Travel: the complete guide to going further, slower and for longer

Most travel advice is written for people with two weeks off and a list of things to tick. This guide is for the opposite situation: you have more time than you used to, a body that would rather not sprint through three airports, and no wish to see eleven cities in ten days. It is about travelling further, slower and for longer — and doing the unglamorous preparation that makes a long trip go well.

Nothing here is medical or financial advice. If you have a health condition, check with your GP (family doctor) before a long trip, and treat insurance and money points as general information.

What slow travel actually means

Slow travel is not a style or a slogan. It is a handful of practical choices:

• Fewer places, longer stays. A week to a month somewhere, rather than two nights each in six towns.
• Surface travel where it makes sense. Trains and ferries instead of flights for the legs where the door-to-door time is close.
• The quiet months. Spring and autumn rather than August; a summer resort in May.
• A daily rhythm you could keep for a month. Walk somewhere, eat lunch out, sit on a bench, come back.

Done well it is often cheaper per day than the usual kind, easier on the knees, and far more memorable, because you were there long enough to notice things. Our long stays and house-sitting article covers the mechanics of staying put for 30 to 90 days.

Budgeting for a longer trip

A long stay costs less per night than a short one but more in total, and the money goes out differently: rent by the week or month, groceries rather than restaurants, a rail pass or advance tickets rather than one return flight.

Three things make the biggest difference. Self-catering turns eating out from a daily cost into an occasional pleasure. Off-season pricing on apartments can be a fraction of the peak rate. And discounts that exist because of your age are worth claiming: in the UK, the Senior Railcard is open to anyone aged 60 or over and gives a third off most rail fares for £35 a year (or £80 for three years).

Two warnings from official sources. The US State Department advises telling your bank or card company you will be abroad so they do not freeze your account. And the US Federal Trade Commission’s list of rental-scam warning signs applies anywhere: premium properties at very cheap prices, vague details, pressure to decide quickly, and any owner who will only take payment by wire transfer, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency. Pay by a method that can be reversed.

This is general information, not financial advice. How you fund a long trip is a question for you and, if you want one, a regulated adviser.

Health: the preparation that starts early

The single most useful habit is to start the health side six to eight weeks out. NHS Fit for Travel says that is the ideal time to book a travel health appointment, so that any vaccines have time to work, and it specifically recommends a travel health risk assessment for older people and for anyone with a long-term condition that needs medication. The CDC says something similar for US travellers: see a doctor at least one month before you go.

Medicines need thought on a long trip. The CDC’s advice is to pack enough for the whole trip plus a few days’ extra in case of delays, to keep prescriptions in their original containers with a copy of the prescription, and to take only medicine you brought with you. The State Department suggests carrying a letter from your healthcare provider listing conditions, allergies and medications.

On the journey itself: the NHS lists a journey of more than four hours by plane, car or train as a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and being over 60 as another. Its advice for long journeys is loose clothing, plenty of water, no alcohol, and walking around when you can. If you have a condition, or have had a clot before, ask your GP what else is sensible for you.

Insurance: what changes after 50

Insurance is the part people skip and the part that decides whether a bad day abroad is an inconvenience or a disaster. MoneyHelper, the UK government-backed money guidance service, suggests medical cover of at least £1 million in Europe and £2 million elsewhere, and says to buy the policy as soon as you book so that cancellation cover starts straight away. It also notes that if you are over 65 or have a medical condition you may need a specialist insurer.

UK travellers should also carry a GHIC, the UK Global Health Insurance Card. It is free, lasts up to five years, and gives access to state healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you get home in the EEA and a few other places — but the NHS is clear that it does not replace travel insurance and does not cover being flown home.

US travellers face a blunter fact. Medicare.gov says Medicare “usually doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S.”, with only narrow exceptions. Some Medigap policies cover emergency care abroad; check yours, and read our travel insurance after 50 article for the full picture on declaring conditions and where to compare.

Solo or with a group?

Travelling alone after 50 is common, and slow travel suits it, because a long stay gives you routine and the acquaintances that grow from it. The FCDO’s advice for solo travellers is practical: book your first night’s accommodation before you leave, leave an itinerary with someone at home and agree how often you will be in touch, use only official taxis, and remember that “being safe is more important than being polite”.

Group tours, walking holidays and rail journeys with a leader all give a solo trip a spine without taking away your independence. The Ramblers alone run over 500 groups and some 50,000 group walks in Britain, which is a lot of ready-made company. Our solo travel after 50 article covers safety, single supplements and meeting people.

Accessibility

A slow trip is, in many ways, the accessible trip: one base, short distances, no daily repacking, and time to do things at your pace. The work is in the questions you ask before you book. “Accessible” on a listing means nothing until someone has told you, in writing, how many steps there are to the door and whether the shower is walk-in. The State Department’s advice is simply to find out ahead of time what accessibility accommodations are available at the places you will visit. Trains in the UK, much of Europe and the US offer booked assistance; ask when you book, not on the platform.

Two ways of travelling that suit people over 50 particularly well

Walking holidays. A route walked over a week, with your bag sent ahead by van, or a base with day walks from it. You set the distance. See walking holidays for beginners.

Trains. Arrive in the middle of the city, rested, with your luggage, and turn a travel day into part of the trip. Sleeper trains make a night’s journey a night’s sleep. See travelling by train after 50.

Before you go: the checks that catch people out

• Passport. For UK passport holders visiting the Schengen area, gov.uk says your passport must have been issued less than ten years before you arrive and be valid for at least three months after you plan to leave. The State Department tells US travellers over 65 to have documents valid for at least six months after they return.
• Length of stay. UK visitors to the Schengen area can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and earlier visits count towards it. Overstaying can mean a ban of up to three years.
• Official advice. The FCDO’s foreign travel advice pages cover entry requirements, safety and health for 226 countries and territories, and you can sign up for email alerts for the country you are visiting.
• Register. US citizens can enrol in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get alerts from the local embassy.

If you want all of this laid out as worksheets — choosing the kind of trip, a budget template, an insurance checklist and a twelve-week countdown — our Slow Travel After 50 planning workbook is exactly that.

This week

• Check your passport dates against the rules for your likely destination.
• Write the one-sheet list of conditions and medicines for an insurance quote.
• If you are in the UK and over 60, look at whether a Senior Railcard pays for itself on your next two trips.
• Choose one of the five articles above and read it with a specific month in mind.