Senior Travel and Vacations

You've worked hard your whole life and dreamed of traveling to several exotic locations. Now that you've retired, it's time to hit the road (or runway). Perhaps you want to travel with your spouse, join a group of older adults, or join family or friends on their vacations. The options are limited only by your pocketbook and your imagination.

In this guide, we'll share travel tips for seniors, ways to save on travel, benefits of senior travel groups, clubs and tours, as well as benefits of senior travel.

Senior Travel Tips

You've waited a long time to enjoy this time in your life. Let's look at things you can do in advance to ensure you have the best experience possible on your travels.

1. Start with the CDC Destination List. Plug in where you're going to find out what medications and vaccines you need and about any health risks to be aware of.
2. Check what your health insurance covers when you're out of the country. Many Medicare supplemental insurance plans do not provide coverage outside of the United States. That's why it's important to purchase travel insurance which provides some much-needed coverage to give you peace of mind.
3. Travel insurance will typically cover unexpected events, such as trip cancellations, medical expenses, lost luggage, and emergency incidents associated with travel. Since medical issues are more likely to arise for older travelers, it makes sense to buy travel insurance in case you need to cancel the trip due to a medical problem.

How Can Seniors Save on Travel?

Although most people dream of traveling during retirement, according to Kiplinger, 20 percent of adults over 50 have no retirement savings. Many are worried about juggling the high cost of housing, health, education and food. Therefore, many Americans will need to be creative to fulfill their wanderlust after retirement.

Knowing that travel is important to seniors, but they don't want to break the bank to explore a new city or continent, we've collected the best ways to help you save on travel and vacation costs (including cruises):

• Off-season travel: Since you're probably retired or semi-retired and no longer tied to a time clock, you probably have the flexibility of traveling during off-peak travel times and can take advantage of lower rates. Off-season travel gives you further savings on accommodations and attractions. Three great places to find discount flights are The Flight Deal, Secret Flying, and HolidayPirates.
• Days to fly: Some experts say flights on Tuesday and Wednesday often cost less for domestic trips and flights on Wednesday and Saturday will save you money on international trips.
• Honey browser extension: Honey is a free service (a browser extension) that automatically searches for discounts and coupon codes for you. Adding Honey to your browser can help you get discounts on hotel stays and flights.
• Senior discounts: Many organizations and retailers offer senior discounts, so be sure to inquire about them as you make reservations and search for travel. For example, as you may know, members of AARP can find loads of travel discounts. Check out our guides to AARP flight discounts and AARP hotel discounts for a closer look. AAA and veterans' groups also pass along discounts at hotels, airlines, tour providers, and car rental agencies to their members. Many hotels offer senior discounts. Some airlines might still offer discounts on their senior fares for specific routes.
• The National Park Service: The National Park Service sells an $80 (plus a $10 handling fee) senior pass to those 62 and older that's good for a lifetime. You can also buy an annual pass for $20.
• Hostel stays: Hostels offer dorm-style accommodations at affordable prices. Hostels are most popular with younger travelers, but seniors who enjoyed their time there say they're pretty clean and safe. Some hostels have age limits so be sure to check. Sites to help locate a hostel include Hostels.com, HostelWorld.com, Hosteling International, and Hostel Bookers.
• Airbnb stays: An Airbnb can allow you to stay in someone's home instead of a hotel. Accommodations may be an entire home or someone's spare room. You can find unique accommodations ranging from a castle to an igloo.
• Cruise resources: Kiplinger.com provides articles and tips on cruises. Cruise Sheet and Vacations To Go are great sites for cruise deals and discounts. None of these sites are specifically geared to seniors, but AARP is. Read our guide to AARP cruise discounts for more details.
• Senior travel clubs and groups: Senior travel clubs/groups organize trips for like-minded members, offering vacation packages at great rates. ElderTreks specializes in adventure travel for seniors. (Row Adventures and Walking the World offer adventure travel for active adults, not specifically seniors.) Before joining a senior travel club near you or a major travel group that you've read about, be sure to read their literature and check with the Better Business Bureau.
• Voluntourism: A volunteer vacation allows you to give back in a multitude of ways and learn about various cultures. The trips aren't free, but they are rewarding and provide an economical way to visit a particular area. National and international opportunities are available. Some organizations to check out include Discover Corps and Global Volunteers, which have a range of activities, including varying levels of physical activity that would appeal to seniors. (American Hiking Society caters to physically active individuals. Earthwatch is a fit for those interested in environmental research but may require moderate physical exertion.)
• Educational travel: Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel International) offers thousands of educational adventures for seniors, both nationally and internationally. Each year, 300 scholarships are offered to those who don't have the financial means to participate. Check out our guide to websites for seniors, which recommends the following senior-only groups: Road Scholar, ElderTreks, and Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.).

What Are the Benefits of Senior Travel Groups/Clubs and Tours for Seniors?

Groups do the legwork for you. You travel with fellow seniors and trips are designed with the physical capabilities of older adults in mind. For example, tour operators ensure you have accessible transportation, that the trips proceed at a reasonable pace, and that your senior-friendly hotels are located in safe areas.

Tours are generally led by expert guides steering you toward the best sites to see while at specific locales. Senior travel groups and tours are usually designed so that everyone eats meals together and can socialize. If you're traveling solo, joining a group is a great way to travel with added security and without feeling alone.

Groups might use travel agencies to buy tickets and accommodations in bulk or make the arrangements themselves. So, they can pass the savings on airfares, hotels, and tours on to you, which is cost effective. Tour planners make arrangements with your age, safety factors, entertainment, and cost-effectiveness in mind — making their expertise very valuable!

Benefits of Senior Travel

Travel during retirement is more than an enjoyable activity. It's good for your health! Whether you travel alone, with your spouse, some friends, or a senior group, here are just some of the many health benefits of travel:

• Travel keeps you active. Older adults who are more physically active have lower rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
• Taking a vacation or a short-term break in a relaxing environment can reduce stress and improve immunity and well-being.
• Travel stimulates and challenges your brain as you encounter new people, cultures, and environments.
• Travel strengthens and deepens friendships, which is good for your wellbeing.
• The Global Coalition on Aging found many physical, cognitive, and social benefits of travel.
• Travel is plain fun!