This ultimate guide (2019) for your first travel adventure will take you through planning your trip, from its first stirrings of an idea in your brain, to the excitement of your departure.
Your journey will start right here, on these pages. You’ll look at why and how senior travel often has unique concerns that you never even had to consider in your younger days. |
In this seniors ultimate guide (2019) for your first travel adventure you’ll get up close and personal to these things:
- Attitude for travel success
- What’s special about you
- The realities of life
- Your insurance, your mattress and your toilet needs.
- How you know you can afford to travel
- Who you’ll have as a companion - (if anyone!)
- When you should go
- Where you’ll go
- Helpful online resources
Free yourself with an attitude adjustment
Give your head a shake right now! And while you’re about it, how about a swift slap to the side of it? Whatever works. You’re a baby boomer ( or even older). Your generation changed the world. Don’t give in now! It’s your time to cut loose again. Just with more valuable experiences under your belt.
2019 could be your big travel year if you let it! This is your time to enjoy a trip to somewhere; actually anywhere sounds pretty good.
You’ve seen those bumper stickers advertising I’m here, and I’m spending my kids inheritance?
Many seniors get to a point in their lives where they start thinking about all the effort and money they’ve given to their families. And saving is so ingrained they just keep doing it.
Confess this longing to your kids, and that’s when they might think you’ve finally lost it!
Be warned. This is role reversal time. They will probably look at you like you used to look at them when they were teens and came up with a few crazy ideas.
That’s exactly why you need to thoroughly read this ultimate guide for your 2019 first travel adventure!
It helps you define when, where and how you want to go, plus reveals things that are important in both your special, necessary outlook and your planning.
What's special about you?
In this rich stew of guilt you’ve actually come round to thinking of yourself as a lesser person.
This won’t work with the adventure you’re thinking about!
The realities of life--organizing your escape!
This is also the time of life when, let’s face it, you realize your spirit of adventure is still as active as an 18-year-old, but your body often just doesn’t cooperate.
Your kids are grown. Hopefully they’re gone to continue their lives. Now you’re thinking about taking this major milestone adventure on your own. Seriously.
Why hesitate?
- You’ve got friends or doggie daycare to ensure your pets will have a good caregiver if you decide on some senior travel.
- You’ve got a stash of cash from your frugal living through the years. This is your time!
- It can be a hard concept to grasp, but you’re footloose and fancy free!
Change--it is a-comin'
Okay, okay, no I wasn't thinking about the wrinkles, the sags, the varicose veins. There's a universal distaste for what happens to,our bodies with the advancement of age.
The brown spots, the lumps, the inability to jump lithely up and down stairs . . .dang, don't you hate that?
You think about life differently. There are things you never paid much attention to when you were younger. It's as if one day you wake up to the shocking truth that you really are getting older.
It happens when the roofing guy tries to sell you roof tiles guaranteed for 30 years, and you do the math. Uh Oh! Don't think I'll be needing those!
Teetering on the brink?
Perms that everyone used to have are now the hallmark of a woman who simply hasn’t realized they’re passé. But relax--you know all fashion comes back in ten years!
You watch the obituary page in your local newspaper, and say how shocking it is that Mary has gone. After all, she was only 68.
You inwardly congratulate yourself though. After all, you’ve made it through to 75 with little trouble, all things considered.
But there is a feeling like each night might be your last, so what nightie should you wear?
Being vulnerable is okay with travel today
All around you are people on walkers, trundling their oxygen tanks around.
The latest models in wheelchairs and sporty golf cart things are sad reminders of the days when you got around unaided, and had the wind blow through the sun visor of your nice convertible.
There's a certain helplessness too in knowing your mind is that of a delayed 18 year old, but the body simply willfully continues on its path of destruction.
But fear not - in most cases this is not a valid reason to forgo the travel that’s been on your mind. Technology and community awareness ensure that many helping options exist to smooth the way.
Travel and international health insurance, huh?
Taking this a bit further, once you’ve actually decided to go on your trip it’s time to contact insurers and compare the plans they offer. Don’t neglect this step, it can save you a lot of trouble in the future.
First thing to understand is these two types of insurance are completely different. You need both. And yes, it will cost you to get them, but think of it as buying peace of mind for the journey. It’s something you have to afford, and it’s important not to confuse their purposes.
- Travel insurance is designed to cover trip cancellation, your personal belongings during your travel, and any unforeseen medical emergency treatment you might need when you go to another country. It’s short term insurance.
- International health insurance is planned to cover inpatient treatment check-ups and continuing treatment of chronic health issues while you are abroad. it’s long term, meant for your time outside the country, until you return.
Perfect time to pay yourself
After this trip will you have enough when the ravages of time wreak their worst on you?
Will you become a burden to your children, who have a whole lot of concerns with their own families? Will you end up in a nursing home, and can you afford that?
Should this even be a consideration? After all, you’d be quite upset if you didn’t take the trip, but were unexpectedly hit by a Mack truck and never needed the nursing home at all!
Now, for the first time in your life, you should be able to draw on the fruits of your labor.
Working hard. Living frugally, because you had this sense that you might need enough money to look after your needs in your old age.
But at the same time when you were smugly saving your hard earned shekels, old
age seemed as comfortably far away as did using a bunch of your money on pure pleasure.
And in the dead of winter, yeah, let’s face it, you can’t stop thinking about swapping your lousy dark days for somewhere a lot nicer.
At the time of your working life you weren’t really thinking too much about cruises and trips to exotic places.
Then you settled down to being grandparents, helping the kids (who now have your grown up grandkids) and living in a comfy home until you died.
Is it a "go" vacation, or a staycation?
Can you afford to travel? How much are you willing to pay for memories? Late though they may be? If you have a stash of cash, you can’t take it with you on your ultimate long journey, so there’s a certain amount of bravery needed in your decision making on this point.
You know the way you get emotionally charged up by greedy politicians who swear they’re going to change things for the better?
How that flicker of hope inside you just refuses to die, no matter how many times you hear the nonsense? You’re optimistic of course, but realistic is important too.
Do you want to go skydiving? Relaxing on the beach? RV travel, or maybe a bus tour? With or without company? Only you can tell!
It’s always a good plan to decide some of these things thinking realistically and well in advance of preparing to go to your exotic destination. This site has a smorgasbord of boomer travel opportunities.
Grounding talk about where you go
How will you plan your trip? You, the person who hasn’t the foggiest idea where to start! This is when you need a trusted travel agent for information, bookings and information about your destination.
Get extra help
They can plan and design a schedule based on your wishes for the holiday.
Choose your travel agent wisely. You want one who listens carefully to understand your exact wishes. (And one who has excellent reviews from actual clients.)
Your agent will be able to help you decide on your destination, and can design a program for you that meets all your needs to get there and back, using your preferred dates and methods of transport.
Extra note here: travel agents now prefer to be known as travel advisors, especially if you’re going the luxury route. The services they can offer, with their connections in the industry, make it even better to have them arrange your trip.
It can make a big difference, and give you confidence they will help you throughout your trip. So often, it makes sense to add them to your budget arrangements.
Above and beyond the wild blue skies
Those are the months of April through mid-June, or September and October in Europe. And of course, all accommodation costs are more reasonable, plus attractions are not as crowded.
You can also win with the weather.. I used to love the heat.
Couldn't get enough of it, baking in the sun, slathered in coconut oil. Those were the good old days, before the protection of sun block lotion.
Now, thanks to frying ourselves, we have become really good clients for the dermatologists.I don't love the heat any more. Neither do a lot of senior people I know. That's seems to be part of the aging process too.
It's like your body thermostat gives inaccurate readings of what's comfortable. On the other hand, I can't stand cold either. I like even temperatures. Preferably with rain every evening, and mild sun every day.
So think about using the shoulder months to your advantage.
Single senior travel
But here are a few reasons why you should step out of your comfort zone. Check out the cruises.
Many offer singles cruises for over forties. You can choose a single cabin ( most are inside ones, but that’s okay, especially for sleeping.)
Are you traveling solo? Most accommodation deals favor two bodies in a room.
However many bus tours have several single seniors aboard! There are also interesting senior single travelers clubs.
Your favorite group
Senior travel adventures
Some companies even grade the activity component of their tours, so that you can decide on the appropriateness and physical demands of the travel you”re planning will take
Often senior tours focus on the culture, history and natural attributes of local destinations.
Some go even further, providing opportunities for their clients to immerse themselves in the places they visit, in terms of food, clothing and language.
The company mentioned below offers all-inclusive senior journeys from Journeys by Van Dyke! This is a Canadian company, so their dollar value would be attractive to many.
They advertise “diverse Land & Rail Journeys, phenomenal European River Cruises and enchanting senior Ocean Cruises.”
They’ve been around for almost forty years now, and have excellent reviews by folks who’ve traveled with them.
A very similar format is used by another company.
How to choose the perfect travel buddy
Would they feel more secure if they had a travel buddy? Might they have twice the fun?
Not necessarily...It is always a good idea to know as much as possible about a prospective travel companion before you actually go.
These folks offer a systematic, thorough profile method of finding the perfect women buddy for single women travelers. They don’t match you up like a dating site, so you’re in total charge of your search, but it sounds like a lot of fun.
There are reviews from women who’ve had very positive experiences, even though their first meeting was at the airport prior to starting their trip.
Now for some travel benefits
- Travel is about embracing differences —so you learn to keep an open mind..
- Using this ultimate guide as one of your resources helps you with planning skills.
- Meeting different people - that’s how you find new friends, and improve your social skills.
- Travel gives you new perspective on yourself, your country and others too.
- This is a great way to discover your talents - maybe photography, or language ability.
- You often are inspired to journal as you travel, and this encourages others to do the same.
- Travel is an important blogger niche. Who knows, you may become one of the foremost recorders as you go on your journey?
- No doubt about it, travel opens your eyes to extraordinary opportunities. All that remains is to take advantage of them when you see them.
Use your travel and life experience to be a travel blogger
In fact just life experiences and even early schooling without computers and the internet make many seniors natural communicators. Again, it’s all about an open mind to enjoy every facet of your 2019 first travel adventure.
Senior bloggers use their vocabulary in special and dynamic writing. They thrive on lifelong learning experiences, including travel opportunities.
Many of them have kept journals for years.
Now it’s just a matter of using your skills to sell experiences!
Sure they might just take their knitting along on their travels. But that’s a form of life balance born from the knowledge you need to mix different skills on the journey through life.
Get packing and bon voyage!
Your suitcase is packed just like the best YouTube video advice. . Who would have thought just this step could make you feel so confident?
Click on this link and it’ll take you to Gary Bembridge. This guy has taken so many cruises of all types, and gives great advice through his many videos on YouTube. In this one he takes you through 21 things you should be sure to pack. Helpful stuff, whatever transport you choose!
This trip is ready to happen, whenever you’ve decided, wherever you’ve elected to go. You feel a bit shaky with all you’ve planned, but satisfied too, with your decision making. You know that’s part of the whole travel experience.
By carefully considering and planning your trip according to this ultimate guide for your 2019 first travel adventure you can leave with confidence.
You know now that attitude can make your trip enjoyable, regardless of unexpected twists and turns. You’re ready to join the ranks of seniors who refuse to join the rocking chair gang.
Your adventure time has come. Have fun and be safe!
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