If you are over 55 and love to travel, then you may be getting tired of the usual holiday and tour packages you take for your vacations. I have some good news for you - There are many alternatives to the more traditional over 55 holidays - that is fully inclusive touring and independent touring. Check out our great ideas for seniors travel that are no longer the domain of the younger generations. Here are four interesting styles of holiday or vacation you may want to consider when planning your next trip.
#1 - Go Backpacking!
Toddler Travel Bed
It's not just for youngsters anymore -- backpacking can be done by anyone, no matter what their age is! It's a great way to see the world on your own and with others. Not to mention the freedom of being able to make decisions about where and when you will go somewhere at your own leisure.
There's a certain allure about living out of a suitcase and sleeping at hostels and bed-and-breakfasts, and more and more travelers over 55 are discovering it. Backpacking is a great way to visit new locations around the world, meet the locals, and get a good dose of the local culture. You get a true sense of immersion.
What's more, backpacking accommodation has improved greatly since you may have traveled the world this way in the '60s and '70s. It is not uncommon for a hostel or backpacker accommodation to offer double and single rooms with full bathroom facilities in the center of town. You will be amazed at the value once you start researching this type of style and accommodation.
#2 - Volunteer!
These days, you also have the option of going on volunteer vacations. By volunteering in another country, you get to see new places AND serve a worthy cause at the same time. This is obviously a great vacation option for travelers who would like to give their time to a worthy charity or cause in another country. More and more retirees are including voluntourism as a major part of over 55 holidays.
Many countries offer special Visa's for foreigners who would like to spend long periods of time doing volunteer work, which include organic farming, conservation, and the teaching of English as a second language. If you have certain skills that are in demand in a country you've always wanted to visit, then this might be the vacation for you!
#3 - Try Home Exchange Travel!
Another quirky, but increasingly popular way of vacationing is home exchange travel. In home exchange travel, you swap homes with someone who lives in the country you want to visit, so you get to experience each others countries from the comforts of each others homes.
Obviously, living in a real house has many advantages over a hotel room. It's cheaper, it's more comfortable, and it's easier to experience the culture and meet the people when you're part of a real local community.
Perhaps the only disadvantage to home exchange travel is the challenge of finding a partner, and then negotiating the terms for the home exchange vacation. Once you find a suitable partner who's easy to work with, though, you can be well on your way to an interesting vacation indeed.
#4 - Take A Road Trip!
Finally, few things can beat the freedom of throwing all your possessions in the care, hooking up an RV or trailer and then hitting the road for a road trip vacation. When road-tripping, you can go wherever you want by land -- and you don't have to bring your luggage around by hand wherever you go! This trip style is becoming more and more popular as an over 55 holiday.
Feel like staying in this quaint little town an extra night? No problem. Not comfortable sleeping in hotels? No problem. Want to reach areas that public transport can't reach? No problem -- just fill up the gas tank and get moving.