Lindsay Jamieson | Marketing Coordinator, ARTA
Despite our best efforts, emergencies and unexpected situations can arise while travelling. I can say from experience that even something as minor as forgetting your phone charger can feel like your entire trip has been put in jeopardy. In my experience the best plan is to know your resources and have them ready in the event of an emergency.
If you’re getting ready to plan your dream retirement vacation, we’ll give you some useful information on preparing for your trip. So you can spend more time exploring the sites and less time worrying!
Research Your Destination
Preparing for any trip can be stressful, but taking some steps and doing a bit of research during the planning process can make a huge difference. While you begin to figure out where your next great adventure will take you, we recommend visiting the Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories page, this resource can help you make informed decisions about your travel destinations. Travel advisories issued by the Government of Canada should be taken very seriously, and we advise that travellers avoid destinations where the government has denoted the risk level as “avoid non-essential travel” and “avoid all travel”. These locations pose a safety and security risk for Canadians, and many travel insurance policies will not cover you for travel to regions with the previously mentioned advisories.
Depending on the type of travel you plan on doing and the state of your health, it might also be valuable to research the healthcare facilities or providers around your destination. This extra step might not always be necessary, for example if you plan on taking a cruise there are often medical facilities where a doctor or nurse can care for those on board.
Preparation & Packing
Now that you’ve selected your destination, it’s time to prepare for your trip. It’s recommended that you visit your general practitioner at least six weeks ahead of your trip. They’ll be able to advise you on your current medications and if you’ll need any additional vaccinations, depending on your destination.
Don’t forget to have a physical copy of your ARTA ID card and keep it in a secure location with your other travel documents! There is nothing worse than being in a stressful situation and not being able to find the documents you need. Your ARTA ID card will have your ARTA member ID and the phone numbers to call in the event of an emergency domestically or abroad.
Your trip is right around the corner, so now it’s time to pack! Along with your essentials, like your toothbrush, socks, and clean clothes, we also recommend creating a travel health kit. Not only is this great to keep on-hand in the event of minor bumps or bruises, but it is also helpful as many of the products we can easily access at home may not be readily available or may be very expensive when travelling. Some essentials to consider adding to your travel health kit include:
- Basic first aid items - Adhesive bandages, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, blister pads, tensor bandage for sprains, and more
- Medications - Any prescription or over-the-counter medication you normally use, allergy medications, pain and fever medication, anti-motion sickness medications, and more
- When travelling it’s important to keep medications in their original, labelled containers, and carry a copy of your prescription in case of loss or theft.
- Some medications and supplements legally available in Canada may be illegal in other countries or require prior approval. Visit the Government of Canada website to learn more about travelling abroad with prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, or medical equipment
- Other items (based on personal preference or destination) - Sunscreen, aloe vera, extra glasses or contact lenses, insect repellant, eye drops, and more
In an Emergency Situation
You can make sure you’re prepared in the event of a medical emergency, with ARTA as your provider for Emergency Travel Insurance. Our partners at Beneva and AXA support ARTA and our members when it comes to those emergencies abroad. You’ll call the number(s) outlined on the back of your ARTA ID card and you'll be directed to Beneva’s travel assistance partner, AXA Assistance. AXA will support you in finding a hospital that meets the standard of care required, while also arranging payments with the healthcare provider. This means that during a stressful situation, you’ll be able to focus on healing or supporting your loved one while they recover.
Your flights are booked, your bags are packed, and now all that’s left to worry about is whether the travel-sized toothpaste you packed will actually last your whole vacation.
Lindsay is a Marketing Coordinator for ARTA and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from MacEwan University. She enjoys creating engaging resources resonates that resonates with retirees on a personal level.