With 37 million Americans 65 and older (see Resources below), travel groups geared to seniors are springing up everywhere. Because older people have more time to travel, are living longer and spend more money on travel than other age groups, it's understandable why senior travel clubs are flourishing. Travel clubs offer everything from local day trips to traveling overseas. Whether you're barely in your fifties and have a passion to explore remote African jungles, or in your eighties or older and want a less strenuous trip, senior travel clubs have a trip tailored just for you.
Types
There are many travel clubs that have an online presence, such as Elderhost, which offers more than 8,000 educational tours in 90 countries as well as trips in all 50 states. Elderhost is for seniors 55 and older. For more details, call (800) 454-5768.
If you're looking for trips filled with adventure, culture and nature, check out Eldertreks, the world's first adventure travel company for people 50 and older. Since 1987, ElderTreks has been providing trips to off-the-beaten-path places in more than 80 countries. Their number is (800) 741-7956.
Horizon & Company offers Classic Series tours for older seniors who are looking for lighter activity. Destinations include all continents where seniors, usually born before World War I, can enjoy seeing sites with less physical activity.
Seniors who love history can join Smithsonian Senior Journeys, which travels to 80 countries and visits historical sites. Destinations include North American, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Oceania and around-the-world trips.
If you're in good shape and love hiking, consider Walking the World tours, designed for active seniors 50 and older who want to hike in foreign countries (see Resources below).
Benefits
Joining a senior travel club isn't for everyone, but for those who want to travel in a group and don't want to drive or worry about how to get there, the benefits are many. Traveling as a group, seniors save money on motels, hotels, buses, trains and boats, as well as airfares. Meeting other seniors is another plus for traveling with a senior group. The socialization aspect of senior traveling clubs is especially a bonus for single seniors. Because many seniors are left as widows and widowers, the chance of meeting someone is greater when you travel with others. Safety is another plus. Senior tours caution tourists of the level of difficulty in walking and climbing, whereas you may not get this warning traveling independently.
Warning
Make sure to read the fine print, aware of all hidden costs, and have someone else read all the travel literature. Contact the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) and the American Society of Travel Agents (asta.org) to check up on clubs. Most importantly, look out for scams, as seniors are main targets for fraud.
Considerations
Consider how strenuous the trips will be. For example, a typical trip to Israel involves being in good physical shape, as you'll need to do a lot of walking and climbing. Besides costs, consider what's offered regarding meals, making sure you can receive any special dietary adjustments.
Misconceptions
Not all senior travel clubs are expensive or offer travel to faraway places. Don't disregard local senior centers or church senior groups. Look in your telephone government pages or contact your local chamber of commerce to find a senior center in your area. Senior centers provide trips ranging from botanical garden and local theater outings to visiting other cities. Trips featuring local historic sites, in addition to nature excursions, are also fun. Many larger churches and synagogues have senior groups that take regular trips. Senior centers can offer trips accommodating even people with mild handicaps, whereas it's difficult to find a tour group traveling overseas that can assist people with walkers and wheelchairs.
Prevention/Solution
As seniors tend to get sick more than younger people, it's important to buy travel insurance in case you need to cancel your trip. Before deciding on a company, check your existing insurance, including medical, dental and home policies, because you may have more coverage than you realize. Also, you may be eligible for medical care in another country if you have comprehensive medical coverage and the policy is transferable.
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