There is well known saying that ‘Travelling is one of the best and most important well-being tools’. Travel gives you a new lease of life, helps you make or strengthen friendships, explore new hobbies and much more. Seniors, if they are medically fit, should priortise comfort, convenience, and safety throughout their journeys. Many travel-related issues can be addressed, about when you are planning or travelling and when you are packing for travel. With the availability of many Apps, hotel booking, bus/cab booking, train/air ticket booking etc have become easier. Here are a few suggestions for some must-have things to include in your travel checklist, and if needed change the same slightly every time based on destination, weather conditions, etc.
1 Relevant Documents
We generally do not pay much attention to documents unless we go abroad when we need a passport, tickets, ID (it can be your Aadhar card/driving licence), insurance, etc. However, carrying some important documents on every trip (even domestic) is a good practice. You never know when you need them. For example, hotels generally insist on valid IDs while checking in, and some tourist places request IDs to issue entry passes. Thankfully, within India, you need not carry a physical copy of all the IDs. One hard copy of your ID is sufficient, and others can be in your DigiLocker.
If you are travelling by road, please ensure you carry valid documents for your vehicle, such as registration, pollution certificate (PUC), driving licence for self or driver, etc. Also, if you have a specific medical history, please carry important documents, prescriptions and medical insurance along. These can be valuable if you fall sick and need medical attention or hospitalization.
2 Medicines and First-Aid Kit
If you are going abroad, visit your doctor before leaving and conduct a proper health check-up. Carry along a generic prescription for all common ailments and your regular medications. Please make sure to keep two sets of medicines, one set in your suitcase and one in your handbag. The split is a precaution against loss of baggage.
If you are travelling within the country, please always carry extra medications for a few more days that the planned days as a contingency measure. Also, have pictures of prescriptions on your phone as backup in case you misplace your medicines or baggage. Be prepared for such emergencies. Also, carry one first-aid kit with basic medical emergency necessities.
3 Comfort Aids
Some things are comfort aids that can assure comfort wherever we go. Carry a neck pillow to avoid neck pain or catch, especially for long-duration travel. You must also take your walking shoes, as you never know the kind of terrain, distance, etc., in certain places. Walking shoes are essential to avoid suffering from sore feet. You may also carry electric heating pads, which you can plug in to get some comfort for sore muscles.
4 Miscellaneous Items
Imagine the trouble if your phone gets discharged while you are out, or you are in a place with many insects. It is advisable to carry a power bank, mosquito repellent, and toilet seat sanitiser at all times. Make sure you carry chargers for all devices, such as cameras, laptops, mobile phones, iPad, earphones, etc., you are taking along. Also, keep a torch handy for any power failures at night in unfamiliar places.
5 Snacks
During travel, there is always the possibility that you may not be able to eat on time or find a good restaurant that suits you. Hence always carry some snacks that can help you survive, more so, if you have diabetes or other digestive conditions.
With these tips, you can ensure that the trip will be a very pleasant one, and without any hitches.
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Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
16th August 2023