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Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:04 pm
by Porky Pig
rains wrote:jetsetter wrote:
tokyo is connected by subway/JR and Jap taxis are very expensive--unlike in mainland china and taiwan. they must be prepared to commute via public transport, including walking up/down stairs. they will be bored waiting for your 5yo to take those rides at Disney for sure. but accommodating old folks can sit by the side to wait for u to finish queuing or simply take skytrain to maihama station shopping arcade. And, will they want to walk on Mt Fuji?
how abt sapporo instead of tokyo? old folks will enjoy the onsen, the orchards, dairy farms.
to some extent, seoul also needs tourists to commute via subway, else they might be bored with just hanging out in certain shopping districts. not unless they are gg to jeju or busan...
I reckon packaged tours might be more suited for the old folks, what do you think?
I sounded my parents out and it seems my mother is very keen on Japan.
We don't fancy packaged tour as we don't like being trapped at places that tourguides want us to shop at. My parents don't like changing hotels or waking up early either.
I looked at Hokkaido/Sapporo, read up some blogs on such trips and I think I won't like it. I am so sorry but I have to admit I am a shallow person. I don't really like going from one place to another to look at sceneries only.
I was thinking of going to Tokyo area, Hakone, Kyoto and Disneyland, but it seems Kyoto is a few hours away from Tokyo or Narita. I was thinking of leaving Disney to the last few days so that they may explore places nearby on their own by taking train out, or they may rest while we go Disney. I am a little worried when I read in the Tokyo thread that some people feel tired walking about the whole day to explore the place. My parents won't be able to 'walk about the whole day' for sure.
I checked cruises out. O my, they are not cheap either, especially on the days/months that I can make it. Easily hit $3k for 3 or 4 pax for what ... just 3 days to Malaysia?
If you have made up your mind to head to Japan, be sure to equip everyone with good walking shoes. There will be lots of climbing as there is no escalator to their subways. Lots of walking/shopping.
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:56 pm
by jetsetter
yah, book a hotel connected to the malls, so they can explore on their own whilst u go to disney
but I know if certain old folks aren't literate, they might feel overwhelmed by the kanji/katakana road signs.
Tokyo used to be more nightmarish for tourists before the municipal govt makeover their signages to include romanji (romanised jap in fine print) plus English. if your folks can read Chinese/Eng, then no prob
the lack of escalators is only applicable to selected exits to ground level. but from platforms to control station, there are escalators as well as elevators for the strollers and wheelchairs. if they exit via a shopping mall's basement, e.g. Isetan, they can 'borrow' their escalators/elevators to get to ground level
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:37 pm
by rains
Thank you for all the responses. My parents can read Chinese
As for the steps, I remember reading about similar concerns when I was doing up my Hong Kong trip and it was really true that HK mtr stations mostly require climbing of steps, and Tokyo's doesn't sound that bad.
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:39 am
by mamemo
I took my parents to Tokyo in 2010. Feedback was that there is really a lot of climbing at subways and temples. Extensive walking too at subways and nature parks. Their subway system is complex and big (especially at Shinjuku station), and nature parks are big and far to reach. I remembered we walked 15 mins from Harajuku Station to reach Meiji Shrine. Disneyland was not that bad as they can just sit at any nearby cafe whenever they are tired.
HK MTR also not many escalator/elevators. But HK is not as big as Tokyo and not many nature parks to visit, so not too bad.
Really need careful pacing and planning if you intend to bring your parents to Tokyo.
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:03 pm
by Dnls_mum
Actually I think anywhere can work for the old. The more important part is to go easy and allow plenty of rest and flexibility. Preferably don't be on the road daily, or change hotel daily. If you can't stay in one hotel for the whole trip, allow a few days in one place if you need to move from place to place. Went with my parents to Vietnam last Nov. What SG tours do in 7 days, we did in 12. They enjoyed themselves. I think old people enjoy themselves when they are with their children and grand kids. It's the company that is most important for them. I have done European cruise, gold coast and even resort stay with my parents and they enjoyed all.
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:38 pm
by MissToh
Actually is dependent on their interest, my dad prefer any place with chinese food and they can speak chinese
My mum prefer cheap shoppings.
but both of them like beautiful sceneries and markets so I make sure I visit a market for very trip
I brought my elderly parents to HongKong/MAcau, SEoul/Jeju and Bangkok/Chiangmai. I think most important cost of taxi is not too much so if they are tired, just cancel the rest of the day and send them home or can rent a car or taxi and do a personalised tour to suit them.
And hotel must be close to train station so they do not need to walk a lot.
Usually I bring them to places I visited before so less time and energy is spent on locating places of interest
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 12:19 pm
by lpn
Hi Floppy can share your experience to
Chengdu ? Do you visit to Jiuzhaigou as well ? TIA
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:13 pm
by jetsetter
lpn wrote:Hi Floppy can share your experience to
Chengdu ? Do you visit to Jiuzhaigou as well ? TIA
Chengdu is nicer than Chongqing. But I didn't go to Jiuzhaigou though...
If you've old folks who want to visit JZG, better join tour group.
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:21 pm
by Dnls_mum
jetsetter wrote:lpn wrote:Hi Floppy can share your experience to
Chengdu ? Do you visit to Jiuzhaigou as well ? TIA
Chengdu is nicer than Chongqing. But I didn't go to Jiuzhaigou though...
If you've old folks who want to visit JZG, better join tour group.
If you go JZG with old folks, better fly. The coach ride is tough with poor toilet facilities.
Re: Which country/place is suitable for 60/70-year-olds
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:24 pm
by rains
Well-travelled ksparents,
I am reviving this thread as I would like to have suggestions on where I can take my father who is stricken with lupus to. He can't be exposed to sun or uv-Ray so would like suggestions on nice, relaxing places with cool weather where he can take his time to walk slowly. Is Hokkaido okay? I have even toyed with ideas of taking him to Switzerland. Is that too far-fetched?