Guide To Travelling Abroad with Your Parents

​​From listening to bedtime stories from your p​arents to now wanting to make memories with them on international excursions, look at ho​w ​the tables have turned. 

Taking your senior parents on an international trip requires more planning than spontaneity, as there are many aspects to look into when travelling abroad with one parent or both.

There is so much planning involved, from curatin​g the travel itinerary for senior-friendly international trips to finding the best places to visit with parents outside India. In addition, you must also keep in mind the various health and other limitations to plan well.

Find a detailed guide to help you plan an exciting and affordable family travel abroad to create memories with your parents.

Practical Tips When Travelling Abroad with One Parent or Both

Medical Support​

• Pre-Trip Doctor Visit - Schedule a doctor’s consultation for your parents before embarking on your international travel to assess their fitness and overall health conditions. 

• Documentation - Collate all the necessary doctor prescriptions and medication documents in one file and keep soft copies on your phone in case they are required in urgent situations.

• Medical Help - Before booking your accommodation, check for nearby hospitals and clinics to ensure prompt medical attention for your parents whenever necessary.

• First-Aid - Pack a standard first-aid kit in your suitcase for emergencies.

• Medicine Surplus - Carry a surplus of all the medicines that your parents require daily and set proper reminders according to the time difference between India and your travel destination to avoid medicine gaps.

• Travel Insurance - Invest in a travel insurance plan that offers extensive medical coverage for emergencies. 

​Packing Hacks

• Weather Checks - Assess the weather conditions of the different family-friendly travel destinations you wish to explore so you can pack the right clothes to maximise your comfort without compromising your health. 

• Carry-On Bag - Keep the necessary medical documents, medicines, and other crucial health-related items in your carry-on for easy accessibility whenever required throughout the trip.

• Footwear - Depending on the activities you plan, pack the correct footwear for your parents to reduce the risk of strain and injuries during the trip. 

• Mobility Equipment - Collect and pack all the mobility and other equipment your parents require. The list includes a lightweight cane, a travel wheelchair, a hearing aid, a folding walker, and a cervical neck pillow. ​

Transportation Tips

• Airport Staff Support - Pre-book airport assistance at your first destination to ensure proper baggage management and ample support for your parents, especially if they have mobility issues. 

• Choice of Transport - Choose self-paced and comfortable transportation options that do not require too much effort to commute from one place to another. Some examples include cruises, ferries, cabs, car rentals, trains, etc.

• Prior Bookings - Pre-book all possible transportation options in advance to significantly reduce the wait time. This will further ensure maximum comfort for your parents without having to wait in long queues. 

• Other Requirements - If your parents have mobility issues, you must also assess the availability of supporting equipment with various transportation options, such as elevators, ramps, wheelchair access, etc.

Itinerary Support

• Take Parents’ Input - Get your parents' input when choosing the best places to visit with parents outside India. Talk to them about the various activities in different countries to understand their preferences.

• Flexible Itinerary - When travelling with your parents, leave room for spontaneous changes in the itinerary, as they might require more rest on certain days. 

• Duration - Plan the duration of your trip smartly, with ample breaks to accommodate your parents’ comfort requirements and energy levels.

Tips for Choosing Family-Friendly Travel Destinations

• Weather - One of the first things you should check when finding the best places to visit with parents outside India is the weather conditions in all the different destinations to choose the most appropriate one for parents. 

• Activities - When selecting the list of activities for your international trip, understand the different health limitations your parents might have to find enjoyable excursions that support their health issues without straining them.

• Infrastructure - Parents usually need help walking around hilly areas, slippery roads, curved lanes, and rocky paths. Thus, when choosing between diff​erent family-friendly travel destinations, assess the road infrastructure and surroundings of various places before selecting the ones with flatter terrains. 

• Culture - Based on the cultural experiences offered by different international destinations, pick the ones that provide a good mix of cultural learning, sightseeing, and historical landmarks.

​Best Places to Visit with Parents Outside India​​​​​

Planning for Senior Friendly International Trips

Trip Types and Duration

Depending on your parents’ travel style and preferences, you must carefully curate an itinerary that aligns with their individual choices without compromising on savings and activities. 

For affordable family travel abroad, the first step is selecting the type of trip you want to take and the duration for the same. Some of the options include the following - 

Beach Destinations​​​

When travelling abroad with one parent or both parents who love being around water and sunshine, you must book destinations that offer numerous beaches and water activities, giving a good glimpse into island life. 

For parents especially, the choice should depend on the accessibility of the location, the accommodation options, the food joints around, and so on. Moreover, the duration for such destinations should be between 7 and 10 days. 

Some suggestions include - 

• Lively beach towns like Cascais in Portugal, Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, and Essaouira in Morocco.

• Clearwater beaches in Florida, Vietnam, Spain, and Thailand.

• Luxury beach vacations at Maldives, Koh Samui, and the Dominican Republic.

Wildlife Excursions

If your parents love animal encounters and are fascinated by wildlife, it is recommended that you book international trips to countries with a wide variety of wildlife excursions for them.

The trip length should be around 5 to 10 days, depending on the types of activities and tourist attractions available at the chosen location. Prioritise locations that offer comfortable commuting options and senior citizen assistance when required. 

Some suggestions include - 

• Marine wildlife in Alaska with whale watching, Indonesia with Raja Ampat, and Australia with snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef.

• Day and Night Safaris at Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, Etosha National Park in Namibia, and Kruger National Park in South Africa. ​​

​​C​ruises

Cruises offer a good mix of relaxation, comfort, sightseeing, and cultural learning. You can explore a wide range of cruises curated for different locations, covering numerous international destinations in one itinerary. 

However, when choosing a cruise exploration, you must choose carefully between short cruises (3-7 days) and longer ones (10-15 days) based on your parents’ comfort and capacity. You must also be mindful of seasickness, as that directly impacts the overall trip experience. 

Some suggestions include - 

• Southeast Asia offers cultural cruises on the Nile River, the Caribbean Sea, and different island cruise options. 

• Any of the river cruises in Europe

• Mediterranean island cruise trips that take you around Croatia, Italy, France, Greece, and so on.

Guided vs Independent Tours

One of the most important decisions regarding the trip itinerary is whether to choose a guided and fixed trip itinerary with a group or a flexible, independent trip.​

• Guided tours offer the convenience of a fixed plan for every day, complete assistance with logistics, and an overall informative trip experience. However, at times, these tours might be too fast-paced for your parents, limiting their enjoyment and freedom to explore as they want.

• Independent tours, on the other hand, allow you and your parents to explore at your own pace without the rush of quick shifts from one place to another. This is ideal for parents who love walking and exploring new places and tourist attractions, with proper breaks in the middle if required. 

Understanding Different Needs of Senior Travellers

The first step in planning for senior-friendly international trips is to evaluate the various limitations that can be a potential problem when exploring new destinations. 

Whether it be a small concern like walking discomfort or a more significant medical issue, taking note of them helps with better planning. Here is all you need to evaluate. 

Health Limitations​​

Parents of all ages might have a set of health conditions or risks that must be taken care of before planning their international trip. 

With the right supervision and precautions, these health limitations can be addressed and resolved. Let's discuss some of the potential health limitations below. 

Pre-Existing Conditions​

One of the most common and stressful concerns when travelling with your parents is their pre-existing conditions. If not addressed correctly, these health conditions can cause significant discomfort during the international trip. 

The common list of these conditions includes the following - 

• Heart Disease - Many times, high altitude and frequent altitude changes, long journeys, and trip activities can cause stress on the heart, leading to immediate discomfort and an increased risk of heart fatalities. 

• Arthritis - Several international destinations offer guided tours, long lanes for pedestrians, and other excursions that require long hours of continuous walking. However, parents with arthritis can find it very difficult to complete such activities without straining their joints. 

• Respiratory Issues - Often, allergies caused by climate change, air pollutants, and other particles in the environment can cause nasal congestion and irritation, resulting in instant aggravation of many respiratory issues. 

• Diabetes - People with diabetes require extra attention at all times and need to complete their prescribed medication on time to avoid adverse effects. Moreover, their food intake has to be monitored as well to prevent sudden hikes or drops in their blood sugar levels.

Sensory Concerns​​

Another health limitation that should be an important consideration when planning senior-friendly international trips is sensory concerns. With age, health concerns like poor eyesight or hearing impairment are common. However, these issues can significantly impact trip planning. 

Moreover, these health limitations also require proper equipment and personnel support to maximise your parents’ convenience and give them a memorable experience.

Stamina Issues

Going to any international destination requires flight bookings based on your arrival and departure locations. However, people with stamina issues might find it difficult to endure long flights, extended trips, and other stamina-demanding activities.

Necessary Medications

For most health concerns, specific medications are prescribed in the required dosage and frequency to prevent the conditions from getting worse. Moreover, these medications might not be readily available in most international destinations. 

Thus, it is crucial to have the right medicines in adequate quantity when travelling abroad with one parent who has a specific health condition. 

Physical Limitations

Other than the health limitations mentioned above, many physical body issues limit the type of trip itinerary and travel destination options you can explore when choosing family-friendly travel destinations for parent trips. 

Let's discuss some of the potential physical limitations below. 

Balance

Health conditions like arthritis directly impact an individual’s balance. This can be due to personal limitations, such as the inability to strain one leg over the other, increasing the chances of falling due to imbalance or leg coordination. Thus, to avoid this from happening, your travel itinerary must include places with flat terrains to help your parents walk better.

Coordination Mismatch

A mismatch in hand-eye coordination or a slower reaction timeline can also impact your international trip with your parents. Thus, when planning a travel itinerary, addressing these issues beforehand allows you to plan activities that are more self-paced or require minimal participation to maximise your parents’ trip experience.

Previous Injuries

Our injury healing capacity decreases with age, resulting in a long-lasting impact from previous injuries. These injuries, regardless of which body they affect, can reduce a person's overall ability to participate in simple activities like long walks, adventure sports, standing in queues, etc.

Dietary Specifications

Vegetarian vs Non-Vegetarian Requirements

Parents are very specific about their preferences when it comes to food. However, it can be a daunting task to find the most appropriate food options for your parents at international destinations, especially if they are vegetarians. Thus, when choosing the trip location, you must carefully consider their food preferences to ensure maximum choices are available.

Allergies and Food Aversions

With age, allergies to certain foods can aggravate beyond control, causing severe food aversions or increased intolerance for certain food groups. This can limit the food options available for your parents at different international locations. 

Therefore, when selecting some of the best places to visit with parents outside India, you must consider their allergies and food aversions.

Budget Tips for Affordable Family Travel Abroad

It is crucial to set aside a budget for your international trip with your parents to ensure you give them a memorable experience without exhausting all your savings in one go. 

With a planned budget, you know your limitations, and it allows you to explore hidden gems and have travel flexibility. 

Here is how you can properly plan your trip budget, keeping in mind your parents' preferences, your savings, and other factors.​​

• Plan out a potential trip budget with your parents to ensure they are well-informed.

• Ensure that the trip budget includes all planned trip expenses and has ample balance for additional on-spot expenditures like shopping, food adventures, etc. 

• Focus spending on activities and experiences instead of chasing luxury resort stays to meet your parents' preferences and requirements without the stress of going beyond the set budget. 

• Check for various senior citizen discount deals and offers at different tourist attractions and some accommodation options when pre-booking to minimise expenses without compromising quality.  

Accommodation Choices

Choosing the right accommodation for different pit stops on your international trip is crucial to ensure a comfortable and memorable trip for your parents. 

With increasing tourism around the world, accommodation options range from high-end hotels and service apartments to hostels, shared accommodations and Airbnb. 

The choice of which accommodation to book should depend on your parent's comfort requirements, location, amenities available, and trip budget. Here is all you need to know.​​

• Location is an essential factor impacting accommodation choices. Look for hotels, service apartments, or Airbnbs that are centrally located for easy accessibility to tourist attractions and public transportation.

• Focus on comfort and amenities available at the chosen accommodation instead of hotel name and popularity. 

• Ensure the accommodation you choose is well-equipped with elevators and room assistance, along with the assurance of senior citizen assistance and medical emergency support if required. 

Role of Travel Insurance for Family-Friendly Travel Destinations

In addition to assessing the various aspects of travelling with senior parents, you must also ensure that you invest in the necessary travel insurance plan. 

A travel insurance plan ensures you have a financial safety net in case of medical emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances during your international travel. 

Reliance General Insurance offers a range of travel insurance plans to cater to individuals' different travel needs. Our family travel insurance plan is suitable for exploring international destinations with parents.

In addition to the coverage for flight delays or cancellations, baggage loss, passport loss or damage, third-party liabilities, medical emergencies, and more, you can choose our senior citizens’ travel insurance for extensive coverage for critical illnesses and diseases.

Conclusion

Travelling with your parents is a bittersweet feeling, and thus, you must ensure the best travel itinerary for them by prioritising their needs and health. 

Whether you plan on spoiling them with shopping adventures in Dubai or Paris or taking them for a beach vacation to Greece or Maldives, understanding their travel needs and style to maximise their comfort is crucial. 

Moreover, when choosing the best places to visit with parents outside India, focus on destinations that offer convenient commute options, diverse food choices, and senior-friendly activities and adventures for a fun-filled international trip. 

Frequently Asked Questions

​Can you give some quick tips on h​ow to manage medical emergencies when travelling with one parent or both?

​To manage medical emergencies promptly, keep the following things in mind.

• Get your parents' medical documents translated into the local language of your chosen travel destination to reduce the communication gap during emergencies.
• Keep all the important contact details saved on your mobile phone for emergencies. This includes relatives in and around the chosen destination, your parents’ doctors, travel insurance helpline, and others. 
• Learn some basic phrases in the local language to explain a medical issue easily to a doctor or medical expert present during emergencies. 

What does a senior citizen's travel insurance cover?

Some of the inclusions in a senior citizens travel insurance plan are as follows -​

• Cover for baggage loss
• Cover for unexpected trip interruptions
• Cover for trip delays or cancellations
• Cover for a lost passport
• Cover for easy policy extension 
• Cover for personal accidents 
• Cover for any one illness (pre-existing)
• Cover compassionate visit 
• Cover for medical emergencies