Travel tips for when the heart is young but the legs no longer are
by Elizabeth Bingham, author of Easy-Walking Europe and Easy-Walking North Shore (Lake Superior)
I write travel books. In the last couple of years, I have switched my focus from introducing European languages and cultures to making travel easier for people who have somewhat-limited mobility. So-called “slow walkers” can still get around on their own, but they can’t go as far or as fast as they used to, and stairs can take a while.
I started down this path to help my mother (in her eighth decade) travel more comfortably, but I am rapidly finding that I benefit from my own advice, and I am not alone in this. Millions of us, not so old but also not so fit, love to travel and can appreciate making things easier.
I have my own suggestions, of course, for avoiding pain and fatigue when away from home. I thought it would be informative, though, to consult with a larger community of enthusiastic travelers, most of them no longer young, and see what I could learn from them. That effort did not disappoint.
Here is a compilation of their group wisdom, offered to me in three Facebook travel groups I follow, and shared with their permission. (Responses have been lightly edited to clean up typos, etc.)
CRUISES
Cruises rate highly among people looking to ease the physical demands of travel.
”I used to work for a tour operator,” says Jasmin D., “and a particularly popular trip was to travel on a river cruise. As long as someone is able to walk up some steps, then it can be a lovely way to see various parts of the world, and it can be as active [as you want], depending on how you feel.”
Erica M. from Minnesota has found cruises to be a travel solution for her physical challenges. “I have flares that can last for months and, in the past, [have kept me] homebound…. [M]y husband and I have discovered the warm sunshine and carefree environment on a small cruise ship is the perfect remedy. I used to think I would hate cruising, but now (pre- and post-covid) it is my freedom. We arrive at new locations almost daily, and I can decide if I feel up to touring around or just want to spend the day relaxing on the ship I have to myself. No worry about cooking or cleaning, and I swear the salty sea air and sunshine can cure the blues almost immediately. You can arrange for a scooter on board if you need one. I love it!”
She finds there is plenty of novelty and excitement, even on a cruise. “It’s not the same kind of adventure, but adventure nonetheless. We’ve held sloths in Honduras, swum with gorgeous fishes all around on Grand Turk, found a private oasis filled with pink flamingos on Curacao, and felt the chill of a glacier on our faces, all while I needed to use a cane for walking and wheelchairs in the airport.”
Erica recommends small cruise ships, particularly the cruises offered by Holland America. “I love them. Smaller ships, quieter ambience, no boom boom music unless you seek it out. So many amazing educational opportunities on board to help you learn about where you are traveling. The Alaskan cruise was over-the-top fantastic! It’s generally calm, often an older crowd, so they are very accustomed and accommodating to any handicap needs. The ships are small and beautiful. I have cruised Carnival and Norwegian, and it was just so difficult and crowded. Long lines for everything. I have never waited in line on Holland America, not even to get on board.”
KB, on the other hand, offers a plug for Viking River Cruises. “On Viking River Cruises, they will have a group for [people] with mobility issues. I had to use this option once while traveling with someone who couldn’t do some things. It was wonderful.”
COACH TOURS
Land-based tours can also be appropriate for people with less mobility, but they do require a careful check for activity levels. Many coach-tour sites, such as Road Scholar, allow searches that filter according to how physically demanding tours are.
Jasmin D., who recommended river cruises, also notes, “[S]ome coach tours are an equally good way to see the world as long as they don’t have an overly active itinerary.”
Jolanta B. has nerve damage in her feet but finds that coach tours work for her. “My tours of choice are group, planned tours. I find the longer bus rides to get to each location are beneficial to me because my feet get to rest,” she says. “If our tour guide stops to make a speech of some sort, I try to find somewhere to sit. I study the itineraries and do my research to see if I could do the different sites. I also have to sit some things out.”
PLANNING
A key to less-physically-demanding travel (what I call “easy-walking travel”) is to research and plan. This is especially true when designing your own trips, traveling independently. Natalie P. writes, “Mom loves to travel but has a hip condition. We always try to book hotels, touristic spots, and restaurants that are accessible. I do the research, but that kind of info is not always online.”
It can be difficult to find information about specific sights or locations online (personally, I advocate sending messages, if necessary), but general guidelines are also useful. When I asked for input, travel lovers were generous in detailing just how they plan for independent trips that take things easier. Here is what they shared.
LODGING
A favorable lodging choice can be a big part of a successful self-planned trip.
“Pick your location to stay very carefully,” warns Carry B. “It may be less expensive in the long run to stay in the heart of the action rather than the cheaper place on the outskirts due to transportation costs.”
Susan M. offers related advice. “Consider transportation needs when making accommodations. You don’t want to be too far away from transportation.”
As for the hotel itself, Brenda C. advises paying attention to floor levels in the building, with a reminder that European first floors are American second floors. “If stairs are an issue, this is good to know, since a lot of places don’t have elevators.”
Once you’ve found a good location, Catherine B. from Saskatchewan recommends staying put as much as possible. “I found the exhausting bit to be moving from place to place, hotel to hotel and city to city.”
Staying in one location limits having to haul your luggage regularly, but you still have that initial arrival to contend with, often early in the morning, before your room is available. “Make sure you can drop your luggage at the hotel. No matter how light [it is], you are already tired from the long hours in flight,” shares Dixie O.
Before selecting lodging, don’t forget to learn about the bathroom. “Most bathrooms have a shower over the bath, which can be hard to climb into and out of,” observes Elma M. “If that’s an issue, ask for a room with a walk-in shower in the en-suite.”
Brenda C. agrees. “Right about the bathtubs! I’m short, and they are usually very tall. Fortunately, most places have showers.”
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is another area that can make or break a trip. We travel because we want to see and experience new things. That means getting out of our hotel room. But what’s the best way to do that?
“Consider one of the all-city tours when you get there. In younger days, [I] wasn’t a fan,” admits Susan M., “but getting older, it gives me a good lay of the land to figure out what I want to see and how I might get there. Then you can pick out the things you want to see that may be more of a nuisance to get to.”
Dixie O. agrees. After arrival, “we get a hop-on/hop-off tour so it can take us to all the sites we want to eventually see, basically getting the lay of the land.”
Once Susan has her overview, she turns to public transportation. “Familiarize yourself with the public transportation system, if there is one. Plan out your routes. Consider buying an unlimited pass, if one is available.”
She continues, “Take pictures of your routes with your phone before you leave your room or wherever you are that has [Internet] service, because sometimes there may be WiFi issues along the way, and you need to refer back to your route.”
Joanna W. uses a travel app to determine how long of a walk she has to get to a bus. “It shows how long the walk is to the stop, the length of time, how busy the bus is, live departures, etc.”
Not everyone wants to use public transportation. Carry B. travels frequently to London, but her tips apply to other cities, as well. “I rarely use the Tube [subway] due to several stops having too many stairs for me,” she writes. “Uber is great in London and cheaper but, as everyone knows, black cabs are great, too. Budget for them if [you are] not able to walk a lot. In London, car services can be much cheaper than taxis from the airport. [They have a] fixed price rather than meters.”
Outside of cities, Janet H. from Ontario happily trades the flexibility of a car for less stressful travel. “We take trains rather than drive. Then both of us can relax rather than one driving and the other looking at a map instead of scenery. Or we hire a driver.”
TRAVEL AIDS
Seasoned travelers rely on favored travel aids to make their trips more physically manageable.
Linda R. from Illinois writes, “I can walk. But not far before my back kills. If I use my walker, the one with the fancy seat and brakes, I can walk much further and longer. I know it’s a pain, but bringing my walker with me is the best thing I’ve ever done to keep me traveling!”
How does she stow her walker on a plane? “Walk up to the gate. They take it, just like they do baby strollers. Then it’s there waiting for me when I get off!”
Linda also recommends hiking poles for additional support when traveling. “Mine fit in my carry-on because I bought the collapsible ones.”
Erica M. swears by using the wheelchair service at the airport. “For me, it’s a life saver. I felt so self-conscious the first time using the wheelchair service, but it allowed me to enjoy my journey so much more. I become fatigued easily and it affects every part of my body. The wheelchair allowed me to save precious energy to enjoy my trip. I walk down to the plane myself upon getting to the gate, and find my seat unassisted. I always tip my wheelchair handler well, as some have taken their precious time to bring me all the way to a rental car after arrival, all while dragging my luggage along, as well. I am so grateful for these helpers.”
Jolanta B., with the nerve damage, spares her feet as much as she can. “Walking for a distance or standing for longer periods is extremely painful. I only wear specific supportive shoes. I bought a mini foldable stool that I bring along that fits in my tote purse.”
BB from South Carolina uses two aids to make long flights more bearable. “On our next trip, I will be getting two neck pillows for sure. Also, a small roller for our feet.” She plans to “use [the foot roller] on the flight and throughout [the trip] whenever it’s needed.”
Jennifer M. also rolls an object under her feet for relief and stimulation. “I bring a lacrosse ball, but for the same reason.”
SLOWER PACE
A recurring theme in easier travel is to slow down and smell the roses.
Catherine B. has learned from past mistakes. “We overdid ourselves a bit, as we had to see everything and didn’t take a day or two off to just chill and relax. Now I would do things differently for sure and not try to see everything.”
“Absolutely agree,” writes Áine from Highland Park House in Orkney, Scotland. “A lot of our guests have already been touring/travelling through Scotland or even through the UK and Ireland before they reach us, and many are worn out. Folks need to allow themselves time to be in places, not just to see them for a few rushed minutes through their phone cameras. Build in some doing-nothing, listen-to-the-birds-and-the-waves time.”
Jenny S. from Georgia advises planning free time as part of your travel schedule. “Build some rest time into the itinerary every day (time to sit in a pub and eat lunch or get some tea for a bit, rather than eating on the go between sights, for example), and build in some free time every three days or so (like maybe have a day where you’re going to do something that could take a morning or afternoon, and you leave the rest free).”
Janet H. has changed how she travels to reflect this wisdom. “We have learned to settle down. It’s impossible to see every little thing and cram it into a day or week or month. So we’re re-interpreting the definition of vacation. We choose very specific sites but add in bookstores with seating, pubs, and gardens. And we build in time just to get lost and wander,” she shares. “We also space large cities in between country inns. We find that creating a list then cutting it in half leads to a more enjoyable visit.”
FLEXIBILITY
Finally, what may be the biggest key to enjoying a trip despite physical limitations is flexibility—the ability to adjust expectations and make the best of what you can easily do.
For example, “Don’t be so focused on getting to a particular restaurant for meals, even if people talk it up,” advises Susan M. “I have often found that things I stumble across are better than the things I look for that I have heard about…. Even if I wind up somewhere the food isn’t stellar, I can often find something about it to take away—ambience, how people act, what I overhear. I am a writer, so I collect the memories wherever I am…. I am getting on in years and have bad knees and [still] get along well when traveling, being flexible.”
