Ken and I are now firmly entrenched in our sixties with retirement looming. I am sure it will not come as a shock to any of our faithful followers that we plan to travel frequently and with gusto in our retirement. Despite all of our careful organizing and planning there is an emerging issue that we have been forced to deal with… what its like to travel as we age.
I remember our parents bemoaning the aging process. I scoffed at it then because I still viewed them as vibrant and active. But I get it now. Is it really possible to have a nondescript ache or pain all the time? Apparently so.
Having said all that we are doing our best to keep healthy with diet and exercise and a positive mental attitude. So to those of us that are “middle aged” (call me old at your own risk), here are some of the issues we face at our age, and how we are coping with them on the road.
Washrooms
Not just an issue for the older traveler, but one that is common as well for families of small children. Sometimes you just have to go!
The availability of washrooms can vary between countries and even cities within. Germany has a rule that all washrooms must be open to the public, but Spain not so much.
Most restaurants have ones for patrons only, but public buildings such as museums and galleries are available to everyone. Churches generally never have facilities you can use.
Many tourist areas have public restrooms you can use but may charge a small fee to enter so it is helpful to carry coins. I always have a few extra available to pay it forward, in honour of a very sweet woman on a bus trip that pretty much financed all of us.
Cleanliness and availability of supplies can be an issue as well, so carrying flushable wipes and hand sanitizer was a must even before the pandemic. This is especially true at ancient sites where the plumbing is older.
Longer bus rides will include a “comfort stop”, usually at a roadside facility similar to the OnRoutes located along the 400 series highways in Ontario. A good excursion description will include that fact. A lot of buses used to have washrooms onboard but that seems to be a thing of the past anymore. Trains are no problem at all.
Some European countries have introduced unisex washrooms. Open to both genders the stalls are fully enclosed with locking doors wherein the rest of the facility, such as the hand washing stations, are shared. We were warned about this at a restaurant we stopped at but it was still oddly uncomfortable sharing that space.
Many tourist maps included a notation for the location of public washrooms, referred to as Water Closets in Europe. Check for a W.C. on your map or in your guide book. In fact the term washroom is very North American. Asking for for the toilet, which may seem vulgar to us, is sometimes the most commonly understood word.
Prescriptions
Aside from taking a supply of over the counter medications for everything from an upset stomach to aches and pains remember to take a sufficient supply of your prescription medications. Prescriptions should be packed in the bottle that they came in from the pharmacy clearly showing the name of the drug and daily dosage.
If you have any other medical concerns or allergies be sure you have sufficient information readily available in case of an emergency. Medical alert bracelets or other notification methods are essential. This is probably also the time to mention out of country medical insurance is a must at our age.
I also take along a copy of eye glass prescription as well as a pair of extra glasses. Being totally blind without them means I am extra careful. Prescription sun glasses are also important.
This small reminder may avoid issues that could ruin an otherwise perfect vacation.
Walking and Mobility
Many excursion descriptions will clearly indicate the amount of walking and the terrain to expect on their itinerary. Read between the lines to distinguish the bus tour from the more adventurous walking tours if you do have mobility issues.
Before booking your vacation check for the availability of accessible rooms on your ship or in your hotel. These may be limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
If you are using Airbnb for a room or apartment check to see if the building has an elevator. If you are not sure do a Google street view of the building to see if there are multiple stories that may require you to climb a steep flight of stairs every night.
Lastly be sure you have comfortable, breathable walking shoes. A turned ankle, swollen calves or sore feet will put a damper on any vacation.
Sleep
At the end of a busy day of sightseeing, eating and drinking I don’t usually have a problem falling asleep, but it is not the case every time. Lack of, or an interrupted sleep, can ruin even the best laid plans for the following day.
A noisy cruise ship or hotel room can interrupt even the most deserved night’s sleep. We travel with a white noise machine to smooth out the jarring noises and help us maintain a deeper sleep. We also carry over the counter sleeping pills just in case.
If you have allergies be sure to check in advance if your room will have non- allergenic pillows available or pack your own from home. If you are concerned about space in your luggage try shrink wrapping your pillow, like you would a steak for the freezer, so it occupies less room.
I am sure there are more issues we will experience as we continue to get older. Whatever they are we will find a way to deal with them because deciding not to travel is not an option.