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Taking a \u201cgolden gap year\u201d is an emerging trend among retirees, with increasing numbers of older people planning to see the world when they retire.<\/p>\n
Retirement travel is being widely documented on social media by people like retired British teachers Jackie and Richard Pickles, whose Early Retirement Wanderlust YouTube channel shares their campervan travels through the UK and Europe.<\/p>\n
Another experienced retirement traveller is Tina (who does not like to reveal her surname), who started the YouTube channel This Is Our Retirement with her husband Norm, who died last year at the age of 70, to share their exploration of the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cRetirement travel isn\u2019t about seeing as many places as possible,\u201d says Tina, who emigrated to Canada from England in her 30s. \u201cIt\u2019s about finally having the time to experience a place properly, noticing the people, the atmosphere and the small moments that make a place special. When you slow down, travel becomes far more meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are also Americans John and Bev Martin, who sold their home, gave away most of their belongings, packed their backpacks and set off to see the world after they retired six years ago. At the same time, they started the website and social media channels Retirement Travellers, which has charted their journey through 114 countries and across all 50 US states.<\/p>\n
Bev, 63, says: \u201cAlong the way we\u2019ve made plenty of mistakes, learned a few lessons the hard way, and discovered a handful of things that make retirement travel far easier and more enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are the retirement travellers\u2019 tips for happy retirement travelling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n