Smart Travel Strategies For Women Over 50: Proven Ways To Go Far Without Overspending

Positive Aging Thought Leader: Maria Leonard Olsen

People frequently ask me how I get to travel so much. I work part-time, have several side gigs, and can do much of my work remotely. Travel takes money. I spend most of my disposable income on travel. Experiences, for me, are more important than things.

Smart Travel Strategies For Women Over 50 That Actually Work:

I stretch my travel dollars in many ways. I rarely stay in five-star hotels. I am not opposed to hostels, if I have my own room and bathroom.

Sometimes I travel with groups or use remote worker groups, like the Noma Collective, for month-long stays. Noma Collective curates your adventure, organizing remote friendly accommodation, wellness programs, experiences, community nights, cultural immersion, give-back programs and more. You can participate in the group activities as much or as little as you would like. Having people to tour or eat with, though, is a nice benefit.

Travel Companies:

There are many travel companies that have trips at varying price points. I recommend Intrepid and Road Scholar, but there are many more. I used the travel company Austin Adventures for a trip to Yellowstone National Park because I wanted to stay at the historic Old Faithful Inn next to the Old Faithful geyser and could not find a room available. I suspect that travel companies buy them up early.

I went with G Adventures to Israel because I did not want to go alone and they arranged interesting lectures, included access to Gaza and allowed for meals with locals in the itinerary. For me, planning a trip is part of the excitement. I have visited 71 countries and every continent. I hope to go to every country in my lifetime.

For flights, I compare various sites, like Expedia, Kayak and Google flights. Many I know recommend Skyscanner, as well. Kayak allows you to be alerted of price changes and lets you search within one to three days of any chosen dates so that you can find the least expensive travel days. 

Good Ticket Price:

When I find a good price on a flight, I check it on the airline’s website to see if booking directly with the airline is the same or less. If it is the same, I usually book directly with the airline. This has advantages if problems arise.

Be sure to join the frequent flyer programs for major airlines. If you join the largest programs, they usually encompass many smaller airlines, so that if you book with a small airline, you can get points added to one of the big programs. I have taken many free flights by accumulating miles. 

I was delighted by a bidding option on Latin American airlines for upgrades on flights. In this way I have scored first class on a flight or two. I also use a credit card that gives points that can be converted to flights. I charge every possible expense on this credit card.

My favorite is Chase Sapphire Reserve. It reimburses you for a portion of your travel expenses every year, has an excellent travel program, and gives you access to hundreds of airport lounges around the world. Some lounges are rather opulent.  Almost all offer meals and a comfortable place to rest with good internet. You can time your application to coincide with when Chase is giving 100,000 miles to new enrollees.

Expedia’s packages have saved me a few hundred dollars on trips to the Caribbean. I traveled to St. Eustatius and Honduras using Expedia and was surprised by the savings. If you are flexible with dates, last minute bookings can be advantageous. Booking a last minute cruise to Antarctica allowed me to get the adventure at half price.

Hotel Consolidator Websites:

For hotels, I also compare hotel consolidator websites, like Expedia and Booking.com. When I find a good deal, I check the hotel’s site to see if any of their specials beat what I have found. I am amazed at how the same room’s cost can vary widely.

When I visit Los Angeles, I found that joining Outsite and staying at one of their houses saved me significant cost. Airbnb also is a good option if you are traveling with others. Airbnb has added experiences to their offerings, which I have greatly enjoyed. Viator and Get Your Guide also offer great outings. Get Your Guide is especially good for free walking tours. Always check recent reviews for accommodations and experiences offered.

If I need a rental car, I have found that searching for them separately usually yields a better price than what is offered by airlines or travel consolidators. I prefer to take public transportation and search options from airports to city centers. Rome2Rio.com is a dependable website for this search.

Before I plan, I check out the best areas to stay in, restaurants and attractions. I consistently have found Conde Nast Traveler’s recommendations to be the best. I Google bloggers’ recommendations, as well, especially to find hidden gems. I also post on Facebook and Instagram to collect tips from friends.

For Peace Of Mind:

For safety and peace of mind, I always register with the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) program to be informed of any danger while abroad and so I can be reached by the local embassy if there is an emergency situation. It is free and prudent. I also give my itinerary to someone back home whom I trust, and I use a luggage cover to keep my bag protected and easy to identify.

When I travel alone, I usually have a late breakfast and an early dinner. Two meals instead of three can lead to savings. I do splurge on a city’s best restaurant, however.

Saving money is easy, but can be time-consuming. It is worth it to me to save my resources. And it gets easier the more you do it. In any event, you likely will not remember how much a trip cost, but you will treasure the memories you made.

Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. Where will you go?

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