Twelve Essentials for Traveling with Senior Parents

As an adult I have always felt that traveling with my parents is a bit backwards. I suddenly became the passport holder, check-inner, security navigator, and cab hailer. And I love doing it! It’s time to repay my guardians who didn’t mislead me in Orlando, Palma Airports, or service stations deepest Wales. I never realized how much responsibility came with leading a group. As the person in charge of planning and preparing, I am responsible for ensuring that all safety precautions are in place and that we pack weather-appropriately. I try to plan enough entertainment for long delays, slow afternoons or times when we get on each other’s backs.

When we travel, we will be in bed with our face masks at 9:30 p.m. My mom is officially disabled after having two ankle operations. I must alert airport staff if my mother has a bad time on her feet. My parents both have expressed their anxiety about traveling, especially as they age. Since I am the boss, I have created a sensible playlist that includes everything. travel accessories like a lightweight pop-up stool Enjoy a luxurious stay while away from home with these and other amenities.

Carl Friedrik Carry on

We both choose to fly with this popular luggage brand from Sweden when we are together. These bags have a durable polycarbonate shell, with an aluminium frame. They are also lightweight and feature a secure lock. The color strip at the top of the bag makes it easy to see on the luggage belt. I also like that everything is easier to find when my mother and I are in a foreign country with our items in tow.

I live in a completely different part of England than my mother, and so like to arrive at the airport later. I was able to get through security and the terminal quickly with my 360-degree silent spinning wheels. We met at a nearby bar for our first glass of wine. Modular interiors allow you to fit more in the bag, with compression straps as well as a pad.

Cotopaxi Lemongrass Backpack

Backpacks make my favorite cabin bags to travel with. They’re more practical, balanced, and easy to carry than weekenders. I also use them during our vacations to save my mother from having to carry things. My top pick is the Cotopaxi backpack. I love its washability, durability and bright colors that stand out in a crowd.

The zip panels and divided compartments make it easy to pack. My husband and I always take extra clothes, toiletries and medications in our hand luggage. This backpack has enough room for all of that and more. It’s also handy to have a laptop with me to quickly sort out changes to the schedule, rebook something last-minute, or to look up information on a larger screen than my smartphone. This bag is large enough to fit a 15″ laptop and has a 35 liter capacity.

Telescoping Retractable Lightweight Stool

This sturdy portable stool comes with a cover, padded seat, and a carry bag. The following are some examples of how to use Waiting up to 45-minutes for the much-praised secret trattoria is a challenge. It requires patience, sweat, and hunger. It’s a great idea to have a spot where my mom can pop a nice squat after a long day of sightseeing. She gets tired on her ankles from two surgeries. This is a win for everyone.

Air Tracker Tags

We’ve done a few trips that have had multiple train journeys, and sometimes that means leaving luggage at the far end of a carriage from where we’re sitting—which sends a shiver down our paranoid spines. It’s great to see how impressed Mum is with this travel tech. Clunky padlocks and lost keys no more—though I do always use the built-in luggage locks, too, for extra protection. The trackers are also very helpful if you’re in a crowded market or resort.

Travel Steamer

For a decade, my mom ironed all of my clothes, from ties to underwear. It’s the least I can now do to not turn up to our fancy little vacation lunches looking like a crumpled, dusty bag of linen. My mum is always in need of steam. I think she cares about it more than anything else. The travel steamer will be ready to use at a moment’s notice when we arrive at our hotel. The steamer can produce up to eight continuous minutes on a single charge. It is easy to use and compact to pack.

Owala Large Water Bottle

The Owala bottle with its 40-ounce capacity is perfect for my mom, who has a habit of drinking Evian bottled water. Many airports, cities, and other public places offer clean, safe drinking water. Saving money on plastic and saving space in your budget is always an incentive to save. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the duty-free water queue and go straight to your seat by swanning through the boarding gate. 

Dual Travel Cup Holder

This clever product allows us to share cups at the same time, be it iced water or coffee at the airport. This travel cup holder helps me get around the airport without ever having to put my beverage down on public surfaces or tables; I like to keep anything I’m putting near my face—phone, headphones, pillow, drink—away from these often unhygenic surfaces. My mom agrees—we like to bond over our attention to hygiene; it’s like the beginning of the vacation for us!

Fuji Instax Camera

The Kodak moments of the ‘90s gave way to some of my favorite family vacation pictures. Mom and I cherish our time together, and the Polaroid SpiceCam allows me to capture those moments instantly. It can also be nice to take pictures of people you make friends with on trips—taverna owners, random families on boats, saucy waiters—and hand them over as a memento. These credit card-sized prints make great souvenirs for your fridge at home. FujiFilm’s Mini 12 Lilac Purple Camera is cute, with a Fujinon Lens 60mm f/12.7, flash and auto exposure. It also comes with extra film. My mother insisted that I take her to Tivoli a couple of years ago in Copenhagen. We have the most adorable photos of us from there.

Shiseido Sunscreen SPF 60+

Shiseido’s mineral-based oil-free sunscreen is the best formula I have ever used. It is lightweight and contains no oxybenzone or octinoxate. This gorgeously smooth fluid that smells amazing will probably make me never look 60 in my skin. It has been clinically proven that it can smooth out wrinkles and even out the skin tone in a matter of a week. The protective veil is also boosted by water, heat, and sweat. Even when it is thinned out by sweat or movement, the product will regenerate its properties to provide a long-lasting and even coverage. When we are away, it is common to have a coffee in the morning, eat a light meal, and then apply sunscreen 15 minutes before heading outside.

Rice Water Shampoo Bar

Available in grapefruit, rosemary, and eucalyptus scents, these organic Japanese shampoo bars are ideal for travel and all hair types—which is especially good when you’re traveling together with minimum luggage and fluids. Our sensitive skin is aggravated by soaps that are heavily perfumed. This bar of rice shampoo is free of sulfates and parabens as well as artificial fragrances and dyes. It claims to promote hair growth and strengthen each strand with the Japanese water formula. I’ve used other liquid rice peptide-based shampoos if that’s more your speed—the unscented Phyto This is a fantastic choice. This is a classic French brand of pharmacy that you can find in many places in France.

Tarot Deck

Last summer, my mom hadn’t travelled by train around Europe. I wanted to take her to Venice, her dream city, and then catch some trains to the north to visit the lakes. I asked the cards to give me advice about where to go. The cards told us to go through Verona up to Garda. It was a lovely journey, even though the skies were mostly filled with thunderstorms. It’s great to have a deck with me on a train trip, because it can lead to some interesting conversations and realizations. When I don’t want to carry my large deck, this classic Rider-Waite is perfect. Dali deck and book around.

Aiayu Linen Kimono Robe

My mother and myself both have sensitive skin. Hotel detergents, which are often starchy and strong, can cause a flare up. The complimentary robes also can be problematic (although the bedding doesn’t seem as bad when you wear pajamas). When I go on vacations that involve a lot more relaxing or spa-ing I bring my own linen robe. This Danish brand is superior in my opinion; it has all organic materials and is entirely sustainable and environmentally-conscious. I love the distinctly Japandi vibe with a ‘One-of-a-Kind’ concept that reimagines and mends damaged or unsellable pieces from production and shops into truly unique Aiayu pieces. These pieces can be excellent investments and enhance any trip. Some people reserve space in their luggage for copious pairs of shoes or bikinis; I just need to ensure my rolled-up robe in its linen bag is coming with—and one for my mom, of course.

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