It’s never too late to get the travel bug
Hostels, river cruises can help make travel doable
“Age is no barrier when it comes to travel.”
That is just one of the mantras by which Jane Dempster Smith, 61, originally from Australia, and Duncan Dempster-Smith, 63, originally from the U.K., live their lives. The pair have been travelling around the world for years and are currently enjoying time in Australia. The main goal of their travel blog, www.totraveltoo.com, is to encourage Baby Boomers to take that leap into traveling.
“Tired of the corporate treadmill, we made the decision to have a ‘senior gap year’ after our eldest son flew the nest and traveled the world on ‘his gap year’ at the age of 22. We were following his adventures through Facebook and Instagram. When we caught up with him in Santorini on the Greek Islands and listened in awe of his many adventures, we thought it was our turn to have some fun too,” the pair said.
“So in 2013 we ditched our corporate lives and set off for 12 months of worldwide travel. Returning back home after our many amazing adventures we decided that this is what we wanted to do full time. So we sold up everything. We only have a box in storage with tax files which we have to keep for tax purposes. Everything we own is in our carry-on luggage,” they said.
While money concerns and fear can be two major deterrents for those hoping to travel, Jane and Duncan say they don’t necessarily have to be.
The pair have been everywhere from Chile to Antarctica but not without a few cost-saving lessons — specifically, becoming acquainted with staying in hostels. For those unfamiliar, hostels are a form of inexpensive lodging for groups including students, workers and other travelers.
“Hostels are definitely a way to keep your budget on track. We have paid as little as $10 U.S. per night for a budget room in Vang Vieng in Laos, to mid-range prices of around $30-40 U.S. to $70 U.S. in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2015 and 2016 we traveled on the equivalent of the Australian Aged Pension ($65 U.S. a day for the two of us). Most hostels include breakfast in their price and we always search for those that are centrally located to cut down on transport costs. A hostel in Florence ran their own free walking tours, based on tips, and we have found other hostels to provide shuttle bus transfers to nearby towns at an affordable price,” they said.
Though typically associated with a younger crowd, more and more hostels are welcoming older adults and more and more travelers are embracing them. According to Jane and Duncan, it took some time for them to accept the idea.
“We were really skeptical. There was a fear that they were all ‘party houses’ and of course being a lot older than most travelers that we would not fit in,” they said.
“Our very first hostel was Ventana Sur in Santiago, Chile. We arrived to music blasting out, but not
what you think. It was classical music playing and cupcakes were baking in the oven. Outside under a grape vine-laden roof, a large table full of travelers were chatting, reading and drinking tea or coffee. They were a mix of ages, young, middle aged and Baby Boomers like us. There were also families. We instantly felt at ease. Since 2013 we have only had one bad experience staying in hostels.”
And if you’re looking for suggestions, they have a few to get you started:
• Ventana Sur in Santiago, Chile
• Las Cabanitas in El Calafate in Argentina
• The Generator Hostel in Stockholm (Stockholm is an expensive destination, plan to travel in spring or autumn)
• Hostal Restaurant la Cigale in the center of Cuenca, Ecuador
• The Hostal Las Marias in Antigua, Guatemala
But hostels aren’t the only way to make travel more affordable or practicable.
Suzanne Shank, a travel agent with Atlas travel in Norristown, suggested riverboat cruises for more easygoing travelers.
“Riverboats are a very nice option,” said Shank. “Whether it’s in the U.S. or Europe it’s a good option because it’s not all the hassle. I would say the Mississippi river boats I’ve had a number of requests for, that or the European river cruises.”
Because the cruises are offered in many different places, the travel experience can be customized. Interested travelers can explore the Mississippi River or even the Great Lakes if they’re looking to stay within the U.S. Those looking for an experience abroad will find cruises that include a trip down the Danube, where you’ll travel through places including Germany, Hungary and Austria; or the Rhone where you can take in the sights of Switzerland and France.
Shank said river cruises are also an easier option for those travelers who are looking to avoid flights, noting that several groups she frequently books opt for cruises out of New York, New Jersey or Maryland.
“It’s a slower pace, you’re packing and unpacking just once and usually they dock right in the center of town. It’s a much more relaxing vacation,” said Shank.
The prices of these vacations can be manageable as well. Based on pricing from various travel sites, river cruises may start just above or below $1,000 but can increase significantly depending on the duration of the trip and the destination.
The keys to getting the travel ball rolling, according to Jane and Duncan, are a well-planned itinerary and simply starting small.
“You don’t have to travel long term like us. We sold up everything to live a life on the road and this does not suit everybody. Start planning a small adventure first. If you have a fear of flying, why not start with a cruise or a road trip first or a short flight in your home country,” they said. “Plan your itineraries well so that you have time to enjoy a destination, slow down your travel – your travel money will go further. The more you move from place to place the higher your costs will be.”