Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
Travelling is an exceptional experience that everyone can enjoy, no matter what stage of life you're in. Whether you're a young adult seeking a gap year filled with adventure and discovery, or you're planning a well-deserved journey in your retirement years, a perfect destination awaits you. From bustling cities rich in culture and history to tranquil beaches and awe-inspiring natural landscapes, the world offers an array of experiences to suit every traveller.
For those in their retirement years contemplating an escape to sunnier locales or eager to explore places long dreamed of, we urge you to seize the moment. There's truly no better time to fulfil your travel aspirations than now.
In this comprehensive guide, we provide top tips and invaluable guidance for travelling later in life. We explore crucial aspects of trip planning, such as selecting destinations that align with your interests and travel style, ensuring health and safety, and managing practicalities like accommodations and transportation.
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Our Top Tips for Travelling in Your Retirement Years
Travelling during your retirement years can be an incredibly rewarding experience, offering a fantastic opportunity to explore new cultures, indulge in leisurely activities, and broaden your horizons. However, it also comes with its own unique set of considerations that require careful planning and thoughtful preparation.
Whether you want to go on a relaxing beach holiday or embark on an adventurous journey, our top tips will help ensure that your travels are both enjoyable and stress-free. From prioritising comfort to organising travel insurance, these recommendations are designed to make your retirement travel both memorable and fulfilling.
Start Planning Before You Retire
We all experience the feeling of wanderlust, regardless of our age, as the desire to explore new places and cultures is a universal longing. Therefore, thinking about where you want to visit and planning before you retire is always a wise decision. Many of us have locations that have been on our bucket lists for years—dream destinations filled with unique experiences and breathtaking sights.
Take the time to think about what kind of trip you would like to go on. Are you thinking of taking numerous 1 to 2-week trips, or, planning to set sail on a 1-month cruise? Do you want to travel solo or with a group of loved ones? These are essential questions to consider as they will impact your budget and trip planning.
Moreover, planning your travels before you retire means that you will have something to look forward to and work towards as you approach the end of your working life. This anticipation can serve as a motivating force, making the countdown to retirement more exciting and fulfilling. Knowing that an adventure awaits can infuse your daily routine with a sense of purpose, as you prepare not only for the transition to retirement but also for the exploration of the world beyond your doorstep.
Create a Wanderlust List
The world is incredibly vast, with countless beautiful and mesmerising locations that capture our imagination. Many of us dream of visiting these places, whether they are the serene beaches of the Maldives, the historic ruins of Machu Picchu, or the vibrant streets of Tokyo. However, the constraints of time and money often stand in our way, making it challenging to turn these dreams into reality.
Yet, as we approach retirement, time becomes a more flexible resource, offering the perfect opportunity to embark on those long-awaited adventures and explore the destinations that have long captivated our hearts.
Regardless of age, anyone can begin planning for these dream trips. One of our top recommendations is to create a wanderlust list—a personal catalogue of must-visit destinations. This list can serve as a source of inspiration and motivation, guiding you as you plan your travels.
When the time comes to start planning, you’ll have a rich collection of dream destinations to choose from, ensuring that your travels are as fulfilling and exciting as you've always imagined.
Consider Locations You’ve Never Considered Before
Like creating a wanderlust list, consider locations you haven’t thought about before. The world is vast and full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered, often places that might not immediately come to mind.
If you want to explore parts of the world that are a mystery to you, start with locations you’ve heard good things about but never considered. Such destinations often hold surprises and experiences beyond your expectations.
Planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip? Why not add unique locations like Svalbard, Greenland, or Alaska? These often-overlooked destinations offer breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and unparalleled adventures that could be the highlight of your journey. The pristine beauty and untouched wilderness of these regions provide captivating experiences, from witnessing the Northern Lights to encountering wildlife in their natural habitats.
For shorter trips, carefully choose the locations you want to visit for a more strategic approach. Prioritising your travel desires ensures fulfilling and memorable short getaways.
This might involve selecting destinations where you can immerse yourself in local culture, enjoy unique culinary experiences, or relax, ensuring every moment is worthwhile. By approaching travel plans thoughtfully and openly, you can make the most of any journey, regardless of its duration.
Look at the Time of Year You Want to Travel
Of course, some locations are great for visiting all year round, including places like the Caribbean with its beautiful beaches and tropical climate, or East Asia with its rich cultural experiences and diverse landscapes. However, when you're planning your travels in your retirement, it's important to consider what time of the year will best suit your personal wants and needs.
During retirement, you have the flexibility of not having to plan around work commitments, allowing you to travel more freely. Nevertheless, it's still wise to think about avoiding peak seasons, such as school holidays and other busy travel times, to ensure a more relaxing and enjoyable experience.
This is something Linda and David from Retired And Travelling highlighted when we chatted with them about travelling during retirement years. They emphasised the joy of exploring destinations at your own pace and the benefits of choosing less crowded periods:
“Travelling when retired can be less expensive because we can travel in non-peak times. But it also requires planning with contingency as emergencies can happen that need last-minute changes of plans - your health, family life issues or world issues like pandemics. We often book cancellable reservations even if they cost a bit more and always travel with trip cancellation and interruption insurance. We have learned that we need to pace our travel more. Slower travel lets us enjoy travel more and does not increase our stress or physical strain. We are doing the more strenuous trips (like our recent Antarctica adventure) before we get too old or out of shape to really enjoy all the activities.”
Suppose you’re looking to avoid busy travelling times like during the school holidays. In that case, the months of April, May, July, and August are always going to be a lot busier, so consider June and September if you’re looking to make the most of the warmer temperatures and lower prices.
Get Friends and Family Involved
Who says that when you’re travelling in retirement, it must be just you or you and your partner? Retirement is a time for exploring new horizons and making the most of the freedom you've earned. What’s stopping you from getting other friends and family members involved and travelling as a larger group? Imagine the joy of sharing new sights, sounds, and experiences with your loved ones, all while creating cherished memories together.
There is no better way to see the world than surrounded by your loved ones, and sometimes having a larger group can reduce and spread out the costs of things like car rental, villa hire, and food and drink expenses. This can make travelling more affordable and enable you to enjoy more luxurious accommodations and dining experiences.
If you travelled to a location with a friend in the past, why not consider going back and re-creating some of the amazing memories now that you have the time and freedom to do so? Revisiting these places can bring back fond memories while allowing you to see them from a fresh perspective.
If you’re planning to head away from home for a few months, then why not invite different friends and family members to meet you on different parts of your journey? This way, you’ll be able to enjoy different experiences with each of them, making every leg of your trip unique and special.
Whether it’s exploring ancient ruins with your history-loving friend, hiking majestic landscapes with your adventure-seeking sibling, or indulging in local cuisine with your foodie cousin, each person can bring their interests and energy to your travels, enriching the experience and strengthening your bonds.
Plus, having familiar faces join you along the way can help alleviate any homesickness and keep your journey exciting and full of surprises.
How Long Do You Want to Travel For?
Now that you’re retired or about to retire, you don’t have to worry about getting back to work or calculating how much holiday allowance you’re permitted when planning your upcoming travels. This newfound freedom grants you a lot more flexibility and choice regarding when you can travel and the duration of your holiday. Whether you wish to embark on a brief weekend getaway or indulge in a three-month-long adventure, the possibilities are endless.
The length of time you choose to travel will depend on the number of locations you wish to explore and the experiences you desire. There's a decision to be made between embarking on a grand tour that encompasses all your dream destinations in a single journey or opting for multiple smaller vacations spread over the course of a year or so.
This choice depends on your responsibilities at home, such as pet care or commitments to loved ones, and your willingness to be away from friends and family for extended periods. If the allure of experiencing numerous countries in one go excites you, then planning a travel calendar for two or three months might be the perfect approach. This allows you to immerse yourself in different cultures and enjoy varied landscapes without rushing.
Alternatively, arranging a series of trips over a year, with periodic stops back at home, allows you to regroup, reconnect with home life, and restock on essentials like fresh clothes and supplies. This approach provides a balanced way to experience travel while maintaining ties with your home base.
Regardless of your travel style, you’ll be able to cover all these adventures with the convenience and peace of mind offered by multi-trip travel insurance. This ensures you are protected during your travels and can savour every moment without worry.
Don’t Skip Travel Insurance!
One of the most important things to consider when planning to travel during retirement is securing travel insurance. Travel insurance is indispensable for any traveller. Regardless of your age, it provides essential protection and cover against unforeseen events such as loss of luggage, cancelled flights, and unexpected medical expenses.
For those who are at retirement age or older, it's crucial to find an insurance plan tailored to your specific medical conditions and age group. Here at Medical Travel Compared, we offer a range of travel insurance options for those with pre-existing medical conditions, including serious diagnoses like diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions. These specialised plans ensure that travellers with health concerns can explore the world with peace of mind, knowing they are covered.
We can also help you find travel insurance options to suit different age brackets, ensuring comprehensive protection for all your travel needs. You can explore insurance options that cater to your age group through the following links:
By carefully selecting the right travel insurance, retirees can embark on their adventures with confidence, knowing they are well-prepared for any challenges they might encounter on their journey.
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In conclusion, embarking on travel during retirement offers a unique opportunity to explore the world without the constraints of work and time. Whether you choose extended adventures or a series of shorter trips, the flexibility retirement offers allows for a richer travel experience tailored to your interests and pace.
By planning wisely and incorporating essential elements like travel insurance, you can ensure that your travels are enjoyable, safe, and stress-free. If you’re planning to go travelling for an extended period of time, or even just a few days, then travel insurance is essential, so make sure you take a look through the policies we offer.
Each journey is a chance to create new memories, deepen relationships, and embrace the diverse cultures and landscapes that enrich our understanding of the world. If you are looking for more travel advice and inspiration, take a look at our blog, or our travel insurance guides.
Get a quoteSingle Trip insurance is for one-off, individual trips and will cover your specified travel dates. This is usually up to 45 days; however, some insurance providers can cover up to 94 days. If you’re not a frequent traveller, single trip cover is a great option and will likely be cheaper than an annual multi-trip cover.
If you travel 2 or more times a year, annual trip cover may very well save you money. The maximum duration of any trip will always be specified and will vary by provider. But don't worry, when you get a quote, we'll ask you what your maximum trip length is and only show you quotes that match!
“Pre-existing” refers to any medical condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before applying for a travel insurance policy. For some conditions, we'll need to know if they have ever been present, whilst, for others, we need to know if they occurred within a certain period
It’s easy to tell us about your medical conditions! After you've provided your trip details and answered some medical history questions, you can add your pre-existing conditions, one by one, for each traveller on your policy. You'll only need to enter your details once; it's all online, and there's no need to call or provide details of your conditions in writing.
We'll ask you a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us more about that condition. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. This makes it easy to know what you need to disclose.
If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!