A Retirement Travel Guide to Tick Off Your Bucket List!

Retirement is the perfect time to embrace new adventures and finally check off those long-awaited bucket list destinations! After all, you now have ample time and freedom to plan the perfect trip, travel at your own pace, and indulge in experiences you’ve always longed for. 

However, planning and executing a trip can sometimes be overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll provide you with practical tips and inspiration to help you plan a retirement trip that’s stress-free and rewarding, ensuring you make the most of your golden years!

Also read: Experiential Travel is THE New Travel Trend: Here’s Why You Should Try It Too!

Why Retirement Travel is a Rewarding Experience

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Exploring new destinations and immersing yourself in different cultures can sharpen your mind, instil a sense of purpose, and add a spark of adventure, all of which contribute to enhanced mental health and happiness. Not only that, walking, cycling, and hiking are natural parts of exploring new places, promoting physical and mental well-being.

What’s more, retirement travel gives retirees opportunities to meet new people and allows them to connect with like-minded travellers, adding a hint of vibrancy to the trip! Besides, travelling with friends or family while abroad can strengthen bonds, reduce feelings of loneliness, and create wonderful memories together. Imagine sharing laughter, discovering hidden gems, and savouring delicious food together, doesn’t it sound amazing?

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Retirement travel also involves stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new environments. When retirees encounter challenges like language barriers, unfamiliar cultures, and navigating logistics, it builds their resilience and adaptability. Overcoming these obstacles fosters a sense of independence, adventure, and self-confidence.

What’s more, retirement travel can give retirees a sense of purpose and fulfilment, helping them to stay active, positive, and engaged. This allows them to connect with the world in meaningful ways, further improving their overall well-being and fulfilment in their golden years!

A Guide to Tips and Tricks for Your Retirement Travel

1. Set a budget

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Setting a realistic budget is the crucial first step when planning any trip. Consider how much you are able to set aside, especially for big-ticket items like flights, transportation, accommodation, food, and activities, as well as allocating some budget for additional shopping and unexpected expenses. Your travel budget will also vary depending on your destination, preferred accommodations, and planned activities. Take note of your income streams if any, and your savings, and decide how much you can afford to allocate to your trip. 

With planning, you can also make sure you take advantage of senior discounts, early bird deals, and other cost-saving opportunities, such as booking an Airbnb instead of a hotel and cooking a meal instead of dining out. 

Make use of travel aggregators like DBS Travel Marketplace which allows you to compare prices across flights, hotels, and other accommodations, helping you find the best deals for your trip. It not only offers exclusive early bird specials but also enables you to filter through various travel options quickly and efficiently. This tool simplifies your planning process and ensures you don’t miss out on cost-saving opportunities while exploring the best travel packages. 

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What’s more, retirees can make the most of their travel experience by utilising existing frequent flyer miles for flights or upgrades, which can significantly reduce travel costs. This is especially beneficial for long-haul flights, providing extra comfort without breaking the bank. 

Additionally, consider earning miles through credit cards, like the DBS Altitude Card, which offers up to 5 miles per dollar (mpd) on online travel bookings through specific platforms such as Expedia, Agoda, and others. You can also earn 2.2 mpd on overseas spending and 1.2 mpd on local purchases! These rewards allow you to accumulate miles quickly for future trips, maximising your travel spending while saving on flights and accommodation. Be sure to check for promotions or partnerships that may boost your rewards!

By accumulating miles on everyday purchases and travel bookings, you can continue to save on future trips, making it easier to explore new destinations.

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Travelling in your retirement years also offers the unique advantage of flexibility as you can choose to travel during off-peak seasons, avoiding crowds and enjoying lower prices. While peak seasons offer a lively atmosphere, travelling during quieter periods can provide a more peaceful and relaxing experience.

Moreover, we also suggest against travelling to destinations that experience extreme weather. For example, Siberia in winter or the Sahara Desert in peak summer are subject to extreme temperatures. Instead, opt for places with moderate climates such as the Mediterranean in spring or Southeast Asia during the dry season. These offer comfortable weather for sightseeing.

With pleasant temperatures and lower humidity, there’s less chance of dehydration or heat exhaustion which are common in hotter climates. Meanwhile, warmer climates reduce the risk of health issues associated with cold weather, such as hypothermia or respiratory problems. This helps minimise health risks and allows you to indulge in the journey fully.

2. Choosing a suitable destination and accommodation

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Along with setting a realistic budget, selecting the right destination is equally crucial. Start by curating a list of places you’ve always dreamed of visiting, and prioritise them based on your interests, budget, and available time. In the early years of your retirement, you’ll likely have more energy and resources, so make the most of this time. For example, consider embarking on a ski trip or hike while your body is still up for the challenge.

Whether you’re drawn to cultural immersion, breathtaking landscapes, historical sites, or adventure-filled experiences, tailor your choices to what excites you the most and don’t “save the best for last”. 

Safety is a top priority, so we recommend choosing destinations with good infrastructure for convenient transportation, which can make getting around easier and more enjoyable for retirees. This approach allows for a comfortable travel experience, whether enjoying active excursions or simply moving between sites. 

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When researching accommodation online, go beyond the official descriptions, and read reviews from other travellers to gain insights into the overall experience. Based on your budget and comfort needs, consider whether you prefer hotels, guesthouses, homestays, or camping. 

Most importantly where applicable, ensure the accommodation has senior-friendly amenities like lifts, luggage storage, and more. This is particularly vital as some properties, especially in Europe, may only have stair access, which can pose challenges for those with mobility concerns.

3. Consult your doctor before booking a trip

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Before booking and embarking on your trip, check with your doctor, especially if you have any existing health concerns, to ensure you are physically and mentally ready for travel. It’s also wise to bring along any necessary medications, prescriptions, or medical documents just in case. 

Other than these, during your trip, focus on maintaining good health by taking some supplements, staying hydrated and, if possible, keeping to a balanced diet to avoid falling ill. 

4. Getting comprehensive travel insurance

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Speaking of health and wellness considerations for retirement travel, it’s equally important to consider all-inclusive travel insurance too. This can safeguard you against unexpected issues such as illness or injury. This is particularly vital for international travellers, as many countries require visitors to have insurance that includes health coverage. 

When choosing travel insurance, focus on key items like emergency medical evacuation or repatriation for transport to a medical facility in case of serious illness. Ensure the policy covers trip cancellations or delays, helping to recover costs for unexpected changes. Look for protection against the loss or theft of personal belongings, like luggage or valuables. Most importantly, consider getting coverage for pre-existing conditions and be aware of all terms and conditions to avoid any surprises during the trip.

In this case, DBS’s TravellerShield Plus has got you covered. Beyond the typical travel insurance coverage, it’s the first in Singapore to provide coverage for travel delays starting from just 30 minutes, as well as overseas medical expenses covering up to S$1,000,000! 

Another newly added benefit is coverage for the loss of Frequent Flyer Miles and/or Hotel Loyalty Points, giving you extra peace of mind. These great features and more are available under the TravellerShield Plus Single Trip Policy, designed for adults between 18 and 69 years old.

5. Pack appropriately

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An underrated tip for travelling as a retiree is to pack light and smartly. Consider the climate of your destination and pack accordingly. For warmer weather, bring lightweight, breathable clothing and comfortable walking shoes. If you’re travelling during winter or to a colder region, pack warm layers, including gloves, winter boots, and a waterproof jacket.

Nevertheless, to ensure a smooth and enjoyable retirement trip, it’s important to consider more than just packing the essentials. Be sure to bring all necessary medications, medical devices, and spare batteries for hearing aids or electronic devices if needed. Additionally, carry a copy of your prescription in case you need refills while abroad. This ensures you’re ready for any situation and can enjoy your travels worry-free!

6. Utilising a travel wallet

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Make the most of your retirement travel with a travel wallet. But instead of the traditional travel cash wallet, the DBS Travel Wallet comes in handy with the added convenience and security of being digital. Bid farewell to currency headaches, waiting in line at money changers, as well as carrying several cards while travelling.

By linking your DBS Visa Debit Card to your multi-currency accounts (Multiplier Account or My Account), you can spend in any of the 11 supported foreign currencies without any foreign exchange fees. As long as you have the respective currency balances in the account, your foreign currency transactions/withdrawals will be debited directly from your account, making your trip even more seamless and cost-effective. 

Note: Before your next trip, make sure you link your multi-currency account as the primary account to your DBS Visa Debit card.

What’s better? You can get up to 5% cashback on your holiday spending, including online shopping! 

Not to mention, DBS Payment Controls provides real-time transaction tracking and advanced security features, like setting spending limits, temporarily locking your card, and enabling or disabling functions through the DBS digibank app. 

7. Keep your options simple!

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If you’re new to retirement travel, don’t feel pressured to dive into long-haul adventures right away. Remember: it’s perfectly fine to start with smaller trips to destinations closer to home that offer beautiful scenery and exciting experiences! Shorter trips are often less overwhelming and less exhausting, allowing you to ease into the joy of exploring without feeling drained.

Also read: Money-Saving Tips to Upscale Your Next Trip Into A Luxe Vacation

So there you have it — a comprehensive guide to retirement travel! Remember, exploring the world and fulfilling your dreams is never too late. By following these tips and embracing the spirit of adventure, you can create lasting memories with your travels.

Brought to you by DBS.

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