Travelling in retirement: 5 valuable tips on how to pay less

Retirement offers great opportunities for travelling when you no longer have to adjust to your work schedule. However, budget is still an issue. How to go on a long-awaited trip and avoid unnecessary expenses? In this article you will learn some practical strategies that will help you enjoy new experiences without overpaying.

1. Take matters into your own hands

When you are retired, organising your own travel can be a very enjoyable personal project. You usually have the freedom to choose the timing of your trip. You can take the time to inform yourself and plan each stage at your own pace. Most importantly, how nice it is to be able to plan your itinerary according to your desires and, of course, your budget.

But for real savings, there is only one piece of advice: plan well! Once you've chosen your destination, start an Excel file or get a calculator and paper. As you go, write down all prices by expense item: plane tickets, accommodation in each city, all travel (car hire, train, bus, taxi), visits and activities.

The hardest thing to calculate is the cost of food. To do this, pick up a guidebook or search online using the keywords ‘restaurants with the best prices + city name’. Not only will you know the average price of a meal, but you'll also get a list of good restaurants to visit.

Don't forget to set aside some money for ‘small pleasures’. This amount can be spent on an irresistible activity, a restaurant with a special charm or an object you fell in love with! A well thought out budget and a precise plan will allow you to get the most out of your stay.

2. Choosing the best time to travel

The first instinct of retired travellers is to choose the most economical time of year to travel. Since you finally have the luxury of going whenever you want (or almost whenever you want), it's worth choosing a low to mid season. For example, if you're going to Europe, choose May, June, September or October. Prices are more affordable, there are fewer tourists, and the weather is very pleasant.

The same goes for plane tickets: by being flexible in choosing your departure day, you can save precious dollars! Fares are often cheaper on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Check this with Google Flights by entering approximate dates.

3. Keep track of airlines' great deals

When it comes to plane tickets, it's not unreasonable to research offers from different airlines. Dozens of price comparison sites and web apps have popped up in recent years. You enter your dates and destination and they find you the best prices, but be careful. Before you hit the ‘buy’ button, check some details that can affect the price: the number of baggage items allowed, the total length of the journey and the number of connections. Even to save money, no one wants to spend endless hours in airports or arrive at their destination completely exhausted.

4. Comfort at a great price

Here's another great way to travel in retirement and pay less. If you've ever travelled, you know how much accommodation costs affect your budget. And if your first instinct is to rent a hotel room, here are a few options that will make you think twice about finding alternative accommodation:

• Fully furnished flats: With the advent of sharing platforms, it has become possible to rent great flats at great prices. They are often cheaper than hotels and allow you to cook as often as you like. Since you are staying with a private person, you will have access to small extras that will make your holiday even more memorable: a terrace or balcony for al fresco dining, all the laundry you need and small welcome gifts from your host (a bottle of wine, fruit, etc.);
• Home exchange: Another way of travelling that is gaining popularity and can cut your accommodation costs by more than 50%. Home Exchange is the largest home exchange network with 400,000 homes in 187 countries. The principle is this: you exchange your home (which can also be a chalet, condominium or flat) for another person's home. The exchange can take place at the same time or on different dates;
• Housing is a stone's throw away: Whichever accommodation you choose, think about its location. Choose accommodation that is close to everything: restaurants, markets and several attractions. Not only will you save on transport costs, but you'll also enjoy walking to buy fresh croissants in the morning or have dinner on a neighbourhood terrace in the evening.

5. Buy a credit card before you buy a trip

Rewards programmes, cashback and travel insurance are just some of the benefits available to travellers with credit cards. If you're disciplined about paying for everyday purchases with your card, you'll quickly accumulate points that will end up saving you a lot of money. Spend time comparing different offers, keeping in mind that the annual maintenance fee for such a card can range from 100 dollars to 150 dollars.

Free travel insurance is also an attractive feature. Medical expenses abroad are expensive, and you can't go abroad without insurance. People over the age of 65 should note that the longest period of insurance validity is 15 days. If your stay exceeds this period, you will need to buy additional cover. To do this, contact your credit card provider, insurance company or travel agent.

Conclusion

There are many ways to satisfy your desire to get away from it all without spending a fortune. Discover different ways to travel. Be curious and use the internet as your best ally. And most importantly, have fun organising your own travel. You will be rewarded with happy savings along the way.