If you’re retired and dreaming of travel, you’re not alone. This type of wanderlust isn’t just popular; it’s also surprisingly practical. For many, retirement is the ideal life stage to travel, because it means having more free time. And even though most retirees will vacation on a fixed income like social security, that extra time allows you to spread out your spending and travel in the most budget-friendly manner.

Whether you’re curious about how to plan a vacation, stick to a budget, make your travel checklist, or know when you need to engage a travel agent, we have some great travel tips for you. This guide to vacationing in retirement will give you plenty of travel tips for how to plan a vacation, so you can start traveling as soon as possible.

Retirement Travel Tips

Being retired means you’re no longer encumbered by pesky vacation policies that limit how many days you can be away. Having more time on your hands gives you greater freedom and you can time your trips the way you choose. Whether you’re trying to save money or simply get the most enjoyment out of your vacation, here are some choices to consider.

Travel Slowly

Instead of rushing through a city or country trying to see everything on a short trip, take more time, choose one or two home bases for shorter excursions, and try to experience the destination more like a local would.

Spread Out Your Travel

Instead of a year of traveling, take several, shorter trips to different regions, and space them out over the years. This gives you downtime to relax, reflect, and plan the next trip; it also lets you choose destinations based on their affordability and your current interests.

Travel During the Off-Season or Shoulder Season

When destinations are less crowded, they’re also less expensive. Plus, when you’re the only tourist, you get the place almost all to yourself. Even if you’ve never thought of going to a seaside town in the winter, it could turn out to be the ideal decision. Not only will your trip be much more affordable, but also you’ll get a more unique experience and see a place the way few other tourists do.

Extend Your Stay for Reduced Rates

Sometimes when you stay longer, the cost of accommodations will be lower. This also can give you more time to get to know your destination.

Use Your Flexibility

As you may have noticed when booking flights, making a small change in your plans can save you money. For example, traveling Friday 10/5 through Sunday 10/14 might cost $917, while traveling Wednesday 10/10 through Thursday 10/18 might be $817. That’s $100 you can either save or spend elsewhere on your trip. Extend this concept to traveling in spring instead of summer, and you can save much more.

How to Plan a Vacation on a Budget

It’s easier than you may think to travel on a budget, and budgets may be especially important when it comes to retirement travel. Doing so successfully usually comes down to three things:

Prioritize Your Retirement Budget

If you want to save part of your retirement budget for travel-related costs, you may have to cut back in other areas.

Another Budget Travel Tip is Good Planning

The more spontaneous you are, the more you’ll probably end up spending when unexpected fees and last-minute situations pop up.

Stay True to Your Travel Preferences

What’s important to some people—even most people—may not matter to you. For example, although your friends may rave over the fancy restaurants they dine at while traveling, you might be just as happy to eat local street food or buy groceries and cook in your hotel room.

That said, it’s also important to be open-minded about types of travel, destinations, and timing. And, realistically, you also may need to be selective. Few people can afford to go everywhere, but if you narrow down your list of destinations and identify the ones that most appeal to you, you can focus on budgeting for the trips you most want to take.

Plan Early

When you’re figuring out how to plan a vacation, researching and booking ahead of time gives you more room to compare prices and lets you avoid last-minute panic buying. Travel blogs are a great way to research a destination.

Consider All-Inclusive Retirement Travel 

These options include packages, tours, and group travel. Sometimes, you can find surprisingly good deals on cruises and other types of travel that you might think of as more luxurious. Some of these packages are specifically geared to retirees, with discounted prices to match. Another plus of all-inclusive travel: Rather than seeking out low prices on hotels, food, entertainment, and more, you only have to find one good deal and you’re set.

Pick Destinations That Are Off The Beaten Path

Whether you like theme parks, European capitals, or U.S. road trips, picking a lesser-known option can save you thousands of dollars. And, chances are you’ll enjoy your trip as much—if not more—as the hordes of travelers who flock to the more obvious locales.

Maximize Your Discounts

Use senior discounts or any other club or membership discounts that may apply to you.

Use Travel Rewards

If you rack up enough air miles and hotel stays, you can reap the rewards of free or discounted future travel.

Travel Agent Benefits vs. DIY Travel Planning

Despite the rise of websites and apps that provide travel tips and give consumers direct access to airline and hotel booking, traditional travel agencies still exist and benefit millions of people. Plus, the age of information overload (and the growing trend of outsourcing small life tasks) has created new types of travel agents, too.

Travel Agents are at Your Local AAA Office

AAA doesn’t just provide road maps and take passport photos: They also employ travel agents who can help members plan and book trips.

Find Travel Agents at Private Agencies

Although online booking has changed its business model, traditional travel agencies haven’t entirely gone away. Many have adapted to the modern era by focusing on booking niche tours and providing other services you can’t get from a website.

Hire a Freelance Travel Agent or Consultant, Usually Online

They offer the same services as you’d get at an old-fashioned agency in a downtown storefront, just in a slightly less traditional way.

Your Credit Card Provider Can Act as a Travel Agent

Some credit card companies offer cardholders free access to a concierge service that can help with various aspects of travel planning. This is in addition to travel-related rewards and perks provided by using certain cards.

Are Travel Agents Expensive?

How much an agent charges can vary quite a bit and, these days, some are very affordable. (Remember that they don’t make money solely from client fees, but also from commissions from the travel companies.) You might end up paying as little as $30-$50 per person going on the trip.

Different travel agents use different fee structures. They may charge a flat rate, an hourly rate, or a percentage-based fee. Complex trips and custom itineraries will probably cost more.

The Top Benefits of Using a Travel Agent for Retirement Travel

  • Travel agents are experts, especially if you’re looking at cruises, group tours, complicated itineraries, or luxury travel experiences. They have relationships with travel companies and can offer specialized insight on how to get around and where to stay.
  • They can do all the work for you. If you’re very busy or simply don’t enjoy the planning stages, an agent can present you with a fully-planned trip where (almost) all you need to do is pay the bill and show up at the airport. This makes retirement travel easy.
  • They’re experienced—and connected—when it comes to specialized group travel. If you want to arrange for your entire family or your ten best friends to stay together in a hotel or meet up in another country, a travel agent can help get bulk discounts and coordinate all the logistics.

The Cons of Using a Travel Agent for Retirement Travel

  • Travel agents charge a fee, of course, so you will need to include that extra expense in your travel budget.
  • They don’t always present the cheapest options. In fact, if you’re set on budget travel and finding the most affordable ways to see the world, a travel agent is probably not for you.
  • This one’s not exactly a con, just a limitation to be aware of: Agents are better at planning certain types of vacations than others. If you have a complicated itinerary involving many different flights and countries with various visa requirements, you might really benefit from the help of someone who knows the business. If you want to drive America’s byways and stop at unique, out-of-the-way places, you’re better off researching your route and reserving hotels yourself.

Additional Travel Tips to Consider Before You Go on Your Trip

Prepare Your Home for While You’re Away

  • If you’re planning for a longer vacation, you may want to make temporary changes to your home or auto insurance policies. Empty homes and garaged cars can be more vulnerable to theft or damage; on the other hand, if your car is not being driven, you may be able to suspend some coverage.
  • If you’re traveling in winter, don’t forget to take precautions to prevent your pipes from freezing while you’re away.
  • Consider getting smart technology for your home so you can monitor everything right from your smartphone.

Consider Travel Insurance

If there is an unforeseen event on your trip, travel insurance and travel medical insurance can be life-saving. Buying travel insurance can help protect you if your belongings are stolen or damaged while traveling.

While it’s never fun to think about worst-case scenarios before you travel, it’s important to find out whether your existing health insurance will cover you in case of a medical emergency, especially if you have pre-existing conditions that may affect you. If your coverage does not extend out of your network or country, there are other options for travel medical insurance.