Seniors Travel.

I came to the realization a day or two ago that I am now officially in the ranks of those who are called “seniors” and as retirement becomes a looming reality for me as well as many others who comprise the first decade of baby boomers, our seniors travel interests are expanding in directions which earlier decades of senior travellers only dreamed of.

With a desire to have more control over their seniors travel, many of them are turning to “build it yourself” travel rather than the “one size fits all” tours which used to be the best seniors travel option.

If you're one of the people who likes the organised tour option we can help you with that, just visit our organised tours search engine, you'll be able to find a tour which will scratch any itch you may have.

On the other hand our Discount Stuff page has information on things like discount airfares, cheap hotels, car hire and so on, so if you prefer to organise your own seniors travel go there now and check it out. (The page will open in a new window)

Many senior travellers prefer to do their personal research via the Internet, this way they can find those out of the way destinations and attractions which interest them most and hence make the most of every travel dollar they spend.

They can go at our own pace, using whatever means and class of transport they choose.

It comes as no surprise that seniors, both men and women but particularly women, continue to pursue active, adventurous travel but with a strong learning and service focus.

People over 50 make up the vast majority of travellers worldwide with many measuring their travel satisfaction by newly acquired skills, significant stimulation of the grey matter and, yes, even proudly worn blisters and bruises.

I fully recognise that whatever information I give you here will only be a very tiny part of the wonderful array of senior travel possibilities however I hope that I can stimulate that part of you that desires to go to new places, see and do new things, experience different cultures and meet new people and make new friends.

With this goal in mind it is quite important for you to plan well before you travel.

Realistic seniors travel goals need to be set and realistic seniors travel limitations which some of us must place upon ourselves must be fully understood, after all there’s no point in deciding to climb to the top of Uluru if you find it difficult to walk up two or three flights of stairs.

Likewise with your money.

Before you decide where we want to go and you book and pay for your flights, hotels etc.. you need to ask lots of questions of those who should know, don’t forget, as with all things in life, the better prepared you are, the more safe and enjoyable your seniors travel will be.

With that in mind,

• Check the latest seniors travel advice for your destination at smartraveller.gov.au before you go.

• Subscribe to receive free email notification each time the advice is updated.

• Take out seniors travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, like adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.

• Before travelling overseas register your seniors travel and contact details online at smartraveller.gov.au or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive so we can contact you in an emergency.

Travel advisories are just that: advice.

They are not warnings.

In addition to information about security, they provide useful, practical tips on seniors travel such as health, visa and local laws information.

The advisories also tell you how to get in touch with the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate, or if we don’t have one, where else you might be able to get assistance if you need it.

There are four ways to access travel advisories:

• Check on smartraveller.gov.au

• Subscribe at smartraveller.gov.au to receive a free email.

• Call 1300 139 281 to listen to the automated system

• Call DFAT on 02 6261 1111 and request a printout to be mailed to you.

Travel Insurance is Essential!

Regardless of how fit and healthy you are -if you cannot afford seniors travel insurance, you cannot afford to travel.

It’s a good idea to shop around when choosing an insurance policy and to make sure the cover provided is adequate for your needs.

Check that your policy includes cover for emergency treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation to Australia if necessary.

If your seniors travel includes a cruise as well, we strongly encourage you to take out seniors travel insurance appropriate to your circumstances.

When organising your seniors travel insurance fully disclose any pre-existing medical conditions in writing.

It’s important to remember that travellers who are not covered by insurance are personally liable for covering any medical and associated costs they incur.

For Australians travelling abroad it’s important to know that Overseas medical costs are not covered by Medicare.

Some overseas hospitals require costs to be settled in cash, on a daily basis and upfront.

Families have been bankrupted, forced to sell off assets such as homes, or cash out superannuation to bring loved ones back to Australia for treatment.

CASE STUDY:

Erin was excited about her cruise in North America that was to be the start of her round-the-world adventure.

As part of her pre-departure planning she hastily organised basic travel insurance.

While out at sea enjoying the cruise Erin began suffering severe asthma attacks, she required oxygen but the ship did not have enough on board to get her back to the mainland for treatment.

The ship put out a mayday and a US navy ship nearby was able to provide the ship with enough oxygen to get the boat to the mainland.

On arrival Erin was taken to the nearest local hospital and later medivaced to a well-equipped major hospital where Erin spent the next week recovering.

Following the $10,000 medivac and a week’s worth of overseas hospital expenses, Erin could not afford to continue with the rest of her holiday and flew home to Australia.

Online registration:

Registering your personal and travel details makes it easier for the Australian Government to contact you in an emergency whether it be a natural disaster, civil disturbance or family issue.

The registration information you provide is protected by Australia’s strict privacy laws.

If you do not have access to the internet, or are organising a large group of travellers, telephone 1300 555 135 to requests a registration form.

Research your destination:

Finding out about the political, cultural and economic environment of your destination(s) should be a part of your trip preparation.

You will know what to expect once you arrive.

You may also find it useful to purchase a seniors travel guide book which you can use to prepare for your trip and as a reference while travelling.

Familiarising yourself with local customs and simple phrases will also help to ensure that you are able to mingle with the locals.

Money and Valuables:

• Organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash.

• Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.

• Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

• Pack your senior citizens card - it might not work overseas, but it is worth taking with you - just in case.

Travelling with a disability:

If you have a disability and are planning to travel overseas, the first thing to remember is that Australia's arrangements for people with disabilities are among the best in the world.

As it is unlikely that you will find similar facilities in many countries overseas, it is important to plan ahead.

• Call airports and airlines well ahead of time to find out about services, including seating arrangements, special meals and shuttle services. .

• Make reservations wherever possible and confirm all bookings and arrangements 48 hours beforehand. .

• Notify others about your needs. Inform your travel agency or companies you are using, such as airlines, that you have a disability and the implications of the disability. .

• Book direct flights where possible. Otherwise, when making bookings allow plenty of time for any necessary transfers between planes or other forms of transport. .

• Contact the local tourist authority at your destination(s) to find out if the public transport system accommodates your disability. .

• Do not make assumptions. If you have checked that the bathroom is wheelchair accessible, also ask about the front steps - try to speak to somebody who has actually seen the facility. .

• Contact relevant embassies to check rules and regulations about your aids - whether it be a wheelchair, guide dog or medication. .

• If any of your aids need electric current, check the voltage used in the country you are visiting. Also check which adaptors are needed - the plug configuration can change.

Travelling with Medicine:

Before leaving home, you should check that your medications are legal in the country you are visiting.

You can do this by contacting the country's embassy, high commission or consulate.

Since the National Health Act was amended in 1999, it has been an offence to carry or post Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines overseas unless they are for your personal use, or the use of someone travelling with you.

When planning your seniors travel overseas with PBS medicine it is important that you:

• talk to your doctor and discuss the medicine you will need to take

• carry a letter from your doctor detailing what the medicine is, how much you will be taking, and stating that it is for your own personal use

• leave the medicine in its original packaging so it is clearly labelled with your name and dosage instructions.

You should check with the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting to make sure this is acceptable.

If you need to carry needles and syringes with you on a plane, inform your airline before you travel and if necessary, arrange a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to carry them.

When buying needles and syringes overseas ensure you buy packs that are sealed and sterile.

It is important to be aware that some medications purchased overseas may be packaged under a different brand name to those available in Australia.

Keep an eye on the strength and active ingredients of similar-sounding medications overseas - they can vary.

Do not try to save luggage space by combining medications into one container, keep all medications in the original, labelled container to avoid customs problems.

More information on travelling with medicines is available from Medicare Australia’s website or by phoning the Travelling with PBS medicine enquiry line: 1800 500 147.

CASE STUDY:

Josef and Louise prepared well, they took out travel insurance, left copies of their documents and their itinerary with their family and took separate copies of their passport details with them.

They were organised - and excited.

When they arrived at the airport in Vienna Josef was so excited that his pulse was racing.

Louise managed to get the luggage and Josef into a taxi and to the right hotel and from there she rang the Australian embassy, which provided her with a list of English-speaking doctors.

Before Louise made an appointment with the doctor, she noticed the hotel pharmacy displaying a packet of medication with the same name as the medication that Josef had taken previously.

Buying the packet of medication was a near fatal error.

Louise didn't know that the medication was twice as strong as the Australian product.

Josef's heart attack that night (although minor) meant the cancellation of their trip of a lifetime.

Always check the strength of a medication with a doctor.

Don't buy off-the-shelf medication even if an Australian doctor has prescribed it, as strengths may vary from country to country.

Prepare Your Documents:

Passport and Visas:

Before departing ensure that your passport has at least six months' validity - some countries will not allow you to enter otherwise.

A Senior's Passport, valid for five years, is available to Australian citizens aged 75 years and over for half the cost of a standard passport.

For more information on passports visit the Passports website or call the Australian Passport Information Services on 131 232.

Find out early what visas you need by contacting the relevant embassy, high commission or consulate of the countries you intend to visit.

Remember to also check the visa requirements of countries you might be transiting through.

Remember: a visa doesn’t guarantee entry! Visa, customs and quarantine conditions change regularly!

Contact details for foreign embassies, high commissions or consulates can be found in the White Pages or online at the DFAT website or smartraveller.gov.au.

Be Informed:

Dual nationality:

Being a national or citizen of more than one country is called dual nationality.

Some countries offer citizenship to people who marry their citizens, or to persons whose grandparents were born in that country.

A country may not permit Australian consular assistance to be given to Australian citizens, who, according to its laws, are considered to be its own nationals.

If you hold another country's passport, seek advice about using it.

Take your Australian passport and use it to depart and return to Australia.

For further information, obtain and/or download a copy of the brochure Travelling dual nationals.

Your Health Overseas:

Reciprocal health care agreements:

Australia has health care agreements with some countries including Finland, Italy, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

These agreements enable Australians to access urgent or emergency medical treatment overseas however, general medical services are only provided when the need for treatment arises during the visit and it would be unreasonable to delay treatment until the individual’s intended date of return.

It is important to remember that:

• you will only be covered by these health care agreements once you are in the specific country. Health problems which occur during travel to and from an agreement country are not covered

• health care agreements are no substitute for travel insurance.

They will not cover you if a doctor recommends medical evacuation back to Australia.

If you wish to be treated under the relevant reciprocal health care agreement, you must advise the medical staff in the country you are visiting.

To prove you are eligible for treatment you will need to provide local authorities with:

• your Australian passport or other passport which shows you are a permanent Australian resident

• a valid Medicare card. If you do not have a valid Medicare card, or your card will expire while you are away, visit a Medicare office and arrange for a new card before travelling overseas.

Further information about international health agreements can be found at Medicare Australia or by calling: 132 011.

Department of Veteran’s Affairs Gold Card:

You must notify the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) of your intention to travel overseas before you leave and get detailed information about your entitlements and your responsibilities.

Further information is available online at the DVA website or by contacting DVA on 133 254.

While the DVA’s Gold Card can be used anywhere in Australia, it cannot be used overseas for all conditions.

There is no guarantee that Gold Card holders will be covered for all health care overseas.

Getting Help Overseas:

Consular services:

DFAT provides help to Australians who find themselves in trouble overseas.

Through this support, known as consular services, the department's consular officers provide assistance to Australians who are away from home.

The Australian Government will do what it can to help Australians in difficulties overseas but Australians need to appreciate that, when they go abroad, they leave behind Australia's support systems, emergency service capabilities and medical facilities.

There are legal and practical limits to what consular officers can do for travellers overseas and Australians need to have realistic expectations.

A directory of Australian overseas posts and Canadian posts that assist Australians appears in Travel Smart: hints for Australian travellers booklet.

This booklet is issued with your passport.

The 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) in Canberra can also be contacted for assistance from anywhere in the world on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135.Consular services:

The Consular Services Charter available to order or read online on smartraveller.gov.au sets out the standards of service all Australians can expect to receive from consular staff.

Counselling services:

Australians overseas in need of counselling services can contact our Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 which will transfer the call through to a Lifeline Telephone Counsellor.

This booklet is also available to download in PDF (700 KB)

While every care has been taken in preparing this document, neither The Discount Travel Guide, the Australian Government nor its agents or employees, including any member of Australia's diplomatic and consular staff abroad, can accept liability for any injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained herein.

Consular Policy Branch

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

R. G. Casey Building

John McEwen Crescent

BARTON ACT 0221

Tel (02) 6261 3305; 1 300 555 135

Information for travellers and travel advisories courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s smartraveller.gov.au Smartraveller website.September 2008

If you're a senior traveller leave home completely satisfied that you've done everything to make your travels as hassle free as possible and then follow the prime directive.........enjoy,

John.

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