LivingTravelFinding travel companions for seniors

Finding travel companions for seniors

You are an avid traveler, fascinated by unknown places and new experiences. You know where you would like to travel and you have planned a trip. There is only one obstacle: you want to find a travel companion, someone who wants to see the world and has a travel budget similar to yours.

How can you find fellow travelers who want to take local trips and save for big vacation adventures?

Identify your vacation goals and travel style

If you want to travel with at least one other person, you will need to spend some time thinking about your goals and travel style. If you don’t know how you like to travel, you won’t be able to explain your travel expectations to potential travel companions.

Travel style options to consider:

  • Hotel Rooms: Do you prefer luxurious comfort, accommodation in mid-range hotels, or cheap basement hostels?
  • Meals: Want to dine on Michelin-starred, local favorites, chain restaurants, or fast food? Would you rather cook your own food in a vacation cabin or efficiency suite?
  • Transportation: Are you comfortable taking public transportation or do you prefer to drive your car or travel by taxi? Are you willing to walk long distances?
  • Tourism: What travel activities are best for you? Museums, outdoor adventure and travel, historical landmarks, guided tours, spas, and shopping excursions are just a few of the options you should consider.

Consider these options for finding new travel friends:

Mouth to mouth

One of the best ways to find a like-minded travel buddy is to tell everyone you know that you want to travel, but need someone to accompany you to keep costs down. Ask your friends and family to pass on their contact information if they know someone who wants to travel and is trustworthy.

Senior centers

Depending on where you live, your local senior center might be the ideal place to find a travel companion. Many senior centers offer day trips and weekend adventures, but even if you don’t find those destinations interesting, you can still meet people who enjoy traveling on one of the center’s other programs. Try an exercise class (you’ll want to be as fit as possible for your next trip) or a cultural class, such as music appreciation. You may meet someone who could be a future travel companion.

Travel groups

Tour groups come in all varieties. These groups are sometimes called travel clubs or vacation clubs because they often have some type of membership requirement, which could include membership dues or fees. You may be able to find a travel group through your church, workplace, public library, or school alumni association. Once you find a nice group, you can take trips with the tour group or plan an independent trip with fellow travelers from that group.

Tip: If you are looking for travel groups to join, make sure you understand the difference between a travel group that charges a small amount ($ 5 to $ 10) per month for dues and a vacation club that requires a membership fee of several thousand dollars. In 2013, the Better Business Bureau in Dallas and North Texas published research on travel club sales practices, focusing on the vacation club scheme and the high membership fees that some vacation clubs charge.

Online Groups / Meetups

Increasingly, travelers are turning to the Internet for help locating travel companions. The Meetup.com website, for example, allows members to find, join, and start groups dedicated to travel, food, and just about anything else that interests them. For example, a gathering group called “50+ Singles Travel and Social Group” organizes day trips, social events, cruises, tours, and visits to special events in the Baltimore area. The group has more than 700 members. Tribe.net lists groups created around all kinds of travel-related topics; Each group, or “tribe,” has a forum where members can discuss topics of interest.

Stay safe

Always be careful when revealing personal information to members of an online group. Never agree to meet an acquaintance online in a private place; they are always in public. Use good judgment and trust your instincts when deciding to participate in a group event. Get to know a potential travel companion several times before agreeing to book a trip together.

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