Thursday, May 9, 2013

Where Do Over Fifties Holiday?

Since they retired my parents have enjoyed travelling and seeing the world a bit. Not endless travel but now that they only have to take the two of them they found they could afford a couple of holidays a year.

For many years they owned a timeshare apartment in Tenerife (first fortnight in March) but hardly ever used it as they preferred to swap it for other locations around the world. It was a cheap way to ensure a holiday every year (or two holidays if they took two separate weeks in different locations).

Image by Don DeBold
One year they went on a cruise and Mum was hooked. Dad enjoyed it, I assume, and indulged Mum's cruise lust every couple of years.

However, on entering his eighties, Dad has been increasingly reluctant to travel abroad and especially reluctant to fly. Then this year both of them were quite ill over Easter while DD and I were visiting. And they had a Russian River Cruise booked for June. Moscow to St Petersberg? I can't remember but it involved flying to get there - Mum had had her way.

One morning towards the end of our stay I overheard a tentative and obviously rehearsed speech at the breakfast table. (Yes I was eavesdropping from the other room. Well it's a small flat.)

Dad: I have a suggestion. Why don't we cancel our booking on the cruise. If we do it now we may get some of our deposit back but if we don't it doesn't matter. Then we can find a nice hotel somewhere in England where we can sit and watch the world go by.

Dry Land Cruisers (not my parents)
That was the voice of 80-something. Mum, however, is a mere 70-something and doesn't really want to spend her holiday watching the world go by. At home they are both active - they play bowls, Mum plays bridge, they entertain, they go to the theatre...

It got me thinking. There has to be a compromise between jumping on and off a cruise ship and sitting watching the world go by. Places that are like cruises on dry land perhaps? With all the facilities but none of the perpetual motion. Places that cater to a mature clientele without noisy kids, unruly teenagers or raving young adults to interfere with a more leisurely pace. Places where the entertainment is geared to senses of humour and tastes ripened over 50 years. There are places like this.

Where do your parents go on holiday?

This post was written in association with Richardson's Holiday Villages - catered holidays for adults only, on the Norfolk and Sussex coasts, with full entertainment programmes.

17 comments:

  1. The kids houses... divide their time between each of us.

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    1. Good when your children live far away. It would be a bit silly for my parents to go and stay with my sister who lives two miles down the road from them :).

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  2. My 80 year-old father is still taking numerous trips a year, time share in Florida, a cruise, long weekends in Israel to see all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren (I guess his daughter too!) I think that he is as active as his wife, who is 10 years younger. He may not play 18 holes on a golfing holiday, but TG he is amazing. I am sure though that there are very few young families on the trips they take and definitely no raving!

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    1. Of course there are 'young' 80-somethings. I aspire to be a spritely 80 year old. I guess it's luck, lifestyle and genes. I'll be working on the lifestyle element meanwhile.

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  3. Can you stop using pictures like that to illustrate over 50s - its depressing me - I am 51 and hope I don't look anywhere near as old as your photos - I think/hope perhaps over 70s may be a bit more appropriate as a title to this ?!?
    Fortunately my Dad and stepmum in reasonably health at 78 and is flying/sailing all over the place.

    I think that when they get older our parents worry about falling ill or injuring themselves whilst away and having to get medical treatment abroad. Especially if they know anyone this has happened to it makes things even worse - know what I mean ;)

    I'm sure we will all end up the same and in 20 years time you will be posting about somewhere nice and quiet to go where you don't have to travel far and can enjoy a nice cup of tea!

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    1. You are right Richard - the article is about over 70s but the places linked are for over 50s. You know we both qualify for SAGA services now. :)

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    2. Hi Richard, I'm replying again because I didn't mention that I think you're spot on about being scared of falling ill abroad - as well as the effort involved in touring. Thanks for your insightful comment.

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  4. I hope they can find a compromise, one that meets the needs of both of them. X.

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  5. Respect to your parents, especially your Mum! Personally as an over 50, I really wouldn't like to go somewhere where everyone else was over 50, it sounds a bit suffocating, perhaps when I'm the age of your parents, and then I would feel that I was around youngsters :)

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    1. All these services for 'mature' people start at 50. You can even buy into sheltered accommodation at 50 (maybe 55). I think most of us 50ish youngsters are not ready for these types of holidays yet. The title just reflects that we are eligible.

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  6. My parents (who live next door) don't want to go anywhere. I think Dad doesn't like driving long distances anymore and Mum hates driving full stop. Everywhere is quite a drive for us. Dad says he is on holiday every day in his beloved garden!

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    1. Ah, now that is the perfect solution - to live in your ideal location and be on holiday all the time. :)

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  7. My Mum goes on singles holidays to somewhere in Turkey - I think it's all a bit odd but she seems to love it. She's 56.

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    1. I've been on sing;es holidays in Greece - they're great as you have a ready made social group of people who want to meet people and holiday together. I totally get it.

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  8. I hate that "over 50's", should be over 60's at least, like those insurance ads that say if you are between 50 & 80, what??
    Anyway, my parents travelled the world, they enjoyed everywhere they went but as they got older the world got smaller for them because of mobility. Do it while you can.

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