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For the travelling senior

More and more Australians are travelling after retirement - and we recognise that whether you are an experienced international traveller or have waited a lifetime to take this journey, you may have special needs while you're away.

Your health overseas

It is important to be aware that the situation overseas may be very different to what you are used to at home. Organising comprehensive travel insurance before you depart can save you the worry of unexpected medical costs. Regardless of how healthy and fit you are, remember - if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Reciprocal health care agreements

Australia has health care agreements with some countries including Finland, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Under these agreements, Australians can be provided with urgent or emergency medical treatment overseas. However, general medical services are only provided when the need for treatment arises during the visit and it would be unreasonable to delay treatment until the individual's intended return date.

It is important to remember that:

• you will only be covered by these health care agreements once you are in the specific country. Health problems which occur during travel to and from an agreement country are not covered
• health care agreements are no substitute for travel insurance. They will not cover you if a doctor recommends medical evacuation back to Australia.

Further information about international health agreements or call 13 2011.

Tips to maintain your health and fitness

before departure:

• visit your doctor to find out if any vaccinations or health checks are required
• if you are prescribed malarial medication, take it as prescribed - prior to leaving, while in risk areas and when you return
• make up a small medical kit. Include items such as headache tablets, antacids, antiseptic lotion, cotton wool, band-aids, latex gloves, safety pins, 30+ sunscreen and an appropriate insect repellent
• factor the effects of jet lag into your itinerary. It will affect you less if you fly west.

while travelling:

• keep important medication with you in case your luggage goes missing
• be aware that items such as pins and tweezers cannot be taken on board in your hand luggage
• take enough medication with you to cover the length of the trip - it may not be available overseas
• keep taking your prescribed medication
• don't over exercise - especially in hot climates
• where local tap water is not safe, drink plenty of bottled water (also use this to brush your teeth) and always check the seal on the bottle
• avoid ice in cool drinks - freezing preserves germs, it does not kill them
• beware of uncooked food including salads and fruit that you cannot peel
• include 'rest time' in your travel itinerary
• wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen for sightseeing
• dress and behave conservatively, in accordance with local customs and sensitivities
• wear a pair of thongs when showering
• practise safe sex - HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease are widespread in many countries.

To help avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT) when flying:

• drink plenty of fluids (but avoid alcohol)
• while seated stretch your feet and lower legs
• walk around the cabin at regular intervals.

Travelling with medicine

Before leaving home, you should check that your medications are legal in the country you are visiting. You can do this by contacting the country's embassy or high commission.

Since the National Health Act was amended in 1999, it has been an offence to carry or post Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines overseas unless they are for your personal use, or the use of someone travelling with you.

Only Australian residents living in Australia at the time a PBS prescription is dispensed are entitled to receive PBS-subsidised medication and there are restrictions on the amount of PBS medicine that can be carried or sent overseas.

When planning to travel overseas with PBS medicine it is important that you:

• talk to your doctor and discuss the medicine you will need to take
• carry a letter from your doctor detailing what the medicine is, how much you will be taking, and stating that it is for your own personal use
• leave the medicine in its original packaging so it is clearly labelled with your name and dosage instructions.

If you intend to travel with large quantities of medicine, including over-the-counter or private prescription medications, you should ask your doctor, dentist or pharmacist to provide you with a letter explaining why you need to carry such quantities.

If you have to inject your medication it might be preferable to carry your own needles and syringes but you should check with the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting to make sure this is acceptable.

If you buy needles and syringes while overseas ensure you buy packs that are sealed and sterile. And, if you need to carry needles and syringes with you on the plane, inform your airline before you travel and if necessary, arrange a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to carry them.

It is important to be aware that some items purchased overseas may be packaged under a different brand name to those available in Australia.

Keep an eye on the strength and active ingredients of similar-sounding medications overseas - they can vary.

More information on travelling with medicines is available from the Health Insurance Commission's website or by phoning the Overseas Drug Diversion information line: 1800 500 147.

Travelling with a disability

If you have a disability and are planning to travel overseas, the first thing to remember is that Australia's arrangements for people with disabilities are among the best in the world. As it is unlikely that you will find similar facilities in many countries overseas, it is important to plan ahead.

Tips for travellers with disabilities

• Call airports and airlines well ahead of time to find out about services, including seating arrangements, special meals and shuttle services.
• Make reservations wherever possible and confirm all bookings and arrangements 48 hours beforehand.
• Notify others about your needs. Inform your travel agency or companies you are using, such as airlines, that you have a disability and the implications of the disability.
• Book direct flights where possible and when making bookings allow plenty of time for any necessary transfers between planes or other forms of transport.
• Contact the local tourist authority to find out if the public transport system accommodates your disability.
• Do not make assumptions. If you have checked that the bathroom is wheelchair accessible, also ask about the front steps - try to speak to somebody who has actually seen the facility.
• Contact relevant embassies to check rules and regulations about your aids - whether it be a wheel chair, guide dog or medication.
• If any of your aids need electric current, check the voltage used in the country you are visiting. Also check which adaptors are needed - the plug configuration can change.

Your Pre-trip Planning

Before you depart it is a good idea to do some research on your destination and make sure you have the documentation and items you need to make your trip as hassle-free as possible.

Dual nationality

If you or your parents were born in another country,you may be regarded as a citizen or national of that country, even though you are an Australian citizen and may never have travelled outside Australia. Being a national or citizen of two countries is called dual nationality. Some countries offer citizenship topeople who marry their citizens, or to persons whose grandparents were born in that country.

Dual nationality can be a good thing, but it can create problems, especially if you are unaware that you hold dual nationality.

A country may not permit Australian consular assistance to be given to Australian citizens, who, according to its laws, are considered to be its own nationals.

If you hold another country's passport, seek advice about using it. Take your Australian passport and use it to leave and return to Australia.

If you have any further questions, call Australian Citizenship Enquiries on: 13 1880.

Our brochure 'Travel information for dual nationals' also provides more details.

Finance and planning tips

before departure:

• organise a variety of financial options for while you are away, including credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash
• contact your debit card provider to confirm the location of automatic teller machines (ATMs) and whether your card will work in the ATMs overseas
• take photocopies of valuable travel documents including your passport, airline tickets, itinerary and travellers cheques. Leave a set with a friend or family member at home, and keep another copy in a separate place to the originals while overseas
• pack your senior citizens card, it might not work overseas, but it is worth taking with you - just in case
• ensure that your passport has at least six months' validity - some countries will not allow you to enter otherwise. A Senior's Passport, valid for five years, is available toAustralian citizens aged 75 years and over for half the cost of a standard passport.

Further information on Australian passports or call 131 232.

while travelling:

• avoid public displays of wealth and carry only enough cash for your daily needs
• if you receive a Centrelink payment and wish to check on your payments while you are overseas phone: +61 3 6222 3455. In Australia, Centrelink can be telephoned on: 13 1675.

This information was provided by smartraveller, The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service. For more information, click here