Could Extending Your Holiday Be Worth Considering?
Could Extending Your Holiday Be Worth it?
Remember those days during your career when just carving out a free weekend for a holiday felt impossible?
Now that you’re retired, time is no longer an issue! You’re free to travel where you want, when you want, for as long as you want. And, for some retirees, that means extended trips that allow them to immerse themselves in a new place and enjoy their leisure time with some actual leisure.
Here are four reasons you should consider adding an extra week or two to your next trip.
- Audition holiday spots for something more permanent.
Is your annual three-day trip to Spain the highlight of your year? Maybe your favourite holiday spot would be a good place to relocate in retirement. Extending your holiday could help you move beyond your usual travel radius and try new restaurants, beaches, and other attractions. Instead of staying at your usual resort, housesit for a friend or rent an Airbnb so that you can live like a local. Shopping at farmer’s markets and strolling through new neighbourhoods might make your holiday destination feel like home.
- Shake up your routine by taking your time.
After a few years, the typical rhythms of retirement get boring for some people, even regular travelers. The hustle and bustle of getting to and from your destination can start to feel like another part of a routine that’s just not as fulfilling as it used to be.
An extended holiday could help to steer you out of your rut. The extra days away can give you time to see more sights and do more things without feeling like you have to cram too much into too little time. You might also feel free to schedule a couple days where you aren’t doing very much at all. Walk through town. Spend a day by the pool. Take a book to a cafe.
Remind yourself that a holiday doesn’t have to be all action all the time. There should also be time to take everything in, reflect, relax, and enjoy some solitude. When you go home, hopefully you’ll be able to incorporate some of those slower things into a happier retirement routine as well.
- Get more from your money.
A common misconception about extended travel is that it’s too expensive. But as with most money issues, that’s really a question of personal preference, perspective, and planning.
True, you’ll have to pay for more room and board. But if you look beyond hotels, renting a holiday house or Airbnb by the week might be cheaper on a per-night basis. Hit up the grocery store for the bulk of your meals and you might not spend more on food than you would at home. Once you’ve seen all the sights you would have seen on a three-day trip, your entertainment costs might drop to zero while you’re still having fun hiking, swimming, or chatting with new friends. And if you’re flexible about your return trip you might be able to save on airfare by booking on days when demand is lowest.
Let’s review your travel budget for the year and discuss if taking a longer trip could be worth while.
