What is the Best Age to Travel? The Age You Are

What is the best age to travel? The age you are! Truly, there’s no better time for people to travel than when they feel the itch to explore the world–whether they’re 25 or 65. But, if you’re wondering when most people travel or looking for inspiration for why or how to travel more in your 50s, 60s, and beyond, stick around for a full breakdown, including tips, insights, and FAQs. 

The truth is life is unpredictable, and age is just a number. You’re never too young or too old to make precious new memories. However, there are many other factors that can affect what the best age to travel is for each individual such as a demanding career, financial restrictions, and many more. 

So, it’s always wise to look at how these factors can influence the best time to start globetrotting. 

PS: Connect with other travelers and locals in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s by joining Freebird Club. 

The Best Age to Start Traveling the World

Below is a full breakdown of the ideal age to start touring the world based on various circumstances. 

Traveling as a Senior (55+ Years)

It’s never too late to start traveling – it will always be worth it. Besides, by now, you have more wisdom in the ways of the world, your career has been established, and the kids are all grown up. Nothing should be holding you back.   

Many seniors have been saving up throughout their lives and therefore or more likely to have nest eggs that will allow them to travel more comfortably (ditch the hostels and backpacks) and travel for longer.   

In fact, the sweet spot for travel is between 50 and 70. After 75 years old, travel does get a bit more difficult for some due to mobility or health issues but this isn’t necessarily the case for everyone and like most things, depends on the individual.     

Travel Tip: Check out these top-rated European tours for seniors. 

Best Age to Start Traveling With Your Partner 

There is no right answer here. While traveling as a couple allows you to share new experiences, your age shouldn’t hold you back if you have the means to hop on a plane.  

As long as the two of you are comfortable with each other, traveling may deepen your bond as a young couple or reignite the spark later in life. When you should travel with your partner is another factor, as most relationship experts recommend waiting at least six months to a year before you start traveling together. 

This gives you enough time to really get to know each other beyond the honeymoon phase and to be prepared to spend a lot of time together in smaller spaces than you might be used to at home.

The Best Age to Travel on a Budget

While some believe that it’s only possible to travel comfortably on a low budget when you’re young, this isn’t necessarily the case. Savvy travelers on a budget can still have enriching experiences as long as they plan carefully!

Sure, it’s true that younger adults often have fewer responsibilities like children to care for at home, health issues, or a mortgage. Young adults may also be more comfortable sleeping in places like backpacker’s hostels (both due to the lack of privacy as well as the noise). But, for those with an open mind and an adventurous spirit, there are plenty of ways to economize.

Below are several ways to greatly reduce the cost per day or week of a big trip:

-Practice Slow Travel: Less moving around = less budget per day spent on things like transportation and accommodation (weekly and monthly rates are often heavily discounted).

Spending a full week or even a month in a single destination and taking day trips from your base location can not only greatly reduce the cost of your trip but is also a fantastic way to get to know a city or region. Additionally, with less time spent packing bags, checking in and checking out, and sitting on trains, buses, or planes, slow travelers can enjoy a more relaxed pace and spend more of their time doing things they enjoy.

Try a Homestay

Homestays are normally significantly less expensive than staying at a hotel. They also offer an opportunity to connect with a real local and are an especially good fit for solo travelers!

Interested in Homestays with locals? Become a Freebird Member and book a Homestay with a local member, or become a Homestay Host yourself as a way to connect with members from all over the world in your own home region.

-Opt for an apartment with a kitchen over a hotel.

If you prefer to book private accommodation, booking apartments for full weeks or months is normally significantly less expensive than staying for shorter periods due to substantial weekly and monthly stay discounts. Having a kitchen also helps significantly reduce the amount of budget travelers spend on dining out, takeout, and prepared food. It’s also really nice to be able to cook some meals and go out for others! 

–Travel by bus instead of by train whenever possible

Buses are normally much less expensive than trains. Especially in European countries. 

-Seek out Senior discounts or free entry days at places like museums, galleries, etc.. sign up for Free Walking tours (available in most cities, with a Tip for the guide), etc.

Traveling as a Digital Nomad

A digital nomad earns a living working online in various locations of their choosing. It’s possible to become a digital nomad at any age since all you require is a good internet connection, a laptop, and your visa to make it happen.

While 47% of digital nomads fall into the 30-39 age category, and 14% are in the 20s, that still leaves a substantial percentage of digital nomads who are over 40. And within this group, the number of senior digital nomads, while still one of the smallest groups, is growing.    

Senior digital nomads might be solopreneurs or freelancers who do things like teach a language online, run their own consulting business, do freelance writing, have a remote job in tech, etc. Because older adults also likely have more seniority in their careers or roles they may have more flexibility in how they work and when. They are also among the most financially secure demographics (they are more likely to own homes with paid-off mortgages, have more years of savings in the bank, and are close to or may already be able to access retirement funds and/or social security) and are less likely to have children still living at home.

 It makes sense, then, that more adults in their 50s and 60s are opting to start traveling before they retire, rather than waiting until they’ve stopped working completely. Freedom and location independence blend well with finding new adventures at a later stage in life. 

Image sourced from Canva

Best Age to Travel Alone

If you feel comfortable with the idea of traveling alone, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to start journeying solo at almost any age. If you’re young and inexperienced, traveling with family and friends would be safer. 

Traveling solo shouldn’t be as intimidating if you’ve had your fair share of family and group trips, but ultimately, going solo depends on the destination. For example, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Iceland, and Australia are some of the safest countries to trek to as a solivagant.

If you prefer the company of others while traveling, and you’re 50 years old and up, you can join the Freebird Club to flock to these destinations with other members.    

Image sourced from Canva

Where To Travel According to Age

Did you know that baby boomers were expected to take an average of four to five trips in 2023 alone? They are also the ones taking the longest vacations of any generation, lasting typically for more than a week, according to Expedia. However, where are they traveling to the most?  

Here’s a closer look at where people are traveling most in their late 40s, 50s, and up: 

• Ages 46 – 55: Turkey, Ireland, Egypt, Iceland, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Japan, Cambodia.
• Ages 56 and up: Greece, Alaska, Canada, Scotland, Italy.   

Of course, the question of where to travel is about more than where others are traveling. Each individual has unique interests, preferences, and travel styles. Those who enjoy traveling to learn about history will choose different destinations than those who are looking to lay on a beach somewhere tropical. 

Image sourced from Canva

Beginner-Friendly Tips for Traveling Abroad 

No matter what your age is, there are some insights and handy tips every first-time traveler should know. 

• Consider travel and health insurance: It’s always recommended to travel with insurance since most cover medical treatment, hospitalization, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and other emergency costs. 
• Plan around your health and safety: Do research on the safety, crime rates, and tourist scams of any travel destination. Use common sense by avoiding isolated, dark areas of a city, venturing off hiking trails, and protecting your items from petty theft. 
• Book accommodation and tours in advance: If you’re visiting popular attractions, booking an entry ticket or guided tour ahead of time can save you lots of money and time. Then, do the same for your hotels to save money and secure your spot, especially in peak seasons. 
• Pack like a pro: It’s always better to travel light, and you’d want to have something to wear in cold, rainy, or warm weather. Carrying heavy luggage with you makes traveling around miserable. Also, use packing cubes to keep everything organized, keep clothes neat, and save space.  
• Keep connectivity in mind: You have to consider using either international roaming through your current plan or buying a SIM card abroad. Use public Wi-Fi in cities to save data and a VPN to access social media apps that could be blocked in certain countries. 
• Be prepared with the necessary documents: Make sure you have a valid passport before booking your flight. Many countries may deny your entry if you have less than six months of validity on your passport. Check if you need a visa before choosing a destination, and apply for these documents well ahead of time.  

Psst: Read more top tips for memorable and hassle-free travel. 

Image sourced from Canva

Frequently Asked Questions

This section answers some of the most popular questions about the best travel age to give you more clarity. 

1. Is 70-80 Too Old To Travel?

The Short answer is no! It is safe for older adults in their 70s and 80s to travel by airplane unless they have serious medical issues. Of course, it is important to have travel insurance, no matter what age traveler you are. And most travel insurance is more expensive for senior travelers (around 80 years old) since insurance companies risk assessment data shows that adults in this age range are more likely to experience a medical issue that leads to filling a claim.   

2. At What Age Do Most People Travel?

Travel statistics suggest that those between 23-38 travel the most, averaging about 35 vacation days a year. However, Baby Boomers are among the fastest growing demographic  of travelers in the world and account for 80% of luxury travel spending, according to 2024 market reports. 

3. At What Age Do Most Seniors Stop Traveling?

You’re never too old to start traveling the world! Age should not be a barrier to new adventures. In fact, you’d be surprised at how many 70+, 80+, and even 90+ year-old travelers are out there making the world their oyster.  

Image sourced from Canva

Final Thought on When’s the Best Age to Start Traveling

Having an open mind and a keen interest in new experiences are the only requirements to ensure that travel will be a rewarding experience. You only get one life, and ultimately, seeing the world will be a life-altering experience, regardless of age. 

As the saying goes, “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” 

So, whether you’re 51 or 71, start packing your bags, journey across the ocean, and create new memories. And if you’re interested in connecting with like-minded individuals, become a member of Freebird Club today!