What is the travel style for most of you "older travelers"? Group, Independant, backpacking, tours?
My wife and I started travel in '95 choosing the backpacker approach. Maybe it was the image of the rugged, steel jawed traveler, treking around Mexico, South and Central America. Actually, we could have afforded a little better.
When we retired 10 years ago, we still took that approach, staying in hostals and living on the cheap.
But now, approacing 70, we just dont like all the discomfort of taking long bus rides and using the bathroom down the hall. Or packing and re-packing every couple of days.
We still travel independantly, but now pick a place that looks pleasant and stay put for a month or two Not in a hostal, but in a reasonably priced apt. Much more comfortable. Get to know people, learn more about the area. Dont have to pack up and leave every couple of days. True, we dont see as much of the country, but it suits us now.
Last winter was 2 months in Oaxaca city. Didnt even go to the coast. Did do an overnighter in the mountains, but that was the only trip from our little apartment.
What do the majority of you folks do?
Curtis
Travel on my own,staying for a while in places I like and hiring a car and driver to get around and stop where I want. Like ensuite places to stay.
I'm still doing the hostel thing and traveling all around on buses, etc. Couldn't afford the 'ensuite' all the time, anyway, nor the car and driver. Still, this suits me.
Solo backpacking, but slowly, staying in hostels (only ensuite if it's really cheap or no option).
As I travel in cheap(ish) countries I can take my time, knowing that it costs me very little less than staying at home.
I actually like travelling by bus, though. Certainly more than by plane or even train. I fly to or nrar the country I'm visiting, then travel by bus overland, meeting people and seeing the country from ground level.
People are to me more important than sites, which I sometimes make a conscious effort to avoid. (Not all of them though, I want to see Petra next year.)
For the last few years we have enjoyed getting some where and staying put for about a week or sometimes up to 10 days. We find moving around every night or so very tiring. We also find sitting around in one place for a month a bit too long. Different strokes for different folks. We no longer have to see it all because we're at an age where we know that we never will.
I'm still working so my time is now my employers and not my own and I have to fit with their requirements which limits my ability to spend longer in places I like. I also now have a signicant mobility problem and the weight of back packs is no longer possible. In new areas I look for a small group tour, in places I know when I may be visiting friends, I find a small apartment and hunker down for a couple of weeks. As you say - different strokes for different folks and for different times in our lives. While I like staying with friends I have spent too many years on my own and strongly believe in the old adage - Keep visitors and fish for no longer than three days.
Solo (I'm too much of a handful to foist on anyone else), backpacking (much easier that struggling with cases), staying in cheap hostels/hotels/brothels (I have little money), and generally just wanderin' where my nose leads me, which is often where most white faces are noticeable by their absence.
Never been on a package tour, booked a "proper" holiday once, Barbados 1982 - bored stiff after a day.
Dave
Clean, safe guesthouses operated by locals. Prefer ensuite. Use rollies with a daypack. Usually opt for the tourist-class bus and the padded seats on trains. Do a lot of self-drives (rental or our own van in North/Central America). Like street food and small cafes as well as self cater - we are simple eaters. Splash out now and again on a good western meal when we get weary of the local dishes. (Once went nuts when we came on a Denny's in San Jose after several months of gallo pinto - rice and beans). Stay a few days but not usually longer in one place. Too much to see and still feeling young and very curious about what's around the next corner. Generally 3 months on the road at a time.
This mid 60's couple has been enjoying Japan lately - in fact four times! Behind the hype about the prices lies very affordable "people's food" little cafes crowded around stations etc. and great convenience stores for your yoghurt,fruit, chocolate and even alcohol very cheap.
A chain of inns at every station have a/c.room internet,free breakfast , own bathroom - all spotless and comfortable for well under $100 double with occasional affordable ryokans for atmosphere and a change. And what a fascinating country it is, from the streets to the temples to the awesome sights - all very polite and easy to get around.
I rarely do organized tour groups, and try to avoid hostels. I like my own bathroom and don't like being around a bunch of young backpackers. I prefer independent guest houses where you can get great local food and really connect with the locals.
I use to travel with a backpack, now do so with a convertible. And in many years of traveling all over the world, have yet to use the straps. My back is not as strong as it use to be. The roller is perfect, with daypack set on top.
I do enjoy a bus ride, but if it is an overnight one, forget it. I'd rather fly and show up rested and ready to explore. Or, do it during the day. If it is a really long bus ride, like one we almost did from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, with kinda boring landscape, then flying is the way to go.
We also try not to stay in one place less then 2-3 nights. Find a spot, explore, enjoy, relax, and then move on. Some places, like Patagonia, we stayed for 2 weeks in one place. It was just so beautiful.
We love to rent apartments for a week at a time if possible. Have done it many, many times and it works out great. Eating out every day gets old after a few weeks. Nice to have some good home cooked food!
trusted partner
