This May, the U.S. celebrates Older Americans month, but it’s clear that age doesn’t curb seniors’ desire to see the world, and travel is currently quite strong in the nation’s mature market.
And it makes sense. We’re talking about a generation that came of age in the ‘60s, rocked to the Beatles, began the Earth Day movement and traveled around the world in droves to discover new destinations and the people of each country, with backpacks in tow and youth hostel guidebooks in hand.
And their sense of adventure hasn’t waned.
Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.), the leader in personalized small group and solo travel for Americans ages 50 and older, encourages travelers to seize this eternal spirit of adventure through its 2024 Small Group Adventures to diverse, discovery-rich locations around the world.
According to an AARP survey of the 50-plus generation, most older travelers (85%) rank travel in their top three priorities for discretionary spending, much higher than other types of expenses. Forty-three percent (43%) plan to take an international trip within the next three years, and 30% anticipate doing so in the next year.
“Older travelers in particular will continue to make up for lost time by exploring the world in 2024,” said Brian FitzGerald, CEO of Overseas Adventure Travel. “Our travelers tell us that unique itineraries at great value are most appealing, and our company continues to deliver that combination.”
From the company’s time-tested favorites, such as its Ultimate Africa safari or Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes and Timeless Traditions, to exciting new destinations, including Romania, Bulgaria, and the Azores, there is a world to discover traveling with the company in 2024. Travelers enjoy a journey off the beaten path in small groups and experience intimate cultural encounters, meeting people where they live and work for a real and unfiltered view of local life. For many, it will be a hark back to the travel experiences they enjoyed during their youth.
Cruising continues to be a popular mode of travel, for obvious reasons both for young and old—unpack once and see the world from the luxury of your cabin, with on shore excursions that take you in comfort to the highlights of each destination. Travelers can explore remote ports from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, enjoying direct access aboard privately owned 50- to 98-passenger small ships in small ports large cruise ships can’t access. O.A.T. travelers step ashore in a small group of no more than 25 travelers for authentic local experiences.
Solo travel remains strong, especially among women travelers
Traveling solo on many cruise ships can be a challenge. But not with O.A.T., which is offering 23,000 single spaces in 2024 across all adventures. For solo travelers, the company’s free or low-cost single supplements translate to hundreds of dollars in savings, making these trips very attractive to solo women. The small group size on these voyages makes it easier for solo travelers to bond with other members of the group. For 2024, O.A.T. is offering 12 exclusive women-only departures of its most popular adventures – an opportunity to enjoy the special camaraderie of exploring with some like-minded intrepid women travelers.
To learn more about O.A.T. or to reserve travel, visit www.oattravel.com or call 1-800-955-1925.
ABOUT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwide—among them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $250 million since 1981.
Please note: This post was not compensated by A.O.T travel. In our research of the best cruises for senior travel, this company definitely came up as one of the best!