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Okay, this is just an excuse to talk about travel and how much retirees travel, assuming the funds to do so.
We've been taking trips for years, but once the kid was old enough, we did some nice high-end trips while we were both working. Now that we're retired, we have to budget for these things a little more, but still love to travel.
This fall we'll fly to Barcelona for a week in that area, then take a 14-day TA cruise back to Miami. Next spring we'll go to Asia for a month (partly on business--dh being paid to go), then in the fall we intend to do the Paul Gauguin cruise in French Polynesia. Carpe diem is our current motto! Last spring we hoofed around Lisbon and Porto for 10 days--at some point we imagine that the "hoofing" will get too much for us.
So how much do others who are retired travel, and where to? If you used to travel, when did you slow down because of mobility issues or other issues related to aging?
I did all the traveling I ever wanted to do when I was young -- between early 20s and early 30s. A little after that. Not that much. I'm glad travel is not an issue in retirement -- not because I can't afford it (well, we all have to be careful these days to some extent) -- but because I had SO much more energy when I was young. I still would like to spend 4-6 weeks in Paris, in Montmartre, and I may if I can find a sitter for my cat for that long. (Good luck. LOL) And I'd also like to take 2-3 weeks and drive across Canada. But if those things don't happen -- for whatever reasons -- that's fine with me.
Anyway, your plans sound so good! I hope you have a great time! And I hope you'll come back and tell us all about them after you've recovered from each one. Maybe post pictures? In fact, we should start another thread re "What traveling have you done recently"? It could be an ongoing thread. I bet it would be very interesting and fun.
We have travelled quite a bit and we always planned and went on our own - road trips in Spain, southern France , Turkey, Central Europe . But now we are taking some planned group tours. We went to China and in August we will be doing a cruise in the Baltic region. We plan to do Vietnam next year.
We never traveled much during our working years. Since retirement, almost 5-years ago, we've taken at least 6 cruises (Alaska, Hawaii, Mediterranean (30 days), Caribbean (2). We felt like we should travel while we still feel young, healthy and energetic enough. At the moment, we are about 'cruised-out.'
Somebody started an Amtrak thread about traveling coast-to-coast via train. Since I have little interest in extensive driving, that sounds interesting, but, I don't know anything about it yet.
I did all the traveling I ever wanted to do when I was young -- between early 20s and early 30s. A little after that. Not that much. I'm glad travel is not an issue in retirement -- not because I can't afford it (well, we all have to be careful these days to some extent) -- but because I had SO much more energy when I was young. I still would like to spend 4-6 weeks in Paris, in Montmartre, and I may if I can find a sitter for my cat for that long. (Good luck. LOL) And I'd also like to take 2-3 weeks and drive across Canada. But if those things don't happen -- for whatever reasons -- that's fine with me.
Anyway, your plans sound so good! I hope you have a great time! And I hope you'll come back and tell us all about them after you've recovered from each one. Maybe post pictures? In fact, we should start another thread re "What traveling have you done recently"? It could be an ongoing thread. I bet it would be very interesting and fun.
I know about the energy levels--like cb2008 we've done some some independent trips, and they get harder as you get older. As much as we had fun in Portugal, the air travel was a killer, as were the hills in Lisbon! For the non-work part of our Asia trip (about 2+ weeks), I'm looking into doing it with private guides--we're not ready to be backpackers again, for sure, and to limit the itinerary so we can take our time and smell the roses. The Barcelona trip will be fairly effortless, although we'll be independent for a week there, and will spend two days out of the city with a car.
And pet-sitting--haven't decided what to do with the cat when we go to Asia. So far our son has been housesitting for us all winter while we're in Florida, but I had hoped to take the cat along this year. But travel scuppers that, for sure.
I'll certainly report back. The idea of an ongoing travel thread is a good one! We can focus on the challenges of seniors, so that the thread belongs here instead of on the travel forum!
To sum up, for us the challenges of travel, aside from financial include the stress of air travel, dealing with the physical limitations of age--knees, hips, hearts, feet and various other infirmities. Plus the angst that seems to creep up on us--fear of the unknown, angst about security, organizing all the details, etc.
Funny, I was lucky enough to do some travelling when I was young too. Spent 9 months hitchhiking around Europe. Then when the family was young, we did several of trips to Europe, usually piggy-backing with work for one of us.
But I definitely did not get it out of my system.
I'm not a bucket list person, but I have a long list of places I'd like to visit, and I also have a long list of places that I've been to and loved; hence I want to go back and spend more time there. Don't think I'm particularly restless, as some are, I just want to enjoy different places while I can.
Funny, I was lucky enough to do some travelling when I was young too. Spent 9 months hitchhiking around Europe. Then when the family was young, we did several of trips to Europe, usually piggy-backing with work for one of us.
But I definitely did not get it out of my system.
I'm not a bucket list person, but I have a long list of places I'd like to visit, and I also have a long list of places that I've been to and loved; hence I want to go back and spend more time there. Don't think I'm particularly restless, as some are, I just want to enjoy different places while I can.
Some people never do. Retirement is supposed to be your time to do what you want.
My suitcase sits in the closet gathering dust while yours is next to the door, packed and ready to go
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I still would like to spend 4-6 weeks in Paris, in Montmartre, and I may if I can find a sitter for my cat for that long. (Good luck. LOL) And I'd also like to take 2-3 weeks and drive across Canada. But if those things don't happen -- for whatever reasons -- that's fine with me.
