We now use the term “Bucket List” when in the past it referred to “Kicking the bucket”. Times have changed! People are living longer, retiring earlier and, in general, enjoying a longer, healthier life. Best of all, seniors are now able more than ever to take those dream vacations and enjoy their golden days.
This is your time to enjoy! Treat yourself to the gift of travel because time is now your friend. The destinations are endless and the means of travel are diverse.
Not sure what your travel options are?
Here’s a short primer:
- Land independent Travel – Everything is booked and arranged for you, but no escort is provided. You’re on your own to explore and enjoy the destination.
- Land Escorted Tours – An escort is with you throughout the complete trip. They make sure you get from point A to point B as planned all while having some fun along the way. Most of these tours are operated in groups.
- Cruising – Unpack your bags once and enjoy a variety of cruise ports! There are cruise lines available to match every lifestyle in a multitude of destinations. Want a specific time away? No problem! There are also many cruise length options – from 3 to 4 days all the way up to 150 day world cruises.
- Cruisetours – This combines a cruise with a land tour package at the beginning or end of the cruise. The land package segment is escorted.
- River Cruising – This is a fast-growing and wonderful way to see the rivers of the world. Just like a regular cruise, you unpack your suitcase once, but the atmosphere and port access is quite different. Because the ships are much smaller and river ports often land you in the middle of small towns and villages, you will get to stop in more intimate ports, be close to the castles and cathedrals of Europe, see the wonders of Egypt or explore the temples of Asia much more easily.
The best time to travel is off-season
If you want the most value for your money, you will take this advice to heart. Look for times when children are back in school and the crowds are more manageable. This usually means any time from September to March (Exclude Spring Break, summer and Holidays) and into the beginning of May.
Get started checking off those dream vacations
Book Early! It is a misperception that prices will always go down. Unfortunately, as we see everything is going up. To get the best price, desired tour, stateroom or flight, it’s a smart idea to start planning several months ahead with the help of a trusted travel agent professional.
Go get your Passport and start spending your kids’ inheritance! Where would you love to go?
4 Comments
We would love to travel without all the kids on the ships…we can never use the pools or jacuzzi as they are always splashing around and running on the decks and taking up all the lounging areas…..
There are several different factors to take into consideration when planning a more adult-friendly vacation. 1. Time of year: try to plan your vacation during the school year, avoiding travel in summer and during winter and spring breaks, when more families tend to take trips. 2. Cruise Lines: some cruise lines tend to attract families with their kids’ programs onboard. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian an Disney Cruises tend to draw more families, while the higher-end luxury lines like Holland America, Celebrity, Regent, Crystal, and Seabourn don’t invest in kids programs. 3. Destinations: Caribbean cruises tend to be more family-oriented than say, a Canada/New England cruise. If you have specific questions and would like help planning your next vacation, give us a call. We’d be happy to help you find the cruise that’s the right fit for you!
I would definitely use the service of a reputable travel agency for an arrangement of this sort; you can check online to see if the agency is member of the Better Business Bureau, or if there have been complaints lodged against the agency. The reasons for using an agency are several. First of all, discount cruises are offered by independent companies and once you have paid for your tickets their responsibility ends. Thus, if there are problems with connecting flights, delays etc that result in someone missing the boat , that person will either miss the cruise or have to buy another ticket to reach the first port of call. Also, if there is a problem with the type of accommodation on the boat (e.g. a couple ends up in an inside stateroom with a double bed when they asked for an outside/queen room) there is nothing to be done. Simply coordinating arrivals and departures for such a large group is a massive task. Travel agents LOVE this stuff. They will also be able to get the best rate for a group. As for the best time for a cruise, well that depends on where you want to go. Cruising in the Caribbean in winter is fantastic; Alaska cruises are great in the summer, as are the cruises from NY to Canada. Which cruise line you take depends on the age range of the people travelling: all the major cruise lines offer activities for kids (as well as adults), but Disney cruises really cater to kids. And remember, cruises are all inclusive (except for alcohol and soft drinks) so once on board all you need to pay for are extras like spa treatments. Visit the sites below to find out more about destinations, then head over to a travel agent. I think a family reunion on a cruise is an absolutely splendid idea. RoyalCaribbean.comdisneycruise.disney.go.com
Thanks for the “plug” for travel agencies, Meymey!! We wholeheartedly agree that using a travel agent is the best way to go when planning a vacation! CruiseExperts.com can help with every detail from start to finish so you can have the vacation of your dreams!