The zeal to explore new places knows no age. It doesn’t matter if you have the energy of a young or the wisdom of an old chap – travelling to a new city or a new destination can make you feel accomplished. And that’s something we all thrive for, don’t we? Travelling to a new place provides you with an escape, a temporary disconnect from your regular day of juggling through multiple emails and getting stuck in traffic. Travelling is all about new experiences and with the upcoming summer holidays, make sure your family also gets to enjoy such experiences. While travelling solo is relatively easy, it’s travelling with the family that needs meticulous planning. A lot of things can be lost in transition and you need to prepare yourself well in advance for any mishap . A more careful approach should be taken when you’re travelling with a senior member of your family.

So, here are a few things you should keep in mind while planning a family trip, especially with seniors .

While travelling with your parents, always look for a destination that’s easily reachable via flight or road. A destination that appeals to you and your family’s need is the one you should go for. For instance, Barcelona is filled with museums and art galleries along with shopping malls to keep you and your family hooked. But as someone who is planning a family holiday, keep in mind the needs of your parents as well. You may be able to withstand the twisty roads of a curvy mountain but your parents will get tired soon enough.

Some other factors to keep in mind about the destination are :-

Yes, the summers can be amazing for a trip to the Swiss Alps, but when travelling with seniors, the chilling mountains should be avoided. Look for a place which is neither too hot nor too cold for your parents to bear.

Make sure to check the weather during your stay. A rainy day can spoil your experience of visiting a city.

Look up for medical facilities available along with the local hit tourist spots.

How easy/affordable it is to rent out a car ? Is getting a cab more reasonable ? Is the local metro train transit suitable for the elderly and kids? Such questions you must get answers of before booking those tickets.

Another thing you should keep in mind while planning a family trip is booking a hotel that respects the needs of a senior citizen. Make sure to look for a hotel which has a room on the ground floor for ease of mobility. You must check in advance whether the room has a walk-in shower.

For booking your air tickets, try to book a non-stop flight to your destination. Connecting flights can be tiresome for the elderly. Also, if there is a mobility issue with the senior member of your family, make sure to call the airport 24 hours in advance and let them know you need medical assistance.

With seniors, try not to book too many activities for them in a day. Chances are they will get tired too soon and will not be able to enjoy their holiday.

Travelling with senior needs a more careful approach as the chances of them falling sick are more. You can be prepared by knowing the closest hospital and medical services available in the city, but to free yourself from any hassle, you must take the necessary step of getting travel insurance. But picking the right travel insurance that covers your family & senior members is a task. This can easily be avoided if you have

Reliance General Insurance’s Senior Citizen Travel Insurance Plan Reliance General Insurance’s plan covers senior citizens from the age of 61 to 90 years and requires no medical check-up to 90 years. It even covers pre-existing diseases and has world wide coverage for cashless emergency hospitalisation. And for you, Reliance General Insurance has International Travel Insurance Plan with country-specific plans and has the same benefits for the senior citizens .

Making an itinerary will help you plan your holiday better. Make sure to have a checklist of all the essentials as well – first aid kit, water bottle, light snacks and so on. While you’re at it, ensure you pack all the necessary medical items for seniors such as a gluco-meter, BP monitor, and any other specific medical requirements.

No doubt, planning is stressful, especially a holiday where everyone is happy . But by following simple steps you can make it enjoyable for all. From carrying all the essentials to booking everything in advance, from picking the right place to fetching the much-needed travel insurance from Reliance General Insurance can count for an amazing holiday.