A Smarter Way to See the World

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Money, the great inhibitor to traveling abroad. But if you’ve got to a stage in life where you have a little more free time to see the world, then it shouldn’t be wasted. With some careful planning, it doesn’t have to be: the key is knowing where to look and being flexible with your time. Here are some money-saving holiday tips for smart seniors who want to stretch their travel savings further this year…

How to Save

It’s now a well-known fact that the cheapest flights to any destination are often the last minute ones. When airlines are scrambling to fill those unused seats, that’s when you can save up to 70% off your ticket. The key, and this is difficult for most, is being able to leave on short notice. One way to get around this is to have multiple destinations in mind, along with a block of time you’ve put aside for traveling. That way when the time gets closer you have options to choose from, and are prepared for a trip.

If you prefer the certainty of an airline ticket beforehand, savings can still be had, depending on when you book your flight. Flying during the holidays is going to be the most expensive, but there is a benefit to that. The week before and after major holidays see a major drop-off in numbers of people traveling, therefore tickets will be cheaper as well.

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Where to go

These destinations are relatively inexpensive to get to, but more importantly where a dollar gets you a lot, not a little. That leaves London and Paris off the list, but there are still many beautiful places to go.

While the Caribbean is not generally known for being a budget-friendly location, this picturesque island is the most geared up towards tourists and can be very affordable, as long as you know where to look. Generally, the cheapest holidays to Barbados tend to happen in the off-season. May is the best month to go, sandwiched between the end of peak season (December to April) and the start of hurricane season (June). Once you get here, the all-inclusive resorts are a very good value, since much of the cost of visiting Barbados is tied to the cost of food.

The East has long been a top destination for backpackers, due to how cheap it is. Take Bangkok, for instance. $50 gets you at least a 3 star hotel, with more than enough money for three decent meals and almost any attraction around. Speaking of attractions, a big draw is the Buddha park, where less than $3 gains you access. Once inside you’ll see over 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues; to say that there is nothing remotely like that in America would be an understatement and it’s well worth seeing once in your lifetime. A visit to any eastern country affords a valuable glimpse into a culture and lifestyle most Westerners are unfamiliar with.

Of course, these are just a couple of suggestions for cheaper destinations. Depending on where you’re based, you might also want to check out Eastern Europe, which has opened up to tourism in recent years but remains a surprisingly good-value region to travel within, as well being home to many cultural treasures like the walled city of Dubrovnik (Croatia) and the Bridge of Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegovina).

In short, there are plenty of ways to make your golden years ones of discovery, so start planning and you can soon start saving…

Images by David, Bergin, Emmett and Elliott, and Arian Zwegers, used under Creative Comms license

Traveling in Times of Crisis

Travel Guides (Photo credit: Vanessa (EY))

During the period of financial crisis traveling is not easy and that is not good for many countries in which the tourism sector, is one of the most important. People still want to travel but are more reluctant to do so because of the current crisis hitting Europe in general and more particularly countries like Portugal, Italy and of course Spain. Of course this crisis causes problems to all over the world or it will in the near future.

Due to the current situation there have been many questions tourists have made, such as whether to save rather than traveling or is it better not to travel at all as this usually involves excessive spending on many occasions.

There are many deals on offer in travel agencies and wrapped packages made to consume, but this is not to everyone's liking, since more and more tourists like to choose what type of accommodation, flights, dates or days will travel. So there have been many alternatives to travel in order to save more. One could point out a way to move between neighboring countries or within the same country, for those who like to travel by car but not wishing to have the option to share car. This medium is unknown for many but very effective and very safe also, you pay a price per trip, depending on the length of it and there is no concern.

For trips where the destination is not so close, we all know the famous company Ryanair which is cheap and with a multitude of destinations. Make you sure you have an international travel insurance that covers all your needs and pocket. What is left to do is choosing accommodation and for that there are many deals if you are looking for an alternative to standard hotels and usually the price does not reference quality. To find a property to the desired extent you can do your research online where you can find different types of accommodation such as a room in a shared flat, an apartment or an entire house, as well as Bed and Breakfast, hotel-like accommodation with basic facilities for sleeping and breakfast.

With all the alternative media that exist today is hard to resist making a vacation or a trip without having to spend a large portion of the payroll. Thanks to these new ideas materialized in companies, we can save enjoying the pleasure of traveling.

Inexpensive Ways to Enjoy Your Retirement

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For some, boredom begins upon retirement. But for others, adventures start once you’re done with all your career responsibilities. Retirement is the best time to explore new things you haven’t tried before and do what you have always wanted to do but just never had the chance to do so. While you may not be as physically active as you have been years back, there are still a lot of things that you can do to enjoy retirement without being guilty in spending too much.

Travel

Oh the feeling of being in a new place and discovering new sights! Try channeling the wanderlust in you and go somewhere you have always longed. There are a lot of travel packages you could find that offer good rates. It would be best to avail of special senior discounts or take part of guided group tours, which is so much safer. Just like anything else, set a budget for your travel and stick to it no matter how irresistible it can seem by researching and deciding exactly where you want to go and what to do when you get there.

Engage in literature

Remember how much time you had to spend in paper works and all other work-related things that you could only wish for a time off and snuggle with a good book? Well you now have all the time in the world to learn more about history or be in engrossed in a fantasy world. Whether it’s an original copy of a Jane Eyre novel or a downloadable ebook of a J.K. Rowling series, now is the best time for you to catch up on literature. The only thing you’ll spend on is the book itself and nothing more. You can even tap the writer within you and author a fiction novel or document an autobiography.

Be a volunteer

Instead of staying at home and watching whatever is on TV, try to take part in outreach programs that aim to help build the community and assist the needy. It may be an orphanage, a group of unemployed parents, or an environmental organization. You may not have known it yet but volunteerism may just be one of the most fulfilling activities you’ll ever do. Maybe you have been active in monetarily contributing to the less fortunate over the years, but being physically present to see the expression of organizations and individuals you have helped definitely feels different.

Stay Active

Stretch out your legs and move more often. Being physically active will dramatically improve your health and effectively prevents boredom. Consult your doctor to determine the best exercise for you. If you want to have more fun, you can try dancing! And if you feel like being a little competitive, get into sports. Choose one that is athletic yet relaxing, like golf. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran in the sport, you can always find the perfect gear designed for your skill level, which is offered in brands like Lamkin Grips. Spend some time alone or do it with a loved one. Either way, going outdoors and staying active will actually make you happier and healthier.


Author Bio

Amanda Smith is a blogger based in San Diego, California. She loves writing about health and wellness, technology and gadgets, travel and arts, and just about anything that tickles her fancy. When she’s not writing, she’s busy catching up on her favorite sitcoms with her yellow Labrador, Chandler Tribbiani. You can catch more of her works at her gang’s hangout, wordbaristas.com.