How to get the most out of your European summer vacation
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Want to travel the world in retirement? Look no further than Europe. Despite the ongoing Brexit headlines, Europe remains one of the most travelled places for retirees. And it’s not hard to see why. With burnt orange sunsets that kiss the sea goodnight, and delectable foods spanning Medditeranian horiátiki salata or a rich Hungarian goulash, it’s the perfect place for basking in a post-working life glow.
Now that you’ve decided Europe is on your bucket list, how do you make the most of your time there? Check out the key points below to learn more.
Travel in style (your style)
Whether it’s a sailing cruise across the Atlantic or island hopping the Greek islands, the first step is to decide how you want to travel. Really assess what you’re values are when it comes to your time, personal space and mobility. A cruise may seem like a good idea but if you value your own space it risks becoming an experience you’ll grow to resent. Opt for a staycation in the mountains in Spain instead!
Recruit the help of a professional
This is especially relevant if you’ve had limited experience in travelling abroad. Taking the time to speak with a travel agent who can help you book flights and recommend the best places to go. They may even have good insight into where the best discounts for seniors are too.
Even more, seeking the help of a professional to help with budgeting your funds or sorting out how you can use your pension while abroad can be beneficial if you plan to travel frequently, or for an extended period. This way, you’ll know how far your money can stretch, which will help to determine how long and where you can travel.
Get in touch: Reach out today to learn more about how OFX can help you with your money transfer needs.
Take advantage of discounts
You’ve reached that wonderful stage of life only afforded to students and retirees where discounts are now the norm. Take advantage of this wherever you can. Ask about whether places like accommodation, restaurants and more are willing to offer discounts for seniors when working with a professional. They may have the insider knowledge for discounts not listed on websites.
To get an idea however, Southwest and British Airways offer decent airfare discounts for those aged 65 and over. And there’s even some terms by country. Belgium for example, offer seniors aged 65 and over 6.50 euro tickets for non-peak train trips, and France give seniors aged 60 and over the opportunity to purchase Carte Senior+ for 60 euros. This allows for discounts of 25-50% on train travel.
Go one better, once you’re abroad, ask the local guides in your area about discounts. Accor Hotels own many familiar chains, but they also have senior discounts (that vary for each hotel), so you could ask local guides to point you in the direction of which chain would be offering great deals at a certain time in your trip.
Early financial planning can go a long way
It seems an obvious one, make sure you budget appropriately, and leave a little extra as a safety net should any emergencies occur, or if you’d just like a few extra souvenirs instead.
But something not always factored into a travel budget is the exchange rates. So if you needed to transfer money from the UK to Europe and you transferred at a time where the pound is valued highly, you end up ‘losing’ money in the exchange. And travel doesn’t come cheap, so you’ll want to make sure you save as much as possible. While banks are often an expensive way to transfer money abroad, you have other options for transferring your travel money.
International money transfers specialists OFX often deal in transferring pensions abroad, among other use cases, and are the experts in the area of global money transfers. Which means you can get tailored service and a 24/7 phone support line at your disposal to make a transfer abroad. This means you can get on with enjoying your hard-earned retirement funds instead of worrying about them!
IMPORTANT: The contents of this blog do not constitute financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. UKForex Limited (trading as “OFX”) and its affiliates make no recommendation as to the merits of any financial strategy or product referred to in the blog. OFX makes no warranty, express or implied, concerning the suitability, completeness, quality or exactness of the information and models provided in this blog.
