Question: My husband and I are planning to retire in a few years. We’re starting to think of our “to-do list” of places to go. If you are in our situation, where do you suggest?
Answer: Thank you very much for your email, I know you’re glad you’re thinking of traveling, but I have to ask: Why are you waiting until you retire?
Today is what we have. Don’t get lost, because, as a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service, I see this happening a lot: children or grandchildren need help; we become a sponsor of one of the parents(s); The back or knees come out to the point where we should slow down; A pandemic blinds us. life happens.
Our cherished vacation dreams – and all those wonderful plans we’ve saved up to enjoy – have been put to the fore. Our tomorrow never comes. Therefore, from the top of my lungs, I shout: Go now!
How fortunate we are as Americans to have so many options where we are allowed to travel, but, again, this only adds to the dilemma. I know you wanted a simple 1-2-3 answer, but when it comes to travel, I’m like the kid whose mom gave him a $20 bill, sent him to the candy store, and told him to only buy one thing.
To answer your question about where I’m going to spend my hard-earned travel dollars in my retirement, my mind raced around the world before I came up with my top 5 choices. I decided to select these destinations, because, like the old song on the radio that can make you smile, no matter where you are or how much time has passed, memories of the trip still make me happy. To be honest, travel is such a personal thing that, one day, you might stand in the exact same place as I did and say, “What the heck? Is that it?” However, since you asked, here are my top choices for your retirement “going” list:
* I have to go to Italy. What an amazing country! We appreciated the history and talent that made Rome, Venice and Florence so special, but we found the hillside towns and vineyards of Tuscany and the lake area around Bellagio, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast charming. I really hate to be so vague, but you can just throw darts out of the Big 3 – Rome, Florence, Venice – and I’ll love it. Get off the beaten track, and you’ll understand why Italy should be on your retirement radar.
*All the ads say “It’s best in the Bahamas”, but personally I would go to Hawaii any day! Maui has always been our favorite island, but we’ve found something to love about the others – Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii – too. All of these islands are very diverse and have a lot to offer. Allow time to appreciate and explore everything they bring to the vacation table to determine the best island for you or just contact me at Monroe Travel Service. There is so much more to Hawaii than just a great beach!
* The Pacific Northwest must be everyone’s travel list! Majestic is the word that comes to my mind when I think of this travel aisle. You can do this in bits and pieces in several trips or as we did. We started in Seattle, explored the charming towns in the area around Puget Sound, and then took the train to Vancouver, Canada. From such a wonderful city as San Francisco, we took the ferry to Little Victoria Island where we discovered the beauty of Bouchart Gardens and the harbor area, before heading back to Vancouver. Then we hopped on the Rocky Mountaineer Train and drove into all the incredible beauty of the Canadian Rockies. What a ride! Mother Nature has done some of her best work in this western region of Canada where small towns like Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise are happy to experience.
*I find the French to be neither rude nor arrogant, but they are proud of their beautiful country, and after my vacation there I also think it is a great destination. Spend some time in Paris, see the Louvre, have a good dinner, but you must leave the city of lights in your rearview mirror. Go and learn about the history of World War II in Normandy. Immerse yourself in strategy, courage, and the price of freedom. We did this area on our own the first time with our kids but later found a river cruise to be the perfect way to slow down and ‘hear’ the story. We were blown away by Versailles, Mont Saint Michel, Carcassone, Dijon, Lyon and the French Riviera. Invest some time in France, and you will quickly understand why it is the number one tourist destination in the world.
*If natural beauty is your thing, New Zealand should make your travel list, but if that’s too far to travel, I have compromises. Go, live in love with the green fields of Ireland. Take the Glacier Express in Switzerland, visit the Black Forest in Germany, listen to the music of Austria, enjoy military tattoos in Scotland, or let the Kukenoff Gardens in the Netherlands amaze you. Istanbul has the Blue Mosque, Portugal has Duoro, Mexico has Cancun, Peru has MachuPicchu, New York has Broadway…the list goes on and on.
In the end, just as there is no right or wrong way to retire, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all in the world of travel. What works for one person may not work for another. Think of traveling as if you were doing your job. Invest time and energy in it. As a travel agent, we can show you ways to maximize the experience but knowing where and what makes you happiest – right now and in the years to come – is a question that only you can answer.
Thank you for your email. You are smart in planning for the future. I just hope that when you arrive “one day” – you know, the retirement journey you worked for – you will be on top of the world. Call me, because I would definitely love to help you enjoy the view!
Dianne Newcomer is a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service. For assistance with your next vacation, please call one of our experienced professionals at 318323 3465 or email [email protected] for free worldwide travel advice.
