You're never too old to have an adventure. Gone are the days when holidays for the over-60s meant a coach trip to Eastbourne - as an increasing number of older travellers are relishing the opportunity to travel off the beaten track
In fact, around 27% of people booking "grown-up gap years" are aged 50 or above, according to a recent survey. Others are heading further afield on their annual holiday - turning their noses up at traditional resorts in favour or visiting relatives in Australia or taking a road trip across the US.
But how can you ensure your holiday doesn't eat too much into your retirement fund - or take you too far out of your comfort zone?
Get inspired. Want to find out more about your chosen destination - and whether it's really suitable for you? Check out Opodo's EscapeMap®. This simple-to-use online tool allows you to input your budget, roughly where you want to travel and what type of trip you're looking for - so, for example, you can filter the results to find the best places for arts and culture, history and scenery.
Get the best deal. If you're flexible about the dates you fly, you can often get a better price: Opodo's FlexiFlight™ tool allows you to search for cheaper flights on days either side of your preferred dates, then highlights the cheapest deal. And sometimes the cheapest air fare to and from your holiday destination may not be by using one carrier: in fact, you can often get a cheaper deal if you buy single fares with two separate airlines. Opodo's CombiFlight™ tool displays all flight prices and combined variables, then allows you to make one payment and use one customer service team for the entire trip. Easy!
Get informed. Making sure you get the best deal possible is important - but there are other considerations to bear in mind before you book. For example, which airline offers the best legroom? And what's the weather like in your holiday hotspot?
Opodo's MyAirline™ tool gives you the low-down on each carrier and allows you to compare ticket prices and departure dates with other airlines - to ensure you make an informed decision. And for more information, Opodo's CheckFlight™ tool covers most holiday hotspots, lists the cheapest flights from your preferred airport, and gives all the latest weather information and news about your chosen destination.
Try out Opodo's AirTools™ today - and have a safe trip!
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The world's your oyster: planning your gap year >>
