At what age did your desire to travel wane?

[ls99]

Around 38. By then I spent on and off about 20 years living out of a duffle bag.

 

[Souschef]

My wife and I married 10 years ago, when I was 68 and she was 63. She had wanted to travel, but could not because of he husband's business.
We were both widowed, met and married
She got her first passport and we traveled with a vengeance. To date we have taken 47 trips including 16 cruises. However, as time has gone by, and our bucket lists were filled, we have slowed down. My DW has a knee problem that now limits her mobility.
We have given up on escorted tours and prefer to do things on our own at our won pace. In many cases we will use a tour itinerary as a guide, and do things we want.
Case in point, we had just finished a great lunch at Rancho de Chimayo in New Mexico. As we were leaving a tour bus pulled up and disgorged its 40 passengers. All of whom would wait for all the orders to be taken before they got their lunch.

 

[Walt34]

I suppose it depends on the individual. Neither one of us has much interest in travel. DW loathes the idea of going on a cruise although I'd be willing to try it. My ex loved travel, and I've never been on so many trips in so short a time in my life, most of them driving because we were living paycheck-to-paycheck and I hated that. I don't remember hating the travel though. But after the divorce I just didn't have much interest in travel and for years later didn't have the money for it anyway. One thing I think the ex misinterpreted was my interest in aviation, and at the time we were dating I owned an airplane and we went on local day trips with that.

The thing was, I didn't have an interest in travel. I just enjoyed flying the airplane and didn't much care where I went with it.

About ten years later I did some work-related travel once or twice a year for training and later teaching. I was okay with it but enjoyed the classes better. These were fairly short trips, never flying farther than from MD to FL and most within driving distance.

Now, with what we hear of the airlines and the TSA we have about zero interest in flying anywhere unless I could wrangle a ride on a private airplane. Private flying, if done from a smaller airport where the airlines don't go or have very limited service, is an entirely different experience. Drive through the airport gate and within 15 minutes you're climbing out. That's the way flying should be.

 

[NW-Bound]

At some point, I will be cured of the travel lust. When it happens, I will know.

Until then, I will continue to surf the Web, either for places in Europe to visit, or some interesting corners of the US to take my RV.

 

[Dawg52]

At birth. Never in my blood. As I have mentioned before, I travel to my condo on the AL coast once a month. It's a little less than 200 miles so I consider that just a longish drive.

 

[Fedup]

At some point, I will be cured of the travel lust. When it happens, I will know.

Until then, I will continue to surf the Web, either for places in Europe to visit, or some interesting corners of the US to take my RV.

I've got a gift from heaven. Free first class ticket on Singapore Airlines. Japan is on my horizon now, but I need to do more research on where to go. Maybe in 2019. I've already booked for 2017 and 2018.

 

[Danmar]

I'm almost 67. No waning yet. Have been laying off cruising for the last few years in favour of more active trips (mostly biking related). I figure "there will be plenty of time for cruising when the biking's done." Kenny Rogers.

 

[Idnar7]

Walt, you are right, small aircraft are great. We used to be able to fly the corporate jet between our major cities. Maybe 12 seats. You parked your car in the hangar (a luxury in MN). Left on time, flew at around 40,000 ft so no turbulence, landed at another small airport with a car waiting. Those were great days, but alas that ended.

 

[NW-Bound]

Our love to travel is increasing as well at 58 and 62. WE have been really loving cruises. We go on RC and many people are around our age. I have heard that Holland has a really old crowd so we have stayed away from them. I did not get to travel much when younger so really enjoying it now. We spent 2 weeks in Rome because there was so much to see and do. My brother has been there 6 times and says he still has not seen everything.

We took a couple of cruises on RC ships some years ago. Recently took a cruise with Celebrity, and the crowd is older. No problem for us, though we are only 60. We are private and reserved, and never join any group activity anyway.

As long as I do not see too many old people in wheelchairs, I am OK. I know that I will get there eventually, but when traveling I do not want to be reminded of that fateful end.

Same as Danmar, I think I will spend more time with active trips while I still can, and to save more cruises for later. Still, have to do that once every other year to please the missus. Or she may like European trips enough to tolerate my RV treks without demanding a cruise every so often. Will see.

 

[brett]

We are travelling fairly often and still have bucket lists. Reduced the cruises over the past three years but have greatly increased independent land travel. Usually twice a year, anywhere from 9-14 weeks. Why stay home?

What we really like about travel now is that we do not have to meet a schedule. Often our time is only planned two-three days ahead. We have a general idea of an itinerary outline but it is very much subject to change-even at the last minute. Sometimes we book end with a return or open jaw flight home, other times we do one way air and figure out how to get home when it is time. Huge change from previous business and leisure travel routines.

We tend to cruise now as a bit of a break from independent land travel. It can be hard work. As an OP mentioned, I have no doubt that we will cruise more frequently at a later date.

 

[aja8888]

3 million air miler here (90% business travel all over the globe). I'm done with air travel in any class, going anywhere.

Now that DW's medical conditions are worsening, even driving trips are a challenge. She's 71 and I'm 73. We've seen enough of it anyway, even if she improves and travel is not a risk.

 

[Moemg]

3 million air miler here (90% business travel all over the globe). I'm done with air travel in any class, going anywhere.

Now that DW's medical conditions are worsening, even driving trips are a challenge. She's 71 and I'm 73. We've seen enough of it anyway, even if she improves and travel is not a risk.

I hope she does improve just for her quality of life not travel.

 

[NYEXPAT]

Are we talking travel with or without the wife?

 

[Sue J]

Travel is not a priority for me or DH. I like an occasional beach vacation every once in a while. I don't like flying but I will do it if it gets me where I want to go. DHs Mom (88) is in Denver so he goes every year, I go sometimes. I prefer a driving trip but sometimes that just doesn't make sense so we will fly.

My sister and BIL love to travel. They take major cruises 2 or 3 times a year. They also take Road Scholar trips and trips to alternative destinations as trades on their timeshare system. They own timeshares in Kauai and Cancun. And then they travel to visit family.

The Cleveland airport CLE lost it's status as being a United hub a few years ago and Southwest is leaving the Akron Canton CAK airport so to get almost anywhere involves 2 flights. Sister and BIL are now 65 and 70 and still want to travel all the time so they are now combining their longer trips to make the getting there and getting home easier. This summer they are going on a Greek Islands cruise and then joining up with a group touring Hungary, Austria and Germany. Then in Dec and January they are flying to Australia for a 2 week cruise. They will stay on the same ship and continue onto a 2 week cruise of New Zealand.

Good for them, they love all their travel and the cost is not an issue so they are enjoying it all while they can.

A biannual trip to the beach and an occasional trip to Denver is plenty for me. I expect to be needing to go to Beijing in the next year or two to meet my son's new in-laws. I am not looking forward to that at all.

 

[hgm735]

If you are a person who used to enjoy travel and now prefer to avoid it, when did this change occur for you? Was it driven by health issues, the desire to spend more time on local activities, or

Probably sometime in my 30s. Health issues did it. The amount of medication that I'm on has somehow messed up dopamine. Muted enjoyment (if any) - high feeling of stress with any change. The idea of staying overnight somewhere in a hotel, plus the trouble involved gives a sense of dread.

 

[audreyh1]

I'm almost 67. No waning yet. Have been laying off cruising for the last few years in favour of more active trips (mostly biking related). I figure "there will be plenty of time for cruising when the biking's done." Kenny Rogers.

Yeah - that's my attitude. We don't cycle overseas (well, except for Amsterdam!) but we have extremely active vacations with tons of walking and exploring most things on our own with the occasional hired mini-van day tour thrown in. We haven't stepped on a giant tour bus yet! - we don't like traveling with large groups of people (>16 or so).

I figure cruises and some packaged tours are things we can do when we need more help with both the planning and just getting around physically. DH still may not go for it - he doesn't like the idea of large ship travel.

 

[Nemo2]

I figure cruises and some packaged tours are things we can do when we need more help with both the planning and just getting around physically. DH still may not go for it - he doesn't like the idea of large ship travel.

Package tours I cannot envision; ships we use as buses......around age 62 I was cycling 50 miles a day, age 73 I was stair climbing, up to and around 5,000 steps almost every day, age 74 sciatica, (undergoing physio to combat that)........deterioration hits, and for some of us it comes as a shock/surprise....do what you can while you can.

Right now, on our pending trip, we're wondering about Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), in Norway, and whether I can hack it or not.......told DW that, if there's a group going and I don't think I can hike up, she should go with, and I'll find something else to do....quite a transition, since previously I'd have been concerned that she couldn't keep up with me.

 

[DrRoy]

I traveled a lot for business and a good bit for leisure as well. I just RE's last month at 57. DW and I plan to step it up for the foreseeable future, both domestic and international.

 

[HillCountry]

i am setting my future travel budget in two parts. One is constant and inflation adjusted. The other is from my retirement date to age 75.

 

[kcowan]

I would think 80 would be a nice age to stay home and talk about past conquests.

My 89 yo friend from Buffalo would resent that. He and his DW spend 5 weeks in PV MX every year and then go to Florida for a month until the snow finally melts back home.

Life is about experiencing new things and remembering/discussing them. There is no age limit to that. Novelty keeps one alive and engaged.

 

[NW-Bound]

My 89 yo friend from Buffalo would resent that. He and his DW spend 5 weeks in PV MX every year and then go to Florida for a month until the snow finally melts back home.

Life is about experiencing new things and remembering/discussing them. There is no age limit to that. Novelty keeps one alive and engaged.

I think my future problem will be "The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten".

 

[hankster]

We lost interest in air travel around age 57 but have a renewed interest in RV travel after I retire this fall. We're looking forward to exploring the western U.S. without the limitations of job obligations.

 

[kcowan]

I think my future problem will be "The vodka is good, but the meat is rotten".

Even the person in the wheelchair is experiencing new things. We try to project our expectations on others when it is their expectations that matter.

(I am currently on crutches for 4 weeks and I have a renewed appreciation for what others put up with to enjoy the lives we take for granted. The weak flesh just presents new challenges!)

 

[Danmar]

Yeah - that's my attitude. We don't cycle overseas (well, except for Amsterdam!) but we have extremely active vacations with tons of walking and exploring most things on our own with the occasional hired mini-van day tour thrown in. We haven't stepped on a giant tour bus yet! - we don't like traveling with large groups of people (>16 or so).

I figure cruises and some packaged tours are things we can do when we need more help with both the planning and just getting around physically. DH still may not go for it - he doesn't like the idea of large ship travel.

We are going on a biking trip to Mallorca in a few weeks. A private group of friends who do this every year. Previous trips to Spain, Austria, Italy (several), Croatia, Portugal. We hire a tour company to put it together on our terms. Great fun. Our group generally is around 12 people.

In Sept we are deviating a bit from normal by taking the QMII from NY to U.K., then hiring a canal barge in France for a week. Taking daughter and SIL. Agree that giant bus tours would not be right for us either. Don't even like taking half day tours this way, always waiting for someone to get back on the bus.

 

[Fedup]

My 89 yo friend from Buffalo would resent that. He and his DW spend 5 weeks in PV MX every year and then go to Florida for a month until the snow finally melts back home.

Life is about experiencing new things and remembering/discussing them. There is no age limit to that. Novelty keeps one alive and engaged.

I think it's stimulating for the brain. I know my kids grow a ton after any trip, except for Hawaii because they've been there so many times. But my husband has so much energy, more than his normal self, after our last trip to Zion and Bryce Canyons. He usually dozed off after his afternoon coffee but he hasn't since. He always out there doing something to the yard. Either that or my home grown turmeric.