The Washington Post - USA (2022-05-15)

F2 EZ EE THE WASHINGTON POST.SUNDAY, MAY 15 , 2022

Editor: Nicole Arthur • Deputy Editor : Elizabeth Chang • Art Director: Talia Trackim • Photo Editor: Mark Gail • Staff Writer: Andrea Sachs

- Editorial Assistant: Helen Carefoot • Travel Advertising: Ron Ulrich, 202-334-5289, [email protected] • To respond to one of our
articles: E -mail [email protected], call 202-334-7750 or write: Washington Post Travel section, 1301 K St. NW Washington, D.C. 20071.

TRAVEL

your flights, paying close attention to any emails or text messages you receive from your airline. “There’s a high chance that your flight has changed due to the lack of crew, pilots or even seats sold,” she says. Assuming your plans won’t change. “ Tr avel regulations, along with airline and event schedules, are still in flux,” warns Kimberly Greulich, founder of KG Travel Club, a luxury travel agency. Greulich also says you shouldn’t assume that every amenity at an airport or hotel will be available. Labor shortages may mean restaurants are operating with reduced hours. Hotel housekeeping might be unavailable. If there’s something you’re counting on, ask before you arrive. Ignoring insurance. Travelers often assume their travel insurance or medical evacuation membership will cover anything that might happen to them. But it might not — and this isn’t the summer to find out. For example, earlier this year, Covac Global, a company that offers coverage for travelers who get infected with the coronavirus while they’re away, added a new evacuation requirement to its list: The company must consider the evacuation “medically prudent to avoid hospitalization.” If you’re renting a car, talk to your insurance company before you leave. Christopher Seabrook, an insurance agent for Country Financial in Atlanta, says travelers often overlook w hether they have roadside assistance coverage. “Generally, your auto policy should apply to the rental vehicle while driving within the United States, including your deductible,” he says. “Always read the contract carefully, and ask the rental agent to explain anything if you’re unsure.” Avoiding Europe. Kate McCulley, a blogger in Prague, says Americans are needlessly worried about security in central Europe. “Over and over, I’m getting messages from Americans saying things along the lines of, ‘We’re not going to central Europe because of the unrest right now,’ ” she says. Just one problem: “There is zero unrest. Zero. Prague, Budapest, Kraków [in Poland] and numerous other cities are functioning normally, only with more yellow-and-blue flags hanging from windows,” she says. This could be an area where deals are available, so you might miss an opportunity to save. Visiting the wrong place. If you’re still unsure where to go this summer, try someplace that just reopened for tourism. That’s the advice of Carlos Grider, an expert on remote work. He recommends heading to places such as Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia, which recently reopened, rather than destinations such as Mexico, which had more lax pandemic regulations. “Use the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of this summer to aim for classic destinations that are just recently opening,” Grider says. “You can experience them in a pleasant, uncrowded, welcoming and inexpensive state that likely will not happen again.”

Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. Email him at [email protected].

Tr avel is going to be complicated this summer. More Americans will probably travel than at any time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The World Tr avel & Tourism Council and Oxford Economics project that domestic travel spending will reach more than $1.1 trillion for the year, surpassing pre- pandemic levels by about 11 percent. “All indications suggest things will be moving back to the pre- pandemic era for travel this summer,” says Mahmood Khan, a professor in Virginia Tech’s hospitality and tourism management department. But Khan says the war in Ukraine, high inflation and soaring gas prices have added uncertainty, making it more likely that out-of-practice vacationers will make mistakes. “Travelers are taking a lackadaisical approach to travel as covid restrictions loosen up,” says Manny Fernandez, vice president of global operations of FocusPoint International, a global assistance company for travelers. “They aren’t paying attention to the basics of travel preparation as they did pre- pandemic.” I’ll be on the road with you this summer: I plan to travel to Turkey, Greece, Ireland and Britain. I hope I don’t embarrass myself. Here’s how you — and I — can avoid the biggest summer travel pitfalls of 2022. Waiting too long to book. “Some mistakes people are making right now,” says Amy Jones, a travel adviser in Rock Hill, S.C. “They are not preplanning and reserving accommodations or purchasing flights now, and they’re waiting until the last minute for that deal.” But Jones says that deal isn’t coming this summer. Most hotel rooms and vacation rentals are already close to being sold out in high-demand areas. Even if you’re thinking of postponing your vacation until October or November, you’ll still find high occupancy levels. Failing to research security. “More than ever before, security is a key issue,” says Carrie Pasquarello, chief executive of Global Secure Resources, a security consulting firm. Pasquarello says anyone traveling this summer needs to do a deep dive on health and safety at their destination. That includes researching crime and other potential hazards. She recommends starting by looking up your destination on the State Department’s Travel Advisories page ( travel.state.gov ) and checking its coronavirus testing requirements on Sherpa, a database of travel restrictions. Forgetting the basics of travel. For many Americans, it’s been a while since their last vacation. And that means they’re a little out of practice. Rani Cheema, chief executive of Cheema’s Tr avel, a culinary travel agency, says the basics are simple. Make sure you have at least six months of validity left on your passport. “If your passport expires within six months of your departure, you need to renew it immediately,” she says. And “constantly” check

Your first trip in a while?

Sidestep these mistakes.

The Navigator CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT

This sign was spotted in St. Lucia, South Africa, by John Reiter of Vienna, Va. Have you seen an amusing sign in your travels? We want to feature your photo in this space! Here’s what to do : Email your high-resolution JPEG images to [email protected] with “Sign Language” in the subject line. Please include your name, place of residence, sign location and contact information. Selected entries will appear in Travel’s Sunday print section. Photos become property of The Washington Post, which may edit, publish, distribute or republish them in any form. No purchase necessary.

JOHN REITER

SIGN LANGUAGE

nations, where replacement may be difficult if they’re lost. And pack extra in case of delays.

Coronavirus precautions With new variants and rising cases in some destinations, the pandemic is still part of the travel landscape — and the threat of getting severely ill with covid increases with age and certain medical conditions. According to AARP, 73 percent of people over 70 are concerned about the coronavirus, although 78 percent c on- sider travel safe. “We have to be savvy with dealing with covid. Anyone who’s an elder should be fully vaccinat- ed and properly boosted, especially if they’re immunocompro- mised or have underlying conditions,” Ericsson said. “It’s probably reasonable to be unmasked only in a well-ventilated, dis- tanced environment.” In addition, families can tailor a variety of risk-reduction strate- gies, some of which include testing, partaking in outdoor activities, avoiding crowds, monitor- ing infection rates and visiting local d estinations. A staycation is another option; AARP’s research shows that 27 percent of people over 70 will probably take one this year.

Plan ahead, but embrace flexibility “Planning ahead is key for traveling with a mature family member and reducing stress for everyone,” Goyer said. Think through specific logis- tics for every day of your trip: What’s Mom’s home routine? When does she sleep, eat and take medication? How active is she? Does she experience any disabilities? If you haven’t seen her in a while, does she have any new needs? None of these factors are deal- breakers, and planning can ad- dress almost everything, Goyer said. That said, although thinking ahead provides a crucial framework, being flexible is equally important. “For caregivers, mind-set

makes the biggest difference,” Goyer said. “Expect that travel will present unpredictable delays and challenges, and that’s just part of the adventure.” Also resist the urge to over- schedule. Arrive early for trans- port or to your destination, and build in extra time for getting ready, medications, travel and sleep, as well as ample downtime for your loved one to rest every day. “We want to do so much when we’re traveling,” Goyer said, “but things can take longer, or you might run into obstacles. It’s better to slow down the pace than rush.”

Getting there When it comes to transportation planning, go the extra mile. For road trips, consider booking a hotel room midway through longer drives, and leave time to regroup once you arrive at your destination. Plan for restroom and stretching breaks every couple of hours. If you fly, try to purchase direct flights at a time of day when your loved one has energy and air- ports aren’t as busy. Some assistance requests may be available when booking. Call airline cus- tomer service to make advance arrangements for early boarding, onboard assistance and oxygen. Even if your loved one doesn’t normally use one, a wheelchair

PHOTOS BY ISTOCK

BY ERIN E. WILLIAMS

Mature travelers are itching to
get back out and travel again.
According to AARP’s 2022 Tr avel
Tr ends report, 66 percent of peo-
ple over age 70 anticipate travel-
ing this year. Many are looking to
spend time with family.
Especially after the isolation
that the past couple of years have
brought, “there’s so much value
in just being together in person,”
said Amy Goyer, AARP’s national
family and caregiving expert.
Whether a bucket-list trip or
staycation, “everyone benefits
from multigenerational travel,”
Goyer said. “We build relation-
ships through shared experi-
ences.”
Families planning multigener-
ational travel should consider
health and abilities, not age,
when deciding whether someone
should travel and what kind of
trip to take. And with proper
planning and flexibility, the trip
can foster connection and widen
everyone’s horizons.

Medical considerations

“The first thing to remember i s
that elders aren’t monolithic,”
said Charles Ericsson, past presi-
dent of the International Society
of Tr avel Medicine (ISTM) and
professor of infectious diseases
at UT Health McGovern Medical
School. “Travel decisions should
depend on an individual medical
assessment of the traveler, as well
as the capacities of their compan-
ion or companions.”
A primary-care physician’s of-
fice can be the first destination
for any traveler — especially
those with physical or mental
health conditions — to confirm a
clean bill of health and ensure
that any issues are optimally
managed, including those that
might place them at increased
risk of travel -related illnesses.
Ericsson encourages family
members to attend this visit to
support their loved one and un-
derstand their medical needs.
Handling routine vaccinations
there can make insurance reim-
bursement easier, while an addi-
tional travel clinic appointment
can provide trip-specific advice
and any destination-specific im-
munizations and medications.
(The ISTM has an online list
of travel clinics at bit.ly/istm-
directory .) T his should take place
several weeks before the trip,
because some vaccines can take
longer to develop an immune
response in older adults.
In addition, confirm health
insurance coverage and purchase
travel insurance — which can
include trip disruption, medical
and/or evacuation coverage.
Keep a copy of your family mem-
ber’s medical record and a list of
their medications, supplements
and dosages. Bring medications
in their original containers in
carry-on and checked luggage,
especially to international desti-

can be indispensable for security, delays and gate changes. At least 72 hours before departure, call or email TSA Cares to request assistance getting though security. Whatever the transportation, bring nutritious food, plenty of water and entertainment. Be- cause traveling can cause anxiety for some elders, a doctor or therapist can suggest tools to soothe nerves. And refundable or flexible reservations can ease everyone’s worries.

At your destination Wherever you stay, create a familiar environment for your family member. Unpack their luggage and arrange items on their nightstand, clothes in the closet and dresser, and toiletries in the bathroom. Adjoining rooms in hotels or vacation rentals can help you hear your loved one get out of bed at night — which is important if they’re prone to falls or have cognitive impairment. Because unfamiliar surroundings can confuse people with dementia, use audio monitors and door and floor mat alarms, which can alert you to their movements. Also assess in advance any mobility needs for your trip. Can your loved one take the stairs to the train? Is your lodging ADA- compliant? Are your activities accessible for them? Can they rent or bring a walker or wheelchair? For international travelers, the U. S. State Depart- ment’s online information for travelers with disabilities ( travel.state.gov ) can help you navigate other countries’ accessi- bility laws.

Maximize your time together Talk with family members in advance about their priorities for the trip. The areas where they overlap is the sweet spot for shared interest and energy for activities. “Many elders are quite capable of independent travel,” Ericsson said, but “tours can be good options for people who have lost some executive function, since a guide can help them navigate unfamiliar situations.” That said, don’t expect too much from a guide unless they specifically ca- ter to mature travelers, and un- derstand any physical requirements in advance. Whatever your activities, create opportunities for family in- teraction, Goyer said. Play a game that everyone will enjoy. Parents, take a break while grandparents make dinner with the kids. Perhaps Grandma wants to build sand castles with the children but can’t sit on the beach — so elevate the fun with some sand on an outdoor table. “We might need to make adap- tations, but what really matters is having a good time and creating memories together,” Goyer said. “As people go forward in life, that’s what they carry with them.”

Williams is a writer based in Oregon. Her website is erinewilliams.com.

Travel with elders isn’t only about age

Planning and flexibility can reduce anxiety on multigenerational trips

After the isolation of the pandemic, about two-thirds of people over age 70 anticipate traveling this year, according to a recent AARP survey. People traveling with older family members can mitigate risks by consulting a doctor and planning ahead.

“Elders aren’t

monolithic....

Travel decisions

should depend on

an individual

medical assessment

of the traveler.” Charles Ericsson, professor of infectious diseases at UT Health McGovern Medical School

The Washington Post - USA (2022-05-15)

Get our desktop app

Company

Features

Documentation

Resources