Revealed: Amazing holidays for like-minded older travellers, from safaris to walking and cycling tours in Spain and Portugal
- Nearly four in ten Brits are now over 50 – that’s almost 16 million people
- And according to Saga research, they plan to take three holidays this year
- READ MORE: Inside Britain’s most remote mainland community
Every week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: exciting itineraries just for the over-50s.
Over-50s are on the move as more companies join the market that stalwart Saga has cornered for years – civilised holidays for like-minded older travellers with time and cash to spare.
Nearly four in ten Brits are now over 50 – that’s almost 16 million people – and according to Saga research, they plan to take three holidays this year, both at home and overseas. A quarter plan five or more holidays. That means the 50-plus market takes a combined 52 million holidays a year.
Saga Travel boss John Constable says: ‘Six in ten customers tell us they plan to take between two and four holidays this year, whether it’s a personalised safari in Botswana, a rail journey across the Rockies or a Caribbean cruise. There is an increased appetite for both luxurious and intrepid travel.’
It is perhaps one reason the company has bought a fleet of electric bikes for its cruise customers to use on shore excursions this year.
Saga offers a trip that includes elephant and giraffe sanctuary visits and daily game drives alongside Mount Kilimanjaro (above) and across the Ngorongoro Crater
Saga’s itinerary is expanding to include everything from package holidays and small-group escorted tours to road trips, ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive breaks and no-fly travel. Other extras include door-to-door transport to airports and ports, lounge passes and parking, and insurance covering most pre-existing medical conditions.
Top holidays for summer include seven nights beside a Blue Flag beach in Cyprus at the Alexander the Great hotel, where Saga guests have exclusive access to a private Club Lounge and bar. Hosted welcome drinks, guided walks, porterage and a pair of half-day excursions are also included from £859pp including flights.
Or choose a more exotic option with a small-group, 12-night Best Of Kenya & Tanzania Great Migration And Big Game Safari staying in luxury lodges across the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. Includes elephant and giraffe sanctuary visits and daily game drives alongside Mount Kilimanjaro and across the Ngorongoro Crater. From £4,139pp including flights (saga.co.uk).
Responsible Travel in Brighton is another firm tailoring trips to suit over-50s, while cultural and music-based holidays with Kirker Holidays and Martin Randall Travel are popular with older guests.
Solo travellers in the 50-plus market have plenty of new holiday options with Explore! Its small group holidays are particularly sociable, with an average of just 11 guests and a tour manager.
Cuba, Iceland and Spain are top choices for traditional holidays while new walking and cycling tours include an 11-night Walks And Wine Tasting In Spain And Portugal trip, from £1,850pp plus flights. The fully escorted holiday meanders from Madrid to Porto by bus, boat, train and taxi (explore.co.uk).
At Newmarket Holidays, the 50-plus age group will find breaks to Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Hollywood, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, and to Borneo to see orangutans. Highlights for over-60s include nights in a traditional Moroccan riad, yoga in India, and tours to the clifftop monastery of Montserrat in Catalonia.
Closer to home, a popular over-60s short break is the three-night Belfast And Titanic Experience, with museum visits and a city tour. From £340pp including flights and transfers (newmarketholidays.co.uk).
A popular over-60s short break with Newmarket Holidays is the three-night Belfast And Titanic Experience, with museum visits and a city tour. Above is the Titanic Belfast attraction
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