Retirement is not the end of life, but a beginning of a whole new period of exploration and adventure. It is often the best time to travel, always with travel insurance, as all the factors are usually in place—the finances, availability of time, knowledge to understand and appreciate different experiences, and children being independent.

However, for seniors, traveling overseas is not like boarding a tourist bus. International trips mean that you are more likely to catch an illness or infection during your trip, and remember that your local medical insurance will not be accepted overseas. Any international traveler must purchase travel health insurance, and seniors must not board a plane without it.

Travel insurance, however, will not protect from illnesses, and following simple rules such as researching the weather and common illnesses at the destination, and checking for Centers for Disease Control alerts on the destination will help keep them healthy. Needless to say, travel insurance is imperative.

Vaccinations are critical, and any international traveler must remain up to date on his/her immunization. Researching more about specific conditions such as heat and pollen count of destination cities can help seniors plan and schedule their travel insurance accordingly.

Most travel insurance plans will offer coverage for sudden, unplanned events—be it medical or trip-related. Some of the medical benefits include coverage for hospitalization, ambulance services, diagnostics, accidental death or loss of limbs, and repatriation of mortal remains. Some common non-medical benefits offered include trip and loss of baggage.

If you are a senior traveling overseas, prepare yourself for the trip. Request your medical practitioner for a note with information on your pre-existing conditions, regular prescription drugs, if any, and information on drug allergies. Purchase your prescription drugs for the duration of the trip, with a few days’ extra, to tide over any extension in the itinerary. Travel insurance usually does not cover prescription drug costs.

Because travel insurance is short-term insurance, eye and dental care are usually excluded, and seniors must take an extra set of eyeglasses and dentures, if applicable. It is also advisable to carry a basic medical supplies and first aid kit in the hand luggage, in case a minor ailment such as diarrhea crops up.

Seniors must ensure that their schedules are not too packed. It is also best to avoid traveling alone, and to try and locate a traveling group with similar interests. If traveling alone, travel at night should be avoided. Following these guidelines will make the trip memorable, and the travel insurance plan gratefully unused.