Will you travel when you retire?

[Storm4star]

Having read a few threads about retirement, mainly people discussing pensions, and also from real life conversations. People will often say they need a certain amount of money in retirement so they can still travel or, in some cases, start to travel!

Now I can understand more if people like beach/poolside holidays where you literally just laze all day and maybe eat out in the evening. Or a very gentle cruise. Of course you can still do that at 75 (health permitting). But I genuinely hate those kinds of trips. I like to be doing activities or going off exploring for hours. If I want to just chill I'm happy to sit on my sofa with a book for free!

I just feel that by the time I'm in my 70's I just won't have the energy for long haul, or intense busy trips. I already feel a difference in energy levels/tolerance for jet lag etc in my late 40's compared to in my early 30's so I can only imagine how tough it would feel at 75.

So I guess I'm asking when people say that about travelling, are they talking about just continuing their usual fortnight in the sun or whatever, or something more strenuous? In which case do people think they would have the energy for major worldwide trips?

I do know a couple of people IRL who say they will go on major trips when they're old, AIBU in thinking they're kidding themselves a bit and should do it now while they can enjoy it?

We intend to do even more traveling when we retire early when DH is 55. We are aiming to spend most of every winter away, plus cruises, possibly getting a camper van to explore more of the UK and using our holiday cottage as much as possible.

Myum was going to travel to Canada and NZ with my stepfather.
Then he died, and she developed ill health and fear of travel.
I think, if you are desperate to see a certain place, don't wait years till retirement.
You never know what the future holds.

we're doing longhaul while we're young and fit. Europe and the British isles when we're older.
I've seen too many older people struggling in far flung destinations.

Why ever not? My 88 year old Mum has been to China and Vancouver (Canada) in the last couple of years. She keeps saying 'no more long trips' but I would be surprised if she did.

Btw, you aren't 'old' when you retire. Just 'less young'.

I was very fortunate to be able to retire at 54, that was a redundancy/early pension package +lump sum. Way hay! I jumped of course and haven't looked back.

But anyway in the first two years we travelled like maniacs (OH retired before me but he is older lol). but we soon calmed down!

Travelling is great but it can be tiring and stressful too.

After all the long hauls we had over the years, no more. Just Europe and our own country from now on.

So, we are planning to do the Camino de Santiago. If you haven't heard of it, google it. All in one go too, we have the time and the funds and it sounds both challenging and very interesting.

Long haul would give me the shivers now. But each to their own I suppose!

We have active holidays now. We have a touring caravan, however the plan for when we retire will be to get a motorhome instead and travel in Europe for maybe 3 months at a time, possibly longer.

We are used to camping in tents and caravans when we travel. We are self-catering, and I think we could travel when retired and stay within our means.

All of this assumes we will have good health which we have no way of knowing.

I’m retiring at 50 . Well actually I’m not , just retiring from my current job , and then factoring in a 3 month sabbatical until I take up a new one . I’m going to spend at least some of that travelling , going to the places I haven’t been able to afford , or haven’t been given the time to visit until then . By then I’ll have earned it .

It's an excellent point to consider that we may not be in great health come retirement.

Bit of a catch 22 isn't it. Got the health but not the wealth at the moment and vice versa potentially.

Lottery is the only answer (or massive inheritance)

I have a friend over 80 she has limited means but is alway off on holiday when she can afford it. Walking, sailing you name it.

The big problem with older people is the cost of travel insurance

The big problem with older people is the cost of travel insurance

This ^^ as soon as you start to have illnesses the insurance rockets and I won't take the risk of no insurance or not disclosing pre existing conditions. Another reason why I am not relying on being able to travel when retired and seeing all the places now. I realise I am fortunate to have the funds to do that now rather than later in life. My worry is at some point either health, funds or both will make it prohibitive to travel and I don't want to look back with regret.

Have just retired in late 50s, DC independent now, and DH and I intend to spend as much time as we can travelling, whilst health permits. My DM died at 62, which resonates with me, carpe diem and all that!

My great aunt just came back from an Alaskan cruise - she celebrated her 104th birthday on board. She has done all kinds of amazing trips and she doesn’t see the world from behind her iPhone either. (Yes, she has an iPhone...) She has the most amazing stories of places she has been, people she has met, food she has eaten, etc and is one of the most energetic and youngest-thinking people you’re likely to encounter. Puts me to shame, really.

OMG, Justilou, she sounds amazing!

Oh, and don't let her put you to shame. Take her as a role model!

Some inspiring posts here. We're focusing on long haul travel now, as I know I won't fancy long flights when I'm retired. Still plan to travel in reitirememt-hopefully explore Europe, go on some cruises and see more of the UK. I like the idea of month long trips to Spain, Greece etc.

Cruises are a scourge. Places like Venice and Dubrovnik are swamped by the ghastly trippers. Spoils the cities for everyone else.

I was 74 last week and certainly plan to keep going on holidays both long and short haul; two week river cruise in early July, family trip for 9 of us to the Caribbean late July/August..Cruise on the Seine in November, Mauritius in February, Fiords and southern Norway in May , spring 2020 cruise to northern Norway in search of Northern Lights. DH trying to talk me into a ski trip in January, new pacemaker permitting.

It makes all those years of hard work worthwhile.

My friends parents have brilliant adventures (in their 70s). Local trains across Vietnam was a recent one.

Cruises are a scourge. Places like Venice and Dubrovnik are swamped by the ghastly trippers. Spoils the cities for everyone else

How snobbish

The “ghastly”trippers are what provide a much needed boost to the local economies

I'm a bit jealous of the people who have organised their lives so well they are retiring in their fifties. I love my job but I'd love to be free to travel even more.

Yes most definitely. Probably do the long haul places on my wish list earlier on in retirement.

I traveled loads in my twenties and didn't get married or have kids till my 40s. Itch already scratched. Maybe I will, maybe I won't travel. Depends on health and finances.

I'm not waiting til retirement. Both my parents were dead before they were 75 and both were partly paralysed by strokes from their early 70s. Fortunately they'd both done a good amount of travelling in their youth so their itch was pretty much scratched- DF spent much of his 20s and 30s travelling the world.

People can “travel” (aka go on holiday) all they like, but please don’t tell me about it [yawn emoji] . A particular highlight was the pil’s video tour of their Northern Europe cruise: “Today we are visiting another fishery...”

I have heard every permutation of people’s Californian fly-drives. And even smiled amiably whilst i’m being told about my family’s country by Brian and Glenda from down the road.

If I actually live that long, I just hope to still be able to afford my home, have enough health to live in it have, some friends around - and hopefully also afford a good gaming device and enough money for whatever great games there'll be out at that time...

DH (60) and DD did the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu last week - there was a fit, able 74 year old man in their party - they were on the 4 day original Inca Trek, and he coped admirably.

We're travelling now - still working but in our own business, so taking longer and more breaks. After 40 years of working non-stop, I reckon I've done my bit! DC know there'll be nothing left for them!