Category Archives: Vacationing in Retirement

How to Travel the World without Draining your Hard-Earned Retirement Savings

Vacationing in Retirement

 

You have worked hard for years and have reached retirement. As many folks do, you have some ideas of how you want to spend your time now that the time is your own. If your plans include traveling the world, this time is both exciting and perhaps a bit nerve-wracking. You want to have the experience you have been waiting for, but are nervous that you will spend too much of your retirement savings. Fortunately, there are ways to travel economically, that will allow you to experience what you have been looking forward to, without your hindering the rest of your retirement.

How to Travel the World without Draining your Hard-Earned Retirement Savings

#1: Determine Exactly Where you want to go and the Cost to Get There

Travel the World without Draining your Hard-Earned Retirement SavingsWhat does traveling the world mean to you? Which cities and countries are important to you to visit? Make a list of the places you want to see. Also consider how you would like to travel; would you like to take one long trip where you go from place to place? Or would you like to see a part of the world, come home for a bit and then travel again? Make sure to have a good idea of what you want to do and how you want to do it. Otherwise it may be easy to waiver and include places you were not necessarily interested in visiting.

#2:  Get an Idea of the Cost to Travel to and Spend Time in the Places you choose

Price flights to the places you want to visit; whether from your home or from another place you plan to visit. Make sure to learn which airlines provide service to where you intend to travel so that you can compare the cost for each carrier, not just the different flight days and times. Remember that the cheapest flight may not be the best option. If it requires multiple flight transfers or long layovers, you may wind up with less time at your destination.

Cost of living calculators are great to help you tally the approximate cost of staying in a particular place for a certain amount of time. You can try Numbeo by clicking here. These calculators are great and will give you an idea of how much you are looking at having to spend for all aspects of your trip to that particular place. This will be very helpful when planning your trip as you try to decide how long you will stay in each place.

#3:  When Planning Accommodations Consider Camping, Hostels or Apartment Rentals

Of course it is enjoyable to stay in a nice hotel. But it is expensive. In most cases camping will not cost much and even if you have to buy camping gear, you will save money in the long run. Research camping options in the places you plan to visit. For those who are not experienced campers there are plenty of tips on camping available online and in books. Through camping, you will add another element of adventure to your trip and be able to experience places you might not if you were staying indoors. If you are not comfortable camping, consider staying at a hostel if one is available, as this will cost much less than staying in a hotel. You will likely have to share a bathroom and possibly a sleeping space, but depending on the type of traveler you are this might not be an issue. It is likely when you are exploring a new place that you will be doing just that…exploring!

Another option is to rent an apartment. Renting an apartment will likely be less expensive than a hotel and will provide you with the space to cook your own meals, which should lead to an additional cost savings.

#4: When it Comes to Food, Go Shopping

Be creative when considering your meals. Even if staying at a hotel, rather than paying for a large breakfast, stop at a grocery store for some fruit and a pastry or roll. You can purchase cereal bars and keep them in your room as well. This is even easier if you are camping or if you have rented an apartment as mentioned above. Not paying for eating out for every meal will make a significant impact on your budget. You can pack your lunch and bring it with you and make your coffee in your apartment

If street vendors are available where you are traveling, give those a try. Meals from a street vendor will cost less than at a restaurant and you will gain an authentic experience.

If the water is not safe to drink, purchase a case of water and bring a few bottles with you each day so you don’t have to pay the premium price for a bottle of water. If the water is safe to drink, fill a water bottle each day before you head out exploring.  Carry snacks with you so that you can eat when you are hungry and not tempted to spend more money than you need to.

#5: Research Transportation Options and Deals

Taxis are usually not the most economical way to get to where you want to be. Research options in the place you will be visiting. Ask about discounts that may be available. The availability and cost of transportation may impact your choice of accommodations. A particular hotel may have a room for what seems like a great price, however if it is nowhere near the places you want to visit, or affordable transportation, a more expensive place to stay may save you money in the long run.

Often, hostels are located near places that visitors are interested in seeing. This makes them an affordable option not only for a place to stay, but for transportation.

While air travel is expensive and options are minimal, once arriving at your destination there are many options available to you to keep your costs down. Achieving your travel goals does not mean that you have to worry about your retirement savings. The tips above will help you to travel the world without draining the savings you have worked so hard for.

What travel tips to you have to keep costs down? Please share your experiences!

Note: Guest Post by William from Pandaneo.com.  A site dedicated to all things camping.

8 Great and Inexpensive Travel Ideas for Your Retirement Bucket List

Early Retirement Lifestyle, Vacationing in Retirement,

8 Great and Inexpensive Travel Ideas for Your Retirement Bucket List. Being a retiree gives you a lot of advantages when it comes to traveling. For one, you have a flexible schedule which means you can save on airfares and hotels. You also don’t need to rush your trip just because you’re tied up to a deadline in the office or your boss is demanding that get back as soon as you can.

However, although being retired means a lot of freedom, it doesn’t mean that you can book a trip to just about any place your agents tells you. Without proper planning, you can end up spending all your precious retirement funds on your trips.

Great and Inexpensive Travel Ideas for Your Retirement Bucket List

Here are 8 of the must-have travel but inexpensive ideas you should definitely try:

1. Go on a cruise trip to Asia

Traveling on a cruise ship is one of the best ways to relax without sacrificing the essence of a retirement trip. There are a lot of inexpensive travel packages, particularly to Southeast Asia, you can choose from. If you want to save more, make sure to book your trips before the months of November through March as these are their busiest months of the year. If you’re not a fan of Southeast Asian countries, Alaska is another good option.

2.   Take an RV to the Pacific Coast

Driving an RV to the Pacific Coast will expose you to the exhilarating beauty of the Pacific Ocean. And because you’re in an RV, it gives you a wide range of activities you can do while in the area. You can go fishing, read a book or spend some time just watching the birds. You might even be surprised to find a lot of retirees in their RVs around the area.

Another good way to save on your trip is to bring your own eco-friendly electric cooler. You can find a lot of these coolers online or you can borrow one from a friend or relative for your trip. Because there are a lot of easy ways to run an electric cool box, you’ll be surprised on how it can make your trip more comfortable and convenient.

3. Book a trip to the major cities

If you’re looking for a new experience, you can try visiting St. John, Virgin Islands. This place can give you the familiarity of the country with a taste of the Caribbean experience. Las Vegas is also a good option since it has retiree-friendly hotel rates, discount coupons and affordable transportation.

4. Go out of the country

This is perhaps one of the most common travel ideas among retirees. If you’re still not sure where to book a trip, you can try Italy. Because of the slowed economy, hotel prices are offered at a much-lowered price. There are also a lot of places to explore, particularly when it comes to art, music and history.

5. Go on a road trip to a National Park

8 Great and Inexpensive Travel Ideas for Your Retirement Bucket List- go to a national parkAccording to a few surveys, visiting a National Park is one of the most common destination retirees have on their bucket lists. If you have the same idea, you can save on your trip by bringing your own car or mini-van. Because you have your own means of transportation, you can go at your own pace. You won’t also need to socialize with strangers as compared with going on private tours.

6. Take a day trip to Mexico City

If you fancy walking around markets and visiting museums, you definitely shouldn’t miss Mexico City on your bucket list. You can do a lot of activities in the area, such as eating tacos, floating in little rafts and going on day trips to the ancient pyramids.

The expensive part of the trip is the cost of buses going from one city to another. In case you have a specific place to visit in the region, it’s best if you take the time to really enjoy the area before you travel to your next destination. An alternative option is to go in a group or find someone in the area who’s willing to do a home exchange.

7. Travel to the remote areas of the world

There are a lot of places in the world which hold great views and experience for travelers but are rarely visited. The rural Madagascar is one of them. Since the area is remote, rates aren’t as expensive as those in the cities. Aside from the lower rates, navigating in these areas can also give you a different type of experience. Your skill as well as your patience will be tested but you’ll definitely get serenity on this trip.

8. Go boating in Myanmar

If you don’t fancy getting on a cruise ship, you can book a trip directly to Myanmar. The cost of going to this destination isn’t as cheap as it was before so it’s a good idea to plan your activities ahead of time. If your budget is limited, you can search for monasteries and monks in the region who are willing to take in travelers for a small amount of money. When in Myanmar, boating in some of its untouched beaches or lakes can give you a one of a kind experience. You can go visit its monasteries and temples after.

Note: The above post is provided by contributor Simon Barker who reached out to provide Leisure Freak’s readers these 8 Great and Inexpensive Travel Ideas for Your Retirement Bucket List.

Author Bio:

Being highly passionate about inexpensive traveling, Simon Barker is your go-to guy when it comes to saving money while making the most out of your trip. He is the owner and editor of ElectricCoolBox.co.uk where he shares his experiences and best tips.

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid

Living in the Moment, Non-financial Aspects of retirement, Vacationing in Retirement, , ,

There is no question I enjoy the heck out of early retirement. Each and every single day. But when it comes to vacations you could say I am Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid. We (my wife and I) love to just take off on a vacation from the freedom life at home and say goodbye to all obligations.

I heard that. Some of you mocking me because I take vacations from my permanent vacation. It’s hard to explain but I look forward to vacations as much if not more than before I retired. Maybe my retirement vacations are so much better because there was always the vacation penalty waiting for me when I returned to work after a vacation. You know. 5000 emails and requests for project status or request to look into broken crap. No more!

We took a road trip from Colorado to the Beaches of Southern California over 10 days. We did make an overnight stop in St George Utah on the way to and from where we were able to visit family for dinner. We even extended the trip one day longer to stay a full day there on the way home. Certainly one of the beauties of having no job demanding our return.

There is something about hitting the road with no hard deadlines or itinerary holding a gun to our heads. Only our room reservations needed to be honored unless there was cancellation notice. We even did two days in Disneyland and California Adventure amusement parks. Just because we wanted to. Just like a couple of 57 year old kids. No grand-kids as a reason to go. It was just us and we had a blast.

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid- Observations

Being Early Retired Playing like a Wiser Kid means that some things are done differently than we did them when we were younger.

  • We are so much smarter about how things work and how we work.
  • We have a budget and have a habit of always trying to beat it by seeking value.
  • Most notably we now can appreciate slowing down and smelling the coffee. There is a lot more to life than always pushing forward full speed ahead and ignoring the little things that occur all around us in life.

Here are some of my observations that make good considerations for anyone following in our early retirement vacationing ways.

On The Road

While traveling down the interstate pay attention to the scenery. There was a time when I just flew down the road trying to just get there. Now we take the time to try to enjoy everything we pass that looks interesting.

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 2Have your camera available and take pictures of any great scenes while tooling down the road and for when you finally pull over for gas, the restroom, stretch your legs, or eat a meal. You never know when something cool will show up and it’s a way to document your trip and what you saw. Enjoy the changing scenery.

We always pack some Sandwiches and drinks for our road trips to save money and time. It also ensures that we will eat healthier and without fear of picking up some food poisoning on the road. Sometimes we eat while cruising and other times we grab a picnic table at a local park or rest stop.

Here is a tip when looking to gas-up in a smallish town.

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 4Don’t stop at the first gas stations right off of the interstate. Drive into town a few blocks because you might just see something interesting that you had no idea was there or find a nice picnic site. Their gas prices may be cheaper too and it doesn’t add much time to the trip so it is all good.

Bring a good twelve-volt tire pump. If you are changing elevations or traveling through different temperature zones then keeping your tires inflated to the correct pressure will save you money at the pump. I bought a $29 twelve-volt pump at Lowe’s that has a gauge attached which allows me to fill my tires when needed.

Before you leave pull a new Mapquest.com direction to your destination. Even if you have made the drive many times before it will show you if something has changed. I pulled one for out route and noticed in Riverside CA that everyone had to now exit the Interstate due to construction and go through what is a long traffic filled and time-killing detour through town. We were able to avoid that and take a different route than we have taken during the 38 years I have made this drive.

Pre-load your destination address into your GPS even if you know where you are going. I bought a used Garmin on eBay a few years ago for $24 and that was the best $24 I have ever spent. Pre-loading the address will help if you get detoured or mistakenly take a wrong turn somewhere. Having to pull over to look up and add your destination just adds more frustration to the situation.

Disneyland Tips

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 5We find buying the park-hopper passes makes more sense.

We like to bounce between the two parks during the day. If it’s too crazy-busy in one park we can then go to the other and most times it’s not as bad. We bought a two-day pass this year and it was just the right amount of time for us to do everything we wanted to do without ever feeling hurried. It was a relaxing and enjoyable 2 days.

Bring a Bottle of Water

Take a bottled water in with you. Then refill it at the multitude of water fountains. All drinks run $3.50 each so there can be big savings here on a hot and humid day at the park.

Use Flex Pass

Take advantage of the Fast Pass when rides are too crowded. This year the new thing we saw was “Singles” lines. Basically if you are ok riding with someone other than your sweetie or buddy(s) then say you are a single. Disneyland allows singles to quick enter just like the Fast Pass to fill in for all the odd-numbered groups/families riding together. We saw couples go in as singles and end up on ride at the same time even though they weren’t sitting next to each other.

The Right Shoes

Wear comfortable and supporting shoes. There is a lot of walking. I had to laugh at some of the younger attendees. They were in flip-flops. I had done that too in my younger years. Probably why my feet need the shoe inserts today.

Upcoming Changes

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 6Star Wars is everywhere and the rumor according to people who work there is the new Star Wars Disney Park will be built where all of Bear Country is today. If you are familiar with Disneyland then you may miss some of the beautiful trees and all the shade of that area.

Scout Out Ride Leg Room Before getting in Line

Scout out rides you aren’t familiar with for leg room. I am 6’3” and some rides don’t allow for enough room to sit without really being pretzeled in there. Worse than flying coach.

Loosen up to avoid back strain

Stay loose on all rides because some may involve a sudden stop. Nothing jacks my back like getting popped like that if I am not loose and ready for it. Just expect it and you should escape most short-jerked associated back pain. I always take a small package of Advil, Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

In General

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 7Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 8

Take advantage of free entertainment and other events occurring in the area for locals.

We caught an awesome car show on the Redondo Beach Pier and another casual Hot Rod stop over at a local Diner.

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 9Ask your hotel’s front desk if they know of anything going on. There was the area’s Lobster-Fest going on one night while we were there.

 

 

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 10Eat and Drink Local.

For me I enjoyed selecting beers from local breweries. We also chose local eateries over national franchises. We had some great specials that were very reasonably priced.

Walk instead of driving everywhere. There is no better way to get into the local vibe like participating in it.

Pack WD40 in your beach pack.

We were fortunate this time but I have had past experiences stepping in a beach oil/tar ball before in California and Florida beaches. It’s a bear to remove and will ruin your flip-flops or sandals if you wear them. WD40 will dissolve and clean the black oily tar bar from your foot or footwear. They sell it in small aerosol cans. It is also decent in removing stepped on gum.

Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 12Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid 13

 

 

Pack a mat or beach blanket and hit the beach an hour before sunset.

It may cost a few quarters in a parking meter but it’s otherwise free and most people have left the beach for the day. There is nothing like sitting on the beach and watching the sunset before calling it a day.

In Closing.

Being Early Retired Playing Like a Wiser Kid is all about relaxing and enjoying life by concentrating on value and still having a lot of fun. We set a budget based on a similar trip a few years ago and actually came in a couple of hundred dollars under it. That was primarily due to lower fuel costs but some of our food decisions also played into it.

Do you see yourself playing at Disneyland in your retirement?

Financially Dropping the Soap While Driving

Cars, Vacationing in Retirement

We took to the road this Memorial Weekend heading west over interstate highways in the Inter-mountain West. Where there are as you would expect some mountains to climb and also descend. There was an overabundance of highway patrol on the job that I saw either slightly hiding with their radar on, in active pursuit, or had pulled some unfortunate traveler over for a financial hit.

I get it. It’s a safety issue and some folks take things too far. But for the most part the highway patrol just ends up taking advantage of someone for financially dropping the soap while driving. If it was only about safety then we would hear more stories from people saying they got a warning instead of a ticket.

I always set my cruise control for the speed limit or no more than four miles over. But that is no guaranty of not getting the patrol’s attention. What always gets a verbal “cuss-word” comment from me is when they radar on a steep decline just out of sight. Unseen until too late just off of a slight curve somewhere. Even having cruise control set we still have to monitor our speed as it can drift-up on descents.

I can imagine just for a moment at the wrong time and place not realizing this and get chased down for a financial hit. I didn’t get a ticket but I saw plenty who did. It mostly looked like families getting the pinch. Yet the people who passed me 100 mph never seem to get pulled over. That’s because they fly with radar detectors and had probably planned their highway unlawfulness. Nope, it is easier pickings to lurk in the shadows of the shower room and just wait for the poor schlep who drops the soap. Oh yes, financial gratification.

Got ya- financially dropping the soap while drivingAll right, maybe I am taking this a little too far. But there are some little infractions that we need to be aware of that gets the attention of traffic enforcement. They happily hand out some citation with triple digit fines and possibly some points for your insurance agent to use against you to ask for more for your car insurance premium.

Financially dropping the soap while driving is about small mistakes

These little slips can easily cost big bucks and take up some of your priceless time.

Rolling Stop.

We get in a hurry and we think we are coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or even a red light to make a right turn. But the wheels are still slightly rolling (aka a California Stop). It is an easy habit to get into and a tough one to break. In my town this is one of the most common tickets written.

Stopping Long at a Red Light or Stop Sign.

We have all intentions to stop but the front of the car crosses the painted (stop here) white line.The one that goes with the stop sign or signal light. If your car is across that line in a red light or at a stop sign it is considered running the stop sign or red light. Red Light Enforcement Cameras auto-ticket and bill millions for this. Also if entering an intersection and the traffic stops leaving you hanging. Hanging and part of your car out in the intersection. Even ever so slightly when the light turns red. Guess what? It is also considered running the light. My buddy learned this on the Las Vegas Strip and it cost him $250.

Left Turn Into the Wrong Lane.

We see it all the time and have been guilty of it too. We make a left turn and don’t turn tight enough or we go too fast to stay in the far left lane while making the turn. This is another huge citation count in my town.

Burned Out Tail Light, Break Light, and / or License Plate Light.

Unless someone alerts us to this we probably never know about it until we are pulled over. Or the car goes into some kind of service where they take the time to do a quick inspection for us. Take the time to have someone occasionally stand behind your car while you run through your lights and signals. This is another lovely police attention getter in my town.

Short Signal Time.

We need to quickly change lanes or maybe we just don’t think about it but we only signal a second or two before making the move. I was once pulled over on the Interstate after coming up on a slow-moving motorcycle in the right lane. I signaled, went to the left lane and then signaled to return to the right lane. It was a Highway Patrolman and he said I didn’t signal long enough. He did a full signal and break light inspection. He then said that I should signal at least 5 seconds next time. He then just gave me a warning. It was 106 degrees, neither of us in air conditioning, and even though I know I signaled longer than his claim I was lucky he wasn’t in a bad mood.

To Conclude:

We all have brain-fart moments when we slip up on something while behind the wheel. Any of which could be considered financially dropping the soap while driving. I am sure that there are many more examples than the few common ones I have listed above.

If you are someone who is purposely speeding and running stop signs or red lights. Knowingly driving with burned out lights. Choosing to make improper lane changes and/or not signaling or short signaling. Then you deserve a citation and financial hit. Not to mention those distracted by their cell phone and texting. Please don’t get me started.

For the rest of us it is important to constantly pay attention to what we are doing behind the wheel and avoid being surprised from behind. Red/Blue lights and siren that is.

Do you have a story about slipping up and being chased down to be told about it?