Travel Smart As a Senior

When I was in my 20s and traveled through Europe, I’d always take a break for a couple of hours in the afternoon to nap, read, or just rest up before going out for the evening.

I’m in my 60s now, and that afternoon break keeps me enjoying travel even more now.

That sensible travel habit has been joined by other tips I’d like to share.

Paid Transportation Can Be Your Friend

I enjoy walking so I can get the feel of a place and do some spontaneous shopping and discovering. But if energy becomes an issue, instead of waiting for public transportation, grab a cab. And remember that travel from place to place requires energy, even if someone else is doing the driving.

When you arrive at a site you wish to explore, to conserve energy you may be able to rent an electric scooter.

Less Can Be More

There’s a growing “slow movement”—usually people know of it for slow food, the antithesis of “fast food.” But there’s also another aspect called slow travel. Instead of hurrying to your destination, take your time. Slowing down can also mean savoring everything in your travels without rushing, impatient to see the next item on the list.

One way to slow travel is to allow for relaxation and spontaneity. If you’ve done your homework, you know the days and hours of the attractions you want to visit. Instead of making a list covering each day of your trip, wake up, eat breakfast, and then decide what you’d like to see that day.

If you’re going to be spending a whole day somewhere, decide in advance on the most important things to see. If you do run out of time and energy before you’ve seen your “must see” places, that’s okay. On a trip to Oahu, we spent the whole day at Pearl Harbor, but we took frequent breaks to regroup. We never did see everything, but that means there’s something left for our next trip.

Vacation Variations

When planning your vacation, decide whether you want to relax, tour lots of fascinating places, or both. Then plan a vacation that will achieve your goal.

Some vacations are simply more relaxing than others. Destination resorts are popular because once you get there, you don’t have to leave. Other resorts have attractions nearby, and you can pick and choose activities so you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed. Few seniors want a vacation that leaves you so worn out you say, “Now I really need a vacation from my vacation!”

The islands off the coast of South Carolina (such as Seabrook Island) and the Barrier Islands off the coast of Georgia are examples of restful vacation spots. St. Simons Island offers King & Prince Beach and Golf Resort with wide beaches, gentle surf, and great food in its restaurant. The island itself offers opportunities for slow sightseeing: historic lighthouses, churches, and forts.

If you are heading for Hawaii, Waikiki is crowded with hotels and people, but it offers a wide choice of restaurants within walking distance. The city of Honolulu and the island of Oahu offer all the sight-seeing you’d expect in a major destination. Each day you can choose to spend the day on the beach dipping in and out of the ocean, or doing some sight-seeing, or both. Remember that walking to and from the beach can be tiring. Finding a hotel on the beach may cost more but save you energy.

Road trips can be fun, but they are often taxing. Long hours driving, not enough kick-back-and-relax time, and an urge to tick places off the “To See” list can easily overwhelm. On a recent road trip through southeast New Mexico, I ended my sight-seeing day by 5:00 PM daily and had my evenings free, but I forgot that just getting from one place to another can be tiring (as can seeing too many cool places in one day). A better plan would have been to break up a road trip with a short stay in a really nice hotel to do nothing (except maybe a dip in the pool or hot tub).

Tours May—or May Not Fit—Your Needs

Organized tours need to be carefully scrutinized. Fast-paced trips mean you see a great deal, but will the walking or the pace wear you out? Can you easily opt out of an activity? Don’t necessarily think that the tour that offers the most to do is the best tour. It could just be the most exhausting tour and only a superficial look at the places you visit. Take your stamina into account when picking an organized tour.

See the World from a Boat

Riverboat and ocean cruises can be an excellent way for seniors to see new places. One of my favorite vacations ever (and I wasn’t even a senior at the time) was a riverboat cruise through Italy. There was no stress of packing and unpacking, the tours were all arranged, and food was plentiful. I saw cities and towns I would never have seen on a bus tour. Early in the trip when jetlag laid me low, I just stayed on the boat and enjoyed the peace and beauty of the river.

Stay Open to the Wonder

No matter how many years have rolled by, we can always stay young-at-heart. Travel helps us do that. It’s only when we lose the wonder and the interest in the world around us that we become truly old.

Travel on!

- By Neala McCarten