Celebrity Life

Five tips to make traveling with senior citizens stress-free

By Michelle Caligan
Published June 28, 2019 10:00 AM PHT

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"The greatest thing about traveling with a senior parent is the memories you make together."

Most of us have traveled with a senior citizen, whether our parents or an elderly relative. And it wasn't always an easy ride.

As much as we want to bring them to different places, we have to take a few things into consideration when planning our trip.

"My mom Evan wants to be part of the action," tells Migz Hernandez, who works for a financial technology company.

"So once a year, I try to do that for her. I want to reconnect with her that even if I'm all grown up, I still yearn for a mother's wise words; funny stories of old, listen to her proudly telling me of her high school shenanigans, and the joys of having us as kids.

"Lucky for me because my mom is a still very active woman. She scaled Mt. Apo twice in her youth! Anyone who's been to Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore would know how much walking it entails, but she has been game all throughout."

For Yosh Dimen of the awarding-winning travel blog The Poor Traveler, traveling with his mom Siony is a way for them to make memories together.

"The greatest thing about traveling with a senior parent is the memories you make together. That alone is a big thing for us, especially my mom who grew up dirt poor. When we travel, I am almost always assured that the time we spend together is memorable.

"My mom is a bit forgetful but she still remembers the details of our trips from years back. I often hear her talk about our travels with friends and other family members. When she spots on TV something that she enjoyed or encountered in one of our trips, she lights up and begins sharing stories."

We may have developed a certain style when traveling solo or with friends, but when it's with our senior citizen parents, it becomes a different story.

Here are five tips to make the trip less challenging and stress-free.

Create an itinerary FOR them, not FOR you

Bear in mind that your parents may not be as active as you, and would not be able to match your pace in walking or running.

Migz explains, "The trip is not about you, it's about them. Make the necessary adjustments. Spend extra money if need be, book tours if they can't do DIY, choose a hotel that's friendly to their needs and not a backpacker's hostel."

A post shared by Migz Hernandez (@footloosetomcat) on

"Make sure that your itinerary is something that she can enjoy without problem. Don't try to visit all the attractions. Go slow, if necessary. If possible, schedule your outdoor activity in the morning and have a more relaxing and flexible afternoon," says Yosh.

Prioritize their health and safety

If you're the type who goes for extreme activities, skip them when traveling with an elderly.

"Your personal preferences take a backseat when you're traveling with a senior parent," shares Yosh.

"Her welfare comes first. Have a check up before the trip just to ensure everything is fine and bring medicine if necessary.

"If she needs wheelchair assistance, go for it. If taking the public transportation in your destination is close to impossible like during rush hour in Tokyo, hail a cab instead or book a tour beforehand.

"I always make sure that our itinerary isn't tiring. For example, in our recent trip to Australia, we went for convenient tours. If it were just me, I would definitely do a couple of mountain treks, but that's not an option for my mom. She finds it hard to walk long distances especially when it's cold so having access to good transportation options is important."

Honor their wishes

If they want to take a rest or eat again an hour after having lunch or visit a particular spot that's out of the way, do it for them.

According to Yosh, he only chooses attractions that he knows his mom would enjoy. "There were instances when she got tired and didn't want to finish our itinerary. I always take these into consideration when planning our trip. Yes, this means that we get to visit fewer attractions but it's not about the number of stops. This isn't the Amazing Race.

"It's about making each stop matter. I'd like to think that I know my mom well enough to figure out which stops would truly make her day and which ones she wouldn't enjoy that much."

Migz adds, "What you want to see and do might be different from theirs. Enjoy, live every second of it, and travel with them while they can. These moments are too precious to pass up. She doesn't get to go out as often as I could, so I owe it to her to make sure she enjoys the few days off work."

Be flexible and adjust

Expect your itinerary to change constantly when traveling with seniors, so make sure your day is flexible enough to accommodate these changes so you can adjust accordingly.

"With my mom in tow, we can't travel the same pace as when I travel on my own or with my partner. We have to consider frequent bathroom breaks, and the itinerary has to include something that would interest her," Migz shares.

A post shared by Migz Hernandez (@footloosetomcat) on

Yosh also puts allowance between activities. "I don't book tours all at once beforehand. Instead, I book just a couple and then space out the activities. My mom can't sprint, so there has to be plenty of time allowance in between activities."

Avail of senior citizen discounts and perks

Make use of any discount or perk offered to senior citizens. This is, after all, for their convenience.

Yosh reveals, "Many travel companies offer senior discounts. Cruises usually have big promos for seniors, too! But it's not just about the discounts. When queuing, be it at immigration counters or a restaurant, if there is a courtesy lane for seniors, take it and make the journey more comfortable for your senior parent."