

If you do all this you’ll help take some of the stress and discomfort out of longer journeys for your aging parents and elderly relatives.

Whether you are a planned-to-the-second traveller, a grab-it-and-go vacationer, or a happy medium type of tourist there are some things that you should always bring with you when you head off on your vacation. Traveling is never stress free, we know this, but you can make it a little less stressful if you remember to bring each of the items listed below.

Reading Materials

Whether it’s a magazine, a journal, or a paperback (or the digital versions of these on a device), having reading material can make delays and waiting periods much easier to bear when you’re traveling. These are as perfect for escaping the tedium of airport waiting rooms as they are for whiling away hours by the pool… just be sure to pack a variety of options so you can read according to your mood.

Chargers for Electronics

This one’s a biggie! Especially if you have a few stop-overs in the middle. Nothing is guaranteed to send a long-distance traveler into meltdown like realizing the phone they rely on for navigation, timekeeping, and translation is going to run out of juice because they forgot their charger. You are not always going to be able to get a replacement soon, either, so it’s best to check you have them!

Camera

There are few things which keep vacation memories alive quite like photos. Whether they’re digital and kept in an online album, traditional polaroid snaps in a scrapbook, or prints destined for frames around your home photos keep you connected to those vacation memories after you have arrived home.

Medication

If you take prescription medication of any kind it is really essential that you make sure you have them with you, and that you have enough to last you for your whole vacation. Have some in your carry-on as well as your case so that if you happen to lose your luggage you have some to tide you over until you can track down more. You might also want to carry some basic over-the-counter medications like paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea medications, and allergy pills, too, so you don’t have to go out hunting for a drugstore in the middle of the night.

Cash and Cards

This is very important when traveling out of your home country on vacation; make sure you have several methods of payment with you. Cash is key for when you first land so that you can pay for things when you first arrive, but credit and debit cards are also good so that you don’t have to walk around with lots of cash on you. Plus, if cards are stolen you can cancel them before too much damage is done… just make sure you let your bank know you’re travelling so you can use your card freely without it being frozen due to suspicious activity.

If you’ve got all this with you, at least, you’re on the way to a less stressful traveling experience than usual with taking a vacation. This isn’t all you need, though, so do be sure to check you have packed enough underwear!

It is so important that you feel secure and safe when you travel, and when it comes to peace of mind there are few things which will give you as much as travel insurance. Obviously we would all hope that nothing goes wrong during our hard-earned vacation time, but anything can (and unusually does) happen so it’s wise to invest in a safety net for you and your loved ones.

Should you find yourself stranded, injured, lost, you lose your suitcase, have something stolen, or you are caught unawares by cancelled bookings travel insurance can take the sting out of it by ensuring that, at the very least, you’re not left out of pocket by it all.

Obviously it would be best if you did not need your travel insurance at all, but it is better to be safe than sorry!

What Should Be Covered in your Travel Insurance Policy

The most important thing must be making sure that you’re getting insurance which covers you in all the ways you need it to.  If we were to make a list of must haves for your policy it would go like this:

1. Personal injury and accident cover must be included.
2. Coverage in case you should need to cancel any arrangements at the last minute due to illness, accident, family emergencies, etc.
3. Cover that is active in the country you’re visiting (this is a more common omission than you’d expect).
4. Coverage for any cancellations made due to trouble or upheaval in the country you’re visiting, and provision for emergency evacuation and care should you need it. $300,000 USD worth of cover in this case would be ideal.
5. Higher levels of coverage for medical expenses in the case of injury or illness. At least $100,000 USD worth is recommended.
6. 24/7 emergency assistance; imagine being told to call back later in an emergency!

Alongside these basic essentials you should consider the following:

1. Coverage for your electronics (most basic plans and policies offer very limited coverage for such goods).
2. Comprehensive cover for your property (suitcase, cameras, jewellery, etc) in case of theft, damage or loss.
3. Financial protection should the company insuring you go bankrupt while you’re away on vacation.

What Isn’t Covered:

What’s really key, however, is that you understand what isn’t actually covered by your insurance policy; this gives you time to remedy the fact if you wish to, and gives you something to think about when planning your vacation. For example, any accident or loss of property which occurs during activities that the insurer might consider “reckless” (bungee jumping, skydiving etc) will not be covered in most cases. If you’re bringing a lot of valuables with you, too, you may need to up your coverage amount for such things.

So, when you plan your next trip abroad please don’t hesitate to make this small but important investment! It can be a real life-saver, after all.

Dating back to the ancient civilizations of indigenous groups including the Aztec, the Inca and the Maya, palapas and thatched buildings have long been a popular architectural tradition in Mexico.  A palapa is an open-sided structure consisting of sustainable materials including a thatched roof made with dried palm leaves and branches.  They continue to be the favored choice for beachside bars and restaurants as well as resorts with a tropical vibe.  Because they offer a fantastic solution for providing shade and a cool place to relax when it gets too hot in the sun, they are extremely common throughout the coastlines of Mexico which are home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world.  

Thatched roofs, which are the most common type in the world, are most often crafted in Mexico with dried palm leaves that are layered in a pattern designed to shed water and keep the inner roof dry.  This roofing method, which has been around for centuries, is a common architectural feature found in both temperate and tropical climates including several Central American countries.  Builders in developing nations still use this technique because it is cost effective, largely due to the use of local, sustainable vegetation that is readily available.  

Palapa roofs are lighter than other roofing choices, which means less timber is needed to support them, making them very ecologically friendly.  They are an ideal choice for irregular roof structures because the materials don’t need to fit exact standard dimensions to produce a roof that functions well.  As an added bonus, they can be crafted with used, natural and recycled materials for the ultimate in sustainable building.   

Ironically, this style of structure has become extremely popular in developed countries in recent years as well because more homeowners want to use sustainable materials whenever possible, or they are looking for a more rustic style in their backyard.  Fortunately, there are plenty of natural characteristics of thatched structures that make them naturally suited to high performance and ready to face the elements.

When applied correctly, thatched roofs on palapas are naturally resistant to most things the weather can throw their way, including major winds.  One of their best features is that they don’t absorb much water, and a wet roof will not get heavy with water retention if it is properly maintained, meaning thatched styles are perfectly suited to tropical regions that receive heavy rainfall.  This is achieved by designing the roof with a pitch of at least 50 degrees, which guides rain down the slope so quickly that it is off of the roof before it can have any effect on the structure.  The air pockets automatically built into a thatched roof provide amazing natural insulation too, which ensures the structure will stay cool in the heat and warm when the temperature drops.  

Enjoy some downtime underneath a relaxing palapa and appreciate the simple yet timeless design the next time you visit Mexico.