Ten Tips for Older Visitors to Europe

chillibreeze writer — Chandrima Pal

Need an editable PowerPoint map of Europe

Children working and living abroad is a common phenomenon in the lives of today’s Indian parents. They feel thrilled whenever they are asked by their children to visit them but somehow it takes them many years to accept the invitation. The negative notions of being old, long plane journeys, cold weather, and visiting an unknown land always come in between their strong will to see the places where their children are living. When it is the question of visiting children living in Europe, fear for an unknown language (except in U.K) is another add-on. Here are few tips which can provide a comfort level to the NRI parents who are planning to visit Europe especially for the first time.

1. Break the inertia: Think about the 100 watt brilliance that used to glow in your children’s face when you went to watch them doing a stage performance or receiving a prize in school or college annual functions. You will find it much easier now to come out of all kinds of negative feelings and take the decision of traveling to your children. Isn’t it great that you have the golden opportunity to visit a continent which is rich in history, natural beauty and variety?

2. Collect Information: The process of going to European countries is a bit different from going to USA. Every European country has different regulations for providing tourist visas or visas against invitation. Applying for a visa against an invitation is the best option for when visiting your children residing in Europe. Unfortunately most of the travel agents in India don’t have very clear idea about preparing this kind of visas. The best way is to discuss all the essential official paperwork to get a travel visa with your children. You can also get information by calling, mailing or visiting the embassy of that country which you are going to visit. In general Europe can be divided into two zones:

a) Schengen countries- The countries fall in this group are Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. If you are going to visit any of these countries then apply for a Schengen visa, using which you can travel to all these countries without further official hassle.
b) Non Schengen countries - Visas for visiting UK, Switzerland and east European countries like Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Slovenia etc. must be obtained from the embassies of the respective countries situated in India.

3. Choose the right time: Europe is at its best from the month of April to September. The weather is perfect. It is green and flowers abound. The days are longer, all the tourist attractions are open. The mountain railways would be functioning wherever it is still snowy.

4. Consult your Doctor and get good medical insurance: If you have a chronic condition like high blood pressure, diabetes or osteoporosis then bring enough medication along with the prescription. Do get good medical coverage either from India or ask your children to get it done from the country they are living in, which will cover the costs for doctor’s visits, and any emergency situation. Medical treatment is very expensive in Europe and costs can be huge if one is not insured.

5. Good shoes, spectacles, hair dye and proper clothing: Unlike India, no rickshaws or auto services are available in Europe to travel short distances. You need to walk a lot in the tourist places, shopping malls and market squares. A couple of good pairs of covered shoes are a must. Spectacles are very expensive here so it is better to have two of them for your visit. The typical black hair color is not common amongst Europeans and so it is difficult to get hair dye of that color – prepared to be adventurous and get a blond look or bring your own stock of black hair dye.

Proper warm clothing is essential to bring even if you are traveling in summer because summer in Europe is very much like winter in India. Ladies are better off without those heavily embroidered silk saris that they wear in special occasions in India. Easy to wash light silks or synthetic saris are alright. For a change consider packing some nice fitting salwar suits. Don’t increase the weight of your luggage by packing a huge amount of food which can be taken away at the custom checking in airport.

6. Be alert but not nervous: Yes, it is an emotional time when you are going abroad for the first time. The hustle and bustle of the international airport, a late night travel schedule, the long process of check-in and getting boarding cards may make you nervous and tired. Just try to be calm and follow the signboards properly and listen to the announcements carefully. Don’t feel shy to ask for any information to the airport personnel. After everything is over buy a cup of Tea or Coffee and relish the feeling that after a few hours you will be in Europe. Carry your mobile phone if possible and be little alert about occurrence of any strange situations.

7. Be prepared for a different lifestyle: The way and style of living in Europe is quite different from that of India. To simplify the household chores there are many machines but no maids. Offer a helping hand to your children with their daily activities and child care. Don’t ever convert the prices of food items into Indian rupees; you will never be able to eat anything then. Understand the rigorous working schedule of your children and try not to complain against it. Make a backup plan for the free time you will get when your children and grandchildren will be away for their work / school. Revive your long lost hobbies like painting, making handicrafts, gardening or accomplish the dream of writing an autobiography or a children’s story book. Learn new things like using the internet, photography or a new language. Public transport in Europe is excellent and you can always try to explore the local region, its cuisine, culture and people. A basic knowledge of the local language and a local map will prove to be extreme helpful to you.

8. Express your views while planning the trips: There are plenty of tourist attractions in Europe. In order to optimize the time, money and physical strengths of each family member plan well when you take a tour in Europe. Make a list of the priorities of what you would like to visit in Europe that will help your children in their planning. Do tell them of your physical limits so that once you are off nobody feels burdened.

9. Switzerland is not the only place to visit in Europe: Bollywood has carved a dream world called Switzerland in the mind of Indians. It is a beautiful country of Europe and no doubt on it but it is not all of Europe. There are many places in Europe which are as beautiful and far less expensive. Once you are in Europe do enjoy the flavor of villages, small rivers, churches and palaces along with great cities like Paris, Berlin or London.

10. Stop being parents for a while: You are doing the job of being a parent for so long now. For the period of your visit to your children just be friends with them. Forget those strict rules and restrictions you always posed on your child and also stop treating them like 5 year old children. Try to understand their views and opinions even if you find them far different from yours. Become a part of their life and you will never feel how the time flew during your stay in Europe.

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—About our writer: Chandrima writes for chillibreeze.

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