3 Non-Traditional Travel Options That Could Add Some Adventure to Your Retirement
Many of our clients are exploring new types of travel to keep their itineraries fresh and their experiences invigorating, ticking off their own personal ‘bucket list‘ as they go. Here are three popular trends in retirement travel, as well as some things you should think about before clicking BOOK NOW!
Solo travel
No matter how good your marriage is, couples who don’t take the occasional break from each other often end up driving each other crazy. Both people need to have space for themselves at home. And both people also need space to pursue passions and interests that their spouse does not share.
If you feel like you’re dragging your spouse along on an art trip, or if your spouse just isn’t as interested in leaving home as often as you are, consider going solo. You don’t REALLY have to hit the road alone if you don’t want to. Group travel packages will give you a chance to mingle with new people while also providing you with the security and structure of a set itinerary.
Also double-check your annual vacation budget before you book a solo trip. Make sure that doing something separately isn’t going to make it harder for you and your spouse to do something together.
Slow travel
A whistle-stop tour of Italy might let you see the Alps, visit the Lakes and see some of the islands in a week or two. But renting an apartment in Rome for a month will give you a very different and much more immersive experience.That’s the appeal of slow travel, which is becoming more popular as services like Airbnb make it easier to find long-term lodging at affordable prices. Living like a local creates an entirely different daily routine. You’ll be more likely to venture off the beaten tourist path and really soak up local culture.
This kind of a vacation might require a little extra planning. Lean on any friends or family who’ve spent time in your slow travel destination to make sure you’re picking a suitable area for your stay. And while some people end up spending less on slow travel because they buy groceries instead of eating out every night, the longer you’re going to be away from home, the more money you should probably budget.
Adventure travel
Anyone who equates vacation with R&R probably should steer clear of adventure travel, but an African safari or a trek through Patagonia will definitely get you out of your comfort zone.
Adventure travel can also be as spiritually and emotionally rewarding as it is physically rewarding. Connecting with nature while you’re on a long canoe trip or observing exotic wildlife can clear your head and make you rethink your place in the world. Many adventure travellers come home with a new favourite cause that becomes part of their everyday retirement routine.
If you think you have a couple retirement adventures in you, consider scheduling them earlier in your retirement, when you’re likely to be healthier and more mobile. Also, be realistic about what an “adventure” really means to you, and what you’re really capable of doing. You might have missed your whitewater rafting window. But that doesn’t mean you can camp near the Grand Canyon and hike for a couple hours every day.
Are you planning on racking up frequent flier miles once you retire or are you increasingly concerned about flying too much – Over the past year or so, an anti-flying movement known as “flight shame” – or flygskam in Swedish, where the movement began – has been gathering pace in Europe. Are you already shopping for camper vans!? If you’re in need of a little inspiration have a look at our bucket list of ideas for travel and experiences.
Sources
https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2018/2019-travel-trends.html
Add adventure to your retirement travel plans