The 10 mistakes over 50s make when travelling

As we enjoy, hopefully, more free time and perhaps a little more financial flexibility many over 50s are becoming seasoned travellers. As we travel more-and-more there are still many pitfalls , ignore them at your peril. A good friend of The-Boomers explained to me how she devised a simple checklist to avoid potential slip-ups (as with many of us, me included her new found efficiency is borne out of previous mistakes).

Here we look at the top ten mistakes over 50s make when travelling overseas:

1. Check, check then check again
With bookings now often secured on the internet a simple click can inadvertently scupper those travel plans, check your booking before you hit the ‘buy’ button, mistakes are very difficult and expensive to rectify. Double check those Visa requirements, don’t always assume the websites are up-to-date.

2. Currency & communication
Buy your currency before leaving; you can have a prepaid local currency card from companies like Moneycorp and remember to hold cash for those missed transport links, late arrivals and other emergencies. Communication, roaming, mobiles phones-don’t let your mobile phone company have any excuse to burden you with excessive overseas costs, check the deals, check the rates on roaming or better still purchase a local SIM card and text family & friends your temporary number.

3. ‘It’ll never happen to me’!
As we travel more and have hopefully never had our valuables stolen we can become complacent, our last holiday we booked in and the room safe didn’t work-I waited (despite being desperate for a Gin & tonic) for the offending safe to be fixed-thank goodness I did- the very next morning we learnt the room next door to us was ransacked. Budget for the cash you’ll need and perhaps leave the rest secure, the moneybelt may not be the best fashion accessory but very useful?

4. ‘Better pack those …….I may need them’
A seasoned traveller on budget airlines shared a tip with me, lay everything, absolutely everything you fell you’ll require for your trip on the bed, then be ruthless! Cut the amount in half and then repeat the process, by the time you reach Round 3 you’re at the optimum amount! Think back to how often we’ve returned from holiday with those crisply ironed garments still neatly folded at the foot of your suitcase- plus leaves more room for those extra purchases?

5. The ‘Must See’ list.
Who knows how many arguments, break-ups or ruined holidays the over ambitious sight-seeing schedule has caused. Check the attractions, sights and trips you really want on your itinerary and perhaps spend more time enjoying them? A great tip is chill for a few days first then hit the sights-you deserve it.

6. Insurance-don’t leave home without it.
Don’t scrimp on the medical cover, many countries have crippling emergency health bills and they’ll chased you to the ends ogf the earth to pay. In Europe we have (as we go to press) the EU health card for reciprocal care. Always double check you have the right medication and enough supply when leaving too.
AgeUK travel insurance-No upper age limit

7. Communicate your plans with your bank.
Banks are becoming far more savvy and security conscious when unexpected transactions are made. Your bank will often freeze transactions on cards if they have no prior knowledge of your travel plans-tell them or better still go back to point 2 and obtain a pre paid local currency card.

8. Last minute heroes.
As we become these seasoned travellers we often leave the arrival at the airport to the last moment, great when you time it to perfection-so, so stressful when you don’t. Consider leaving earlier and relaxing in the lounge, a leisurely cup of tea (or perhaps something a little stronger) and start the trip as you intend to go on, relaxed.

9. In transit.
Don’t stack your connections by plane, boat or train to close to each other, over ambitious transfers time can lead to all sorts of challenges if one leg is late, set yourself a realistic and achievable itinerary.

10. Rental cars.
How often do we arrive at our destination airport frazzled and a tad travel weary? not the ideal time to be re-signing contracts and making amends to our bookings, however this is potentially what happens when we go the collect our rental car. We all want to get going as soon as possible, we are then presented with the optional upgrades, do we want wheel and tyre insurance?, fuel or no fuel?-we’ve all been there. Quite often the rental car companies will be offering a great upgrade, but beware this could well be a ‘new’ contract nullifying your previous (often online efforts).

If possible when you book picture the conversation on arrivals and perhaps book the insurance and extra packages before travelling-then stick to your guns. In the event of the upgrade being irresistible, read and re-read the contract before committing your signature.

Finally don’t forget the ‘bestseller’
The ‘bestseller’that holiday read is as important as those new sunglasses, pick your books up before you go there a few places better than the UK for this summer’s must read books.

Airport parking plus why not add access to the airport lounge?