Many boomers consider travel to be a part of life and not just a luxury. And for that, many travel often.
Boomer parents saved their money to take the big trip of a lifetime. But boomers often began traveling as students, so now, as seasoned travelers, they seek out exotic experiences. Many have already done what they consider to be the mundane, namely exploring the United States, most likely as backpackers, so a bus tour of the United States is not appealing. With a “been there done” kind of attitude, they now look for adventures that are challenging or at least intellectually stimulating.
Growing up with the attitude of being forever young and not wanting to trust anyone over the age of thirty, many even now, don’t want to associate with people older or older than themselves when traveling. They don’t see themselves as old, no matter what the calendar says. They feel young and often act much younger than their chronological age. Their preference would be to travel with people younger than older than them.
When they travel, boomers want options where they can feel like they have some control over their travel experience. They don’t just want to go sightseeing, they want to go sightseeing, such as panning for gold, river rafting, going on safari, walking the high arch of the Harbor Bridge in Sydney, or even bungee jumping, like a man in his seventies recently. he did.
Boomers like luxury at a bargain price but with the guarantee of a good value. But there are also boomers who stay in hostels all over the world. It’s not just the young who backpack anymore; boomers are going back to the things they enjoyed in their youth; maybe it’s a denial of aging. And is there any difference if it is or not?
Boomers travel with friends, family, or take their grandkids on special trips. There are also themed trips such as golf vacations to specific areas, spa trips to luxury resorts, wine tasting trips or educational trips with the intention of learning a language through total immersion with the land and the people. There are also volunteer trips where part of the trip is dedicated to helping out at a school or an orphanage and ecotourism trips that include nature and environment excursions to see waterfalls and bird watching. Adventure travel is also popular and includes hiking, snorkeling, diving, and skiing. And of course, cruises have been popular options for a long time.
RV rides are also popular with boomers. It offers a variety of experiences, control over where you go and where you stay, and allows full flexibility. It’s a free-spirited way to travel like packing in comfort. It can be used as a base of operations to visit historical sites, local points of interest and tourist attractions. It is a house on wheels without the need to pack with every move you make.
As boomers have redefined young adulthood and retirement, according to statistics, they are also redefining the travel industry. Due to their numbers, their travel demands are determining what the industry offers. Boomers want new experiences, not the same old ones. They are more interested in adventure and international travel than their parents. They want educational and experiential travel, ie a cruise on a cargo ship or a trip to the Galapagos. And many look at their wish list when considering places to travel.
Many boomers believe that ‘To travel is to live’, which is a quote from Hans Christian Andersen. And they are doing it in great numbers.