So, are your Fall travel plans falling into place? Those of us who have the luxury to travel outside of the typical school calendar know that September and October can be beautiful weather opportunities to travel domestically and even internationally, without some of the crowds frequently found in popular destinations. And from the looks of recent data from polls and surveys, it looks like older adults are taking full advantage of the opportunity to travel, despite rising costs or geopolitical uncertainties. One recent poll found that Baby Boomers tend to spend more on travel than other generations. Why is that? For any number of reasons, including more savings and financial stability than younger people, more time to take longer, more expensive trips, and perhaps more prioritization of expensive creature comforts while away from home. That fits in with another recent survey conducted by Road Scholar that found that those who are aging “adventurously,” which would include travel, report higher levels of happiness, to the point that many feel they are as happy in their later years as they were in their 20s and 30s.

Another reason that older adults may spend more on travel? That may be due to the growing popularity of multigenerational travel, for which older adults/grandparents often foot the bill. Tour companies are scrambling to adjust to the growing demand for multigenerational travel, which requires both culturally engaging opportunities for the older crowd while hosting “fun” events for the younger set. One survey found that 80% of Baby Boomers are willing to pay for their children’s travel (and almost the same percentage will pay for grandchildren as well), and almost half of seniors polled would rather spend their money on a memorable family trip than leave an inheritance for their children. 

But it’s not only multigenerational travel that’s sparking high levels of spending among older adults. Women over 55 continue to play a substantial role in the travel arena, continuing to keep up their travel budgets and plans despite inflation and uncertainties around the world. According to the Women+50 Travel Pulse Survey of 2025, older women are driving billions of dollars in travel spending and have become a very lucrative market for travel professionals. Women between the ages of 65-74 are the most affluent travel spenders, and it appears that right now, Canada is their favorite destination, especially as vacationers look beyond the United States for their travel plans. For more information on older female travelers and their spending, take out your calculators and click here. A significant number of these older women do so on their own, without partners, husbands, or friends. In fact, it’s been calculated that among female travelers over 55, 61% are going solo. For those of you who enjoy solo travel and are looking for future destinations, National Geographic recently highlighted ideal trips, including travel to such international locations as New Zealand, Japan, and Copenhagen.

Finally, for those of you who are not intrepid travelers but are beginning to get your feet wet on the “tarmac,” there are an array of tips and suggestions to help things go smoothly. USA Today recently published travel tips for seniors for stress-free flights. Some suggestions are obvious (get to the airport early to deal with delays and the unexpected), but some are more novel (research the terminals so you know where the restrooms are). For those of you who don’t have an unlimited or expansive budget, Kiplinger recently listed travel discount opportunities for retirees. Travel and Leisure also created a list of the 11 essential Amazon items that are ideal for older travelers. Finally, if you’re traveling with a loved one or friend who has cognitive impairment or even dementia, you may want to check out an upcoming free online lecture from Road Scholar to help you prepare and be supportive out on the road.

Wherever you go and however you travel, we wish you a safe and smooth trip!