The world’s population is aging and more attention is now being focussed on the needs of the elderly. This month’s posts will focus on traveling with the elderly, tips, must know facts and other information that I hope will be helpful the next time you have to travel with an elderly parent, grandparent, relative or friend.

Before any trip with an elderly friend or relative, it is prudent to consult their physician. They will be able to advise you on the best mode of travel and even the safest route, which often times may not be the fastest, but it is always better to be safe than sorry where health is concerned.

It is useful to bear in mind that older travelers are also more sensitive to changes in the climate and environment. The most important consideration is to ensure that the conditions of travel are suited to his or her physical condition.

Many airlines do not allow oxygen tanks to be transported, either as baggage or with the afflicted person. Therefore, if you are traveling with someone suffering from a respiratory condition, you will need to make alternate plans. The same holds true of certain cardiac ailments or those on certain medications, so do check with the airline before you book.

Many airports have made concessions for elderly passengers by providing free wheelchairs and transportation services to get them from the ticket counter to the gate and back. Just be sure to alert the ticket agent of your need and it’s more than likely that you’ll receive excellent service from enthusiastic assistants. Don’t over-estimate the ability of your elderly relative walk through the airport from gate to gate. Even a short distance can wear out someone using a cane or suffering from a physical ailment.

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Mistake #09: Booking connecting flights back-to-back

Another common mistake we all make is in our haste to avoid long transit time, we book connecting flights that are too close together. Recently a client of mine had to fly from Singapore to Beijing before heading off to Mongolia. Unfortunately the time between the flights was an hour and a half, but the distance from the two terminals was quite far, so although he sprinted, he still missed his flight and an important meeting. Therefore, it is best to ensure that the time between connecting flights are not too close. Worse case, you hang around I transit for several hours. At least you can shop at duty free, which is a much better option than missing your flight!

Bottom line, ensure that the gap between connecting flights gives you enough time to get from one terminal to the next, also factoring in delays in your first flight.

Mistake #10: not making reservations

Always, and I can’t say this enough, always make reservations before your leave for your holiday. Imagine flying several hours to your destination only to be told that the hotel has no rooms available. Thats asking for a coronary! So make your reservations bearing in mind peak times etc. Summer season means that most hotels, B&B’s and guest houses are booked in UK, so if you are flying to UK during this time, it is best to book early to avoid disappointment. On the other hand, if you are traveling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, most hotels offer discounts during the summer period, often 20%, as its a slack period for them. Bottom line, do some research and make your reservations early.

Common travel mistakes to avoid! PART 3

Mistake #05: Not backing up your pictures

This is not something that is going to cost you money unlike the other common mistakes listed previously, but its certainly going to leave you banging your head against the wall in frustration and disappointment. Most of us take much pains to capture in minute detail, the beauty of the place that we are visiting, unfortunately most of us just don’t make a habit of backing our prized photos.  Its so easy to lose your photos. From a virus in the computer at the internet cafe to a stolen camera, in a matter of seconds you can lose all your precious photos. It’s such an unnecessary mistake to make because no matter where I’ve been there has always been a place to burn my pictures onto a DVD or CD and for a very reasonable price as well. Get into the habit of backing up photos regularly in any way possible because even if your USD 3000 camera is stolen the thing you will miss the most is those irreplaceable pictures of your travels, plus if your took out an insurance plan, you can always claim for your stolen or lost camera, provided you get furnish the insurance agent with all the necessary documents ! Bottom line, back up your photos, its better to be safe than sorry!

Mistake #06: Getting mad

Getting angry in a foreign country is not going to solve anything. Try and understand the local culture and way they do things, after all, you are a guest in that country and just because they  do not do things the way you are used to them being done, does not necessarily mean that its wrong. Enjoy your journey and learn from your experience and try to remember that the whole reason you chose to travel there was because it was exotic and different. Be patient if you are traveling in a country where English is not the first language. You may want to speak slowly and use less complicated words to get your message across. Avoid being patronizing though. Bottom line, enjoy your travels and respect and understand the local culture.

Common travel mistakes to avoid! PART 2

Mistake #03: Not buying insurance
Although it may seem like an unnecessary expense, I strongly advise you to buy travel insurance before a trip. Recently I traveled to Mongolia on work. Unfortunately, Air China decided to leave my colleague’s luggage containing everything we required for our presentation the next day. No matter how much we pleaded with them, the airline would only send us our bag the next day in the evening, way after our presentation was over. If that wasn’t bad enough, I had to pay my tour company an additional USD 200 to send the misplaced bag to the remote town that we stayed in.

Right now, I am in the midst of trying to claim insurance. Luckily for me, I had the foresight the take out a plan, however, getting the money from the company in question is akin to getting blood from a stone, so fingers crossed.

Bottom line is, take out an insurance plan. Read the fine print, see if it is suitable and if the agent understands what you require and recommends something suitable for you and not for their commission. If your baggage gets lost, get a letter from the airline stating that they lost your baggage, keep your ticket, boarding pass and a list of the bags contents handy so you can furnish your insurance provider with these documents in order to make your claim.

Mistake #04: Using a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees
Take a good look at your credit card. Check the fine print in your cardmember agreement. Does it charge a “foreign transaction fee”? Many do. My neighbor booked airline tickets from Mumbai to New York through Qatar Airways on Expedia. But when her credit card bill arrived, it contained a surprise USD44 transaction fee, because Qatar Airways was not based in the United States, even though the transaction took place entirely in dollars. The best way to avoid a foreign transaction fee is to use a card like Capital One, which not only doesn’t impose any transaction fees, but also absorbs the 1 percent fee that Visa or MasterCard charges it for a cross-border transaction. Bottom line, call your bank if you are in doubt and read the small print to prevent any surprise charges.

Flying in comfort: Part 3

Tips

Go to the bathroom RIGHT before you leave. This will decrease your chances you will have to go on the plane. The bathrooms on an airplane are small, and they don’t have the most pleasant smell.

(Sudafed) to help relieve pressure in your ears during takeoff and landing. Please note, however, that if you fly to Japan or New Zealand, Sudafed and other cold cures that contain pseudoephedrine are considered controlled substances and are illegal to bring into the country. Pseudoephedrine is also an “upper”, and may prevent you from napping.

Alternative solutions to the ear pressure problem (whether or not you have a cold) include chewing gum and opening your mouth.

Pressure relieving earplugs (a brand name is EarPlanes) also help to relieve air pressure changes during flights.

Don’t worry about getting up to use the restroom often; the walking about will be good for the blood flow in your legs.

If you have a strong fear of flying or have troubles falling asleep during the flight, you could ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine medication [Valium/Xanax/Restoril(c)]. These will lower your anxiety levels and are sedating. Do not use alcohol to sleep.

If you tend to get airsick, drink a small bottle of ginger ale before boarding, carry a newspaper in your backpack, and take some lemon drops. The ginger will help calm your stomach, the smell of the newspaper will help you relax, and the lemon drops will soothe your body.

If first (or business) class isn’t completely sold out, boarding crews occasionally invite some coach class customers to move up. Your chances of this happening are best if you are dressed appropriately—this means no jeans or sweatshirts, no open-toed sandals, and no backpack or other unwieldy carry-on luggage.

Get the wax mouldable over-the-counter ear plugs. They work better than the cheap foam ones and are less expensive than the custom made ones. If you are concerned about noise, try to sit forward of the engines.

WetOnes are one of the best inventions ever: a self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.

Don’t use “no jet lag” pills. These are placebo (so called “homeopathic”) sorbitol pills with zero active ingredients. You will get similar results from tic-tacs.

Try downloading a few podcasts to your MP3 player before you leave. There are loads of them around, and there should be one that suits your interests. If you’re travelling alone for a while, a podcast or two should keep you company.

The last row of seats usually do not recline.

If you want earplugs but didn’t bring any, use tissue.

Armrests can be raised (even on the aisle) but some have a hidden release latch. Ask flight crew.

Short flights may take longer than driving when you consider airport parking, security lines, waiting for boarding, luggage pickup, car rental, cost, etc.

Keep a photocopy (or more) of your main passport page spread out through your luggage. If your passport is lost or stolen, having the copy will make it MUCH easier to straighten out. If your bag is misplaced, it’s more likely to be returned to you.

Bring a bag of lollipops. If you’re seated near a crying child, offer them to the parent; they make an effective silencing tool!.

Plan for airport layovers, too. They can take time, but they are also a good opportunity to stretch your legs.

Turn off all Wifi/Bluetooth/Cellular communications in your phone. Most smartphones have the aptly named airplane mode.

If the airline you are travelling with provides blankets, it is a good idea to sleep with the blanket over your head to block out light and also if you like privacy.

This may go without saying, but this does happen. DO NOT attempt to shave in a airplane!