retirement travel

Moving to a New City? Here’s a Guide

Published July 13, 2022 | By Clark Norton

By Stephanie Haywood

Starting over after experiencing a setback, loss, or major life event can be a challenge — but it can also be extraordinarily helpful when you’re trying to get your mental health back on track.

Finding a new city and home, making connections, and preparing for a fresh start requires some planning. You may also decide to travel a bit to search for the perfect spot to relocate to, which will take some preparations in itself.

Here are a few helpful tips for starting over in a new city after retirement:

Do your research

Unless you already have a city in mind, it’s a good idea to do some research online to compare potential relocation spots. Narrow down the options according to the average climate in the area, the crime rate, and the accessibility to things you need.

Think about the details, such as whether the city has… Continue reading →

Exploring Panama On, and Beyond, the Canal

Published February 21, 2022 | By Clark Norton

Ever since my own visit to Panama, I’ve considered it one of the “essential countries” for travelers.

And not just because it harbors a canal vital for global commerce. Panama also connects two continents (North and South America) and is a key link in a chain of countries (including neighboring Costa Rica and Colombia) that claims some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet.

For older baby boomers, it’s also an enticing location for retirement, offering comparatively low prices and modern amenities.

Contributing writer Robert Waite recently visited Panama and returned with this informative report:

By Robert Waite

Panama City – When I think of airlines and stopover programs, Icelandair comes immediately to mind.

For no extra charge, they allowed you to stop over in Reykjavik when flying from North America to Europe. They often threw in discounted hotel stays and a trip to the hot spring-fed Blue Lagoon.

But… Continue reading →

Posted in Airlines, Baby boomer travel, Boat travel, Bucket Lists, Central America, cultural travel, retirement travel | Tagged Biomuseo, Canal Zone, Copa Airlines, Embera Indigenous village, Lake Gatun, Miraflores Locks, Panama, Panama City, Panama Stopover, Panama travel, the Panama Canal., Visit Panama | 4 Comments

Travel Books: Gifts for the Holidays

Published November 22, 2021 | By Clark Norton

Here are some of the travel books I’ve been reading the past few months, any of which would make a nice gift for the hodophile among your family, friends, colleagues — or for yourself, of course.

They’re selected to get those travel juices flowing again (if they aren’t already).

The Road Trip Survival Guide

By Rob Taylor (Tiller Press, 2021)

Even as the Covid epidemic was dealing severe blows to airline, cruise, and international travel, domestic road trips were zooming in popularity in 2020-21, making this practical yet enjoyably written guide a timely read.

Penned in a folksy style, Rob Taylor encourages readers to “explore at their own speed” and modify his suggestions as needed to fit their own circumstances.

That said, just about any road-tripper (novice or experienced) can find loads of tips within these pages. Divided into five sections — Planning, Packing, Road Trip Food, Safety, and… Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure travel, Baby boomer travel, Books, Bucket Lists, Budget travel, cultural travel, Eco-Conscious Causes, Guidebooks, Islands, Post-pandemic travel, retirement travel, RVs, travel tips | Tagged Farewell Mr Puffin, holiday travel books, How to be an Amazing Volunteer Overseas, Islands around Britain, Long sailing trips, Paul Heiney, road trips, Sailing to Iceland from Britain, Solo sailing voyages, The Road Trip Survival Guide, tips for road trips, travel books for gifts, Treasured Islands, Volunteering abroad | Leave a comment

7 Tips for Planning Your Retirement Travels

Published October 7, 2021 | By Clark Norton

The best part of planning for retirement is imagining yourself in your new lifestyle — Including having the freedom to travel.

Mt. Cook rises above a tranquil lake in New Zealand. Photo by Clark Norton

By Rick Pendykoski

According to the 19th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, two-thirds of American workers spend heavily on travel in their first year of retirement. Many plan to travel abroad, while others may want to retire overseas. (Take a look at this abroad retirement checklist to see if the expat life is financially right for you.)

But even if you come up short on that checklist, you can still travel affordably in retirement. The key is proper planning. Here is a seven-step guide to follow:

Set Your Goals & Make a Bucket List

Spend some time thinking about your retirement goals. Those who plan for retirement are more likely to find a happy retired life than those who don’t.

Get into as many details as possible, and list the… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Retirement, retirement travel, travel finances, travel tips | Tagged affordable retirement travel, how to plan a retirement trip, how to plan retirement travel, retirement travel, retirement travel tips, retirement trips | 4 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.