Planning a holiday
Travel is an exciting part of retirement. Ensure it remains fun by being prepared and planning for your trip.
Smartraveller is the Australian Government’s travel advisory service and is a good place to start when you’re planning a holiday, especially if it’s going to take you overseas. This site includes safe travel tips such as:
- organising travel insurance
- checking expiry on passports as most countries require a minimum of 6 months before expiration before they let you in the country
- checking to see whether you need to organise a visa
- organising a supply of any medicines you take for your entire trip and check that the country you are travelling to will accept the medication you are bringing—your doctor may need to provide you with a letter
- immunising yourself, if necessary, before you leave to prevent illnesses which may be common in other countries
- protecting your valuables by using locks for bags and organising how you will carry your money and passport
- finding out if there are any local customs or laws different from home that you need to follow while overseas
- taking the stress out of your trip by booking and confirming your accommodation in advance
- making sure you know how to get help overseas if something doesn’t go to plan—give a copy of your itinerary to a friend or family member who will be able to help you back at home.
Register your travel details with Smartraveller before you leave if you are travelling overseas.
Booking accommodation
When booking accommodation, consider:
- What type of facilities you would like?
- How close does your accommodation need to be to shops, restaurants or the beach?
- Do you need kitchen facilities so you can prepare your own meals?
- Can you walk up stairs?
- Do you need a room designed to accommodate a wheelchair?
Your local travel agent can help you book accommodation or you can call hotels directly over the phone and book with them.
If you’re looking to save money you might consider finding your hotel online through the hotel website, a web search for last minute deals or through:
