What's on your travel bucket list?
Question: My husband and I plan to retire in just a few years. We have started thinking about our "to do list" of places we should go. If you were in our situation, where would you suggest?
Answer: Thank you so much for your email, and I know you are happy to be thinking about traveling, but I have to ask: why are you waiting until you retire?
Today is what we have. Do not waste it, because, as a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service, I see this happen way too often: the kids or grandkids need help; we become caretakers for a parent(s); the back or knees go out to the point that we must slow down; a pandemic blindsides us. Life happens.
Our precious vacation dreams — and all those wonderful plans we had saved to enjoy — are put on the back burner. Our tomorrow never comes. Therefore, from the top of my lungs, I am screaming: go now!
How lucky we are as Americans to have so many choices where we are permitted to travel, but, then again, that only adds to the dilemma. I know you wanted a simple 1-2-3 answer, but, when it comes to travel, I am like the kid whose mama gives him a $20 bill, sends him into the candy store, and tells him to buy only one thing.
To answer your question about where I would spend my hard earned travel dollars in my retirement, my mind raced all over the world before coming up with my 5 top choices. I decided on these destinations, because , like the old song on the radio that can make you smile, no matter where you are or how much time has passed, the trip memories still make me happy. To be honest, travel is such a personal thing that, one day, you may stand in the exact same spot as I did and say, "What the heck? Is this it?" Yet, because you asked, here are my top choices for your retirement "to go" list:
*Got to go to Italy. What an amazing country! We appreciated the history and talent that made Rome, Venice and Florence so special, but we found the hilltowns and vineyards of Tuscany, the Lake District around Bellagio, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast to be magical. I really hate to be so vague, but you could just throw a dart outside of the Big 3--Rome, Florence, and Venice-- and I would love it. Get off the beaten path, and you will understand why Italy should be on your retirement radar.
*The ads all say "It is better in the Bahamas," but, personally, I would take Hawaii any day! Maui has always been our favorite island, but we have found something to love about the others — Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii — too. These islands are each very diverse with so much to offer. Allow the time to appreciate and explore all they bring to the vacation table to decide the best island for you or just give me a call at Monroe Travel Service. There is so much more to Hawaii than a great beach!
*The Pacific Northwest should make everyone's travel list! Majestic is the word that comes to mind when I think of this travel corridor. You can do it in bits and pieces on several trips or like we did. We started in Seattle, explored the charming towns in the area around the Puget Sound, then took the train to Vancouver, Canada. From this city, which is as cool as San Francisco, we took the ferry to the little island of Victoria where we checked out the beauty of Buchart Gardens and the harbor area, before returning back to Vancouver. We then hopped aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train and headed into all that stunning beauty of the Canadian Rockies. What a ride! Mother Nature has done some of her best work in this western area of Canada where little towns like Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise are a delight to experience.
*I find the French to be neither rude nor haughty, but they are prideful of their beautiful country, and, after vacationing there, I, too, think it is an amazing destination. Spend time in Paris, see the Louvre, and dine well, but you must leave the City of Lights in the rear view mirror. Go and catch up on your WWII history in Normandy. Be overwhelmed by the strategy, the bravery, and the price of freedom. We did this area on our own the first time with our kids, but we later found a river cruise to be the perfect way to slow down and "hear" the story. Versailles, Mont St. Michele,Carcassone, Dijon, Lyon, and the French Riviera all blew us away. Invest some time in France, and you will quickly understand why it is the world's #1 tourist destination.
*If natural beauty is your thing, then, New Zealand should make your travel list, but if that is too far to travel, I have compromises. Go, fall in love with the green, green fields of Ireland. Take the Glacier Express in Switzerland, visit the Black Forest of Germany, hear the music of Austria, revel at the Military Tattoo in Scotland, or let Holland's Kukenoff Gardens blow you away. Istanbul has the Blue Mosque, Portugal has the Duoro, Mexico has Cancun, Peru has MachuPicchu, New York has Broadway...and the list goes on and on.
In the end, just like there is no right or wrong way to go about retirement, there is no such thing as one size fits all in the world of travel. What works for one person may not work for another. Think of travel like you did your job. Invest time and energy into it. As a travel agent, we can show you ways to maximize the experience but finding out where and what makes you the happiest--for both now and in the years to come--is a question only you can answer.
Thank you for your email . You are smart to be planning ahead. I only hope that when your "someday" --you know, that retirement journey you have worked for--does arrive, you will be on top of the world. Call me, because I would definitely love to help you enjoy the view !
Dianne Newcomer is a travel agent at Monroe Travel Service. For help with your next vacation, please call one of our experienced professionals at 318 323 3465 or email INFO@MONROETRAVEL.com for free advice on traveling the world.
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: What's on your travel bucket list?
