There were kids. There was work. There was a pandemic. With every obstacle, that bucket full of dream trip aspirations was pushed farther and farther into a dark corner of the closet. But that was yesterday. Today, travel savvy seniors - anxious to make up for lost time - are on the move again.   

Options for fall vacations are endless. Start with the gorgeous weather, add off season crowds and great senior deals, and, well… the world is your oyster – even if oysters are not actually part of your travel fantasy.

As Oscar Wilde advised, “Live life with no excuses, travel with no regret.” Check out these senior travel tips and make this fall a season to remember.

Where?

Ah grasshopper. The answer to that question depends entirely on you, your budget, interests, and personal adventure quotient. Head to the northeast to luxuriate in the fabulous fall foliage. If the, um, spirit moves you, explore the wine country in Northern California. Now that the kids are all back in school, you can discover Arizona and the Grand Canyon without the masses. How about a ranch experience in Texas? With cooler temperatures, enjoyable fall travel destinations include just about anywhere in the good old US of A.

If you are aiming for broader horizons, Europe awaits. Croatia and the Czech Republic are hot destinations and gorgeous at this time of year. London, Paris and Rome never disappoint. Amsterdam and Brussels? The French Riviera? The Amalfi Coast? A cruise down the Danube?

At this delightful time of year, no matter where you go, you can’t go wrong.

Senior Discounts

With age comes a richness of experience and wisdom. Be sure to use it for great senior travel discounts. Start your journey by consulting these popular sites:

For European travelers, in most countries, a senior card purchased at a local train station will qualify you for discounted rail passes and more. Here’s a fun fact: In the UK discounts are called concessions and seniors are referred to as pensioners. So be sure to ask for the concessions you deserve, pensioner! Cheerio!

Travel Insurance

Seniors joke about the peril of buying green bananas. Because who knows what tomorrow brings, right? But, spending hard earned retirement bucks on a dream trip, just to have life get in the way and cause you to cancel at the last minute is no joke. When it comes to travel advice for seniors, purchasing travel insurance is at the top of the list. If you are traveling outside the US, most likely Medicare will not cover you. Supplemental insurance also has limitations. When considering travel insurance options, pay attention to medical coverage and emergency evacuation allotment. Companies like Travel Guard, Allianz, and Faye make it easy to compare policy features. You will have to shell out extra dollars, but in the event of cancellation or trip interruption it will be worth it.

Manage Medications

As your travel date nears, be sure to have enough of your medications on hand to last for the duration of the trip. Refilling in a foreign country can be a pain in the neck. And bring those medicines with you on the plane. Lost luggage is not an unheard-of travel complication. Lost medication can turn an annoying problem into a life threatening one. And if you have hearing aids, don’t forget spare batteries. The tour guide has a lot of interesting info to impart. You will want to hear it!

Packing

Fall packing is all about layering. It can be 50 degrees in the morning and 80 degrees by the afternoon. You don’t need tons of clothes. You just need the right ones. At this time of year, a few long sleeve tops, a fall vest and a rain jacket should work for outerwear. Include comfortable pants for touring, and maybe a nice pair of jeans and a nice top for dinner out on the town. And if you bring absolutely nothing else, do not leave home without a really comfy pair of sneakers. You may be spending a lot of time walking, sometimes unexpectedly. Nothing ruins a bucket list experience like the wrong shoes.

If you are lucky enough to live in one of Overture’s premier senior living apartments, embarking on your special adventure is as easy as closing the door of your purposefully designed, upscale apartment. Overture’s stress free, turnkey, active adult lifestyle makes leaving a breeze and coming home a joy.

Book a tour today. Your retirement - and travel – adventure is about to begin.

Bon Voyage!