There’s the sudden confusion, anger and frustration. Failure to answer a simple question at the airport makes some older travelers panic. There are ways to manage those unpleasant moments.

Take time to calm down. Anger only leads to more problems for you and busy people trying to do their jobs. Take a few breaths and review the situation. Ask for time to get your thoughts together. Don’t be abusive nor allow yourself to be hurried or ridiculed.

If you travel alone and find yourself experiencing more and more senior moments, next time consider taking along a companion. Realize that aging is an inevitable process, and your mental condition may deteriorate to a point where you put yourself into unnecessary danger.

The scenario: On a singles cruise by yourself or with a travel pal, both hoping to meet someone new and interesting. Tonight you’re looking your absolute best for the ship’s dress-up dinner, so this may be your opportunity.

Assigned to a table of ten, you’re in luck. The person sitting next to you is attractive and about your age. Now you cleverly come up with sparkling questions, all great conversation starters. Here are some hints:

1. Your first cruise? This can get some reaction, especially if that person is actually on a first cruise. Boast about your great knowledge of cruising. You’ve studied up to be an authority on ship features, port visits, entertainment aboard, casino, spa, pool, bars and which shore excursion is the very best.

We see it almost daily in letters to newspapers and online travel sites. Seniors write angry gripes about being quoted one price for a hotel room, then when checking out are charged another 25% or more beyond the quote..

The desk clerks offer almost sincere smiles, and then list the reasons for the add-ons: city taxes, wi-fi, honor bar, pay TV use and several others. So, why the hell didn’t you say so when I booked?

Making economic travel plans gets easier all the time. As the internet continues to expand, scan all the attractive fast-breaking, last-minute travel offers advertised by many internet sources. If you’re retired and can go on short notice, so much the better.

Register your name, email address, phone number and preferences with a trusted local travel agent, as well as with four or five last minute-travel websites. When attractive offers occur, be ready to pack, and make quick decisions about time of availability, budget limits, weather, destinations and other important features.