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We all love road trips. After all, the average car owners will put about 13,500 miles on their car every year. But not all of us have the time to take road trips, largely due to work commitments. Retirees don’t have to worry about going to work the same way that the rest of us do, but there are still issues that they need to consider when taking road trips. With that in mind, below are a few helpful tips for those who want to take road trips during retirement.
1. Choose a Destination That Has It All
Being a retiree doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re in the midst of your twilight years. Lots of retirees are actually quite young, and even those who aren’t still have plenty of energy to spend on their road trips. But nonetheless, it’s best to choose a destination that has a lot in one space, rather than stopping at many different places if you’re planning a road trip as a retiree. This is why beach towns are so popular amongst retirees for trip destinations; you can pack a lot of activities into a relatively small space. Some of the best destinations for road tripping retirees include Charleston, South Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Washington, D.C.
2. Budget Carefully
Once you’re retired, you’re living on a fixed income. This means that you need to be more conscientious of your budget. With the average American having about $38,000 of debt not including mortgages, we all need to be budget-conscious. Traveling retirees should set aside a certain amount of money for food, gas, lodging, and more — and plan on sticking to it. The most reliable cars of all time don’t have to be the most expensive, either. Make sure you’re driving a safe car that suits your lifestyle.
3. Travel with Health Directives
This is more of an issue for older retirees or those with health issues to consider. But everyone should think carefully about their health directives. A lot of retirees keep copies of their directives in accessible locations at home; those traveling should bring copies with them, just in case something occurs when they are far from home. Just 37% of American retirees have advanced directives at all, and they should definitely have that taken care of if they plan on traveling far.
Traveling with a retiree’s lifestyle can be complicated. But as a retiree, you can travel far and wide; you just need to do some preparation in advance.