Sometimes as youre getting older, you might start feeling less capable.
You go out there and you navigate the world by yourself?
Yeah, you come back feeling pretty darn strong.
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Thinking Youre Younger Than You Are
Dont overestimate your abilities or underestimate your age.
Its pretty common, Waugh laughs.
Sometimes you have to adapt according to the times within your life.
I have bought travel insurance my entire life and Ive won the game on some years, she says.
You have to have travel insurance.
She recommends simply counting travel insurance as part of the cost of your trip.
How do you choose which travel insurance package or level of coverage is right for you?
Everyone has their own level of risk, even as a senior, Waugh says.
If you dont care whether you lose your luggage, then dont get it covered.
Have a look at it in terms of what you actually want to buy.
Or divorced a lot of people divorce in their 50s and early 60s, once the kids are gone.
There are many, many reasons that people will come to solo travel later in life.
So thats a really valid and useful way to travel for seniors.
Those who go independently, its very interesting to see the response of the world to them.
Go to a city not far from you, where its really familiar, Waugh advises.
You get your feet wet that way.
Solo Traveler World advertises tour companies with no single supplement or a low single supplement.
We have a 20 percent threshold, otherwise they cant advertise on our page, Waugh says.
So double-check that youre leaving really confident about how youre communicating with home.
Traveling with technology is not necessary, though it can be helpful, Waugh says.
Stick with what youre comfortable with.
She also recommends using Google Street View to take a look around the area before booking accommodations.
Overpacking
Overpacking makes travel both cumbersome and expensive.
She suggests choosing two base colors for your wardrobe and accessorizing with non-flashy, cheap jewelry and scarves.
It can always be done.
Overall, keep your bags light by keeping your packing list simple and versatile.
I went to Havana one time and arrived after dark, she said.
So that was when I learned: verify you arrive during daylight.
Life will be easier.
If something feels uncomfortable, get out of there, Waugh says.
You dont want to be too polite.
If someones making you uncomfortable, be noisy about it.
In that vein, Waughs No.
1 rule as a senior traveling solo is to remain in public with the people she meets.
But hostels arent just for young people anymore (though being young at heart is probably a plus).
Another positive change is the increased ease of communication.
Gone are the days of picking up your mail at the American Express office.
For Waugh, its about the people you meet on the road.
Whether its other travelers or whether its locals, its really a wonderful experience.
When youre traveling on your own, theres no attending to other peoples needs or accommodating their schedules.
They dont have to go to museums if they hate museums.
They can go to museums all day if they love museums.
Its all up to them.
Plus, she says, the experience is incredibly empowering.
Sometimes as youre getting older, you might start feeling less capable.
You go out there and you navigate the world by yourself?
Yeah, you come back feeling pretty darn strong.
