Nowadays, it’s safe to say that life begins at 60. We’ve got plenty of time on our hands and a list of must-see destinations. With great deals on medical travel insurance, there’s no excuse to not get yourself out there and see the world. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of five different travel gadgets to make excursions easier for the over-60s.

Victorinox Travel Organiser with RFID Protection

While almost everything can be stored on smartphones these days, not everybody is comfortable doing so. It can also be useful to keep a hard copy of important information too, such as any medical prescriptions or medical travel insurance documents in the event that you need them on your trip abroad.

The Victorinox Travel Organiser is the perfect solution. It’s a compact, sleek document holder for organising all of your important papers and cards. RFID protection technology means that any track tags (such as those found in your passport, chip and pin card or credit card) are completely protected from would-be information thieves.

This organiser features large storage pockets, including a fully-zippable pocket for storing travel tickets, passports and hard currency. There’s even a separate zipped pocket for coins, and the micromesh slot means that your ID is visible without having to remove it from the organiser. The back of the organiser features a rear pocket which can be used to store quick-access items like boarding passes.

In addition to being practical and functional, this organiser is also incredibly stylish. Finished in black, this sturdy yet sleek organiser is perfect for both short-term and long-haul trips away.

Google Translate

If you’re travelling to a foreign destination and aren’t familiar with the language, Google Translate could help to make your holiday a lot easier. This incredible app allows you to translate speech in real time using your smartphone.

The beauty of Google Translate, and why it functions better than similar apps on the market, is that it has been designed entirely with the user experience in mind. While older generations are embracing technology more than ever before, it’s refreshing to have an app that is intuitive and easy to operate without having to spend hours reading instructions or practising.

Instead, Google Translate has a simple interface, versatile methods of input, offline support for when you don’t have a WiFi or roaming connection, and the ability to help you communicate in up to 90 languages.

With this app installed on your phone, you can forget about simple phrasebooks. Text recognition and the ability to translate audio means that you can now converse clearly and succinctly with locals, even when you don’t speak a word of their language.

For those with pre-existing medical conditions, this can be particularly useful. For example, if you lose your medication while on holiday and need replacements, if you’ve suffered an injury or if you’re experiencing difficulty with your pre-existing condition, Google Translate can be effective in helping you to articulate yourself. It can allow you to explain that you have medical travel insurance prior to receiving any treatment, and could also help speed up the process of getting medical attention by allowing you to converse much more quickly.

Spacesaver Vacuum Storage Bags

As we get older, some of us need to pack bulkier, warmer clothing - particularly during winter excursions. However, this can cause the headache of having little space left in our suitcases. Thankfully, there’s a solution at hand: vacuum storage bags.

Bulky items like coats and jackets can be simply placed into a vacuum storage bag before you use a vacuum cleaner nozzle to remove the air from the bag (and the clothing). The bags are designed with a special double-zip seal, and a triple-seal valve ensures no air can get into the bag once it has been sealed.

You might be wondering whether this will affect your clothing, and the answer is not at all. Once the bag is opened, your clothes will return to the exact shape they were in when placed in the bag. We recommend ironing and folding before placing clothing in the bag to avoid creases, as this allows you to wear your clothes as-is without having to worry about where the travel iron is. Ultimately, vacuum storage bags are the way forward for travellers who want to bring more clothing without having to increase their luggage capacity.

For lighter, more efficient travel, vacuum storage bags are a must. They’re also available in a variety of sizes, so it’s worth checking the dimensions of your travel bag or suitcase prior to purchasing.

Compression socks

Flying for prolonged periods can put us at greater risk of deep vein thrombosis. DVT is a medical condition which occurs when clots form in the veins, usually in the lower leg, pelvis or thigh.

The risk of DVT increases as we get older, so it’s therefore, pertinent to do everything we can to protect ourselves against it. If you’re on a long-haul flight or otherwise sedentary for long periods, it’s a good idea to move your legs as much as you can. While this isn’t always practical on a flight, compression socks can help apply pressure to the legs which helps to maintain blood flow. This will reduce swelling and discomfort, and make you safer as well as more comfortable during your travels.

ThermaCELL Heated Insoles

To get the most out of a winter excursion, sometimes wrapping up warm isn’t enough. With ThermaCELL Heated Insoles, you’ll be able to take the comfort of your feet to the next level. These thermal insoles are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and best of all they’re remote-controlled. A thermostat within the water-resistant fabric liner is controlled by a simple battery-powered remote control. Freezing temperatures needn’t negatively affect your next winter break - simply remember your insoles and forget about the cold!

Conclusion

It’s important to be well-prepared for a trip away, and this can mean setting aside some time to arrange for gadgets and apps which can make your journey that little bit easier. It’s also worthwhile preparing travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.

With Total Travel Protection, you can quickly and easily arrange travel insurance for over 70s - either online or on the phone. This will provide you with additional peace of mind as you enjoy your latest excursion, so why not contact us today and see how we can help?

Travel gadgets for over 60s