Where to in Spain, CW?
I am done. the fellow Canuck

When I traveled several years back (my first cruise ever) with an 81 year old friend, I was glad that she used the wheelchair service in the airport. She was also a widow and had never ticked her Panama Canal transit wish list.

It seems to me that a lot of those who used to do only independent third world trips (like me) are very snooty about cruising (like me). Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't. It's important to pick the right cruise line, ship and itinerary. The Antarctica cruise I did with HX (an offshoot of Hurtigruten) was superb, I did a few nights pre-cruise in Buenos Aires by myself. Friends also like the (expensive) Nat Geo Lindblad excursion cruises.

If you are lucky enough to live within driving or train distance of a port, you don't even have to fly.

I am delighted to have found this thread; so many posts resonate with me. We are a Canadian couple similar ages to the OP, 81 and 85, who have been ambivalent about travel since a totally exhausting trip to Madagascar post-Covid. I have significant hearing impairment, need to careful in what I eat because of digestive issues but mobile enough to walk distances though no strenuous hiking anymore. Hubby is a good walker too, but has mild cognitive impairment. He used to be an excellent navigator but now gets confused in unfamiliar places and sometimes in more familiar ones as well.

It took about. year to recover from the Madagascar trip and then we had 3-day camping excursion that proved to be too much. We have always been campers--we met when working at a children's' camp 56 years ago- so it was depressing to realize those days were behind us. We have managed to rebound though, and have a return trip to Edinburgh in April, where our son owns a flat he loans us, and a European River cruise in June. We are hoping also to use some Cathay Pacific points for a business class flight to Western Australia where our daughter lives--a long awaited journey that was supposed to take place in March 2020.

It is encouraging to read of others who manage to travel inspite of age-related obstacles. I can add more details of our experiences--good and bad--and make some suggestions. If anyone one reads this post please say so and we can keep the conversation going.

Happy Travels

Hi there!

It sounds like you’ve found a great balance with your trips, especially with shorter, slower-paced ones like the Road Scholar art trip. For future travel, destinations that allow for a relaxed pace, like the Maldives or Giethoorn, could be ideal—places where you can enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.

Wishing you both many more enjoyable and stress-free travels! 😊

I am still traveling but I can foresee a day when my partner will not want to. It makes me very sad but I have to keep reminding myself that I've taken a lot of solo trips, even to exotic countries and even when I had a tight budget.

Agree that the airports are horrible and a wheelchair is a huge help IF the service is good. My partner now uses one and it almost always works out very well. I don't' have the zeal to visit very exotic places anymore but I'm lucky that I did a lot of that many years ago. But I will say that if anyone is interested in Southern Africa, in game watching, those trips might sound daunting but they can be very relaxed, and everything is taken care of when you stay at a nice game lodge and go out on drives every day. Once you arrive, you have nothing to plan and you don't need to even be in great physical shape.

I do find I'm having more anxiety about packing and thinking about the trip than I used to.

On the bright side, in then past few years I've begun renting a car and driving on my own in Spain and in Italy and I don't know why the thought of that used to scare me so much.

ekscrunchy I am impressed to hear that you will now rent and drive a car on your own in Spain and Italy! For us, car rental was a 2 person endeavor. All of those roundabouts with 50 small signs all pointing in different directions. It took 2 people to be able to read them fast enough to make a decision as to which direction to go. And, sometimes we went through roundabout 2 to 3 times before we could make a final decision. I wonder if the ubiquity of GPS today makes solo driving a lot easier.

Also, I remember reading at one time that European car rental agencies wouldn't rent to people over 75. Is that true?

Julies, I was terrified about driving alone! I live in Manhattan and we do not drive much and I get anxious if I have to go out on a big highway--I hate it! Truly it was a snap driving alone but ONLY with a GPS in the car.
So when I rent I always pay for the GPS to be included. (Although my sister drives with only her phone hooked up to Waze--I could not read that without my glasses and I can't drive with my glasses!!). I guess its depends on the area of a country but I'm finding the roundabouts to be very easy to navigate, since the GPs voice talk you through it all. But in Sicily the voice used what I think are Uk terms like "slip road" which took a long time to get used to!. But if this timed driver can drive out of Catania airport, I bet you could do this as well!!!! With that GPS!!! By the way, I only rent now from Sixt since they guarantee a GPS and I've had very good service from them in the past few years.

I remember a few trips to Puglia with my partner when I had those HUGE fold-out paper maps! Now THAT was stressful, even with me as navigator!

You can do this!!!!!!

"Also, I remember reading at one time that European car rental agencies wouldn't rent to people over 75. Is that true?" It varies from company to company. A friend tried recently @age 80 and found that Hertz had a max age of 79 and Avis mentioned some "additional steps" but said that they would. Currently there are rumbles in the UK press about not renewing driving licenses past age 75 - apparently 25% of fatal RTAs involve driver aged over 70 (though you know what they say about statistics :lol:)

As far as the original question is concerned, yes we are taking far fewer trips but pre pandemic we were travelling more or less continually for 12 + years, most trip lasting 3-6 months. Now it seems to be one main trip p.a of up to a month (cheaper travel insurance premiums plus a few long weekends or week long trips.The main difference seems to be that the balance has shifted towards more luxury accommodation and business class only for long haul. So far I have not felt the need to go on a cruise or guided tour!

What a wonderful thread! It is inspiring and an eye opener for me as I step into my new age number - 60!
My strategic plan has been to continue to travel the furthest while I can still tolerate the longer hauls (e.g. Australia to Europe) and wind down to destinations closer to home (e.g. Vietnam, etc) as I find the challenges blur the enjoyment factor.
When that shine starts to rub off, will then spread my wings domestically and hope that travel remains playful, joyful and safe.

What a good thread. We are just over 70 and our view is to go while we can! I also like to say: a trip a month keeps the doctor away.

What has changed? We are more likely to fly business class and to indulge in taxis/uber/lyft than Metro.

Until I was 66, I worried about an elderly parent and did have to fly home early one time.

i would not dream of NOT getting trip insurance. I carry Covid tests and Paxlovid.

We did our first Road Scholar trips. It was so relaxing not to plan. (I do find the details of trips to more than two cities harder to plan than I once did.) Also for any place with a slightly risky reputation, I find it reassuring to have a trip leader. We still like to do carry-on and find airport distances manageable.

We did three private guided trips and others may find this a good option for going at their own pace and perhaps aging a driver. Kensington was our resource. We used Monograms before but they may not exist any longer.

More may change going forward. My husband is less interested in long flights so our three trips to Asia likely mean no more of those. More group trips. Still some independent ones. Maybe even a cruise?

A question I have is when to stop going to new places and start going back to familiar places?

I am starting a petition to have places like New Zealand and Hawaii moved to new locations closer to the North American mainland, given those challenging long-haul flights.
Anyone care to join us in signing?
I am done. the endless flight

* some related lyrics by Johnny Shandoo & the Pyramids:

'We are young,
wandering the face of the Earth,
wondering what our dreams might be worth,
learning that we're only immortal for a limited time.'

We're actually doing more travel now we're retired. Two holidays in two years, which is unheard of for us.

I used to think that we should do the long haul trips to Europe while still relatively young and capable, leaving the domestic trips for when we're older. But I've realised that's a mistake as my home country has absolutely terrible public transport outside of the major cities, whereas in Europe I can get to a gazillion places by jumping on a train, bus or ferry.

This past Xmas and New Years, we travelled on our own to Paris & Bordeaux, our 7th trip to France. On our own, as usual, as most of our 18 trips to Europe have been -- just 4 cruises total plus one guided land, on our first trip to Italy. But was yearning for Paris at Christmas and so we did. All went very well, weather was quite decent, little rain, but our only vow was to never book stays under three nights. After five nights in Paris, the plan was to do two in Bordeaux, then two in Basque, then back up to Paris for 4 nights. Upon arrival in Bordeaux via train, we decided to skip Basque totally as heavy rain predicted, add a 3d night in Bordeaux (our last visit 10 yrs ago), and a 5th night in Paris, staying this time in right bank where we hadn't stayed since our first time. Wise decision. The first half of Paris had us @ St. Germain de Pres on Rue Jacob/Bonaparte, which was PERFECT for many reasons. Our return half-visit let us explore more of the large boulevards and Place de la Concorde, Hotel de la Marine, Angelinas of course always mandatory, etc. The repacking and unpacking of two night stays is just too much for us @ 78 and 82 -- and slower is just better. We still don't feel we want guided tours, I do intensive research beforehand to know what/where we wish to do and see. But I believe that after 18 trips and almost as many countries, we are DONE crossing the pond. Lots to explore here and 4-6 nights seems about right. We can still knock out 10-15,000/steps per day, but yes, we were exhausted! Lots of good advice above, thanks as always, Fodorites!

I just turned 73. My husband is 78. We just got back from a 6 week trip to Valencia and Aix en Provence (I posted a trip report). The travel to and from Europe is hard - many hours and airports are challenging - so we aim to just take one long trip a year. We rent nice apartments/houses and enjoy just living our lives as Europeans while we're there. We don't feel like we have to see and do everything, but rather enjoy the quotidian - sitting in cafes, shopping in the markets and preparing meals at home, doing little errands, going to nearby museums. My husband has difficulty walking because of a bad knee, so hills are a consideration in our planning. Valencia is a flat city. In Aix it was wonderful to discover Le Bus, the 6 seater mini bus that lets you on and off anywhere.

I have also accepted that I'm not going to go everywhere and am happy returning to places I loved. I don't know how much longer we'll be able to do this, but so far so good. I am already planning our trip for next winter.

I am widowed (a scenario that is going to eventually happen to every couple no matter how much they try to push that thought from their heads) and have eventually adjusted, difficult as it was. I have managed to work around the fact that I am now a solo by making trips that are a combo of small group tours with some self-planned and self-booked, alone days on my own at both ends of the tours.

What I am finding difficult is reconciling the persistent thoughts of if I don't go where I want and do it right now this year I will never do it because my aging body just can't be pushed that far any more. I am probably in better shape than 85% of people my age (late 70s) but my body certainly can't do what it could have easily done decades ago. I am still hoping to make a couple more week-long, European cycling tours (with an organized group). But, I have been to tons of places and would like to see some new areas. Many of the locales I am interested in are just too physically demanding. So, it narrows choices even more because I now only look at rides that are categorized as easy.

Plus, now that I am older, I return sick from every trip. I don't know if it's that's I am more exhausted and have run myself ragged during the trip or of it's that go-go-go trips are so different from my normal pretty low-key life or if it's the exposure to all the new germs. When planning I now actually factor in the notion that I will need at least a week on return to just sit at home and recuperate.

It's different when you have always been single. So that part isn't anything difficult for me, rather than someone who has lost a long time partner.

And again everyone's different but I've no desire for hiking, cycling, walking tours. Although I probably could still do them. Just never been my kind of travel dynamic or goal.

So not fewer, about the same as always, a couple times a year. But my desires are closer to home (from Seattle for Mexico or Hawaii on R&R trips). Perhaps easier to obtain as my goals are less lofty.

Yes, fewer trips as I age, but I'm not sure if it's my age or the age which has made the difference

Back in 1971 when I made my first trip to Europe, the Roman Forum was unfenced, as was the Colosseum. You just wandered in at any hour and sometimes had the place to yourself, as I almost did during a visit to Pompeii in December. Even in the Nineties, when I stopped off for a look at Iceland, the island hosted only about 200,000 visitors a year, as opposed to today's 2,000,000.

So travel has changed in ways I find less attractive. The need for timed entry to secure your spot among the hordes seeking the same thing puts me off, as do the endless crowds.

So yes, fewer trips for me, unless I learn to adapt to changing times. Not likely!

We think alike. I could have written the above myself.

I'm coming late to this thread but I want to thank you all for your experiences and thoughts on travel and aging. I've 'known' many of you from your posts on Fodors over the years and at 66, hearing about travel while aging from people whose past travel is similar to mine, is so helpful. Despite a general lack of funds in the past my husband and I still managed to travel extensively. Sometimes with our children. We are not yet retired but our son (and more importantly, our only grandchildren) live in Paris and so we now are there several times a year, and have been taking them with us to revisit our favorite places. Anyway, thank you all and it inspires me to keep doing more now while we are still feeling great.

Still traveling
 

Many years ago I asked for general advice on this forum--
Where/what travel would recommend to a middle aged person to prioriti, acknowledging that age could later preclude some choices.
It was a good discussion like this. I even wish I had been able to have this sort of discussion for 20s-30s pre--Internet.

The advice I received then was to consider possible future physical limitations, so travel the furthest distances, the least developed countries, and the hottest climates that interested me. (I have difficultly with high elevation, so I would also add that.), I would also add a time rather than physical consideration to prioritize any event or site you want to see that is date or season specific so less opportunity to see it"next time."

While much of my travel has been opportunistic, combined with work, I've kept the advice in mind. So glad after age 40 we did African safari, Churchill Canada polar bears, Cambodian ruins, learned to downhill ski, and lots more.

I had great plans for more and longer trips in retirement, including solo, just in time for Covid. Then I had back surgery. So with my husband now retired, we are traveling again, including international trips for the season specific tulips and getting to Bayeux before the tapestry is removed for renovation. We climbed up Greek and Mexican ruins. We have a deposit down (third time's the charm) for Antarctica.

We haven't moved air to business class but economy exit row isn't as comfortable for me as before so we will use Delta comfort+ to Chile. I now try to plan overnight in arrival city after a long flight rather than jumping on a train or bus.

We are using more taxis/Ubers. Also hiring more private driver/guides. Renting cars less. We feel the need and can afford it.

We have always liked to stay in self catering apartment when possible and find it more comfortable except in some locations where I think we need more security or assistance from an on-site staff, so that hasn't changed.

Last trip we still moved around every 3 days or so, but planned fewer sites, shorter days. It was low stress, but we both felt it wasn't as fun or exciting as we like so we have to tweak there.

My husband has taken his first vacation trip longer than two weeks ever, I think, and he survived, so that hurdle has been removed.

I had minor surgery recently and he has a project that was supposed to be finished in May that is dragging out to August, so I am getting anxious to make some October-November travel plans that give at least a month at home before the Antarctica trip. We find we do need a longer break at home between trips,

I'm ready to do more returning to places I really liked, but hesitate a bit. Sometimes I find that the first visit, if very special, can never be matched.