Top 10 Vacation Spots for Senior Adults

Enjoying the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Senior adults (aka the "Baby Boomers") have time and money on their hands, hence they enjoy a bit of traveling from time to time. These are the Top 10 vacation spots they like to go outside of the United States. 

For any company tracking current senior market research in order to reach this market, consider these popular travel destinations in your marketing plans.

1. France: The lifestyle and culture of France make it a place that senior travelers must visit. France is considered the top travel destinations by many people in the world. The reason for this include the famous French cuisine, French wines, and the rich heritage and culture of this country. The magnificent Alps, soaring churches, historic castles, waterfalls, lakes, and there are many more places to enchant the senior travelers in their trip to France. And, of course, the Eiffel Tower in Paris is a huge draw.

2. Italy: Rome is the seat of Catholic power and it attracts the visitors from all over the world, seniors or otherwise. Apart from that you get the opportunity to see St. Peter’s Basilica, the massive Colosseum, and many more places. The affordable costs of lodging, meals, and well-maintained public transport makes Italy a great place for senior travelers.

3. Switzerland: There are many travel packages that are available for travel to Switzerland. These packages are specially catered according to the needs of senior travelers and the affordability of staying in Switzerland makes it a great destination for travel. Switzerland offers snowy mountains, breathtaking views and beautiful lakes among many other things.

4. Spain: The diversity in the culture of Spain is increased as you travel deep into the country. The casual lifestyle, affordable accommodations, and easy going people of Spain, combine together to make it a great destination for senior travelers.

5. United Kingdom: The UK offers some really attractive perks to make it a senior friendly tourist destination. The Oyster Card, is a prepaid card that allows the seniors to travel in London without spending too much on traveling. There are many senior-friendly places to visit in United Kingdom, which are free for visit to them. 

6. Australia: Another country that offers many benefits to senior travelers if you visit. All the major Australian cities offer superb environment for dining, with a host of cafes, pubs, restaurants, and other dining places. Many of these places have special sections for senior guests. The quaint streets of Australia offer a great environment to enjoy your vacation while walking through them.

7. Caribbean Cruises: The Caribbean Islands are a great place if you want to visit a place that's still close to home. There are many cruises that take senior travelers to these islands. These cruises offer special packages designed especially for senior citizens. They are affordable and offer more facilities for comfortable travel, so that you can enjoy your vacation. Plus, these ocean liners are like full-blown cities on the sea.

8. Kenya: The safari of Kenya, Africa is famous among the travelers all over the world. However, if you think that this wildlife adventure trip is too much for you, then think again. You would get all the luxuries of the world in these safari destinations at affordable costs. The comfort and convenience that senior travelers would get, ensures that they enjoy the thrill of safari with zero-hassles. 

9. Egypt: Another place that offers plenty of sight-seeing opportunity to senior citizens. There are pyramids, the beautiful ancient structures, which make you feel part of a history that is rooted in the beginnings of Middle Eastern civilization.Vacationing in Egypt is a cheaper option than many may think.

10. Dubai: This metropolis in the United Arab Emirates offers you the beauty and grandness of man-made structures all at the same place. If you want to see the biggest collection of man-made islands, world’s tallest building, or world’s most luxurious hotel, you can find all these things at Dubai. You would most luxurious facilities of the world in this place at easily affordable price. It’s a nice place for senior travelers to enjoy their vacation.

Senior Living Situations

Are You Emailing Your Market?

89% of seniors 65+ have personal email and use it regularly (Nielsen).

Majority Rules

Adults 50 and older own 65% of the aggregate net worth of all U.S. households (U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey).

That's A Lot of Shoes!

Women over 50 spend $21 Billion on clothes annually (US Government Consumer Expenditure Survey).

Facts from the Future

By 2030, the 65-plus population will double to about 71.5 million, and by 2050 will grow to 86.7 million people (U.S. Census).

5 Golf Courses to Swing For

The 7th hole at Pebble Beach

Golf is the gentleman's game, the place where business is conducted, where contracts are signed, and where "leisure" and "sport" meet. Strategic planning for seniors and baby boomers by real estate developers and marketers needs to incorporate popular golf courses in the mix.

Pebble Beach Golf

Located in California, this is the best golf course that you can find in the United States. Pebble Beach Golf is perhaps the most talked about golf course in the whole world. This is largely because of the impressive views, the stunning location and the legendary course that it offers. It is one of the best places to golf with its thick rough and fast greens. It is also a challenge for skilled players

Contact info:

Pebble Beach Golf Links & Pro Shop

1700 17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: (831) 622-8723
Fax: (831) 622-8795

Pinehurst Resort

This is the best golf course to take your short game to. It is located in Pinehurst, North Carolina. It is the opinion of many golfers that the Pinehurst Resort is indeed one of the best in the United States. The reason for this is the bevy of courses that it has to offer. It is almost impossible to find a reason not to golf at the Pinehurst Resort. It allows you to practice your putting while bringing your short game.

Contact info:

Pinehurst Resort
80 Carolina Vista Drive
Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374

TPC Sawgrass

This is what many would call the real players golf course. It is a signature golf course full of signature details together with a huge stadium to accommodate spectators. This is what makes Sawgrass one of the best championship courses in the entire world. In fact, it recently played host to the 2012 Players Championship. The 17th hole at the golf course usually gets a lot of attention, however, the 18th hole gets all the credit. The 18th hole, located in a 462-yard, par-4 is guarded by water on its left side making it more challenging for the golfer.

Contact info:

TPC Sawgrass

110 Championship Way

Ponte Vedra Beach

FL 32082, United States

+1 904-273-3235

Bandon Dunes

This golf course is located in Bandon, Oregon. It is simply one of the best in the whole world. The land was perfectly meant for golfing. The thing that gets all the attention is its design, filled with natural terrains in every hill and curve giving the best views you will ever experience. It is also located on the seaside meaning that you can always expect to enjoy the cool ocean breeze as you golf. The trick while golfing at Bandon Dunes is to keep the ball low.

Contact info:

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
57744 Round Lake Drive
Bandon, OR 97411
888-345-6008

Whistling Straits

A world-class resort with a world-class golf course, what else can you ask for? This golfer's paradise is located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The location of the resort is what allows it to have four distinct courses each with different personalities and trademarks. It is indeed a masterpiece. The Whistling Straits golf course is a rugged, open and windswept terrain that gives the true definition of walk-only. It runs for two miles along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Contact info:

Whistling Straits Golf Course

N8501 County LS
Sheboygan, WI 53083

(920) 565-6050

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PMDAS.com

Take Your Senior Vacation

Americans over 55 spend 50% of all vacation dollars in America (ICSC).

Seniors Outspend the Younger Generations

Boomers outspend younger adults online 2:1 on a per-capita basis (Forrester Research).

Top 4 Websites for Seniors

The top four online websites for people over 60 are Google, Facebook, Yahoo and YouTube (AARP).

Top 10 Places in America to Retire

A couple enjoying the good (aka. "retired") life.

When choosing the city you wish to spend your retirement years, you should consider several factors. These factors include; cost of living, senior market, crime rate, climate and environment. You should also consider a stress-free retirement and comfortable area.

Below are our Top 10 places to retire in the U.S.

Hendersonville, N.C.

Hendersonville is located twenty-five minutes drive south of Asheville. This city is friendly and sophisticated with an official state theater, the Flat Rock Playhouse, and you can easily access nearby cities like Atlanta and Greensboro when the mood strikes. Hendersonville boasts amazing waterfalls and a national forest, or if you prefer, a great round of golf.

Naples, Florida

A sophisticated and charming town, the beautiful residential streets are conveniently located near white coral beach. Many elderly people decide to reside in the gated developments near waterways...or, again, you can enjoy playing golf.

St. Augustine, Florida

Located 45 minutes drive from Jacksonville, this town has great weather for outdoor activities, beautiful beaches and a rich history and culture. It boasts a great historic district, art community, fine restaurants and shopping, as well as museums and water sports. St. Augustine has the charm and appeal that many cities lack. You can also enjoy boat riding on the amazing rivers!

Venice, Florida

Venice is known for it's friendly community of about 21,000 people. It has beautiful scenery with several rivers and canals. The citizen get to enjoy the many shops and great restaurants with plenty of parks, public tennis courts as well as Gulf Coast beaches.

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

This is one of the most centralized cities to reside, as you get access to the shore or mountains, both within two hours. Shopping is a-plenty and health care services can be accessed easily around the clock. It is a friendly city, plus, Pennsylvania is the only state where all the lottery profits cater to the seniors.

Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is considered to be the cultural center of Florida, with amazing cultural facilities, historical buildings and institutions. With a population of 52,000 people, there are sure to be friends to be made. 

College Station, Texas

Located between Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, the Gulf of Mexico and the beach a short, three hours way. The city offers a conducive climate, inexpensive housing, shopping, a thriving restaurant scene and more!

San Diego, California

Everyone's heard of San Diego. Shamu and friends are world-famous. The culture of this thriving city is based on catering to all comers, with a significant portion of them being retirees looking for great year-round weather and water views. Shopping, fine dining and exceptional beach fronts keep this city a popular retirement option.

Fort Myers, Florida

A population of 65,000, this city is located along the banks of River Caloosahatchee on southwest Florida's coast. Visit the Thomas Edison Museum or check out the beautiful beaches and numerous golf courses. It is an active city with people of all ages.

Austin, Texas

Austin's greatest attraction is it's amazing mixed culture. The city is fun and retirees will have plenty of activities to engage in. The town has it's young crowd, but it also definitely caters to the senior market as well. Fine dining, live music and more await the retirees who move to the Capitol of Texas.

How Retirement Homes Score in the Senior Market

Rocking out on the porch.

As one enters their senior years, the prospect of rethinking their living arrangements is an essential point that must be taken into serious consideration. Senior living is big business and offers up big choices. One common choice is to sign-up for a retirement community or nursing home for either assisted or independent living - and this can be a stressful time for most seniors. 

Not only will this trigger great emotional upheaval, the thought of finding a comforting place to stay can also be quite overwhelming. There are a lot of options to be taken into consideration such as location, amenities, accessibility, transportation, living style, customer service, and so on. One needs to remember that retirement homes are constantly evolving alongside the changes in science and technology, as well as economics. Let us take a deeper look at the current scenario of most retirement homes across the country today.

Common Features of Retirement Villages

 

There is no doubt that retirement homes or villages, whether aided or independent, make great places for seniors to spend their golden years. Here, they can co-mingle with people their age and enjoy the twilight of life. Today, more and more seniors are reaching out to states like Florida and other areas where development of independent living facilities, or independent CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities), that feature various residential alternatives in apartment style, free-standing homes, mobile homes, or condominiums. These communities are considered havens for everyone across the senior living spectrum.

Independent living senior villages, however, are only proper for seniors who are still fit to do normal activities, albeit perhaps at a slower, steadier pace. Some common features in this senior homes or villages are:

*free-standing living quarters

*recreational facilities

*access to transportation, local community and establishments

*easy access to medical facilities

*social activities

*maintenance and resident assistance

But Are These Enough? 

Well, not anymore. In today's highly volatile real estate senior market, the need for a retirement home that offers topnotch services is deemed essential by both the retirees and their families. The need for a more comfortable set-up, more amenities to enjoy, socialization programs and top caliber customer assistance is crucial for a home or village. Gone are the days when baby boomers simply make do with what is available. They want more! As people grow older, living alone alongside other equally lonely seniors no longer means sipping tea together, crocheting or watching the clock tick.

Today, the 55-year old and up crowd wants state-of-the-art homes with Wi-Fi, golf courses, spa and beauty salons inside the community, regular Yoga or Pilates or Tai chi classes on the community clubhouse, a swimming pool preferably with a water aerobics instructor or a fitness trainer that can handle their physical and health concerns. The senior market demands a community with its own medical facility or, at the very least, a regular doctor for assistance and advice.

Indeed, the market is changing. Seniors want "enjoyment" to be synonymous with "retirement." For real estate firms to be successful in the senior market, it means developing retirement homes or villages that can answer the call for more comfort, luxury and easy living.