Retirement Travel Ideas (2021 Edition)

• Retirement travel ideas

• Before you go
• Discounts and places to stay
• Ideas for traveling
• Traveling to New Mexico
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Visit the Canadian Rockies
• St. Augustine, Florida
• African safari
• The Galapagos Islands
• Explore Costa Rica
• Road trips
• Wine tours

Retirement travel ideas

Retirement means you can finally take that trip you've been thinking about for years. No work schedule to manage, no reason to rush back. Your kids are grown. Why not go?

Before you go

Before booking anything, think through what you actually want. A few questions to start with:

• What places are on your list?
• How often do you want to travel—once a year, monthly, or something else?
• Do you prefer detailed planning or deciding as you go?
• Who's going with you—a spouse, friend, sibling, or grandchild?
• What do you hope to get out of traveling?

If you're traveling with a spouse, make sure you're on the same page. Your dream trip might not be theirs. Discuss what each of you wants and find something you'll both enjoy.

Consider visiting somewhere new together instead of returning to a familiar place. You now have the time to explore spots you've only imagined. Fresh scenery is worth the planning.

Discounts and places to stay

Many airlines and hotel chains offer senior discounts. Check the hotel's website for details, or ask when you call.

You don't have to stay in hotels. Airbnb and VRBO rent apartments, homes, condos, and other spaces. Home exchange services match homeowners to swap houses—you stay in their home while they stay in yours. These options cost less than hotels and give you the feeling of staying in a real home.

Planning ahead pays off. You can map out what you want to see, where to stay, and where to eat. Leave room for unexpected discoveries, but avoid pure improvisation if you want to save money and reduce stress.

Without work commitments, you can travel for longer stretches. Rent an apartment for a month or two, cook some meals yourself, and walk around the neighborhood. You'll save money and experience the place more deeply than a typical vacation allows. There's no need to rush home.

Travel within the U.S. or abroad. Regular travel benefits your physical health, strengthens relationships, and can help prevent depression. The main question is: where do you want to go?

Ideas for traveling

The U.S. has 63 national parks. The most popular are the Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, and Yosemite. Each has its own character.

You'll find deserts, mountain ranges, waterfalls, and thousands of historic trails. Explore at your own pace without rushing.

As a senior, you can buy a lifetime pass to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks, grasslands, and wildlife refuges.

Cruises are another option. A week-long Caribbean cruise keeps you close to home. Just budget for flights and any excursions you want to do on board or at ports.

If you prefer to stay closer to U.S. shores, Alaska cruises offer whales, glaciers, grizzlies, and other wildlife.

Once you're in Alaska, you can see the landscape by helicopter, or take the Aurora Winter Train from fall through spring. The train passes through Anchorage and Fairbanks, and offers a good chance to see the Northern Lights.

If castles interest you, you can rent a tower in Drogheda, Ireland, complete with a rooftop patio. Drummond Castle and Kilcolgan Castle both offer overnight stays. Kilcolgan gives you access to the Cliffs of Moher for day trips.

The Tudor Manor House in Somerset, England, rents the entire property. Two nights cost around $3,400. A full week runs about $12,000. It's an unusual experience if you're looking for something memorable.

Traveling to New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico's capital, sits at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The city has adobe buildings, a warm dry climate, and a compact historic downtown built around a plaza from the 1600s. Most of the center is walkable.

Art galleries, Southwestern restaurants, and museums showcasing Native American history line the streets. The area is good for hiking and skiing depending on the season.

Machu Picchu, Peru

You can reach Machu Picchu in the Andes by hiking the Inca Trail, but if high altitude trekking isn't realistic, take the train from Cusco. The route passes through snow-capped peaks and valleys. A guided tour helps you see everything and gives you a chance to meet other travelers.

Visit the Canadian Rockies

A train trip through the Canadian Rockies is a relaxing alternative to driving. Rocky Mountaineer offers comfortable berths, good meals, and glass-domed cars that let you see mountain peaks and turquoise lakes without leaving your seat.

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is America's oldest continuously occupied European settlement, founded in 1565. The historic district is compact and tree-lined, centered on a four-block area. It's small enough that you don't need to walk far to see the main sights—a big advantage if walking is difficult.

A hop-on, hop-off trolley makes getting around easier. Visit the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, and Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century stone fort.

African safari

Seeing elephants, giraffes, lions, and zebras in the wild is a unique experience. Safari tours use all-terrain vehicles so you don't have to walk. The ride can be rough unless the park has good tourism infrastructure.

South Africa's Kruger National Park is a solid choice. It has lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and Cape buffalo. You can also do vineyard tours, ride a tram to Table Mountain in Cape Town, or spend time on the beach.

The Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands, off Ecuador's coast, offer unusual wildlife and plants. You can visit some islands without a guided tour. Rent snorkeling gear to see underwater life. Sea lions frequent certain beaches—you can get a photo if you're brave enough.

Explore Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a less remote alternative to the Galapagos. It has over 500,000 species of animals and plants and costs less than many tourist destinations. Skip the all-inclusive packages and eat at local restaurants instead.

Tortuguero National Park has monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, and endangered green sea turtles. Hire a boat or kayak to explore. Monteverde Cloud Forest lets you walk through the tree canopy, visit butterfly gardens, or tour a coffee plantation. You can also just hike at your own pace.

Road trips

Road trips work well for retirees. Drive Route 66 and hunt for landmarks from classic films. Or try Oregon's Columbia River Scenic Highway for quieter scenery. The Million Dollar Highway in Colorado connects two historic mining towns. Rent an RV for camping or book bed-and-breakfasts along the way.

Wine tours

If you enjoy wine, Walla Walla, Washington, has countless wineries. Many offer tours that drive you from winery to winery, so you don't have to drive yourself. The tour operator will return you to your hotel safely.

The Niagara region of the U.S. and Canada has over 100 wineries. It's a short flight from the East Coast or a few hours' drive. Lewiston, New York, hosts a wine festival each summer.

Retirement travel is on your own terms. You set the pace, stay as long as you want, and go where you choose. What's your next destination?

References

https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/20-retirement-travel-ideas/

https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848278-best-vacation-ideas-and-destinations-for-seniors

https://moneywise.com/a/trips-you-need-to-take-after-you-retire