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Q: What are the vacation options for seniors?
A: Senior travel is exploding!
Retirement offers travel opportunities that aren’t tied to school or work calendars.
Seniors travel for many reasons: visiting family, cultural interest, and exploring their ancestral home.
Today, there are many vacation options for older adults of varying abilities and travel goals.
Here are some.
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Cruising & All Inclusive Resorts
Adults-only cruises are increasingly popular. Cruise lines that cater to older adults include Silversea Cruises, which advertises to Baby Boomers.
The newest adults-only cruise deals are from Virgin Voyages.
If you have an AARP or AMAC membership, travel centers can help you book adult-only cruises or get a discount on almost any cruise that suits you.
Disability? Special needs? Almost all cruise lines offer special handicap-accessible cabins and offer rental scooters and wheelchairs for use on board.
For those who want to stay on terra firma, adults-only all-inclusive resorts are located throughout the Caribbean and Europe.
Like cruises, these resorts include your accommodations, food and drink, and on-site entertainment and activities.
Do you have a Costco membership? Some members-only clubs offer all-inclusive vacation deals!
Travel clubs
Road Scholar is a travel group for baby boomers who self-identify as “active learners, not passive tourists.”
They organize trips, both foreign and domestic, with the help of expert tour guides.
After registering at Roadscholar.org, you can plan your trip based on your interests, activity level, and budget.
Eldertreks is another tour group that caters to the more adventurous. Their small-group adventures include hikes, safaris and expeditions, based on activity level.
Other senior-focused travel companies abound, for hiking, biking and culture enthusiasts.
Travelandleisure.com is a helpful website that provides travel ideas for seniors and links to senior-friendly travel clubs.
What if I get sick on vacation?
Vacation sickness can happen at any age, but seniors on Medicare should take precautions with their travel plans.
Medicare has very limited coverage outside the United States. Seniors 65+ can purchase a travel medical insurance policy either through a travel club or independently from a travel medical insurance broker.
One such example is Globehopper Senior, which offers one-trip travel cover for an illness or injury while traveling abroad.
What about day trips?
Many local senior centers offer day and multi-day trips through rental travel providers.
In Lake County, Senior Adventures is a day trip company that offers a wide variety of outings.
Brevard seniors can join day trips from Global Tours & Travel on a bus that leaves directly from One Senior Place in Viera.
Tour operator Gerry Blanchard always says, “Go while you can – and enjoy the moment.”
One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and a provider of on-site information, advice, care and services for seniors and their families. Questions for this column are answered by nursing, social work, care management and home care professionals. Send questions toAskOSP@OneSeniorPlace.comcall 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.
Brenda Lyle is a Certified Care Manager and Certified Dementia Practitioner based in Greater Orlando.
