Remember that great song, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from "Carousel: When you walk through the storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark..."

We disagree! Senior travelers should be afraid of the dark! And if you're planning to roam by yourself, the first rule is, for safety's sake, never walk alone, especially in the dark. This is absolutely essential if you’re very elderly and physically challenged.

The world today is a far darker place than it was decades ago during student days, when you could backpack alone just about anywhere in the world. Remember happily traipsing through the Paris Latin Quarter, the Alps, the Gobi Desert, Greenwich Village, the Bund in Shanghai, Golden Gate Park, Acapulco waterfront, the Casbah in Marrakesh?

Unfortunately, increasing street crime, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, anti-American attitudes and economic crises have made travel much less safe than it once was. You don’t have to stay home hiding under the bed, but when venturing out, be constantly aware of your vulnerabilities.

If at a destination with any hint of danger for a single senior walking the streets, take along at least one younger companion. Travel in groups is safest. Before making plans to go as a single, check with travel agencies, church, school or other local organizations to find group travel plans that appeal to you.

Wandering around Tijuana or Greenwich Village at night in a group of tourists is a lot safer than just one lone 65-plus doing it. The internet is a great source of hundreds of options for many varieties of senior group travel.