Shifting Gears: How My Approach To Travel Changed From My 60s To My 70s

Budget

When we were in our 60s, we bought second-hand RVs, cooked our meals and ate in a lot, and delighted at finding treasures in Goodwill stores. Our income had shrunk to a monthly pension, investment dividends, and rental money from our homes. We were so successful in following our budget that we lived on far less than we would have if we’d stayed home.

When I was 69, I flew 36 hours from Phoenix to Melbourne instead of taking the normal 18-hour flight because the fare that included long layovers in Guangzhou was dirt cheap. Well, I never got to see the city as I’d intended to during the long layovers. Instead, I suffered in the airport for seven hours on the way there and 12 hours on the way back, both without Facebook. There were times we chose cheaper lodging even if it was far from the city center. And there were many times we kept to street or fast food to save travel dollars.

Now that we are in our 70s, we need to travel more comfortably, if not stylishly. Being older, we look for more convenience, too. That means a higher budget, which leads to traveling less and more selectively. It’s good our children told us to die poor. Now we are vacationing in timeshares — we have four months’ worth — that give us a consistent level of quality at a more affordable cost.

As a matter of fact, when we were in Mougins, France, for a week, we realized we didn’t have enough time to cover all the places we wanted to see. So we arranged for a car with a driver to take us to all the picturesque towns around Nice, including Eze, Saint Paul de Vence, and Grasse. We got to go to Monaco, too. Maybe later on, we will even be able to upgrade to business class for long haul flights.

Now I can say that I am past bouncing around. I prefer slow and immersive travels. We look for a base where we can stay for preferably a minimum of two weeks and from where we can leisurely explore the neighboring areas with comfort and convenience. And going to every country is no longer a dream. Instead, I look forward to our all-inclusive three-month vacation at a resort in Mexico, which has become a mainstay, too.