Senior Citizens Travel

Today their are so many excellent senior citizens travel options, whether your intresed in traveling to Italy, a warm beach or packing up with a senior travel group the choices are endless. One of the best things about getting older is fewer daily responsibilities and more free time to do the things we love.  For many seniors, retirement is their chance to fulfill their dream of traveling and seeing the world.  The there are so many adventures available to seniors; it would take many lifetimes to share all the experiences.

The travel industry really values the senior market and this shows in a number of discounts available to seniors.  Typically, hotels best discount program aside from government employees is for members of AARP.  Some cruise lines offer senior discounts with Carnival looking to attract the senior market offering discounts to those over 55 years old and extending the discount to anyway of any age group sharing a cabin with a senior.  While airlines have reduced the discounts available to seniors, many airlines still offer separate discounts to seniors on select routes during certain times of the year.

With no restrictions on time, an RV vacation could be the best way to see the country.  You won’t have to worry about hotel reservations or expenses, you will have a refrigerator with you if you are on a restrictive diet or need to refrigerate medication and won’t have to carry heavy luggage with you and pack and unpack at every stop.  Many seniors prefer an organized tour group where they can relax and enjoy the travel as the tour operator plans the trip, arranges for transportation between destinations and plans the days activates.  These are extremely popular when traveling outside the US where language, different currencies and the fear of getting lost become an even greater concern.  Timeshares often work well for seniors since they have relatively flexible schedules.  They can also book over a year in advance, which makes it much easier to trade their timeshare for prime vacation property.

Elder hostel’s have become very popular for seniors.  Elderhostel is over 30 years old ad is available for those over 55 and geared towards learning.  Programs are available all over the US and in more than 90 countries.  They tend to be relatively inexpensive which helps since many seniors are on a fixed income.  Elderhostel educational programs involve both classroom and daytrips.  Many of the programs take place Monday thru Friday when prices are lower and freeing the hotels for weekend guests.  They have over 8,000 programs and are as varied as old movies to baseball spring training.  These are great exciting experiences to be shared with your contemporaries.

As the population continues to age, vacation destinations are continually trying to attract seniors.  Many places have become wheel chair accessible allowing for great travel freedom with companies becoming much more conscious of the special needs for the handicapped and elderly.  Some senior friendly companies include Disney, which provides special lines for the handicapped and cruise lines which provide special check in counters.  Often seniors travel solo, usually women, either because they are single or have a spouse who cannot or does not like traveling.  Cunard cruise line recognizes this market and attracts this segment by providing male escorts to dance with older women traveling either alone or with other women.  Seniors have become an important segment of the travel industry.