Tour options for super-senior travelers

This item appears on page 41 of the July 2010 issue.

For Barbara Johnson of Sierra Vista, Arizona, ITN printed her plea for names of companies offering overseas tours geared to active octogenarians and nonagenarians (Jan. ’10, pg. 56 & April ’10, pgs. 32 & 69). Barbara wrote, “I’m an 84-year-old, healthy, active woman, and I would love to know about tours that cater to those about my age who are well traveled and always eager to learn more.

“I have gone with Elderhostel (Boston, MA; 800/454-5768), but it has renamed its programs Exploritas (Dec. ’09, pg. 73) and added services appealing more to the boomers. I feel more comfortable traveling with those closer to my age, people who perhaps would like to revisit places without nonstop walking and lectures. Super-senior travelers like us need a good reading light, no bus rides over one or two hours, no five-course dinners and, I hope, some special business-class fares.”

Responses are printed below. Anyone with another recommendation, write to Super Senior Travelers, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews.com.

I had my 90th birthday in March and am still on the go. Riverboats are really great for the old and infirm. You unpack once, get all your meals, excursions are included, they will find you a roommate if you wish, etc. If I get tired, I just return to the boat.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel (90 Canal St., Boston, MA 02114-2031; 866/786-1989 or 617/878-6000), Grand Circle Travel (Grand Circle Corporation, 347 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210; 800/959-0405) and

Cruises (5700 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367; 800/304-9616) are the ones I usually take — whichever has a good trip going. American Canadian Caribbean Line, now known as Blount Small Ship Adventures (461 Water St., Box 368, Warren, RI 02885; 800/556-7450 or 401/247-0955), also has fun trips.

Vantage is my favorite; they include all the shore excursions, the leaders are great, they bring local entertainment aboard, the food is good, the staff is friendly and they will find you a “share.” I scheduled my June ’10 river trip in Germany with Viking just because Vantage doesn’t go up the Elbe.

I used to take about 10 trips a year, but turning 90 is slowing me down. I have done travel slide shows for many groups for 35 years and really hate the demise of slide film.

Jackie Hetman
El Cerrito, CA

Grand Circle Travel caters to senior citizens with their hotel-stay packages. There are several side trips that you can take and still maintain your hotel room — no packing and unpacking.

This fall I am taking their “Classic Costa del Sol” — 13 nights of apartment-style living in Torremolinos, Spain. Two tours are included, to Málaga and Mijas, and there are optional tours at additional cost (Seville, Ronda, Morocco, etc.).

The package also includes 27 meals (13 dinners, one lunch and 13 breakfasts) at choices of nine restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.

Charles Godwin
Lincoln, NE

We have always found traveling with ElderTreks (597 Markham St., Toronto, ON M6G 2L7, Canada; 800/741-7956 or 416/588-5000) a wonderful adventure.

They have small groups with experienced in-country and local guides. We have never been disappointed with our tour guide.

Their activity levels are 1 through 5, and for anyone over age 80 they require a physician’s signature. We are active 70s and have thoroughly enjoyed the trips of levels 2 and 3. Normally, if there are very difficult sections, arrangements can be made to transport those who don’t think they can make it to the goal site.

We took our eighth trip with ElderTreks in January ’10. We went to Argentina (Buenos Aires, Us­huaia, Tierra del Fuego, Califate and the Perito Moreno Glacier area) and Chile (Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Varas and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Santiago and Valparaíso) and followed that with a five-day add-on trip on Easter Island, including the Tapati Festival and practically every ahu site on the island.

Charlotte Probst
Riverside, CA

I too, have noticed the effort by Exploritas/Elderhostel to appeal to younger oldsters and what seems to me the deliberate lessening of their appeal to those of us who are a bit older and not quite so spry.

This is apparent in their recent foreign travel program catalogs, which seem to discourage older people who are not in tiptop physical condition — very disappointing from my point of view, as I have liked Elderhostel programs in the past.

Unfortunately, I don’t know of any tour companies that would cater to those of us who, like Ms. Johnson, would like a slower (but not dumber) approach. I did recently receive a catalog from AARP for Grand European Tours (6000 Meadows Rd., Ste. 520, Lake Oswego, OR 97035; 800/552-5545 or 503/718-2262), which banners “The World’s Most Leisurely Tours,” but I don’t know anything about GET.

Another consideration — if one is a solo traveler, programs like those of Untours (Box 405, Media, PA 19063; 888/868-6871 or 610/565-5242) or simply hiring a private guide, which can be fine for two or more, are not much fun if one is alone.

Sue Hub
La Grange, IL

I am a senior traveler, and as all of my friends and I grow older, we find that we need a little extra time on trips to see our world.

Seniors face the challenges of travel with a smile and plenty of patience when faced with the rigid schedules of a regular planned tour. Especially problematic is when the tour company has scheduled insufficient lengths of time for the needed dining, using the toilets (often), museum meandering, getting on and off a bus, climbing stairs and just walking to and from the place of interest.

Plainly, we cannot keep up with joggers or speed walkers. The guide holding the umbrella with a duck’s head for a handle quickly disappears in the crowd when walking at a pace that must have been set by a marathon planner.

My friends and I, ranging from 64 to 75 years of age, have almost always traveled without using tour companies. The exceptions were trips to countries where language and travel restrictions would make independent traveling a challenge rather than a pleasure (China and Russia).

In our group of independent travelers, I am the travel planner because, over the years, I have compiled a network of travel websites fitting our needs as we actively mature. I have usually planned our stays at rental houses or apartments or at B&Bs or small hotels. Most often we rent a car and/or combine car rental with train passes.

As I plan for our yearly trips, I allow for “settling in” time, which entails going to the bathroom, washing up a bit, taking meds or just resting a bit. Ideally, the time would be at least an hour or so, especially after 20 or more hours of travel that may include an overnight flight in a sardine can. Honestly, when will the tour companies realize that seeing it all through blurred vision is not really seeing it at all?

In planning our trips, I make use of certain rental-property websites, and I am thrilled to be able to share some of my secrets with ITN readers. At each of the following three user-friendly websites, no specific travel dates are required to search the listings.

www.holiday-home.com is where I usually go to when searching for housing. On the initial search page there are several options for what you may require in a property.

In the descriptions of the houses, themselves, very specific details are given — especially important if we want one that’s wheelchair accessible — followed by prices and an availability calendar.

There’s a route-planning map that’s interactive. (I love this part because you can see exactly where the house is located.)

www.vrbo.com lists properties that are individually owned or managed. Very specific details are given in the house descriptions, and there are detailed maps and owners’ profiles as well as reviews (VERY important to me). This site also provides lots of local information (travel details, rental cars, trains, etc.).

www.holidaylettings.com offers the ability to refine the property search to the suitability of wheelchairs or access to a lift. Photos, an availability calendar and prices are on the same page.

In planning our journeys I utilize many resources, and they are not necessarily confined to websites, as I read various monthly publications and trade experiences with other travelers, both young and old. I like www.tripadvisor.com for the forums and honest reviews. I find www.poshnosh.com and www.walkingtheworld.com interesting to use when planning times and locations.

In September/October ’09, four of us single senior girls traveled to Turkey. Our trip lasted over two weeks and we did it our way.

We spent four nights on a gulet, took our first hot-air balloon ride (over Cappadocia), drove many miles over mountains and stayed in off-the-beaten-track villages like S¸irince (at Selçuk). We hired tour guides when we felt we needed a deeper knowledge of ancient sights. A personal tour guide will understand the needs of four ladies! One guide took us to his home to meet his wife and have tea.

My friends and I will continue to travel our way — slowly and still filled with the enjoyment of having a leisurely breakfast, seeing a little bit of an old castle, having a three-hour lunch with a glass of local wine, taking a late-afternoon drive through small villages for shopping, then heading home to our little place for munching on our afternoon’s purchases and reflecting over a glass or two of wine… but with no large dinner preventing a dream-filled sleep.

I wish there was a tour company that would think of active seniors who are not necessarily infirm but need a little more time to get the touring done. Yes, we are beyond the age where we must see it all at one time. Quality use of time is more important than seeing more than the mind can process in one day.

Many of us have the funds to travel more than once a year. As long as the traveling is a joy rather than a trek, we will go! Thank you, ITN, for being a sounding board for us.

Iris Voorhes
Chester, NJ

I craft specific trips for super-seniors and for years have taken seniors on my set tours. Seniors will find they are well suited for about half the set tours.

Not long ago in Dublin, two of these charming ladies were at least a block ahead of the rest of the group, walking along enjoying the day, followed by the 40- and 50-somethings who had a hard time keeping up.

As I take only eight maximum at a time, each group fills quickly, but they are fun. My groups and I design the tours together. We decide what must be seen, how long we want for each sight, how much rest time we would like and what the nonessentials are. It is a great way to travel.

I have taken super-seniors to every country in Europe, the South Pacific, China, Australia and New Zealand.

Mike S. Ross
Mike Ross Travel

(922 Oak Grove Rd., Jackson, MI 49203; 877/845-4763 or 517/782-6847)

I lead small-group, unique-itinerary tours catering primarily to the 60-, 70- and even 80-something crowd, those who are tired of the on-the-bus/off-the-bus, cattle-call routine yet not ready or willing to be relegated to a life of cruising.

As an independent tour operator, I put together four to six small-group tours each year designed to explore areas at a slower pace and in depth. On two tours (in Tuscany and in the Languedoc region of France), we stay the entire time in a country villa or charming château and explore the nearby areas. These tours last two weeks and include in-country transportation and some meals.

Daily outings entail a 30-minute to one-hour drive to a hill town or other location. In France, the driving is done for the guests, and in Tuscany there are usually enough 60-somethings to drive the rental cars provided or the group takes a train or local bus. Once there, each guest has the option to stay with me and explore or to take off and spend the day museum hopping or shopping. In fact, there is no reason you can’t skip an outing altogether and relax.

I also have tours (to Ireland and Africa, for example) that are a little more pricey because they are all-inclusive — all meals, certified guides, entrance fees, even gratuities (so you don’t have to be nickel-and-dimed to death).

With few exceptions, groups are limited to 12 to 16 people. While tours are not limited to those of a certain age, they tend to appeal to the older crowd (although, somewhat surprisingly, the mixed-age groups often turn out to be the most compatible.) These tours are not yet equipped to deal with individuals confined to wheelchairs.

Ihla Crowley
Drifter Sister, LLC/Catch The Wind Tours

(Box 60042, Boulder City, NV 89006; 702/294-4365)