3 Budget-Friendly Ways To Travel In Retirement

Retirement opens up a whole new range of options, with fewer responsibilities and more time spent enjoying yourself. Travelling in retirement can be especially appealing, taking the time to see things and explore locations you've always dreamed of. The only downside is the price, but it doesn't have to be! This short guide explains three budget-friendly ways of spending your retirement travelling and exploring. 

1. Try Backpacking

Backpacking typically has a reputation as a young person's game, but it doesn't have to be. Hostels have changed a lot since your youth, and you can get private rooms with fantastic facilities at a great price, as well as meeting people from all over the world. Just suggests that you might even want to combine volunteering and backpacking to save some extra money at the same time as giving something back. Backpacking is particularly suitable for those who want to explore far-flung locations, who are reasonably physically fit, and who want to experience a wide variety of things in a short time. 

2. Buy A Caravan

If you want to see more of your own country, then buying a caravan might be a fantastic budget-friendly option. You can go wherever you like and pay relatively small fees to park your caravan, but you'll also be able to decorate and equip it how you like, meaning you can take your essential home comforts along with you. Think carefully about what kind of caravan would suit your needs, from pop top caravans to off-road caravans. Also, as the Camping and Caravan Club suggests, you should look at a few different caravans before you commit to one, and ask an expert's advice. 

3. Try House Swapping

If you live in a location that people might want to visit, and you want to live like a local wherever you go, you may want to consider house swapping. Essentially, someone comes to live in your house while you go to live in theirs – simple, low-budget and without the worries that come with leaving your home unattended. Search online for reliable house swapping sites, and as the Telegraph suggests, make sure you know exactly what you're looking for, and on what terms it's offered before you commit. House swapping is a great way to get to know a location while saving some cash.

Travelling can seem like an expensive way to spend your retirement, but it doesn't have to be. Think carefully about what you want to do and see, how far you want to go, and choose an option that suits you, whether it's a hostel for some exotic sightseeing or an off-road caravan for some rural activities.