Travel plans and holidays for the over 50s

Humboldt

Morning @Organgrinder a few 'far away places' for you to consider - Africa, Alaska, Cambodia, Hawaii, India (North and South), Nepal, South Africa, and Vietnam.  City breaks - Bath, Bruges, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, New York, Prague and York. Sun breaks - Croatia is fabulous (try the Istrian coast) and Italy, if you have not visited Calabria it is relatively unspoilt.  I could go on, but that should keep you busy for a while   :0)

Albermarle

I'd also recommend Malta. We had an amazing time there, and having an interest in the war I was fascinated by finding out about their experiences during that period. The hardship they endured was amazing.  Roads are very busy though, and public transport can be slow and busy. If I was going back I'd probably pay a bit extra to stay in Valletta.

Malta upsides:
Easy to get to, even can fly from Heathrow.
Fascinating historical interior ( prehistorical in places) and war history.
Nearly everybody speaks very good English, as it is effectively their second language.
Valetta and the harbour very beautiful.
Not very expensive
Downsides;
In parts almost feel like UK . Next , M& S shops etc 
Very few sandy beaches.
A lot of litter for some reason.
A few party towns and some downmarket areas.

I haven't travelled as widely in Spain, but despite all the backlash about overtourism,

I think as in most countries the main gripe is in the cities.  Such as Barcelona coping with too many airbnbs and cruise visits.
If you go to an actual seaside resort, then tourists remain very welcome.

AnneC28

Hi
Another recommendation for Malta. I stayed in Silema which was v convenient for Valetta & on the bus routes to northern coastal towns. 

My suggestion if you’re going to Croatia is visit in the spring or autumn. In summer the sights are so busy & it’s so hit the energy for sightseeing is a bit diminished.   Zadar, split and dubrovnik are lovely places. 

Also highly recommend the bay of kotor…. just beautiful from a boat. 

Best wishes for your next adventure! 

Voyager2002

The answer to this question has to depend on your interests, and on what you enjoy. Just because you are a certain age does not mean that you magically enjoy particular things...

At my age (67) I have Egypt at the top of my bucket list: specifically, I want to go scuba diving in the Red Sea and see the icons in the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai. Place I enjoyed recently include Poland and Slovakia (walking in the Tatras Mountains); Cuba (affordable individual Salsa lessons): Berlin (living history, much of it horrifying but I enjoyed experiencing it); Spain (good food and wine plus great art).

Organgrinder

I'm open to all new experiences and suggestions.

Last year I did my first ever scuba dive for example. Next year we're off to Krakow and of course Auschwitz. Also going to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and taking the cogwheel train to Zugspite to snowboard.

I like the idea of Malta or Cape Verde next summer too. But like I said, open to suggestions.

Voyager2002

Organgrinder said:

I'm open to all new experiences and suggestions.

Last year I did my first ever scuba dive for example. Next year we're off to Krakow and of course Auschwitz. Also going to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and taking the cogwheel train to Zugspite to snowboard.

I like the idea of Malta or Cape Verde next summer too. But like I said, open to suggestions.

From Krakow, you can get to the mountains I mentioned in an hour or so: head for Zakopane.

To extend and complement the experience, go over the mountains to Poprad in Slovakia (there is one bus a day, operated by Flixbus). 

Organgrinder

Voyager2002 said:

Organgrinder said:

I'm open to all new experiences and suggestions.

Last year I did my first ever scuba dive for example. Next year we're off to Krakow and of course Auschwitz. Also going to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and taking the cogwheel train to Zugspite to snowboard.

I like the idea of Malta or Cape Verde next summer too. But like I said, open to suggestions.

From Krakow, you can get to the mountains I mentioned in an hour or so: head for Zakopane.

To extend and complement the experience, go over the mountains to Poprad in Slovakia (there is one bus a day, operated by Flixbus). 

Thanks, went to Zakopane a few years ago when they'd just had a huge dump of snow. Loved it.

RAS

I did the Norway in Nutshell route, budget, over a week, from Bergen. Arriving on mid-summer's night, it looked like the whole country was alight. You may not want to stop off at Voss and Mjolfjell as I did, but you can take the train up to Myrdal, the Flam rail down and and get to Aurland or Sogndal by trains and bus, or use a ferry, in one day. From Sogndal the bus and ferry to Ornes Stave Church is worth it, the farm does refreshments.

I also stayed in Fjaerland and hiked up to Supplebreen, despite the path being washed out. There is a summer passenger ferry down to Balestrand, with connections on the express ferry to Bergen. But check this as I suspect tickets are now being block booked by tour operators running trips up to the nearby glacier.

The other area I recommend is Goteborg and VastGoteborg. There are three groups of islands along that Swedish west coast, accessible from Goteborg by train, bus and sometimes ferry, within about 90 minutes of the main station. Costs vary from under £3 to about £9 for a single ticket.

These are glaciated islands where the bare scrapped rock shelters small pastures and woods. Some are dormitory towns, others car-free, some rural and don't even host a shop. Beaches are rare but there are bathing places and boats everywhere. There are a score of ferry routes connecting scores of islands.

Inland, the routes head for Vanern and Vattern through lakelands and rolling farmland. There's a branch line off the Gothenburg to Stockholm route via Mariestad on Vanern, within the VastGoteborg network.

In both countries, consider hytter/hytte which range from very basic (garden shed with bunks and a single burner) to grass-roofed insulated cabins, or a room in a larger cabin with shared facilities between 4-6 rooms.

Organgrinder

I was fortunate to visit Goteborg and the islands a few years ago. Flew into Norway and caught train down. Absolutely fantastic time.

Clowance

just bought a round the world ticket from trailfinders, way cheaper that I could do it myself. Bucket list ticked!