Spring Travel for Retirees is Very Popular

There’s a reason why spring travel for retirees is so popular.  If you’re looking for vibrant colors, everything is coming into bloom in many parts of the northern hemisphere.  Some of the gardens in the southern parts of the United States are at their peak.  This is also true across much of Europe.  The tulips in Holland hit their peak and it’s an incredible thing to see.  Generally speaking, crowds are not as big as the summer travel months although, in the case of tulip season in Holland, that can be the peak time for tourists.  The same is true for cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.  The area around the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial can become very crowded.

Spring travel for retirees also makes sense because of the weather.  You’ll miss the chilly winds of winter as well as the sometimes-stifling heat of summer.  You should always check the weather for the destination you are heading to.  In early spring, in some areas it can still be quite cold while, in the later spring, especially at the end of May, you can experience some very hot weather.  We are not fans of the heat so we are quite happy to be a little on the cooler side.  For other people, anything cooler than seventy degrees is a disappointment.  The more research you do, the better.  Keep in mind that the temperatures can vary greatly within just a couple of hundred miles, especially if there is a difference in elevation.

We have found that the popular destinations are less crowded at this time of year because school is in session.  For many years our vacations were dictated by the school calendar. Disney World in July is completely different from October and, unless you don’t mind the heat and long lines, we think the less crowded times make much more sense.  You can check the crowd levels at a number of websites and this is true for other locations than Disney parks.  Europe can get extremely crowded, and this is especially true for the big cities.  If you go to Rome in the summer, your memories of the crowds may be stronger than your memories of the Coliseum.  It is one of the biggest reasons that spring travel for retirees is so popular.

Spring Travel for Retirees Makes Sense from a Weather and Crowd Perspective

Keep in mind that, when it’s spring in the United States, it’s autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.  For us, it’s hard to choose between spring and fall as far as which is nicer.  The fall colors where we live in the Hudson Valley in New York make it very hard to leave.  Spring is nice as well, but the foliage is spectacular, so we tend to travel more in the spring.  We get away for the winter to a warmer location and then head back up, taking our time to watch the spring develop as we head north.  On two occasions we crossed the equator and experienced autumn in February and March in Sout America and Australia.  It was rather unusual to hear our guides tell us what it’s like in Australia during Christmas and into January because, for them, Christmas is a summer holiday and much of the country is on an extended vacation.  He told us we had just missed the crowds.  We have been very fortunate to see many different places and learn a lot about life in the different parts of the world.  In fact, I’ll take this opportunity to repeat the advice I always give travelers: get a good guide.  The cost is always worth it and the amount of information they give you is amazing.  We have never been disappointed with a reputable guide.  And don’t rule out a trip to the Southern Hemisphere.  The differences in the seasons should be something that everyone gets to experience.  It’s also why spring travel for retirees is so popular.

One thing to be aware of is the calendar.  Although spring is a less popular time overall, there are exceptions like the ones we mentioned previously.  A specific event, like the cherry blossom and tulip seasons, can make this a peak travel time.  So can a specific event.  It is highly advisable to check the calendar of events in the location you’re visiting.  While you might be targeting something like the running of the Kentucky Derby or spending Passover or Easter in Jerusalem and will battle the crowds as part of the price to be paid, smaller events can cause a big problem as well and those events might not be something you wanted to experience.  We watched a whole town in Ohio basically close down for a parade honoring Carnation Day when we scheduled a trip to see some friends.  And a local Heritage Day up in rural Maine made the little town we were staying in standing room only.  So, again, a little research will go a long way to make your trip truly enjoyable.  For us, research is part of the fun and planning out each day creates even more anticipation for what you’re about to experience.  Spring travel for retirees is something to celebrate, especially if you’re one of the retirees.  It’s time to get out there and see the world.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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