Top tips for a stress free travel experience
Retirement is a fabulous time to branch out and visit places you haven’t been to before or even go back and explore the fabulous places you just haven’t spent enough time at in the past.
Travel can be such a wonderful and inspiring experience. However, it can be stressful and, at times, a little scary if things don’t go to plan. It could be as simple as missing a connecting flight or something more extreme like a medical emergency, however, if you plan ahead it’s much easier to deal with the unexpected.
Some top tips to put your mind at ease when it comes to travel are:
1. Make sure you purchase travel insurance
Yes, it’s another financial outlay, but if you shop around and make sure you’re covered for every eventuality, you will have peace of mind if anything unplanned pops up – including travel delays, medical emergencies, theft and even lost luggage. Also, if you’re travelling overseas get as much information as possible on your destination – many countries now have a reciprocal medical arrangement with Australia meaning that you can be treated under their public medical system. It’s best to be prepared though, so make sure your travel insurance offers good medical protection.
2. Shop around for the best deals
You can find some fantastic travel deals online, but if you want a travel agent to look after your plans make sure you show them any great deals you’ve found online – they may be able to match it!
3. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a seniors’ discount – you could be entitled to it!
Make sure you have your pension card or Australian Seniors’ Card when you’re booking and travelling – you could be pleasantly surprised at how often you’ll receive discounts when you’re visiting tourist attractions. It doesn’t hurt to ask. However, sometimes you may be knocked back based on the seniors’ deals being for local residents only.
4. Book through a reputable agent
Take advantage of a good agent’s knowledge and experience and tell them exactly what you’re after when it comes to budget, destination, accommodation, sightseeing and travel comfort. In the competitive travel industry you could be pleasantly surprised with the great deals on offer, and the minimal stress to you!
There are travel agents who now specialise in ‘seniors’ travel’, where they can get you seniors’ discounts, book you onto tours that are appropriate to your needs and give you advice and guidance based on your budget and requirements.
5. Safety and security
When travelling it’s imperative that you ensure you’re aware of any safety or security concerns at your destination.
- Buy padlocks for your suitcases and don’t leave them out of your sight
- Be aware of personal security at all times – tourists stand out in a crowd. If you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can become a target for robbery
- Don’t flash your money around and make sure you keep your passports and travel documents safely locked away.
Above all, being prepared can help ensure you enjoy your travel experience. Be open to advice from others, be willing to ‘go with the flow’ sometimes and don’t let a little hiccup in your plans ruin your experience. Travel is an adventure, so make sure you have the best adventure possible.
Important information and disclaimer
This document has been published by Mark Welch & Lachlan Carmody, EPG Wealth, Pty. Ltd. Authorised Representative(s) of Apogee Financial Planning Limited (ABN 28 056 426 932) (“Licensee”), an Australian Financial Services Licensee, registered office at 105 –153 Miller St North Sydney NSW 2060 and a member of the National Australia Bank Limited group of companies (“NAB Group”) .
Any advice in this publication is of a general nature only and has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Accordingly, reliance should not be placed on the information contained in this document as the basis for making any financial investment, insurance or other decision. Please seek personal advice prior to acting on this information.