TRAVEL TIPS

Important Facts When Traveling Abroad

Senior Citizens

What we take for granted when taking a trip in our country may turn out to be a nightmare abroad. Case in point: Medication. If you have a preexisting medical condition and have to carry your medication, make sure you have a letter from your physician detailing your need for prescription drugs. You don't want to be arrested in a foreign country because customs suspect you of carrying an illegal substance.

A middle-aged lady traveled to France with a heavy suitcase; unfortunately for her, it did not have wheels and she had to struggle mightily to transfer from one plane to another. Porters are not always available at busy airports. So make sure you don't pack too much, since even with wheels, you are going to have to lift the baggage sooner or later.

Altitude can have a devastating effect on older passengers with preexisting conditions. For example, Mexico City, Toluca (Mex), La Paz ( Bolivia), Quito (Ecuador), Bogota (Colombia), are all above 7,000 feet or 2,000 meters. Any kind of physical effort can produce a shortage of breath and acceleration of the pulse, both accompanied with an increased heartbeat to supply the necessary oxygen to muscles. Check with your doctor before planning the trip!

Consider the type of healthcare available where you are going; some places will require air transportation to your country because no specialized health care is available locally. That means lengthy delays that could result in permanent disability or death. In any case, make sure you get comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your trip (AA travel insurance might be worth a try).

A helpful tip is to write your personal information on a 6x4 card and place it inside your luggage. That way it will be much easier to locate the suitcase if misplaced by the airline. Another good idea is to buy distinctive colorful symbols and stick them on your luggage. Since most suitcases look alike, you will be able to spot yours immediately on the conveyor belt and prevent other people from taking your luggage by mistake.

Small Children Care

You may have seen the sad case of a little girl that disappeared in Portugal and was never found. If you travel with small children, it is important not to take anything for granted, as they tend to wander by themselves and trust strangers who offer them candy. NEVER LET THEM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT! If you are walking around the city, use a "leash", one of those elastic cords that you can attach to your kid. That way, he or she will never be able to escape from your attention. Enlist the help of the whole family to look after small children; everyone will be responsible in case you have to be alone for a moment.