Older Americans often look for different destinations as well as a means for getting there. Sure there are times when you want your grandchildren with you, but there are also times when you’d like some solitude—the ability to relax and get away for some “quiet time”. Whether you’re traveling to a place you’ve never been before or back to a resort or community you love, your needs and desires may be very different from those of your children or grandchildren.
Weather conditions at U.S. airports
Healthy travel information from the CDC
The Center for Disease Control provides information on destinations around the world.
Airline Bereavement Policies
Each airline has a different policy. Some have a flat discount and some have no special rates at all. Most require you travel within a few days of the funeral and must be booked directly with the respective airline and not via a third party. Call the airline for details.
A cruise or a resort vacation?
There are many reasons for both. To enjoy a cruise you need three things for maximum enjoyment.
- Good Weather. If the sea is rough most vacationers will not enjoy the cruise no matter what else happens.
- The right ship. Each vacationer looks for different amenities in a ship. Some want a casino, others play areas for children, others a cozy bar and some the opportunity to be entertained at Broadway or Las Vegas style shows.
- People with similar interests and in the same age group. Unless you plan to spend the entire time with your family or as a secluded couple it is important to be able to converse and interact and even make friends with others on the ship. Before you leave, compare popular plans with Travel Guard cruise insurance for a custom comparison for vacation coverage.
Of course weather, friendly people with some of the same interests and the right amenities are important at a resort, but you are not trapped in this location so you are able to explore other areas more easily.
It is also generally easier to get information on a resort to better determine if this is where you wish to spend your vacation.
If you want a beach as opposed to a swimming pool a resort is a must. If you get seasick a resort is a must. If you want to play golf or tennis or rent a car and drive around a resort is a must. (Of course when a ship is in port some of these activities are available to you.)
As a general rule most resorts allow for more personal space than a cabin on a cruise. Your rooms are larger and there is usually less waiting to use various facilities, less crowds and, if you wish, a slower pace.
The key to choosing which is best for you is doing some research and using a travel agency that has had clients on that particular ship at that time of year or who have visited that resort. Better yet if your travel agent has been there personally and can tell you first hand the pluses and minuses.
Cruises for Seniors, Vacations for Seniors, Resorts for Seniors
Older Americans often look for different destinations as well as a means for getting there. Sure there are times when you want your grandchildren with you, but there are also times when you’d like some solitude—the ability to relax and get away for some “quiet time”. Whether your traveling to a place you’ve never been before or back to a resort or community you love, your needs and desires may be very different from those of your children or grandchildren.
Traveling outside your time zone and want to know the time it is at your destination.
This site will tell you http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
This is an interesting site for exploring destinations around the world including cruises. Travel Wizard has over a 1000 videos of destinations so you can see where you plan to travel to. Most are upscale or luxury. http://www.travelwizard.com/
www.kayak.com/ monitors prices for flights, hotel, car rentals, etc. using the feeds of many travel sites as well as the airlines, hotels and car rental sites themselves..
www.seatguru.com/ allows you to pick the best seats by airplane and airline, see luggage restrictions, check which seats have more legroom, and even helps you upgrade to first or business class..
www.travelzoo.com/ offers great deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages and specials.
farecompare.com/ does exactly this. Compare fars and find a cheap flight.
flyspy.com/ finds inexpensive flights and also finds the best flights to gather frequent flyer miles.
www.goby.com/ According to this site whether you're looking for the perfect bed and breakfast or a romantic get-away, a hiking trail or even a cool new museaum, create an adventure with Goby.
Other sites to research of destinations, hotels, cruises, and side trips before you book. TripAdvisor.com, CruiseCritic.com, Travelpost.com, and FrugalTraveler.com
Ten Most popular destinations
According to Grand Circle Corporation, which arranges travel for Americans age 50 and older, its 10 most popular destinations/trips for 2009
- The Great Rivers of Europe
- Egypt & the Nile
- Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe
- The Romance of the Rhine
- Machu Picchu & the Galapagos
- India
- Unexplored Serengeti: Tanzania
- Eastern Europe & the Black Sea
- Australia, New Zealand & Fiji
- Vietnam
Shopping Overseas
There are many countries where the dollar goes further and there are many products where Americans can save when they shop while traveling. This area will primarily address shopping in Europe; of course there are huge savings in other parts of the world as well.
The dollar goes further in Greece, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal and Spain; countries where the dollar is currently strong.
As far as places to shop within countries you visit consider shopping in flea markets, especially in pricier countries like England. There are many open air markets in Europe like Portobello Market and Fulham Road in London and Waterlooplein in Amsterdam, El Rastro in Madrid and the Puece St. Ouen flea market in Paris. When you shop in these markets you must negotiate vociferously to get the best price and be aware that much of what you may be buying is likely to be a “knock-off” or counterfeit as opposed to the “real thing”. Products can also be unsafe and subject to confiscation by customs when you return to the U.S. Also remember if you are directed to certain stalls or shops by a guide or hotel employee they are quite likely to be getting a commission or “kick back” on whatever you purchase.
Do not purchase food overseas without first checking to see if the food item is permitted in the U.S. Entry areas into the states have sniffer dogs to check for items that are forbidden even if they are packed in your luggage.
If you plan to shop overseas you should check the cost of your planned purchase at home before you leave. If you do so you will have a better idea as to the savings you are achieving. You should check on the quality of the goods you are planning to buy so you will have this information in hand when you shop overseas.
Check U.S. customs rules prior to departure to see the items and total value you may return with duty free from the country you are visiting. Family members living in the same household can combine their personal exemptions.