10 More Retirement Travel Tips
Some timeshare companies will offer prospective buyers a free stay at their property in exchange for sitting through a sales pitch presentation. Beware of this option, though. Even people with nerves of steel sometimes have a tough time walking away without signing up.
2. Rent an RV
After the initial investment, a recreational vehicle (RV) offers an excellent way to travel to scenic mountain, beach and other outdoor destinations without airfare, hotel costs or big restaurant bills. If buying an RV isn't in your budget, consider renting one through a local RV outfit or a national site such as Cruise America.
3. Downsize Your Belongings
One way to raise cash for travel is to thoroughly downsize your belongings. Now that you have time, go through everything you own and consider how many possessions you actually need. Put the rejects on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or hold a good, old-fashioned garage sale or yard sale at your home. Put the cash you raise toward future travel.
4. Use Rewards Credit Cards
It can be tough to keep track of which credit cards to use to maximize points that can be redeemed toward travel, but with more free time in retirement, you can research ways to maximize your cards for travel rewards such as free hotel stays and flights. A caution: Since travel credit cards tend to have above-average interest rates on purchases, carrying a balance could cost you more than any travel rewards you earn.
5. Consider a Home Swap
Now that you're the boss of your schedule, you can be flexible around the schedule of people who might want to swap homes in areas you'd like to visit. Check out home-swap websites such as Home Exchange, where you can begin the conversation with someone who might like to stay in your home and you stay in theirs.
6. Take Advantage of Free Days
Many museums and other cultural institutions have select days of the week or month when they're open to the public for free. Call and ask if they have retirement discounts, too.
7. Be Flexible With Flight Dates
Since you don't have to be back home by any certain date, always search for flexible flight dates. You might be able to save hundreds on the same route by being willing to stay an extra night or two or to leave home a few days earlier. By being flexible, you can save a lot of money and stay immune to travel mistakes.
8. Travel Spontaneously
It probably was difficult to get time off work at the last minute, but without that as a consideration, retirees can save significant money on travel by being on the lookout for last-minute travel deals and specials through airline websites or discount travel sites. A number of apps, such as HotelTonight, make it easy to find such specials.
9. Use Coupons
You might not have had time to search for coupons and online deals when you were working, but now that you have more free time, you can properly look for coupons and discounts for any destination you're thinking of booking. You can use a site such as Groupon to find discounts and ideas for activities you're interested in once you've reached your destination.
10. Do Some Research
Spend a few hours or even a day at home planning your trip and your daily activities online. If you're headed toward a tourist area, the tourism board there will have a website that lists popular attractions and discounts.