Anyone else finding travel harder the older you get?

[menopausalminnie1]

Just back from a long haul trip. Had a wonderful time, but really struggled with some aspects of the trip. For context, I'm 55, menopausal, and I ache A LOT.

We had to go from Heathrow, which is HUGE. I found the sheer amount of walking required to be quite difficult, as my back kills me, and I was lugging a heavy suitcase and a backpack. Don't get me wrong, I did manage it, but it felt exhausting.

We also struggled a bit with the self check in pods and trying to figure out where on earth to drop our bags after that. Nothing seemed to be well signposted or obvious.

On a day to day basis, I feel quite young, but on this trip I felt a bit concerned about whether we were going to manage long haul travel 10 years from now, which is a worry, as we plan to travel a lot in retirement.

Anyone else?

I did two long haul flights recently (17-18 hours each way) and the tedium of them made me think long and hard about whether I'll ever do it again. I certainly wouldn't just for leisure (environmental hat on).

You could have got a luggage trolley for your suitcase and back pack?

Take less, travel lighter !

Depending on where you go, you can hand wash yourself, use a laundrette or pay to get your washing done.

I also wear comfortable clothes & comfortable shoes

Plus I always leave some luggage weight, so that I can bring a few things back from my travels.

We spend more on making travel as easy as possible. Decent luggage, pay for speedy check-in, speedy security, extra legroom etc. It does help.

Some stuff like the self service check in does become familiar and if you are planning to travel regularly you’ll get more used to it.

It definitely is more complicated than it used to be.

I'm 10 years older than you and I'd be very concerned if I was feeling like you are! How is your health generally? Are you overweight? Do you do much exercise on a regular basis?

Might be worth talking to your GP if you're aching so much all the time.

Marginally, yes. However, I also make sure that I prep for it the best way I can. I always travel light - small wheelie suitcase which fits under the seat and a small clutch with documents, phone, keys and bank card. Making sure I am dropped off/picked up at the airport or booking an airport hotel if the flight is too early/late. Have all my creature comforts with me - compression socks and wooly socks, neck pillow, eye mask, ear plugs and plenty of snacks.
And if I can't work out how to operate things, I always flag the staff to do it for me. That's what they are there for.

I’m your age and travel a lot. Menopause isn’t treating me kindly but you’re right, it can be confusing. I check in online when I can, and have my boarding pass ready on my phone. I arrive early and have decent suitcases that can be wheeled comfortably and I pack ruthlessly so my hand luggage is just my tote bag.

I also don’t do long haul back to back anymore and have a one or two night stopover instead.

Are you on HRT? I am nearly 53, post menopause, walk and travel a lot, and dont ache. I dont think its normal to ache that much.

I'm not old but I am disabled,

I book special assistance. No walking and you get it all sorted for you.

Travel seems very complicated these days!

Miss the good old days when you turned up at the airport just as the desk closed with your paper ticket and huge holdall and got on the plane without any problem.

Now you have to do self check in, print your own boarding pass, make sure your luggage is the right size - phew!

Then once you get there, you have to have the most exciting itinerary planned!

Knackered before you even get there!!!

I struggle more in my 40s with things like crowded trains, long queues and generally those stressful aspects of travel that money buys you out of.

So I will spend money trying to get flights at times I’m comfortable with, maybe get speedy boarding, a lounge, upfront seats etc Maybe not all on the same trip but just those things that make for a less anxious experience.

I've got almost a decade on you and don't recognise this. Are you normally active? Do you exercise. Try different things? HRT also worth considering.

I saw a service advertised in Japan where a company can provide you with a pre order of clothes when you arrive at your hotel. You leave the clothes at the hotel, when you depart.
Obviously, you pay for this.

I'm 65 and don't struggle at all but I have always packed light

The best part is many people save money in the hopes that they can travel when they retire. If only they knew it's ten times harder...

I dont think this is inevitable.

I also feel the same about travel. I used to enjoy it, but I have lots of aches with my joints which does not make it easy. I think things have changed a lot. Terrible traffic on approach to the airport, annoying self-check ins, I always put my passport the wrong way around in the machines, long walks to terminals for the planes. The terrible noise of bags and trays being slapped down at the security, remembering not to wear shoes with metal on. Worrying about your bags going through the scanner and rushing to the other side to get it. It is endless. Lots of moans.

This. I started HRT a year ago and the aching joints and fatigue vanished sharpish. I'm on a quite intense trip overseas at the moment and have coped much better than I would have done ten years ago.

I find the walking in airports can be difficult. I travel light.

I’m slightly younger than you and don’t find things physically difficult. I’m pretty fit though

that said I most definitely do struggle with crowds and always get stressed out at security, mostly making sure I don’t leave anything behind.

however surely you don’t have to lug a heavy suitcase around the airport, only as far as the check in desk

I do get that some airports are massive and confusing. Some smaller ones are quite the opposite though.

I am in London, and dont have a car, so enjoy walking. Dont particularly like the long lines but they are not the end of the world. I dont worry about my bags going through security. Why would I? 🤔

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.

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!

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