Travel tips and advice: our top blog articles

To us, a safe and comfortable trip is as important as one that’s immersive, authentic, and filled with insights from our passionate local agents. Particularly as we age, it’s necessary to put a little more planning into a trip to make sure your vacation is as enjoyable as possible. We’ve rounded up our top tips for seniors to plan a safe and smart trip abroad. From planning with your individual needs and accessibility in mind, to understanding destination-specific health advisories, these are the essentials for you to remember as you put together an enriching journey. As you’re deciding where to travel, and up until the time of your departure, don’t forget to also keep an eye on any government travel warnings and advisories, helping you stay up-to-date on everything from crime risks to natural disasters.

Whether you’re traveling near or far, it’s always a good idea to put together a checklist of personal essentials and make an effort to pack light, two aspects we feature in our guide to planning safe and smart travel. Packing smart and traveling light is in fact a necessity, if you’re looking to do your bit and travel more responsibly. From rounding up your eco-friendly toiletries to building a capsule travel wardrobe, small steps can make a big impact for the planet and the local communities whose homes you’ll be exploring. To find out more, read up on our top packing tips for responsible travel.

Europe is a wonderfully diverse continent to explore in-depth, and in some of our top articles we uncover ways in which to make the most of your trip across the pond. From getting to know eco-friendly destinations in Europe such as Switzerland’s Zurich and Spain’s Valencia, to planning ahead by researching travel warnings and advisories for your destination, our best travel tips for Europe will help you make the most of your time abroad. Consider ways in which to travel with a responsible mindset, to benefit yourself, the local community, and the planet: plan ahead for using responsible transport (exploring by train is a particularly useful and scenic way to see multiple European countries in one trip), and consider shoulder season travel when prices are lower, crowds are fewer, and the weather is often at its most pleasant.

No matter where it is you’re off to next, our blog features a wealth of articles designed to help you plan a responsible trip. We dive into eco-friendly travel tips for seeing majestic wildlife, staying in sustainable accommodation, helping our oceans while traveling, and even ticking off your bucket list in a respectful and eco-conscious way. There are many ways in which you can enrich your travel experiences while helping your chosen destination to flourish; browse our articles and connect with our locally-based agents for more guidance.

When planning a trip, locally-based travel outlets are often overlooked in favor of big name, global companies. This is a real shame. Local travel shops will not only benefit a lot more from your investment, but often provide a much more authentic experience.

Admittedly, a known brand is more visible and it may be tempting to believe this will help save time, effort, and perhaps even money. Yet, you may well find it’s both quicker and cheaper to choose a local travel company – and you’ll enjoy plenty of unexpected positives in the process.

Of those positives, here are just 10 that come to mind:

1. There’s no rush to fit everything in: you can create your own itinerary, see what you want in the time you have, and go at your own pace.
2. You can choose whether you want to join a group tour or go private: you can choose who you want to travel with, whether that’s a large group full of new people to meet or a private tour with your nearest and dearest.
3. Your local guide knows the area better than anyone; they may have even grown up there.
4. Their first-hand knowledge means they always know the best places to eat!
5. A smaller group means more opportunities to chat with your local tour guide.
6. Getting away from the tourist spots means a more authentic, more memorable experience.
7. You’ll benefit from greater flexibility: when planning your itinerary, local travel guides can customize it depending on your budget. They could upgrade your accommodation if you want to splash out, or offer alternatives like taking the local bus if you want to cut down on costs.
8. Depending on the destination (some countries legally require tourists to have a guide), you can be in control over how much of your trip is guided, so you’ll still have the opportunity to explore on your own.
9. It’s cheaper to spend less time in tourist hot spots and go off the beaten track.
10. Your local guide can inform you on culture and customs, as well as where is safe to explore and what to avoid.