A fixed income or illness shouldn’t stop retirees from travelling… if they plan.
Do you dream of travelling a lot during your retirement while wondering if you can afford it? It is possible: the secret to a successful and inexpensive trip lies in how to best use your money without compromising the quality of your vacation.
1. Why not house sitting?
Homeowners like having someone take care of their home when they’re away, and many retirees want to travel to and live in new places. Everybody wins. Homeowners prefer to entrust their homes to seniors, who are mature and responsible people. House-sitting can be a great way to explore a new place or have an experience you can’t afford (like staying in a mansion facing the sea for a few weeks). Although short-term house sitting is rarely paid, lodging is free, and in some cases, you could negotiate the expenses you would incur while looking after the house.
Extended babysitting might even get you a modest supplement. Websites like domsitting.fr, trocmaison.com (sites of French organizations), or canadianhousesitters.com (the latter site is in English) are good resources to put you in contact with owners whose house must be guarded. You may have to pay a registration fee of around $20-30.
Brilliant idea: If the owner whose house you are looking after has pets, you might be able to bring your own.
2. Choose low season trips or book at the last minute
Now that you are free from the constraints of a job, you can take advantage of off-season prices or last-minute deals. In low season, trips are cheaper and crowd less compact. Having the ability to pack up and getaway at the last minute can be thrilling, and discount and last-minute travel sites aren’t just for young cyber-savvy people: they help you stretch your travel budget. Travel.
Brilliant idea: Midweek flights are often cheaper than weekend flights.
3. Buy travel and health insurance
If you want to travel, you must take into account not only your budget but also your state of health. Good travel insurance can save you a lot of money if you run into trouble. A host of things can happen before you leave and force you to cancel your trip and, overseas, hospitals can sometimes charge a small fortune to treat you. Insurance will give you peace of mind.
Today, travel insurance can be very complex and cover everything from a cancelled flight to reimbursement of the cost of renting a boat for a fishing trip. Be sure to read the contract’s fine print carefully and choose the cancellation, travel, and health insurance that best suits your needs.
Bright idea: If you already have a medical condition, make sure your policy covers any complications or cancellations that may result.
4. Plan your medications and treatments
Make sure you have an extra medication you need to take and pack the medicine boxes ahead of time. Research health facilities near your vacation spot or, if you are planning to get away from civilization, find out about emergency services that might help you, especially if you are suffering from an illness. Serious.
If you know you will need health care, you can still travel: why not a cruise or a specialized resort. All cruise ships have medical staff on board, and some alternatives aimed at retirees have full hospital facilities on-site. Find out about factors that may affect your health (such as altitude, humidity or physical exertion) and ask your doctor to confirm that you can travel before making reservations.
Always keep your medication in your hand luggage and never in checked baggage, but remember to respect the rules regarding original packaging, liquids and gels. Check-in advance so you don’t have a nasty surprise or experience a delay at the airport.
Brilliant idea: Check jet lag and your medication schedule, so you don’t accidentally skip a dose.
