Two weeks before 9/11/2001, we began packing for a much-anticipated trip to Croatia. There, we would visit friends we had made 12 years prior when they hosted us at dinner during our travel writer society’s convention in the former Yugoslavia.
We’re pretty seasoned travelers, but you would never have known it by the dumb mistake we made getting ready to fly stand-by, no less. My brother-in-law had been a captain with a major international airline, so we had buddy passes that would allow us some priority on the waitlist. So, we were all set. We had finished packing — all six pieces of heavy luggage, which we would check through to Frankfurt, then claim them for the last leg of the trip aboard Croatia Airlines. So far, so good.
After deplaning in Frankfurt, we had 30 minutes to make our connection to Croatia Airlines, and we had no idea where to go. We couldn’t find departure or arrival information or airline personnel to help, and as we hurried through the airport, I turned to look at my 66-year-old husband struggling with four pieces of luggage. He hadn’t slept in hours, and he was hollow-eyed and looked as though he couldn’t go a step further. Everyone hurrying by us seemed to know where they were going, except us. I stood wringing my hands, almost in tears, because I was certain we would miss our connection. Croatia Airlines was not a commuter, so that was the last flight of the day. Realizing my distress, my inimitable husband promised that if I watched the six pieces of luggage, he would go for help. Not 10 minutes later he returned with directions to our connection and we reached Zagreb for our trip to the idyllic Island of Solta, Visit Solta.
It is self-evident to most people flying stand-by that you pack sensibly and carry only a piece or two, depending upon airline regulations, and you don’t check any luggage. That trip was only two weeks ahead of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, and especially now safety regulations are even more stringent. Travel Fashion Girl offers excellent tips for two-week packing Packing for a Two-Week Trip, and you can find other packing solutions on the internet.
Grannybooster has selected some of the most important tips from experienced senior travelers.
• If you take medications, pack them in their original containers — it makes it a whole lot easier to get through security.
• Pack lightly. You’d be surprised how much variation in outfits you can get by mixing and matching ensembles from just a few garments. Accessorize them, and they look entirely different.
• If you have a disability or are physically challenged, it often easiest to book your trip through a travel agent. You can discuss your concerns and find solutions before you take your trip.
• Sometimes, health insurance covers travel illness or accidents, but if not, it’s essential to make sure you’re covered for such eventualities as air evacuation, should you become ill.
• Join IAMAT — it’s a wonderful organization dedicated to providing traveling Americans with access to doctors and other medical resources, abroad.
Bon voyage, so-long, adios, and may you create fabulous memories.
Have more travel tips, please email them to us at info@grannybooster.com
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