We just finished a three-day air trip traveling across the country for a family reunion and had a smooth, joyful experience!

1. Include your parent in the planning stage of making reservations for rooms. Some parents prefer having a separate room. Others like the security of sharing a room.

2. Review procedures for closing out their residence prior to leaving. Stop paper, mail, etc. Make sure there are no appointments lined up for the time period of the trip.

3. Plan to travel on a day ahead of the main activities of the trip. This time gives space for transition to the new environment and rest from the trip.

4. Arrange with the hotel/motel for adjoining rooms if you are in separate room This gives you the opportunity for easy connecting. Even keeping the key for your parent could be helpful. Doors are usually very heavy and are not easy to handle. Better to have your parent wait in the room until you are with them.

5. Go over the procedures for contacting the front desk so that the security of having help nearby is there. Caution against opening the door thinking it could be family. Rely on the phone for connection if you don’t have the key to their room.

6. If agreeable for your parent, arrange ahead of time for a wheelchair. Distances in the airport are LONG and there is so much confusion everywhere. Being in the wheelchair takes away that stress for your parent. AND you can zip through the security lines when you are with a wheelchair passenger!

7. Take along extra reading material for your parent to make the waiting time go faster. Something you have may be more interesting since it is different from what your parent usually reads.

8. Take along a nightlight so that there is safety at night for going to the bathroom. So many elderly people have falls which lead to inactivity which leads to degeneration of the body. Having light at night is a great safety precaution against falls.

9. Be careful not to pack the schedule too tight. Leave room for naps when necessary. Take along plenty of reading for yourself so that you are not impatient waiting.

10. When returning home, check over their residence to make certain all is in shape for reentry. Make certain lights are working. Check for any leaks in water lines. Ask if there is anything that you can do for them before you leave. Coming home after a trip is another important transition.

One final note: Be sure to check over your parent’s carry-on luggage or purse. Make certain there are no liquids there that either need to be put in a separate ziplock bag or packed on their checked in luggage. This will avoid any confusion when going through the airport security. Isn’t travel getting more complicated every year?

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You also want to avoid theft, mugging, or worst, terrorist attacks. Your resort may call itself an “island paradise” but let’s not be naïve and assume everyone is as friendly as they look in the brochures.

Be smart. Prepare, make informed decisions, especially if you’re traveling with your family. This vacation is supposed to be fun–and you can do your part by preventing most disasters.

1. Check Travel Advisories

Your embassy will list places that they recommend “caution” or right-out tell you to stay away from altogether. This could be because of a tense political situation, or a low level of security in underdeveloped areas.

But also take advisories with some degree of salt. You can safely assume that the capitals and major cities of a country will be more tourist friendly, since governments would’ve probably taken great efforts to develop them. The exception, of course, are countries going through civil war–in which case, read the international newspapers (or the web-version of their local English paper) to see how bad it really is.

2. Get Vaccinated

Some viruses that are relatively rare in your country may proliferate in the climate of another–and you don’t have the natural antibodies to fight them. Get the full range of vaccines (your embassy website will also recommend which ones you really need, depending on here you want to go).

3. Bring Medicines and Prescriptions

Ask your doctor for two copies of your prescriptions (carry one in your wallet, and leave one in your luggage). Also bring enough anti histamines (for allergies) or any maintenance vitamins or medications. Asthmatics should carry have a nebulizer–especially since attacks can be triggered by change in climate or physical exertion (you never know how much walking you’ll be doing during the tour).

4. Never Flaunt Your Valuables

Wearing your Rolex or flashing large amounts of money practically screams “Rob me!” to the pickpockets. Keep small bills and change in your belt bag for easy access (these are for entrance fees, cab fares, snacks). Keep larger bills in a zippered pocket. To be very safe, divide the money and distribute it among several pockets–at least, even if you do get robbed, you still have something left.

Another tip: bring only what you need for that day and leave the rest in the hotel safety deposit box.

5. Travel in Groups

This is unfamiliar land, and you may not even speak the local language. So stick together (at least divide into pairs), especially at night.

6. Ask the Hotel Receptionist/Travel Agent Which Places to Avoid

Before exploring the area, get a list of places known for its crime rate, or streets that tend to get dark after a particular hour. Identify the areas on a map and avoid accordingly.

7. Tell the Hotel Receptionist Where You Are Going

This is very important if you are going skiing, hiking, or participating in any activity where there is a risk of getting lost or injured. Name how many people will be in your party and what time they can expect you. Then, they can alert authorities if you have not returned.

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