Retirement years are a great time to get the travel bug. Kids are out of the house, or even if they're back in the house, they are more likely to be old enough to take care of themselves while you take off for an adventure.
Paris. Turkey. San Diego. Hong Kong. Tuscany. Train trips, cruise ships and road trips beckon.
But what if you are widowed, divorced or single and don’t want to travel alone?
One fun way travel is to join an alumni group from college or local organization you have taken part in. Although these trips can be pricey, they offer the opportunity to meet others and make new friends as well as the opportunity to learn as you travel since most college trips include a professor or expert to take you to museums and historical locations with guided commentary.
Most college alumni groups post their upcoming trips for the year online and offer pictures and information from past trips so that you can get an idea of what to expect ahead of time. Once you go on one of these trips and if you enjoy it, the chances are high that you will take one again and even possibly make a new traveling companion that you might meet on the first trip. Research will yield amazing resources for retirees traveling alone that want companionship.
There is a reason cruises are one of the most popular modes of travel for retirees. Many of them even make special efforts to accommodate those traveling alone.
Research the cruise lines or ask your travel agent for senior cruises and the options for meeting other seniors on the cruise. These offer an excellent way to meet other singles who are retired who may also want to meet another who would like to take future trips with them.
Some savvy single retirees are joining boomer dating groups where they can find new friendships and possible future travel companions. Christian and Jewish dating sites are excellent for this.
Many of these dating groups are oriented more towards friendship and activities than finding a “date” and are more likely to yield new contacts that will suit your retirement lifestyle.
Escorted tours are also an excellent way to get started on the path towards finding future travel companions. They are all organized for you and provide you with the companionship of others on the tour. So you never need to feel lonely, and you never need to feel left out of the fun. Your goal will be to make new friends and keep in touch with them for when you plan your next trip.
AARP and AAA are along the same lines as escorted tours. They offer singles trips for retirees that are escorted and are perfect for feeling comfortable and finding companionship while you travel.
