Tips for Senior Travelers

With the development of society, senior citizens have become more and more interested in travelling around. Considering the condition of health and limitation of strength, the senior people would have to make good trip plans and gather enough travel tips before starting a trip. In this report, Chinatravel.com prepared comprehensive information about organizing trips to China.

Make Detailed Plans and Thoughtful Arrangements

This is the first and most important step. Senior people should choose the appropriate travel destinations and methods according to their health conditions. If you are not familiar with China, it is strongly recommended to hire a tour operator for help. Many China tour operators usually have made organized tours for senior tourists, and the Tours are customized to suit the special demands of senior tourists who are over 50 years old. The trip will usually be very comfortable with less consumption of physical strength, and professional medical services may be provided to assure the good health of the senior tourists. No matter what kind of tour groups you are going to join, there are the following important factors for you to consider about.

TOPHealth Protection

Take a physical examination before traveling, and only start the trip after getting the permissions from your doctor. Depending on your health condition, decide the appropriate travel destinations and itineraries. Report your health condition to your health during the trip. Bring more than enough prescription medications, in case of emergency. Tell your doctor about your travel plans, and ask him for some advices on what you should do if you have a medical problem when you are in China. Carry a list of your health conditions and your doctor’s contact numbers. Make sure the people in your group know something about your health conditions and medication use.

TOPTravel Companions

Instead of traveling alone, senior people should better travel in a group. It would be a great idea to gather a group of friends or family members, so that you can take care of each other, and you might not feel lonely. However, if you are not able to find someone to travel with you, consider about choosing a trusted China tour operator.

TOPTravel Time and Weather

Senior tourists, especially the retired senior people will usually have plenty of time for traveling. So you should avoid the peak seasons and weekends. There are three advantages for traveling during slack seasons. One is that you may avoid the dangers brought out by huge crowds, and another one is that you can save the expenses on flight tickets, accommodations and sightseeing and so on. What’s more, the golden season for senior people travel in China is from April to June and from October to December. During these two periods, the weather in China, both in South China and North China, will be quite pleasant, and it wouldn’t be too hot or too cold. Traveling under this kind of weather, there might be less possibility for senior tourists to get sick. Learn as much as you can about the weather condition through related websites, newspapers, TV and local people of your destinations. See weather forecast of your destination city in China.

TOPComfort Level of Travel Destinations

Besides choosing the interested and new places, senior tourists should also consider about the comfort level of your travel destinations, about the climates, landforms, transportation and so on. For example, try to avoid the destinations of high altitudes like Qinghai and Tibet, and do not visit the places that need plenty of physical strength to reach.

There are some most popular destinations recommended to senior tourists.

1. Seashore cities with beautiful natural landscapes and comfortable environment: Haikou, Sanya and Xiamen;
2. Historical and cultural cities: Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang;
3. Economy-developed cities: Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing;
4. Cities with fascinating mountains, rivers and lakes: Guilin, Lijiang, Hangzhou and Suzhou.

TOPComfortable Travel Itinerary

Make good arrangements for the itinerary and make it comfortable trip. Don’t make the itinerary too full. Try to visit as much place as you can, don't rush. Take a slow pace, and ask the tour operator to alter the itinerary due to your actual needs. See if the tour operator can arrange you some special activities for senior tourists, like health keeping lectures, cultural lectures, and parties for senior people.

TOPSelection of Tour Types and Transportation

There are lots of transportation methods to take during a trip to China. But it is advisable to choose an appropriate way. If you have problems on the respiratory organ and the stomach, try to avoid taking too many flights. Cruises are very popular among senior tourists such as Li River Cruise, Yangtze River Cruise and Pearl River Cruise. Taking a cruise would be a comfortable trip, and a cruise is concentrated on the comfort levels of its passengers. So tourists might take tours in the cities ashore, and enjoy wonderful entertainments on the cruise ship during the night. Some tour operators will also offer some comfortable Train tours, like the Shangri-la Train Tour which departs at September every year. See more about transportation in China.

Notes for Senior Tourists in China

1. If case of weather changing, bring enough clothes to prevent yourself from getting a cold. See China weather forecast.
2. Avoid getting too tired. Don’t walk too much for a day. Travel in a slow pace, and don’t try to hurry. If you have the unusual situations of dizziness, headache and heartbeat, you’d better take a rest or ask a doctor for help.
3. Make sure have enough sleeping time for about 6 to 8 hours. Choose a hotel which can offer you comfortable and quiet environment. Find some best value-for-money hotels from here.
4. Keep a healthy diet. Chinese Food is famous all over the world and you would have to have a taste of it, yet a variety of Chinese food is not suitable for senior tourists to eat, like spicy hotpots. You can first ask your doctor for diet advice, so that you may avoid eating the food that is bad to your health. See tips on eating healthy in China.
5. Make sure you have enough sleep. Avoid exceeding excitement, fear and stress, and try your best to keep a relaxed and happy mood. It is suggested to avoid drinking tea and coffee, smoking and playing cards. Bathe with warm water, and it is helpful to your sleep.
6. Make full use of special discounts for senior tourists. Tourists over 60 years old can usually receive discounts from transportation and visiting attractions. Ask your tour operator for this kind of information.
7. Buy travel insurance before traveling. See how to buy a travel insurance from this page: http://www.chinatravel.com/facts/china-travel-tips/travel-insurance.htm
8. For more travel tips, please visit all the topics on this page: http://www.chinatravel.com/facts/china-travel-tips/.