Taking older parents on holiday

Many of our travellers are parents in their sixties and seventies. With a little planning, a holiday can be as easy for them as for anyone else.

Choose the pace first. In the hills, limit drives to four or five hours a day, and keep a rest day after a long one. Avoid places above 3,500 m for anyone with heart or breathing problems; we will suggest alternatives to Zero Point or Nathula.

Hotels matter more than sights. Ask for ground-floor rooms or lifts, western toilets, and a short walk from the car to the lobby. We note these in every booking for older guests and check them with the hotel.

For trains, book lower berths early, and ask us to arrange porters or a wheelchair at major stations. Carry medicines for the whole trip plus three days, with prescriptions, in hand luggage.

Finally, plan for comfort: a light shawl for air-conditioned trains, slip-on shoes, and a flask for tea. And leave time to sit and look. That is often the part they remember best.