After many decades of arduous work and paying taxes, you’ve finally reached retirement. That means you’re going over all those retirement travel plans you’ve had for years. Finally, you can go to Europe, see the grandkids, and more!
Since you deserve these long-awaited trips, it makes sense to try and get the most out of them. Money can be a bit tight in retirement, so you have to be smart with your travel plans. And believe it or not, this starts by protecting your home.
Keeping Things Safe
A vacation during retirement should be relaxing and enjoyable, but that will be hard if you’re worrying about home security. Criminals specifically look for homes that appear empty, which is exactly what your home is when you’re traveling. You need peace of mind.
Thankfully, Redfin has a great article about protecting your home before leaving for vacation. Some of the useful tips they share include:
- Double-check that all doors and windows are locked.
- Arrange for a housesitter to collect mail, bring in garbage cans, and spend time inside with the lights on.
- Set up lights and even televisions on remote timers.
- Have someone drop by to mow the lawn or shovel the driveway.
But safety isn’t just a concern for your home. Seniors need to worry about security when traveling more than ever. Here are a few tips for personal security when on vacation:
- Before leaving home, make sure you have plenty of prescriptions and get any refilled as needed.
- Enjoy big meals while on vacation, but limit how much grease, spice, and alcohol you have.
- Avoid wearing expensive jewelry and watches, and keep cash to a minimum.
Great Retirement Travel Destinations For Seniors
Getting your house and self secure is a great step, but where are you going exactly? Family and grandkids can dictate where to go, but CBS Money Watch has an excellent list of destinations for seniors .
- Alaska is an exotic location but still within the United States. Alaskan cruises are especially popular with seniors.
- When looking into Europe, consider a river cruise through the Danube or Rhine.
- For warm weather, it’s hard to beat Caribbean islands like Bermuda, the Bahamas, or the US Virgin Islands.
- Canada is also great because it’s easy to visit but still feels like another country.
But one of the biggest travel destinations for seniors is Hawaii , and it’s not hard to see why. It’s part of the US, so there are no issues with visas or currency exchanges. Hawaii is also warm all year round and has an incredible mix of nature and urban experiences.
Tips For Getting There More Comfortably
No matter where your destination is, you still need to get there. Traveling as a senior can be a bit more difficult given your different needs at this age. However, AgingCare.com has a great list of recommendations to make senior travel more comfortable.
- Request special services from airlines, such as free wheelchair use or special food.
- Check all of your documents before leaving to ensure they are still valid.
- Be prepared for security checkpoints in airports by wearing shoes that easily come off.
- If visiting family, make sure they know any health issues you might have so they can prepare for your arrival.
Go Enjoy That Vacation!
Retirement is the perfect time for taking those vacations you’ve been planning for years. To help get the most out of these trips, start by protecting your home for when you’re away. Pick a great destination, and then check for any special services you might need while traveling. And don’t forget to take plenty of photos to make your friends jealous!
