Contents
Should You Retire?
Can You Afford to Retire?
Retirement Money Management
Retirement Health Insurance
Life Insurance and Retirement
Housing and Retirement
Retirement and Your Social Life
Mental Activity and Retirement
Travel During Retirement
Working During Retirement
Retirement Health
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Travel During Retirement
The freedom that retirement offers provides an excellent time to see the country or even the world. Planning out
retirement travel, though, requires financial savvy, prioritizing, and a great deal of forethought.
How to Budget Your Travel
As a retiree living on a fixed income, it’s crucial that you set and adhere to a strict travel budget. That said, just because you have a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have exciting travel experiences. In fact, there are a variety of ways that you can save money on travel, allowing you to see more of the world for less than you expect.
How to Save Money When Traveling as a Retiree
There are several ways to save money while traveling in retirement:
- Travel off-season: Everything from air travel to hotel costs to restaurant and grocery prices are lower during a region’s off-season. Travelling during this time doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be faced with terrible weather, either. For instance, in September, once the school year begins the number of visitors to national parks in the United States plummets. If you visit a park in mid- to late September, you’ll miss the crowds but enjoy good weather and lower prices. A little research into the travel spots that interest you is usually all it takes to find a great time to visit off-season.
- Fly midweek: Plane tickets often cost less during the week than during the weekends, when most people fly. Keep in mind that to get the cheapest prices, you’ll often need to stay through at least one Saturday night.
- Ask for discounts: There are often travel discounts available to the general public that booking agents may know about but refrain from mentioning. If you ask for a discount, you might just get one.
- Ask for senior discounts: If you’re over 50, you may be able to get additional senior citizen travel discounts. Discounts may be offered through the American Association of Retired Persons or by airlines, hotels, or other travel services.
How to Prioritize Your Travel
Although some retirees have the time and resources necessary to visit every location on their travel wish list, most have to prioritize their travel goals. Consider which places you most want to travel to and which landmarks you most want to see. If you’re married, discuss your list with
your spouse.
When prioritizing travel, also think about what makes a vacation worthwhile to you. If you enjoy your vacations more fully when you spend them in luxury hotels, you may want to take just one or two expensive vacations a year, as opposed to more frequent but less costly vacations.
Alternative Travel Options
Active retirees can enjoy travel experiences that include much more than sightseeing, including:
- Elderhostel: Elderhostel programs (www.elderhostel.org) combine affordable travel with education to provide an experience that offers physical, mental, and social stimulation. Grandparents can even bring grandchildren along on many Elderhostel trips.
- House exchange: Participating in house exchange programs allows you to save money while seeing a location from a local’s eyes instead of a tourist’s. Cars are often included in exchange agreements, saving you additional money. Services that facilitate home exchanges include www.homeexchange.com and www.homelink.org.
- Volunteer vacations: You can make a difference in another country by participating in a volunteer vacation. Earthwatch, Global Volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, and many other service-oriented organizations coordinate worldwide volunteer travel opportunities. Though less expensive than traditional travel, volunteer vacations aren’t free—expect to pay your own airfare and a volunteer fee.
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