I traveled abroad with my 78-year-old parents. It was tougher than traveling with toddlers — and I learned some lessons the hard way.
A traveler recounts the difficulties of navigating Tokyo with elderly parents who have mobility and vision issues. The experience highlights the necessity of careful planning and the physical demands of traveling with seniors in a dense urban environment.
Why it matters
It provides practical insights into the challenges of multi-generational travel and the accessibility limitations of major global cities.
In many ways, traveling with my 78-year-old parents was harder than traveling with my twins as toddlers. I'm glad we explored Japan together, but I wish we'd gone sooner. Ash Jurberg I flew to Tokyo to surprise my parents, who thought they were meeting a free guide. Traveling around the city with two 78-year-olds with poor eyesight and vertigo was challenging. I learned the hard way to plan longer rest stops, and I also waited in long lines for them. After three months of keeping the secret, I waited nervously in the hotel lobby. When they stepped out of the elevator, I put out my hand. "I'm your guide, Ash-san." My father went to shake it, paused, then said, "Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?" When my mom realized who I was, she smacked my hand. "That's the thanks I get?"
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