Shirley Stine goes horseback riding in Maui. Photo submitted
Retirement brings big changes to your life. Things slow down. You don’t have to set your alarm anymore, unless you want to. But what do you do with all that extra time?
For some, it's time to travel. Here are some tips to make the most of those dream vacations that retirees finally have time to treat themselves to.
Shirley Stine, 63, of Cranberry Township, retired in 2022 after 27 years with the same company. At that time, she rarely took time off. When she retired, it had been at least 10 years since she had taken a week off. Once she retired, she decided to make up for lost time.
“I decided to go on vacation to change my life,” Stine said. “When I was working, taking time off was impossible. I even gave up my vacation days because I couldn’t use them.”
Stine decided to take a two-week vacation to Hawaii to visit all four major islands.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” she said.
When you're still working, vacations are a great break, but some people find it impossible to relax because they're still worrying about their work at home: What will I come back to? How many emails will I have to read? Did I forget to do something before I left? Taking a vacation when you're retired is a whole different story.
Stine even went one step further and made this trip to Hawaii alone.
“It’s liberating because you don’t have to worry about doing things to please the person you’re with,” Stine said.
Here are some tips:
Use a travel agent
Stine used an agent to book his trip, which is his first piece of advice for retirees beginning their travel adventures.
“You want to make sure you're going to a safe place, and having an agent who knows the area was invaluable,” Stine said.
Pam Forrester, president of The Magic for Less Travel in Cranberry Township, agrees.
“Older people in particular aren’t always as savvy with some of the technology and the sites that are out there,” Forrester said. “Even after you’ve planned ahead, you usually have to use some kind of technology for check-in or whatever.”
“We can walk them through that process, because we deal with this every day, we can make sure they know all the little details to make sure they're booking with a reliable tour operator or a reliable cruise line,” Forrester said.
Go around
“In Haleakala National Park, I did two sunrise tours. To get up there for sunrise, the tour starts at 2 a.m. Who wants to drive two hours up a mountain at 2 or 3 a.m.? Go on the tour,” Stine said.
But be sure to discuss what tours are available and what they involve.
“People think that the accommodations in the U.S. for people with disabilities or limited mobility will allow them to travel to other countries in the same way, but it’s really different. An experienced agent will be aware of these things and will make sure your trip is as safe and enjoyable as possible,” Forrester said.
Travel agents can also help direct you to the best destination for what you hope to do on your trip.
“We look at each person and discuss their needs and wants when booking travel,” Forrester said. “That’s one of the benefits of working with a travel agent. We make sure we guide them to the trip of their dreams. They’re going to cater to their individual needs.”
Book early
“In the fall of 2025, I want to visit the national parks in the northwest quadrant of the United States, so I’m planning my visits now,” Stine said. “I’ll visit Olympic, Cascades, Rainier, places like that. With so many stops, it’s best to book early.”
“There’s always this idea of, ‘I want to travel soon. Aren’t there last-minute deals?’” Forrester said. “That’s just not the case right now. Especially with cruises, because they’re very popular, probably more popular than I’ve seen in many years. It’s true that for many suppliers, their best price is usually right when the itinerary is available to book.”
Take out travel insurance
“Every insurance policy is different. Some may cover medical expenses, which is very important, especially if you’re traveling abroad on a cruise,” Forrester said. “And make sure you buy this insurance when you book your trip, because many policies exclude pre-existing conditions if the travel insurance is purchased within a certain time period after booking the trip. This can be important for seniors.”
“Take a vacation. You only live once!”
After years of avoiding vacations for fear of missing work, Stine says the main thing is to have fun and relax.
“You no longer have to worry about what's happening at work while you're away and what might go unnoticed. Enjoy that feeling,” she said.
Shirley Stine's shadow appears in her photo of a beach in Hawaii. Photo submitted
The sun sets in Maui. Photo submitted
Shirley Stine shows her support for the Pittsburgh Steelers at sunset while on vacation in Hawaii. Submitted photo
