Traveling in Retirement: Tips for Making the Most of Your Adventures

Travel is booming! An AARP survey found that 70 percent of Americans age 50 and older planned to take a trip in 2025, up 5 percent from the previous year. International travel is up, too. Among the 2,000 adults surveyed, 44 percent hoped for a journey outside the U.S., a boost of 7 percent from 2024 numbers.1

For many, late-career and early retirement years present an opportunity to finally take some long-delayed trips. If you’re eyeing a big trip this year, here’s some good stuff to help you enjoy your time like a seasoned traveler.

• Pack as light as you can. The longer the trip, the more you might be tempted to pack, but you will probably need less than you think. Check to see what amenities they offer, like laundry service and dry cleaning. Invest in items like packing cubes to help save space. To keep your back happy, aim for one roller bag and one carry-on.
• Take it all in. As the song says, “We may never pass this way again.” Unless you’re the type to make the same trip every year, remember that this may be your only visit to a unique and fascinating place. Give yourself time to immerse yourself in the location, try the local cuisine, and strike a balance between guided adventures and finding more unique activities like a cooking class or dance lesson.
• Rest and hydrate. Rushing to your destination can be a one-way ticket to exhaustion. If you’re making a big international trip, don’t be afraid to break the travel into shorter flights. Drinking plenty of water is also a helpful way to get over jet lag faster.
• Keep tabs on important items. You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: keep important items within your reach, not in your checked luggage. Pack your carry-on with essential documents like your ID, passport, phone charger, prescription medications, and anything else that can’t be easily replaced if your bags are delayed or lost. Hopefully, that won’t happen to you, but you’ll be prepared if it does.

Golf Tip

Aim a little left if you have a sidehill lie and the ball is below your feet. Shots hit below your feet will tend to fade right because the center of the clubface will point slightly right through the impact area. Adjust your aim left, until the center of the clubface is aimed directly at the target. If you play left-handed, the reverse applies. Let us know how this tip works for you!

Budgeting for Hobbies and Interests in Retirement

Many of us have a favorite activity or hobby that our day job both supports and keeps on the back burner until we reach retirement when we hope to put more time into it.

Some hobbies are relatively inexpensive, like bird watching, home brewing, or joining a book club. Others can require a more significant financial investment, such as certifications (scuba diving, aviation), objects of value (art collecting), or special equipment (cycling, sailing).

Here are a few tips to consider as you budget for your hobbies and interests.

• Clarify your hobby-related goals. If you know how you want to spend your time in retirement, you can use those goals as a budgeting guide. An avid golfer or traveler will want to make sure they have allowed for ample funds to pursue the hobby.
• Look into discounts. One advantage of getting a little older is the large number of discounts that start to become available to you, which go beyond special menus and cheaper movie tickets. Travelers and golfers and other sports enthusiasts in particular, should ask what deals are available.
• Consider time as well as money. If you are investing in equipment, like new golf clubs or pickleball gear, bear in mind that you might not enjoy these items all year. People who pursue outdoor activities should consider how they will occupy rainy days and winter and leave room for indoor hobbies.
• Things change. As we age, we also change. Your interest in your hobby might wane or be replaced with other passions. Leave room in your budget for a change in direction, as it’s never a bad idea to have a bit more money on hand to cover the unexpected.

Your hobbies help you feel engaged, stimulated, and productive. For this reason, they should be a major part of your retirement strategy and considered carefully.

Did You Know?

Only a select few can enter one of the nation’s busiest coffee shops. A prominent American coffee retailer (name redacted for security reasons) runs “Store Number 1” inside the Central Intelligence Agency’s Langley, VA, headquarters. At this location, loyalty cards are not allowed. Baristas write no names on the drink cups, as they might expose the patron's cover. Employees undergo extensive vetting before hiring. They even receive security briefings. Does Jack Ryan like a caramel macchiato? We have no intelligence on the matter.3

On the Bright Side

Richard Craig shared a video on social media showing his interaction with Connor Stephanoff, a 20-year-old delivery driver for Brownsburg, Indiana-based Rockstar Pizza. The pair discussed a delivery he’d just made in the middle of a terrible blizzard. Stephanoff felt slightly less-than-rockin’ when he revealed he received a meager $2 tip for his trouble. Shortly afterward, the viral video inspired a great fundraising effort that led to an impressive $41,000 tip for Stephanoff, which the young man plans to use for a new car.4

Brain Teaser

One word in the English language is always pronounced incorrectly. What is it?