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8 Helpful Things 50-Plus Travelers Never Knew They Need to Do Before Traveling

Research is key but don’t forget to have a conversation

a passport, person tipping, European currency and an airplane
Make sure to do your research before traveling so you’re not caught unaware. Check the expiration date on your passport (top left); know tipping etiquette; book the first flight on a plane not based in your city and research local currency and exchange rates.
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Getty Images (4))
By

Judy Mandell,

 
AARP
Published May 13, 2024

If you are getting ready to travel, you probably have a pre-travel checklist that you follow. TSA PreCheck? Active. Passport? Check. But if you haven’t traveled in a while, you might not know where to start checking for the necessary information and documentation.

After the record number of passengers screened in 2023, David Pekoske, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said earlier this year that the agency expects the trend to continue this year. Indeed, 65 percent of people 50-plus plan to travel this year, according to the AARP 2024 Travel Trends survey.

As you prepare to travel this summer, here are eight tips you never knew to follow before taking a trip.

1. Call the non-U.S. 800 number for airlines

Peter Greenberg, the travel editor for CBS News, wants travelers to not rely solely on online research when booking a trip. “The websites are by design misleading because the presumption that people make, which is false, is that they’re seeing all the availability and inventory on their screen. They’re not.”

Greenberg suggests having a conversation with a travel agent, travel adviser or travel provider to find the full availability that often isn’t depicted online. Instead of being put on hold on a U.S.-based airline 800 number, call an 800 number for United Airlines in London, American Airlines in Dublin or Delta Airlines in Paris, he says. “They are open 24/7. They won’t put you on hold. And they’re seeing the same thing on their screen that the headquarters are seeing” in Chicago, Dallas or Atlanta, Greenberg says.

2. Check the expiration date on your passport

Many countries, including most of Europe, Morocco, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand, will not let you enter if your passport expires in less than six months. Check the U.S. State Department’s travel site for more details.

3. Get an international driver’s permit

Do you plan to drive overseas? If so, there are some countries that require an International Driving Permit, says William Lee, the head of marketing for Chima Travel in northeast Ohio. According to usa.gov, if you visit Canada or Mexico, your state driver’s license is all you need. However, a trip to Spain or Greece will require an International Driving Permit. “The process to get one is actually really simple,” Lee says. Before you travel, either visit AAA in person or online. AAA is the only entity that issues the permit in the U.S. Supply two passport-style photos or have the pictures taken at certain AAA offices. The fee for the permit is $20, plus processing and delivery fees. You don’t need to be a member of AAA to use this service.

4. Book the first flight of the day on an airline not based in your city

Greenberg says advice to take the very first flight of the day is nothing new. “What is new is to take the first flight of the day on an airline that’s not based in your city,” he says. “You want to take the first flight on a plane that overnighted, which means the crew stayed with that plane; the plane is ready to go, and your odds of getting out on time first thing in the morning are infinitely increased.” Greenberg adds it could be a problem if you are waiting for a plane to arrive from somewhere else.

5. Apply for entrance authorization

In 2025, the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will require passport holders from more than 60 visa-exempt countries to apply for approval to enter 30 European countries. Previously, countries such as France, Germany and Greece did not require advance approval to enter for visits of less than 90 days. Once the program is running, travelers to Europe will fill out the form online or via a mobile app and pay a 7 euro charge (about $7.54, depending on exchange rates; free for applicants 70 and older). And don’t forget about visas. “You just need to search for ‘country + visa requirements,’ ” Lee says.

6. Research local currency and exchange rates

“Many travelers get ripped off due to a lack of research,” says Michael Sawyer, operations director at Ultimate Kilimanjaro, a company that specializes in assisting people who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Sawyer suggests exchanging some currency prior to your departure or getting a travel debit card.

7. Search for tipping etiquette

Sawyer says tipping customs vary greatly depending on the city or country. “Knowing how to tip at restaurants and other services can assist in avoiding awkward situations,” he says.

8. Download offline maps and other key apps

If you are traveling to a destination with limited internet access, it’s good to have these products readily available, Sawyer says. City-specific apps can provide information on attractions, public transportation and restaurant recommendations.

Contributing: Kimberley Lovato, AARP

Judy Mandell is a Virginia-based writer who contributes to the New York Times, the Washington Post, Prevention magazine and many other major newspapers and magazines. She lives in North Garden, Virginia, with her rescue dog, Maple.

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