Travel with kids or when retired?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel a lot now and also hope to do so in retirement and are saving aggressively to do so because as you note, the tolerance to deal with discomfort decreases exponentially the older you get.

When we were in our 20s we could travel in basic economy/Ryan air or the equivalent and stay at budget hotels and cram a ton of activities into a short trip without issue. Now in our mid 40s, traveling with kids we usually shoot for premium economy or at least economy plus if traveling overseas with our kids, stay in Marriott type hotels and always factor in a recovery day before returning to work. In retirement I imagine we will aim to travel business class, stay in nice hotels/resorts and travel to places for longer duration so that we can explore at leisure.

I’ll just do easier trips during retirement - so no sightseeing marathons, beach trips when it’s 110 degrees in Greece etc. I’ve never done Rome or similar things in August, which is insane IMO. I have 2-3 places on my bucket list left (India, Namibia/Tanzania, Australia/NZ) - the rest of the world I’ve either been to or I am just medium level interested. But I want to cross off that bucket list before I am 55. Unfortunately, I couldn’t travel that much in my 20s due to DH’s situation, but I just go without him now. No point in waiting for him.

Wow, you have seen the whole world? How many countries have you visited?

Dp I have no interest in seeing ' the whole world' just like I have no intention to read every book. First it is impossible and second there are places I have zero interest.

I think there are many places that would be amazing trips that we all can agree and some are ' niche' trips.

I always find it funny when op start threads because they only see one way to do something. There are quite a few...do what makes sense to you might not make sense to others. Point is live your life and
don't worry about other peiple.

Agreed. The PP comes across like an aggressive traveler, just like the other OP from that post coined that term. Competing over how many countries she visited, putting others down and questioning their “travel credentials”, lol. What a despicable way to live life and to approach the cultural enrichment of travel.

DP. +100. Aggressive competitive travelers are so cringe-inducing.

So are people who think travel only counts if it’s an immersion experience in a 3rd world country.

I lived in a couple of 3rd world countries as a kid/teen thanks to my father’s job and we were always so happy to get to London or a similar place. “Cultural enrichment” included misogony, sexual harassment as a tween, and death to America chants. No desire to replicate that experience on vacation. I’m still happy to go to London!

[Anonymous]

To all those screaming "privilege!" about other people's travel plans: these people are answering OP's question. If your answer is "neither, I can't afford it," that's your answer. That doesn't mean the rest of us can't answer honestly.

(Same goes for all of you who are planning to be too crippled to travel when older. That's fine, but not all of us are.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel a lot now and also hope to do so in retirement and are saving aggressively to do so because as you note, the tolerance to deal with discomfort decreases exponentially the older you get.

When we were in our 20s we could travel in basic economy/Ryan air or the equivalent and stay at budget hotels and cram a ton of activities into a short trip without issue. Now in our mid 40s, traveling with kids we usually shoot for premium economy or at least economy plus if traveling overseas with our kids, stay in Marriott type hotels and always factor in a recovery day before returning to work. In retirement I imagine we will aim to travel business class, stay in nice hotels/resorts and travel to places for longer duration so that we can explore at leisure.

I’ll just do easier trips during retirement - so no sightseeing marathons, beach trips when it’s 110 degrees in Greece etc. I’ve never done Rome or similar things in August, which is insane IMO. I have 2-3 places on my bucket list left (India, Namibia/Tanzania, Australia/NZ) - the rest of the world I’ve either been to or I am just medium level interested. But I want to cross off that bucket list before I am 55. Unfortunately, I couldn’t travel that much in my 20s due to DH’s situation, but I just go without him now. No point in waiting for him.

Wow, you have seen the whole world? How many countries have you visited?

Dp I have no interest in seeing ' the whole world' just like I have no intention to read every book. First it is impossible and second there are places I have zero interest.

I think there are many places that would be amazing trips that we all can agree and some are ' niche' trips.

I always find it funny when op start threads because they only see one way to do something. There are quite a few...do what makes sense to you might not make sense to others. Point is live your life and
don't worry about other peiple.

Agreed. The PP comes across like an aggressive traveler, just like the other OP from that post coined that term. Competing over how many countries she visited, putting others down and questioning their “travel credentials”, lol. What a despicable way to live life and to approach the cultural enrichment of travel.

DP. +100. Aggressive competitive travelers are so cringe-inducing.

So are people who think travel only counts if it’s an immersion experience in a 3rd world country.

I lived in a couple of 3rd world countries as a kid/teen thanks to my father’s job and we were always so happy to get to London or a similar place. “Cultural enrichment” included misogony, sexual harassment as a tween, and death to America chants. No desire to replicate that experience on vacation. I’m still happy to go to London!

Don’t disagree! You do you. No need to consider your travel preferences inherently better than others’!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sad that the travel forum has become more dcum-like lately. Go away competitive trolls

Has become? It’s been like this since I can remember. I don’t think it’s the majority of people but there’s def a subset of folks who bring their competitiveness/insecurity about SES into travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all those screaming "privilege!" about other people's travel plans: these people are answering OP's question. If your answer is "neither, I can't afford it," that's your answer. That doesn't mean the rest of us can't answer honestly.

(Same goes for all of you who are planning to be too crippled to travel when older. That's fine, but not all of us are.)

That’s not privilege, that’s just arrogance. You have no idea what your health will look like in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traveling with kids under age 6 is hell. It makes me want to wait until retirement lol

Agree! We have done some travelling prior having kids, it was fun and easy. With kids is a totally different story. Our youngest is 8 years old and doesn't want to do any sightseeing in any major city whatsever. We are doing mainly some cruising right now ( twice a year)- mainly Mexico, Caribbean because it's all beach, water, dolphin encounter related etc. I do want to see more of Europe, but will wait another 2 years or so when the kids will appreciate this kind of trip somewhat. I agree with the OP that you don't want to wait for the retirement to hit your major travel, because we don't know what health issues we will have to deal with. I work as a nurse in a hospital and see many sick people every day ( with all sorts of diseases) in their early 50s, 60s.

[Anonymous]

We have traveled all over with our kids and it’s been great. We will continue on our own when they leave for college but I will really miss traveling with them. Even though it’s not always smooth sailing, it’s still wonderful family time and I have loved exploring new places and cultures with them and broadening their minds at a young age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the poster who says travel before marriage and kids. Between my job and fun trips, I visited 35+ countries before I got married. DH has no interest in flying, my kids have no interest in going anywhere but the beach, and I know I am not missing anything. We will be empty nesters and retired in 2 years at 60, and my plan is to see this country. Roadtrip everywhere.

I don’t think I could marry someone who did not enjoy travel.

I am surprised that don’t want to expose your kids to other people and places.
Don’t you think they have no interest in it because they have not seen it in their family?

Did your family expose you to travel growing up?

My mom was an immigrant, so we travelled to her country every few years, but money was very tight. I have been very lucky to travel so much overseas. Regarding my husband, i convinced him to go to the UK twice, but he is very tall and so traveling was uncomfortable, and he's not into crowds, so it wasn't much fun. I had the travel bug, and I think I exhausted the overseas part so haven't regretted marrying him. We work hard, so vacation needs to be more relaxing for him and by extension me, and my kids like that also. Flying is just not relaxing for my super tall family, but I will encourage my kids to study abroad in college. We'll see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the poster who says travel before marriage and kids. Between my job and fun trips, I visited 35+ countries before I got married. DH has no interest in flying, my kids have no interest in going anywhere but the beach, and I know I am not missing anything. We will be empty nesters and retired in 2 years at 60, and my plan is to see this country. Roadtrip everywhere.

I don’t think I could marry someone who did not enjoy travel.

I am surprised that don’t want to expose your kids to other people and places.
Don’t you think they have no interest in it because they have not seen it in their family?

Did your family expose you to travel growing up?

My mom was an immigrant, so we travelled to her country every few years, but money was very tight. I have been very lucky to travel so much overseas. Regarding my husband, i convinced him to go to the UK twice, but he is very tall and so traveling was uncomfortable, and he's not into crowds, so it wasn't much fun. I had the travel bug, and I think I exhausted the overseas part so haven't regretted marrying him. We work hard, so vacation needs to be more relaxing for him and by extension me, and my kids like that also. Flying is just not relaxing for my super tall family, but I will encourage my kids to study abroad in college. We'll see.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of being tall as a reason not to travel. You can just say you don’t like it!

[Anonymous]

I had to laugh: You realize that there are some 60/70 year olds who could kick butts on “exhausting” trips with the younger set?

[Anonymous]

Definitely don’t put anything off! Father in law got early onset Alzheimer’s in his early 60s and passed away at 68, after working 24/7 and saving for retirement. Travel now don’t wait.

[Anonymous]

My kids are teens and we’ve been doing a ton of travel. I love having these experiences with them. I’m also acutely aware that my own mom got cancer at 54 and was dead at 58 and thus I am a little more inclined than most not to put things off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the poster who says travel before marriage and kids. Between my job and fun trips, I visited 35+ countries before I got married. DH has no interest in flying, my kids have no interest in going anywhere but the beach, and I know I am not missing anything. We will be empty nesters and retired in 2 years at 60, and my plan is to see this country. Roadtrip everywhere.

I don’t think I could marry someone who did not enjoy travel.

I am surprised that don’t want to expose your kids to other people and places.
Don’t you think they have no interest in it because they have not seen it in their family?

Did your family expose you to travel growing up?

My mom was an immigrant, so we travelled lolp to her country every few years, but money was very tight. I have been very lucky to travel so much overseas. Regarding my husband, i convinced him to go to the UK twice, but he is very tall and so traveling was uncomfortable, and he's not into crowds, so it wasn't much fun. I had the travel bug, and I think I exhausted the overseas part so haven't regretted marrying him. We work hard, so vacation needs to be more relaxing for him and by extension me, and my kids like that also. Flying is just not relaxing for my super tall family, but I will encourage my kids to study abroad in college. We'll see.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of being tall as a reason not to travel. You can just say you don’t like it!

DP. Um, she did say that! Both because of crowds and because being shoved in a plane or bus seat for many hours when you’re over, say, 6’4” is deeply uncomfortable and gave leave you aching for days and prevent getting any sleep en route.

[Anonymous]

^^^ can leave you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often see posts about people needing a ton of money for retirement, as they plan to take numerous expensive trips they wouldn’t take while in their 30/40/50s. I don’t get the sentiment. I am now nearing the end of what’s probably the most exhausting trip I’ve taken in my lifetime and I can’t begin to imagine what it would do to my health and body to travel like this when I’m 60 or 70. I just wouldn’t be able to do it. How do people assume they’ll have the strength to pull this off?

Money and time impact travel choices. People have less time (and money) during the raising children years. There are also different priorities. Parents are alive - so we want time to visit them too.

There is a middle path. Travel some, save some. It isn’t only one or the other.