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Try It NOWCategory: Travel
November 6, 2024 — Here’s a situation you’ve probably found yourself in more than once. You’ve just spent a lot of money on a dream trip, and along the way, the company urges you to buy travel insurance. You think: If I get sick, miss my plane, or face some…
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Category: Bucket Lists
Oct. 29, 2024 -- Sal Hyer is a former municipal employee who retired in early 2024. One of the dreams he and his wife Lisa had was to go on a long adventure across the country. He wanted to take his pickup truck, but Lisa did not want to stay in hotels. Compromise being the soul of marriage, they bought a camper. They started in July and plan on finishing the trip early November in Ft Myers, then live in Vermont for the winter. Theirs is definitely the adventure of a lifetime, we can barely contain our jealousy.
Wrangler and Newmar Dutch Star in camp
I wanted to drive my pickup truck but my wife did not want hotels so we have an RV. I am having more fun than I thought driving the big reg. I already have 7,000 miles training and using it. The Rv is a Newmar Dutch Star class A diesel pusher, and we towed a Jeep Wrangler, which was key. It was purchased Feb 2023. It was my wife's idea to get it a year + early and it was a good one. Sal Hyer
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Category: Travel
Sept. 24, 2024 — This is our second poll on that ever-popular retirement activity – cruises. Last week we asked you to vote on your favorite cruise line (ocean or river), this week’s is on your favorite cruise destination (where you’ve been or most want to visit). We will report…
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Category: Travel
Vote Now! September 16, 2024 — Going on a cruise is one of the most popular experiences for retirees of all ages. But there are so many cruise lines, and they go to so many places, river cruises and ocean cruises – which one is the best for you? To…
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Category: Bucket Lists
A Bucket list trip to Iceland
September 10, 2024– Iceland is both a cold country, and one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world. It is the perfect place for a retirement trip. This giant island country in the North Atlantic attracts tourists from all over the world to experience its many natural wonders. There are many ways for retirees to experience its charms, which we will explore in this article.
About Iceland
This island country, a member of the European Union, is being formed by the separation of the American and European tectonic plates. As they have come apart over the millennia, magma and lava have come out of the earth’s core to form the land. They are still separating at the rate of about 2 centimeters per year - in many places you can stand with one foot in Europe and the other in America.
That land building has created the many sights that people come to experience. There are giant extinct volcanoes to climb, deep blue lakes formed by glaciers and and volcanic activity, immense and intricate lava fields, and gigantic waterfalls. Not to mention a long and beautiful coastline.
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Category: Travel
August 15 , 2024 — One of the most common things that retirees say they want to do is travel, now that they have the time, and maybe the money, to do it. Couples usually spend a lot of time deciding where and when to go. For example, they might want to take their most adventurous tours early in retirement, when they have fewer physical problems. But another issue that needs to be decided is whether to plan the trip by yourself, use a travel agent, or go on some type of group tour. In the hope of making your travel experiences better, this article will explore all these options, with the pluses and minuses for both.
Tour Group
This is by far the easiest option. You decide on where you are going and your budget, then you pick the tour operator that matches your needs. Nowadays there are tours for every interest and level of activity - from theatre tours of London, river cruises, national parks, to the base camps of Mount Everest. Choosing a company that you have used before, or which comes highly recommended by someone whose judgement you trust, is a good way to go. College alumni tours are a great idea. They tend to include more interesting sights and destinations, a chance to travel with people you have something in common with, and the expertise of a college professor to explain what you are seeing.
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Category: Travel
Fwb. 27, 2024 -- Whether you are just visiting Florida or whether you live there full time, there is one great (free) tool you should have to make the most of your time there. It's the Florida Rambler, and you can sign up for ther Free newsletter here. Their website is also excellent, and free. They've got great articles on the most interesting places and festivals in Florida, plus the low down on beaches, where to hike, camp, kayak, bike, and just plain explore.
Some recent articles on their website include: Everglades day trip, Swamp Cabbage Festival, Hidden Clams Pass Park in Naples, Ravines Garden State Park in Palatka, 2024 Spring Training Guide, etc.
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
October 30, 2023 — Spain and or Portugal retirement is very popular, as these Iberian countries are for tourism as well. Americans and Europeans are checking out these two countries, not only as great places for a retirement trip, but for where to retire too. Your editor recently spent 2 happy weeks touring some of the best tourist spots on the Iberian Peninsula, the home of Spain and Portugal. Our hope is that this experience might help you plan a potential trip to the region. And, it might help you learn what it might be like to retire in one of these amazing countries.
Portugal Retirement Trip
This beautiful, dry country has a long western coastline on the Atlantic Ocean that in the south curves eastward past Gibraltar to the Mediterranean. Lisbon, on the coast, is the capital and largest city. Portugal's cost of living is one of the lowest in Europe (65th highest in the world - the U.S. is 12th), the country is safe, and the food and wine are excellent. The country has a complicated history - Celts, Phoenicians, Roman, Visigoths, and the Moors (Arabs) all had their day, and then its eventual retaking by the Crusaders. Towns and buildings reflect that heritage within their walled cities, Roman ruins, and Christian cathedrals, that were often Muslim mosques for a time.
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Category: Travel
February 14, 2023 -- Travel is often the number one thing that people say they look forward to when they retire. Many yearn for far off, exotic destinations - like a glacier in New Zealand, African safari, or Alaskan cruise. Travel goals for others are more modest, like touring all of the National Parks or a trip to Arizona. Time is not a problem for most retired people - their biggest challenge is often coming up with the money to make the trips they dream about. This article will cover a range of budget ideas that can help not only make those trips possible, but upgrade the experience too. We look forward to your suggestions as well.
Luxury Travel on a Retirement Budget - 11 Ideas
Be flexible. Perhaps you've seen the emails - travel to San Francisco for $59! The airlines, hotels, and tour operators do offer great deals in slow periods, but you have to be ready to take advantage of them. Think about what it would take to get ready for any kind of adventure that might come up, and plan to act when you see an offer that appeals. This especially applies to budget airlines like Avelo, which has resort destinations.
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Category: Adventurous retirement
October 20, 2022 -- Our retired friend EZ loves a great train trip, and hates everything about flying. He resents getting to the airport hours early, parking in a remote lot, shuffling through security lines, worrying that some delay will make him miss the flight - all to have the airline delay or cancel it anyway. So when he visits his grandchildren in Colorado, he takes the EZ way. That means the Shoreline Express to New Haven, where he switches to the Acela to Washington. From there it's the Capitol Limited (with roomette) to Chicago. There he pickes up the California Zephyr. He enjoyes everything about that train trip too - resting in his roomette, eating in the dining car, chatting up interesting passengers, and enjoying the view from the observation cars. It takes a little longer, but is so much more pleasurable. BTW, his wife flies out to Colorado separately!
Many people in retirement are looking for an adventure, and a train ride makes for an exciting one. From around the world, here are 10 of the best train rides you might want to try in retirement. Some are fairly short and not that expensive, while others can go for days and can be quite costly. One advantage that most train rides offer is that you can get off and spend a day or more at as many stops as you would like.
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