Travelling and Retirement

Travelling and retirement seem to go hand-in-hand, don’t they? It just seems that you hear about other retirees travelling all over the world, right? Before you get your bags packed you need to think about the fact that travelling costs money, and the reality for many is that the money they make in retirement doesn’t always allow for luxuries like travel—at least not without some crafty thinking and budgeting that is.

If you’ve got the travel bug and would like to enjoy your retirement by seeing other parts of the world then it’s time to start working on getting together the money that you need and if your pension or savings are hardly enough, then these tips may help you get the cash you need to be able to see the world.

Take Advantage of Senior’s Discounts: While you may not like to admit that you’re a senior and certainly don’t feel like one, there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of all the discounts that you’re privy to simply for being over 55. Many tour operators offer special deals and discounts to seniors which can allow you to save big on certain vacations and airfare. If you really want to maximize your savings try to travel in the ‘off season’ and also look into last minute deals when you can. By doing that as well as getting your senior discount you can get a real steal on a vacation. And what’s so bad about travelling in the off season anyway? It’s still plenty warm for swimming in the waters of the French Riviera in mid-September and the Caribbean is just as gorgeous in the summer as it is in the dead of sun holiday season!

Ask For Gift Certificates on Special Occasions: If you’re about to retire then you should resist the urge to turn down a retirement party at work or amongst loved ones and instead welcome it as an opportunity to help get your travel fund started! If someone asks you what you want there’s no point in being gracious and saying you’d prefer that people not get you anything. Instead, ask for gift certificates from your local travel club or agency. This goes for birthdays and Christmas too! You can let everyone know that you’re hoping to do some travelling once you’re retired and you don’t really need anything else. And if you’re embarrassed to ask, then let someone else do it for you! There’s always a good friend or loved one who is willing to let others know what you want without you knowing – wink wink, nudge nudge.

Buddy Up: By travelling with others you can split the cost of accommodations which can save you a considerable amount of money since often times the accommodations cost even more than the airfare. Ask a friend to go with you or even look online for other seniors who are looking for a travel buddy. There are organizations dedicated to exactly this sort of thing. You can save some money and make new friends!