Senior Travel Tips: Vacations for Seniors with Limited Mobility

Many older adults love to travel, and today, even seniors with limited mobility can embark on grand, rewarding vacation adventures. Senior travel can be healthy, stimulate your intellect, and provide physical activity that’s good for your overall well-being.

What are the best senior travel options?

You might like to plan your own itinerary, but when mobility limitations need to be accommodated in your plan, you can lessen nuisances and increase your chances for fulfillingly successful travel with these senior travel options:

• All-inclusive resorts. They can offer stress-free accommodations, minimal walking and loads of enticing amenities nearby.
• Cruises. In addition to 24/7 staff support, many ships feature accessible cabins and wheelchair-friendly excursions, and nearly always they provide onboard entertainment.
• Bus tours. Ride in comfort with guided sightseeing and without extensive walking.
• European tours. Choose a culturally rich trip and check the box for accessible transport and hotels.

Any of these can be a smart choice for healthy aging and managing your daily activity levels to your satisfaction. Plus, AARP recently suggested these Stateside destinations for accessible senior travel:

• Amelia Island, Florida
• Branson, Missouri
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Lake Tahoe, Nevada
• San Antonio, Texas
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Scottsdale, Arizona

Do’s and don’ts for the best vacations for seniors with limited mobility

When planning travel for seniors, do consider:

• Accessible accommodations that include ground-floor rooms, roll-in showers and wide doorways.
• Easy transportation options, such as wheelchair-friendly shuttles or golf carts.
• On-site amenities that can minimize the need to leave the location for dining and entertainment.
• Medical support proximity — either on-site or nearby.
• Low-stress environments that are quiet, easy to navigate, and staffed by people who understand senior needs.
• Senior travel groups, which offer the benefits of companionship, safety, planned itineraries, and discounted travel rates.
• Travel insurance for seniors, mitigating your costs-of-care risks.

On the other hand, to keep it simple and avoid unnecessary risks, don’t:

• Doom your getaway with overly ambitious itineraries or destinations or tours with steep hills, cobblestones or excessive walking.
• Skip the step of vetting your accommodations in advance, because not all so-called accessible hotels meet ADA or mobility requirements.
• Wait until the last minute to plan, because mobility-friendly cabins, tours and resorts often sell out first.
• Burden yourself with heavy or hard-to-manage luggage when so many lightweight, rolling bag options are available.
• Neglect rest-and-recharge time in your schedule so fatigue won’t run roughshod over your adventures.

Good planning is the difference-maker

Vacations for seniors with limited mobility — prioritizing accessibility, comfort and safety — are within easy reach. Thorough planning makes all the difference.

And when the travels are done, imagine coming home to a senior living community that matches the hospitality of your best travel destination! Find out how much we care.