There are ways for seniors to protect your health while flying, but it isn't easy these days. Heavy crowds, delays, bad food, security ordeals and dozens of other anxieties are enough to upset any healthy person, young and old. However, you can fight back to get to your destination in good mood, health and comfort. It won't always be easy, but here are some tips:

1. Bring an adequate supply of regular prescription meds to take at your normal daily schedule for duration of the trip plus a week extra. Also have necessary over-the-counter meds, such as allergy, aspirin and anti-diarrhea pills.

2. Carry a basic first aid kit, including single-use bandages and tube of antibacterial ointment. Use them for small cuts or scrapes. Also, to fight recirculated airport and cabin air, dab some near nostrils, mouth and eyes.

Your travel4seniors.com editor been on dozens of cruises since retirement 25 years ago, and has suggestions on how to make the best and most satisfying deals.

1. Travel light. After our second or third cruise, we stopped dragging suitcases and being required to check them everywhere we went. We each took a wheeled carry-on bag and knapsack, and never again checked anything.

Suitcases on flights and cruises must be checked, and the waiting and wondering everywhere you have to retrieve them just adds to the stress. On several occasions, fellow passengers lost luggage, and had to buy entirely new outfits from expensive onboard shops.

There are few places in the world where tips are not expected. In some, handing out the cash is actually required. Whatever the situation, it’s always a bit confusing and/or embarrassing.

For example, a friend recently booked an all-inclusive, one-week cruise for the amazing online price of $39.95. He packed bags, flew in and dashed up the gangplank. A steward looked at the ticket and escorted him to his assigned quarters.

No one wants to talk about the nasty critters, but they too often show up when we roam the world. You could find them, whether overnighting in a grungy hostel or sleeping at the most luxurious hotel.

Your travel4seniors.com editor most recently encountered them in Las Vegas. It wasn’t at one of the posh new resorts, but a supposedly clean hotel on the Strip. After a night’s sleep, my spouse noticed several bites on her ankle. When we rolled down the covers, we could see several bugs on the bed sheet.