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Whether you’re retired and looking for things to tick off ‘the list’ or you’re still grinding at the millstone in full-time work, it’s never too late (or too early!) to start a bucket list. Here are some travel ideas to get the adventurers, the adrenaline junkies, the family fun lovers and the skill seekers all dreaming...
In retirement you’re no longer restricted to week-long holidays, so why not spend a month or two seeing the world? Take inspiration from Debbie and Michael Campbell’s Senior Nomads blog, or you can:
Make the Seven Continents your new bucket list. Fly, sail, or take a train and hit your favourite locations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica.
If seven continents don’t capture you, what about the Seven Wonders of the World? Tick off the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Taj Mahal, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, the Petra ruins in Jordan, and the Chichen Itza Mayan pyramid in Mexico.
The Trans-Siberian trainline should be on everyone’s bucket list, whether you’re a lover of trains or not. The Trans-Siberian trainline was built in 1891 and is still the longest in the world. It connects Moscow to the far East, but the journey can be broken down into smaller journeys. Watch Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure on DVD for tips.
It’s never too late to do something that will get your heart pumping and adrenaline flowing. For the more adventurous among us, you can:
Betty Bromage famously took to wing-walking at the age of 87, proving that the sky’s the limit for retirees. While walking on the wings of an aeroplane may not be for everyone, a flying course or a flight experience day could be enough to fuel your adventure.
Skiing in the Alps may sound pretty death-defying, but there are ski package holidays aimed at the over-fifties that are not about to slow down! Of course, there’s always the thought of a sherry by a log fire to motivate you down the hill too.
Scuba diving holidays for the retired adventurers are on the up. Picture yourself exploring coral gardens with manta rays in the clear, warm waters of the Maldives.
There’s nothing better than sharing precious moments with the people you love. If you want to stay young by planning your trips with the grandkids, you can:
Head to Disneyland with the family and watch the kids light up as their favourite stories come to life. Spend a week or weekend attending shows, watching fireworks and playing on fairground rides in the Parisian sun.
If you can stand the cold, grab yourself a decent coat and take the little ones to Lapland to see Santa. Visit Santa's workshop, take a snow-dog sled around a winter wonderland, then watch the Northern Lights as the sun sets.
Family holidays don’t always have to be sat by the pool for a week. Japan, Thailand, or even the south of France, could be a wonderful place to introduce the kids to new cultures.
If you don’t like the idea of a holiday on the beach, you can combine your getaway with learning something new. You could:
Head to a baking retreat abroad. Picture yourself on a three-day course baking sourdough in the heart of the Spanish mountains or learning to spin pizza bases in Italy.
If you like to paint, why not record the beautiful landscapes of Greece with a brush and canvas? Search for art or photography retreats that will provide inspiration from experienced tutors.
Improve your game, and your tan, by going on a golfing retreat. Holiday providers will offer golfing packages for over fifties. There are also retired singles retreats for people looking for a sociable holiday alternative.
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It’s tempting to accept the cheapest quote. It’s also common to accept the offer from your travel agent without asking what’s covered. The fact is a lot of people barely give travel insurance much thought. When you book a holiday you are focusing on the positives of getting away.
Travelling solo for a holiday is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, solo travel can open up a whole world of possibilities.
Later life and retirement can be one of the most enjoyable periods of our lives; we’re older and wiser, more aware of who we are, but most importantly we’ve now got the time to go out and do whatever it is we’ve always wanted to do.
