Initial Plans for your Trip

• Do you have a passport? This is a priority.
• Take a month to research where you would like to go.
• Make your bookings 2 to 3 months before you leave. The prices will be more cost-effective. 
• Go out of season, as again the prices will be better. 

Content

Initial Thoughts to Plan that Senior Vacation

Have an idea of your budget, making allowances for, transportation, accommodation, possible tours and treats you would like to purchase for yourself, your kids or grandchildren. Decide how long you would like your journey to be. Do you appreciate the heat, cool weather, rain or spring and autumn temperatures?

Very important! Consider the age that you are. Do you want to travel solo, with a companion or with a group?

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

Henry Miller

Planning your trip can be so exciting and stressful at the same time. Often this first stage is the most nerve-wracking and demanding. Once I actually start my planning, the action of beginning the planning starts to calm my nerves down. 

I think as a woman, we are so conditioned to place everyone else’s needs before our own, and it is hard for us to place ourselves as a top priority. This is why travelling is so important, you start focusing on your dreams, which now can become a reality.

Buy that Journal: the most Valuable Planning Gift to Yourself

The world is a huge place! Like me, I am sure you would like to see it all in one trip. You need to have an initial goal destination. I highly suggest you make notes in a journal.

Your notes will assist you with further guidance in future travel or will make it easier for you to come back if you need to remember something you forgot to do, prior to your journey. I take my journal with me on my trips as I have listed my secret desires of what I would like to see in that country.

Also while I am at this amazing destination, I make notes of any emotions I experience and special things I see. Being of the more mature age group, I still love to write. The youth of today seem to love placing all their information on their phones or laptops. I use those purely for pictures, snapping the moments!

Traveling with a companion

This is about you!  Often travelling with somebody means you can have a shared experience, someone with whom to discuss your dreams and desires. It is easy to get overwhelmed if you are planning your itinerary by yourself.

If you have not travelled with that companion previously and for longer periods of time, it is wise to do a short local travel trip together first. I am sure you can find a Guest House, Hotel or even an Airbnb you can go to fairly close by. You both will soon realize if you are perfect travel companions.

This can be exhilarating, as imagine how many trips you can plan together for the future if the initial trip is a success. Wise to identify if the travel companion has a similar budget to yours. If not it could cause discomfort for both of you.

So often we do not know who to ask. Spread the word around, among friends and family, that you are looking to do a trip and are looking for a travel companion. Before you know it, you will have many contenders.

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

Miriam Beard

Solo Travel Beckons You

Solo travel can be very personal. You will not be obliged to do what others want.

You can change your itinerary and do something else if so desired and if you want company, you will find it on your adventure. Want an afternoon rest you can do so. Your destination is purely your choice. Have a read of my solo travel article.

“Don’t be scared to walk alone, don’t be scared to like it.”

John Mayer

Tour group Travel for Seniors

Travelling with a tour group is a vacation that is organized for you with other seniors. A travel experience with others who have similar destination desires in common as you do. 

Viewing museums, theatres, site seeing, restaurants and many other exciting activities are organized for you, which will be wonderful! A shared involvement. An opportunity for discount travel, secure accommodation, socializing and very few planning headaches. Make sure you do not mind sharing a room or if you do, make sure you do not have to.

Cruise Trip: A travel experience Ideal for Seniors

Being over 55 and upward, cruise vacations are one of the best to go on.

You need to make sure the cruise liner you choose, does cater strongly for the mature generation. What is brilliant is you know what your main expenses are upfront. Money is required for alcohol and excursions on the mainland, but generally, your budget can be planned quite readily. 

You will meet other people from all over the world, have entertainment, a choice of restaurants, exercise, and numerous other forms of entertainment all onboard! Also if you need a bit of ME time, you can hibernate in your own cabin or lie next to the pool with a book.

The ship will dock at numerous destinations. This allows you to go on land and explore for the day. I know various people who have become addicted to sea travel and each year they do one or two cruises to parts of the world they would never see if they were going on individual travel.

Adventure Senior Travel

This is not as scary as it sounds, giving you a sensation rather like a butterfly breaking out of its cacoon.  A mode of travel which allows you to be isolated, and venture to distant places or unusual, exotic and mysterious destinations.

Sometimes adventure travel is referred to as a great deal of exercise, such as climbing mountains, walking for miles or swimming with the sharks.  Are you this type of individual? Not all adventure travel is this exhausting or scary. You can travel to a game reserve, where you stay in hotels or chalets, go on supervised game drives, not on foot if you don’t want to, but with a game ranger, and then return for a scrumptious, mouthwatering breakfast. There are some delightful adventure tours you can go on.

Go to a bookstore or Library

As Paddy Screech the owner of The London Book Barge – Word on the Water was quoted as saying: “Book shops seem to turn people into their very best selves”.

This is so true, especially when planning a trip. I go into a bookshop and browse in the Travel Section, which thrills me no end. It inspires and motivates me to where I would like to go.

A library can also be very beneficial. It allows you to sit and read, where time is not the element and of course – cheaper!

Sum it up: How should I plan my vacation

Examine your own personality from past history. Consider the below list and see what you would be comfortable with so you can begin to plan your trip.

A practical book to purchase from Amazon is How to Travel Practically Anywhere: The Ultimate Planning Guide. These tips can assist you while planning your trip, plus if mistakes do happen what do you do?

• With or without a companion
• Traveling solo
• Traveling in a Tour Group
• A Cruise Trip
• Need an adventure

Is there any other valuable information you would like to add to this article through your own experience that could benefit others? Please write your ideas in the comments section below.

Now it is time for action: take those steps to plan your vacation!