Traveling With Confidence

For Clarity Wealth Development, May 2019

Some Presentation Slide Notes

SLIDE TWO

There are aspects to being an older traveler that can actually be better than traveling as a 20-something. I think of this as the “Towanda” effect.

  • Without jobs or school schedules, you can travel for extended periods – weeks, even months.
  • You can also take advantage of traveling at less-expensive times, not just summer.
  • Older women traveling solo outside the US often get respect that younger women traveling solo do not.

SLIDE SIX

HEALTH CONCERNS:

  • Getting the right travel insurance
  • Traveling for medical reasons (i.e. procedures that may be cheaper outside the US)

GEAR:

  • Cross-body purse with straps/bottom that can’t be cut; large enough for a refillable bottle of water but not so large that you’ll hurt your neck/back
    • Or a lightweight daypack – some convertible bags can switch from small backpacks to cross-body bags
  • Money belt
  • Purse/bag hook
  • Lightweight trekking poles
  • Bring nothing you would be heartbroken about losing
  • Bring no expensive jewelry/watches

TECHNOLOGY:

  • Learning how to use cell phone with wifi only
  • Using cell phone travel apps (Lyft, Airbnb, OpenTable, Cabify, etc.)
  • Loading Google maps when you have wifi, or use offline maps
  • Translation apps (esp ones that work offline)
  • Dietary needs (multi-language food allergy apps)
  • Staying in touch (WhatsApp, FaceTime, etc.)

DESTINATION KNOWLEDGE:

  • What neighborhoods does your guide book say to avoid after dark, for instance?

SLIDE EIGHT

Overly planned schedules can cause potentially awful domino effects if one small thing is thrown off.

A change in your schedule could actually improve your original plan. Overplanning removes the possibility of serendipity.

Backup options:

  • Museum unexpectedly closed? Check out another attraction.
  • Train strike? Look at bus schedules.

Trust your instincts. If something feels really uncomfortable, don’t do it.

SLIDE ELEVEN

  • Diversity of group tour options:
    • It’s not just the extremes of pub crawls with kids on their gap year or giant coach tours of 60+ people in a group
    • Special interests and events can lead to trips, such as:
      • Crafters: quilting cruises, fiber festivals
      • Art lovers: travel for a special exhibit that isn’t coming to your town
      • Sports fans: baseball spring training
      • Nature/wildlife: migrations (butterflies, elephants)
    • Many cruise lines have “dance hosts” or “gentlemen hosts” programs for solo women who want dance partners, dining partners, game night partners, even (sometimes) shore excursion partners
    • PCC has non-credit classes year-round, including some classes that are trips – does LBCC? OSU?
  • Studies show multi-generational travel can increase family bonds & improve family relationships
  • Putting together your own trip based on a group you’re in
    • Book club? Visit a country where the book takes place
    • Family loves watching movies? Visit a place where a movie was filmed
    • Theater lovers? Spend a week in London or NY watching plays
    • Nature lovers? Tour famous gardens
    • Foodies? Book dinner at a Michelin restaurant; spend a week on a working farm & get cooking lessons
    • The organizer of a group often gets a discount
      • You don’t have to do all the planning, either – let a travel agent do the work, but you may still get a discount as the one who brought in the business

SLIDE TWELVE

  • Start slow:
    • Pick a place with fewer barriers (maybe they use the same language, similar currency/exchange)
    • Go on a group tour that includes free time in the itinerary for a mix of group & solo adventures (“gateway drug” to independent travel)
    • Start on a group tour somewhere and then book an extra few days there after the tour
    • House sitting or home exchanges
  • Gear to help you focus on comfort/safety:
    • Compression socks
    • Comfortable travel shoes (maybe two pairs; sandals and something for cold/wet weather)
    • Earbuds (don’t have to listen to anything) can make it so people leave you alone if you want them to
    • Cushions for long plane/car rides
    • Foldable fans to cool off, hand warmer packs to warm up
  • Packing light:
    • Single color themed travel wardrobe (Spice it up with colorful scarves, which also make great souvenirs)
    • When you’re traveling, you can totally wear the same thing multiple days – no one’s paying attention.
  • Splurging on enhancements:
    • Buy access to airport lounges (additional help with any issues, food/beverages, sometimes even showers)
    • Consider pre-check/clear/global entry
    • Don’t want to launder stuff in your hotel sink? Pay for hotel laundry (another great way to pack light – plan to wash things)

RESOURCE LINKS

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