Traveling as a Senior and Enjoying it!

Now in my 70s, I have found that there are more opportunities to travel, but they still involve planning and “thinking things through.” 

Since I’m retired, I have more time to travel. And if I manage things well, I can go wherever I want, whenever I want, without being concerned about work schedules and demands. That being said, I’ve run into some challenges. Let me explain.

Traveling by plane….

Since I was a child, airline travel has become more commonplace and it’s possible to go almost anywhere. You might need to catch a bus, train, or car to get to your final destination, but at least you can cover the greatest distance in a shorter amount of time if you choose. But the downside I’ve encountered with flying now is that, although tickets have become more expensive lately, many more people take advantage of the plethora of flights available. And, with a greater number of people from other countries traveling, the airports are often crowded and the planes packed. Flying used to be considered an indulgence. Stewardesses and passengers would dress up and be on their best behavior. Good food and drink were served non gratis on flights, and customers were treated like royalty. Now, it’s a very different story. You’re happy if there’s not an “incident” on your flight where a customer flies off the handle about something. People just aren’t always as nice to be around as they used to be. The expectations have changed. I find it a slog to go through the airports, board a flight, then change flights and make my way through crowds to find the right gate or terminal. The expectations now are high on the part of the staff and the travelers and, if you’re not “quick on the draw,” you can easily miss a connecting flight if you don’t happen to see a message or notice that a board has changed your departing gate or announced a flight cancellation. It can be really tough. And very stressful.

Traveling by car….

The older I get, the more I enjoy driving to a destination. It’s just so much more flexible and relaxing. You can stop when you want to, eat when you want to, and arrive and leave when you want to. Plus, you avoid the hassle and hustle of flying. And, if you’re traveling within the States, generally everyone speaks the same language, and you can usually find a convenient store to refill a prescription or purchase a needed product. 

My husband Mike and I drove one year from Kansas City to Yellowstone Park and greatly enjoyed the scenery as we traveled through Wyoming, Montana, and back through South Dakota. We also appreciated past car trips with our dogs to places like Door County, Wisconsin, and Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. Sometimes we do day trips within our state, and we explore the scenic beauty of wooded trails where we can hike with our dogs. There are so many places yet to discover in the U.S. And, although I prefer to walk from one place to the next because you can enjoy and appreciate so much more of the scenery, and people along the way, distances between places can be prohibitive without a car, especially in the States.  

Traveling abroad…

Mike and I love Europe. We have appreciated and enjoyed every place we’ve visited. My favorite destinations have been anywhere in Italy and the Greek Isles. Recently we walked around the Cotswolds in England, and now we want to experience more places in UK. We have also been captivated by Ireland and Scotland. Last year I walked over the Camino de Santiago through parts of France and Spain, and the journey changed my life. (That trip really sparked my interest in walking more!) When I returned, I wanted Mike to experience what I did—trekking through a countryside. That was the inspiration for our journey through the Cotswolds. 

Mike’s favorite trips were to Morocco and South Africa. In Morocco, we loved wandering through the souks in Marrakech and riding on camels in the Sahara while experiencing a night in a desert tent. Going on safaris in South Africa was also an experience beyond description. But, we would also like to see more places in North and South America.

Traveling challenges…

Trains? The main challenges we’ve encountered while traveling, especially as we grow older and less ambulatory, have involved getting to our desired locations without expending too much time and energy. Depending on what country you visit, the trains can be very reliable, or not. We found the trains in Switzerland and Austria very dependable and easy to maneuver. In Ireland, Scotland, England, and France we also never had a problem. But, we found Italy’s trains challenging with a lack of timely, consistent communication and the seeming absence of tourist-friendly help. 

Some advice: before you travel anywhere by train, be sure you check the train schedule, which you can find online. Trainline or Eurail are helpful sites.  

Prescriptions? While traveling in England, Spain, and France, I always located a pharmacy when I needed one and found the pharmacists very helpful. Some travelers have wondered about filling prescriptions overseas. I have heard that it’s not as much of a problem as one might imagine and that some drugs that require a prescription in the States don’t require one in Europe. Before traveling, I’d suggest making sure you can get a prescription refilled in the country you are visiting. 

Laundry? Laundry facilities are not as prevalent in some hotels abroad, especially in more rural areas. Hotels in Spanish towns often had laundry service, but, in the Cotswolds, they did not. Larger cities will usually offer this amenity. Again, check ahead to see what’s available.

When you have questions about a place you want to see

My travels began when I was 13, and my brave mother, along with another “crazy” woman, decided to escort nine teenagers for 10 and-a-half weeks on a whirlwind European tour. (My mother never knew about the all the insane escapades her wards engaged in.) To this day, I am grateful to my mom for this amazing trip that forever changed me. And for the “travel bug” she gave me. Since then, I’ve tried to find ways to travel and have been able to visit many countries, to my delight. But, because I also worked for many years and found my time limited, I wasn’t able to experience as many places as I wanted. Now I have the opportunity to travel more, and I still have a bucket list of places to see. You may be the same way. I hope your are!

Senior Travelers and Trekkers. For this reason, Brian Skillen and I started a Facebook page called Senior Travelers and Trekkers. The site was created because we wanted seniors to be able to connect with others who’d “been there,” so they could ask questions about the places they wanted to see and get the “inside scoop” on where to find the best places to eat and stay and visit while traveling to a new location.

We sincerely hope you will take advantage of this useful site, where you can ask away!