Care in adventure: Tips for traveling with older family members

Have you thought about traveling with your parents/grandparents? The last two times I traveled with my family were to visit my brother who was studying in Taiwan. It requires extra planning to travel with older adults, but I will always cherish the wonderful memories we made together. A few weeks ago, my husband and I traveled to Japan with our parents and parents-in-law for the first time. Here are some learnings I compiled from all of my family trips if you are thinking about traveling with your older family members too!

Before the trip

1. Choose a destination

• If it's your first time traveling with your family, I suggest selecting a destination that you are familiar with for easier navigation.
• Select a travel mode that suits your family member's health conditions. Due to my grandma's weak heart, we opted for a cruise to Taiwan instead of a plane journey.
• Keep in mind that long flights can be difficult for older adults.
• Consider the weather at the destination. Extreme weather may not be ideal for older adults.

2. Plan the itinerary

• Discuss each family member's travel wishlist. Try to incorporate everyone's top wishes into the itinerary.
• Avoid being overly ambitious with the schedule and ensure time for rest between activities.
• Make reservations for meals and attractions and ensure the restaurants offer options for your family members' dietary needs.
• Research accessibility and transport options of the places you plan to visit.

3. Prepare for emergency

• Collect your family members' medical history and a list of their regular medications, then translate them into the local language in case of an emergency.
• Keep digital copies of everyone's identification documents.
• Find out the emergency number at your destination.
• Check for safety alerts if your destination is prone to natural disasters.

4. Pack for the trip

• If your family members have not traveled recently, remind them of the latest carry-on and checked baggage requirements.
• Advise them to carry essential medications in their carry-on bags.
• Inform them about the weather forecast so they can pack accordingly.

5. Set realistic expectations

• Share the itinerary with your family ahead of time and invite feedback.
• Be upfront about what to expect. For instance, when we visited Tokyo in late April during the rainy season, I informed my family beforehand that we might not see cherry blossoms or Mount Fuji.

During the trip

1. Stay adaptable

• Weather conditions can be unpredictable, or your family's health may change. Be ready to modify the schedule accordingly.

2. Practice patience

• Your family members might want multiple photos at the same spot or have numerous questions during the trip. View it as a chance to capture memories in photos and engage with them.

3. Show enthusiasm

• Even if you've visited the destination before, share in the excitement with your family members for their first experience together.

4. Be proactive and considerate

• Regularly check if your family needs restroom breaks or a chance to rest their legs.

5. Focus on the positive

• I've maintained a daily gratitude journal for years, which has been incredibly helpful in shifting my focus to life's blessings. Although our planned Owakudani nature walk was canceled due to bad weather, it allowed us more time to enjoy the hot springs at our Ryokan hotel. And as my mother commented, it is probably rare to not see anything on top of a mountain!

After the trip

1. Reflect on the trip

• My husband and I reviewed our favorite moments and lessons learned for future trips.

2. Check-in with your family

• Traveling can be tiring. Check-in with your family members to see how they are feeling after the trip.

3. Share photos

• Collect photos from everyone in a digital album and consider printing some as souvenirs of the trip.

I hope these learnings and tips provide some guidance and inspiration as you plan future trips with your loved ones. While travel with older adults may require more planning, the priceless intergenerational memories and bonding experiences make it all worthwhile.

Comment below if you have any other useful tips!