Congratulations, you’re retired! You have the chance to take a trip of a lifetime, and check off your bucket list, so why not do it as your first retirement travel trip? Here’s a few tips you can use to plan your first retirement travel trip.
Now is your time to visit all the places and do all the things you’ve dreamed for years of doing. No longer held back by traditional obligations, you can choose where you want to go and what you want to do. If you’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon, or another scenic United States National Park, make sure to book nearby Best Western® Hotels and Resorts. Think also about timely events and activities. Have you ever wanted to watch a spring training game? How about listening to live jazz in New Orleans? Once you choose your dream destination or dream experience, you can start budgeting for it. The list of dream places to visit is key to travel planning.
Stretching your dollar matters most when you’re planning your first retirement trip. This is the beginning of something greater, and budgeting is a key factor in booking more trips in the future. Review your finances and see how much money is coming in for your retirement income. Then, create a travel trip budget. To increase savings even further, look at our round up of Travel Discounts for Those Young at Heart. Schedule trips during off-season, like traveling during the winter or spring, can help save you dollars on lodging and transportation. Also, if there are two destinations in proximity of each other, like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, combine trips to save on airfare.
Practice the art of “slow travel” to maximize your experience. “Slow travel” is taking the time to immerse yourself in a place, live like a local, and take in the culture and food of a place at a slower pace than a quick weekend trip or getaway. Gone are the days of rushed, hectic travel to see as many places as you can in a short amount of time. With your first retirement travel trip, and for trips thereafter, take your time. With more time and added flexibility, you will have the opportunity to take an extended vacation to take in not only the sights and sounds, but the experiences and human connections that make travel worthwhile. Traveling slowly will provide unique travel experience wherever you choose to go.