15 ways that older travellers (50+) are different and special:
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1. They can do what they want when they want.
2. They can stay at adults-only resorts.
3. They have less energy, so they want a slower pace and less thrilling or strenuous activities.
4. They generally wake up earlier and go to bed earlier.
5. They have more health concerns, so they need to be sure medication & healthcare are available and limited mobility needs are met. As a result, they also need better travel health insurance.
6. They are either retired or have earned more vacation time at work, so they can take extended vacations (1 month or more).
7. They can travel anytime and with short notice (including low season & last-minute deals).
8. They have more savings and disposable income, so can spend more money on luxury. Thus, they want higher quality food, drinks, accommodations and entertainment.
9. They like to feel special and stretch their savings, so they may be influenced by seniors’ discounts or special promotions and events.
10. They enjoy gourmet meals. They also enjoy premium spirits (alcoholic beverages like aged whiskey, craft beer, award winning Vodka, Tequila, and Gin, and fine wine).
11. They travel with less luggage.
12. They expect a higher level of service and assistance.
13. They desire social interaction and often want to make new friends. Similarly, they sometimes travel with existing friends to keep the trip interesting and to feel more secure.
14. They want to learn new languages, cultures, and history.
15. They enjoy arts and cultural entertainment such as theatre, art galleries, and museums.
2. They can stay at adults-only resorts.
3. They have less energy, so they want a slower pace and less thrilling or strenuous activities.
4. They generally wake up earlier and go to bed earlier.
5. They have more health concerns, so they need to be sure medication & healthcare are available and limited mobility needs are met. As a result, they also need better travel health insurance.
6. They are either retired or have earned more vacation time at work, so they can take extended vacations (1 month or more).
7. They can travel anytime and with short notice (including low season & last-minute deals).
8. They have more savings and disposable income, so can spend more money on luxury. Thus, they want higher quality food, drinks, accommodations and entertainment.
9. They like to feel special and stretch their savings, so they may be influenced by seniors’ discounts or special promotions and events.
10. They enjoy gourmet meals. They also enjoy premium spirits (alcoholic beverages like aged whiskey, craft beer, award winning Vodka, Tequila, and Gin, and fine wine).
11. They travel with less luggage.
12. They expect a higher level of service and assistance.
13. They desire social interaction and often want to make new friends. Similarly, they sometimes travel with existing friends to keep the trip interesting and to feel more secure.
14. They want to learn new languages, cultures, and history.
15. They enjoy arts and cultural entertainment such as theatre, art galleries, and museums.
Another sometimes unfair generalization is that older travellers rely less on technology to research and book their trips and are less likely to book everything themselves. The travel industry may need to be creative to find ways to reach this audience.
Travel agents, tour operators, tourism bureaus, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and airlines should take heed and give older travellers what they want. More and more of us will be travelling more as we get close to retirement.
If you are over 50, please comment to share other ways that your travel has changed from when you were younger.
Happy Travels,
If you are over 50, please comment to share other ways that your travel has changed from when you were younger.
Happy Travels,
Kev
P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:
Kevin's YouTube (You should check out my YouTube Channel for related travel videos)
I love the idea of more relaxed travel and your book, of course.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying cultural side of travel is my favourite..
Even though you are not an "older traveller", you like to travel in the Retirestyle Travel way that differentiates how older travelers are different from younger travellers. I hope we can finish our research on the destinations for our book soon. We also love to just soak in new cultures.
DeleteI can see older travelers are very exquisite in their style! Nice and relaxing read. Great job on this blog post, my friend. I was referred here by you on Twitter, Sir. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out our blog. Older travellers are special and unique and we want to help them and the travel industry both.
DeleteI think you are spot on with the ways my hubby and I travel after 50. One of the other ways is that I like to be in a group - either with another couple or on a tour or cruise. I think this is based on the fact I've had experience with those over 50 having more health issues. I'd hate to be totally alone if my husband or I had a medical problem in a foreign country where there is a language problem.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. After so long together, older travellers want some new blood to keep the trip interesting. Those friendly people can also make you feel secure (even taking transportation in a strange place can be scary) and help you make all of your flights.
DeleteWe like the fact about travelling with little notice, even though we're still far off from that.
ReplyDeleteTravelling at the last minute is one of the best parts of being either a senior employee, a business owner, or retired. We can't wait to take advantage of the last minute deals.
DeleteA great perspective. I'm not 50+ yet, and still like a slower pace during travel. I'll be following.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot. We have always done too much when we travel and plan to slow down. We have lots of other articles targeted at older travelers.
DeleteGood list. I am over 50 but still have one kid in highschool (last one of 8 :) so regretfully can't travel whenever we want yet. But our time will come and frankly we were doing fine thanks to being suckers for timeshares.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we can't go anywhere due to the plague.
Stay safe and wash your hands!
The countdown is starting to the empty nest (or at least a point where you feel comfortable leaving kids at home for a week or two without you).
DeleteI am surprised and happy that you enjoyed the use of timeshares because most of the comments I read online are negative.
I wonder if older travellers are more likely to buy and use timeshares.
I like to concept and I do feel like those that are retired get to enjoy things a little bit better than the rest of us. This is a great example of the benefit from old age and the only perk of slowing down. You get to enjoy much more with a great appreciation of the time spent.
ReplyDeleteOlder travellers & senior citizens deserve to spoil ourselves if we worked hard and saved our whole lives. I am sure we will enjoy trips more as they become more like slow travel and immersion in a culture.
DeleteI haven't traveled much in awhile, I'm not over 50 yet, but I am considering my retirement and crafting my career so in about 10 years I'd be semi-retired or just working seasonally so a lot of this does apply to my situation. I guess the difference is I will still have young children in 10 years but I definitely still prefer a slower, staycation type of approach.
ReplyDeleteMany of our tips apply to anyone that wants to relocate abroad for work or early retirement, not just older travellers. Your kids would love some of these lovely and less populated locations.
DeleteI don’t think I’ll be slowing down or going to bed any earlier.. to vow the twilight years will be as mad as my twenties!
ReplyDeleteJoseph
I said the same thing. ha ha. Seriously, everyone is different, but eventually some of these characteristics will apply to you.
DeleteYou are too funny! I haven't quite hit the 50's club yet, but I do pack lighter, go to bed earlier, I know what I want and don't expect any less and I like the fact that I can walk slower and don't need to rush anywhere. Good article!
ReplyDeleteThanks. When we travelled with kids, things were much different than they will be now that we are barely into our 50s. I look forward to the new ways enjoyed by older travellers
DeleteI appreciate this piece, more so for my mom. Although it wasn't easy for her to travel (back when traveling was more doable), she was still determined and made the best out of her time!
ReplyDeletethere are travel tour operators focusing on accommodating special needs of older travellers. We might even start doing that someday. Older people don't have to stop travel, they just might change how they travel.
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ReplyDeletePLEASE GO TO www.retirestyletravel.com
TO GO TO THE NEW AND IMPROVED
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