Anyone else finding travel harder the older you get?

I'm 65 and I do find airports involve so much walking now. I can pretty much say with certainty that our gate will always be the one that's furthest away. Bad luck. Luckily I've had a hip and knee replacement and the walking is getting a little easier now. The sitting in a tight seat for more than 3 hours is bloody agony though.

Dh and I are 57 and walking at the airport/checking in is no harder for us than it was in our 30's. We're about to do a long haul
trip for a month. 57 isn't old!

57 here and fly several times a year (not really long haul..just 4.5 hours) I fly out of the very small punta cana airport into the very large Toronto Pearson. Going up to Canada is a breeze, coming back another story! I am at the point that people piss me off now. I hate hate hate the long walk from security to the gate. Not the walk but the stupid people that rush past, huff at me if I am just strolling along. I have several health issues including 3 years ago losing 5 ft of my intestines thanks to a massive tumor but still manage it fine as long as I get there early enough, that once through security I can take my time (maybe a glass of wine at a stupid overpriced bar) I hate airports, I hate flying, but I love going to see my grandmonsters so I just get on with it,

I'm 55 and have flown out of Heathrow at least twice a year and often quite a few times more every year for the past 2 decades. Yes, it is a big and busy airport, but it is manageable and has moving walkways. For the past 10 years, I had a back issue that makes standing and walking an issue, this did not stop me going away, I just had to adapt, for instance after clearing security I would stop for a coffee/break, then make my way under the runway to the departure gates at my speed, stopping once on the way at the seats, at one point I did consider special assistance but the walking is good for me especially prior to a long haul flight. I use a 4 wheeled cabin case and a handbag which I can mange on my own, plus my hold case, again one I can lift and move on my own. There is usually a similar walk at the arrival airport too, on most occasions, this will be a new place for me but I have never had an issue finding my way or reading the signs nor with the technology for checking in.

This year my back issue was resolved so I am now working on improving my fitness, and I found my last trip was much easier so now I am planning multiple long haul and short haul adventures for the next 5 years. I don't suffer with jet lag but always build a slow start to the trip to allow myself to acclimatise and try to have a couple of days of rest and relaxation at the end if the bulk of the trip has been full on.

I would question if the GPs non-HRT route is correct for you as my energy levels are better now than they were 5-10 years ago.

I wasn't stiff and achy before taking HRT either. I don't think its normal either way I do try to stay a healthy weight as that makes a lot of difference to my knees.

When I read the title, I thought you were in your late 80s! If you have problems walking around Heathrow you need to see your doctor. I accept you may have other medical problems but you don’t state them.

@menopausalminnie1 Not that I noticed. I still get aches and pains (usually my knees) .They just get worse if I'm not doing lots of walking/exercise, so definitely didn't bother me on our trip as we did at least 5 miles of walking most days.

I'm 64, we walk a lot so the walking doesn't bother me but I feel much more tired when I arrive home after a holiday. I also notice more ankle swelling and leg aching after an active week. I don't have any problems with self-service check-in but long queues definitely get on my nerves more than they used to!

What a depressing thread. My mum is 80 and manages solo travel through big airports, public transport and online bookings. And English isnt even her first language! It's her third.

If you cant go on HRT, your GP needs to offer a solution for the aching

I'm 60 and have recently been on a 5 week interrail trip carrying all my luggage in a backpack. Never once got a taxi to accomodation, all technology for booking tickets/accomodation/reservations fully embraced. I have the odd ache and pain but I find that the more I walk the less I ache. I came back ready for the next adventure.

I'm younger than you and yes, very much so. I feel stress physically now, so delays and cancellations I find exhausting, long journeys I avoid. I don't fly anyway, last time I did it was draining.

I'm 66 and DH is 75 and we go abroad a lot but never long haul.
If the holiday itself is very tiring then I don't enjoy it.
I don't enjoy the travelling so I make every effort to plan it to be as comfortable as possible. Comfort and convenience comes before cost.
If I can't fly at a civilised time I book a hotel. I will only travel from a local airport. There is no chance I will travel light but I do put almost everything in the hold so I'm not lugging back packs on the plane.

I'm 55 and this summer we did a camping/motorbike holiday for 2 weeks, it was the most relaxed holiday for years. I wasn't sure how I'd cope sleeping on the ground and on the pillion but it was fine. I think a lot of it is familiarity. I don't often fly so tend to get disorientated in airports but I look up beforehand as much as possible. Agree you need to know when it's worth paying for a taxi/hotel/decent parking and decent wheeled luggage. Don't give up yet!

That's not much, is it?

I only do active holidays- not sit by pool- and I find I am fine so far at nearly 53.

I'm 61 and have always travelled lots. I am in India at the moment.

These days, I really struggle with jet lag. It takes me about 4 days to sort myself out

I don't do long haul, Ive never liked flying, but I do short haul often. Im a good bit older and I dont struggle with the walks to the gates at all and indeed when away, easily put in 25k steps in a day. What makes me ache is being sat too long, knees tend to stiffen up

I do struggle with the busyness of airports but Im also ND so thats always been my normal

We travel a few times a year, city breaks nowadays, and we have it to a fine art. Under-seat cases, check in online, boarding passes at the ready. Arrive in time to get through security , grab a coffee and saunter on down to the gate, usually going the queue at the last knockings as we arent looking overhead storage, just slip into our seats , cases under the seat in front, close our eyes and nap till we arrive

I remember looking at my Fitbit and between leaving DF's car to sitting on the plane, I walked 1.5 miles!

I only pack stuff in my hand luggage of stuff I need between leaving home and getting to hotel, plus things that can't be packed in hold - power banks.

Next year I will be travelling with my parents. My DM needs assistance as unable to stand for long. Airports are places you stand around for ages - check in/luggage drop off, security, some eating places, gates, on the shuttle bus, passport control, luggage carousel etc. Went with them last year and DF had to go on shuttle bus to/from gate to plane, board like others. It depends on how many passengers require assistance on individual flights. One flight, there was only DM and another lady and DF was able to board plane with her. The flight I went with them last year, there was 14.

We normally fly from our closest airport, 22 miles from here. Due to the later time of departure 6:30am v 3:15pm, we are flying from another airport, 18 miles further. Still taking advantage of the twilight drop in luggage in the evening. Then in the morning, we just get DM checked in the assistance department then proceed to security like if you are travelling with hand luggage.

I do fly out alone once a year too and find the foreign airports more stressful and cramped. For example, more passengers than seats, not many shops to browse through the pointless crap such as why would anyone go on holiday and then decide to get some shorts?

I think it might be for some retired people. I work FT in a stressful job and am early 50s/. It really affects my health. And I can’t go on HRT. We flew long haul this summer to do a road trip and I found it a lot more tiring this time round than what it was even 2 years ago. It may be ok if you do a fly and flop type of holiday, but I’ve always found those a bit boring. My mind wants the adventure but my poor ageing exhausted body wants the fly and flop.

we had planned all our long hall jaunts for when we retire (hopefully earlier than state retirement age), but honestly I’m not sure we’d manage it by then. Were wondering if we should just do it now. But because I work in a school the prices are ridiculous and everywhere is crazy busy, sometimes the weather isn’t right for the location in August etc etc.

OP, I think that some of the tips here are useful. don’t have large heavy hand luggage anymore if going long haul. And I pack lightish in my hold luggage. I always get taxis from the airport instead of a coach or train like when we were in our 20s. Will book a lounge if I think it’s worth it (not always). Usually drive to the airport ourselves rather than rely on a taxi which may not turn up. Biggest thing is to add in lots of contingency time and get there early so you’re not rushing.

oh, and I couldn’t manage without my TripIt app. I’d forget where I had to be and when otherwise and lose booking info.

I'm 72 and disabled. I can walk but,not far and stairs are difficult and only a couple at the most. Dh is 73 and awaiting a hip replacement. We travel a lot and long haul. We just ask for help and take taxis etc. If it's very far we book a rest day and stay in our room. We've had a quiet year but have managed to fly to Bali, the Maldives and cruise around Singapore. Then cruise to New York fly to Las Vegas for a week. We take it slow and enjoy every minute!

It hasn't happened to me yet (I'm 60) but earlier this year on a trip to London I could envisage a time when I wouldn't have the stamina to traipse around the city and negotiate public transport. It made me more determined to get sightseeing/cultural visits to big cities done while I still can. Cars, trains and aeroplanes are still fine.