Traveling is a great activity and a chance to learn more about the world & various cultures. Turn on the imagination - who hasn’t dreamt of having a Parisian croissant or trying the real Chinese food delivery? There are so many things we don’t know about the world yet - isn’t it just the right opportunity to learn them?

Why choosing this activity:

Traveling = good amount of workouts

Walking around the cities, trying things that were piling up on a bucket list, discovering new places like museums, cafes, and restaurants require a lot of physical activity. Think of it as a more engaging way to exercise than just regular senior workout plans. If you travel with a family, kids will love to do some walking around. Don’t forget to take breaks and sit down and rest here and there.

Traveling = better mental health

And the numbers prove it. A study named “Destination Healthy Aging: The Physical, Cognitive and Social Benefits of Travel” has covered the mental benefits of traveling for seniors. If you think about it, any trip is a lot of new languages, new people, uncommon locations to be discovered and of course all of this contributes to better memory, state and overall keeps the mental health up.

Traveling = decreased stress level & better mood

Before departing to the travel destination, think about how to make sure everything is as easy and accessible as the senior lifestyle might require. Of course, traveling is never as smooth as we’d like it, but seeing and experiencing the new cultures and countries is also a good change of the daily routine that we all stuck with. Having a cup of tea somewhere with a nice terrace, view of the surroundings and a pleasant company is very relaxing and calming. Besides that, seeing the world and getting out of the regular surroundings eliminates the sources of stress and anxiety.

How to start:

1. Decide where to go

Remember, you don’t have to be a millionaire to start traveling. If the senior is not ready to travel somewhere too far, there is always an undiscovered city/village/any other place just outside the state or even a few miles away from the city border.

2. Once you have the location, prepare the accommodations

Find a hotel that has everything to make the stay easy and comfortable. Some common requirements are wheelchair accessible or having parking nearby. Don’t forget to mention that you are a senior traveler or accompanying one - some hotels offer nice discounts to encourage.

3. Mapping out the most interesting places to check

4. Looking up the nearby doctor’s office, resting spots, pharmacies, etc if needed

5. Consider getting a senior travel companion if needed

6. And check a few tips we shared earlier before you go (including the safety tips for traveling seniors): 10 Simple Travel Tips Every Senior Should Know

Recommend it to:

  • Active seniors who want to spend a great time with their families, especially with the small kids

  • For those interested to learn a new language, dive into a new culture and have a brand new life experience they’ll never forget

  • For seniors who caught a travel bug and appreciate the dynamic lifestyle :)