4 Little-Known Vacation Destinations To Add to Your Retirement Bucket List — and What They Cost
Written by
Andrew Lisa
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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Travel is a perennial contender for the No. 1 retirement goal and one of the most fulfilling and enriching ways for seniors to spend discretionary income. But why spend it on trendy, crowded, overpriced and overhyped hotspots when secret escapes off the beaten path offer greater value and an equal or better experience?
The following undiscovered vacation destinations — two domestic and two international — should be top contenders for a spot on the bucket list of every retiree.
Slovenia
Conde Nast Traveler recently profiled the Central European country of Slovenia, which, along with neighboring Croatia, it lauds as a continental gem that rivals anything you’d find in more famous destinations like France, Italy and England — and at a fraction of the cost.
Retirees who dreamed of visiting Europe during their working years can take in Slovenia’s Alpine mountains, glacial lakes, medieval castles, quaint villages, bustling cities, world-renowned gastronomy and Mediterranean coastline on the Adriatic Sea.
Seven-day vacation cost:
- Organized package tours: $977 (budget) to $27,890 (ultra-luxury)
- Independent travel: $377 to $1,882
St. Simons Island, Georgia
If Europe is out of reach, consider an unsung paradise on America’s East Coast that U.S. News & World Report named the No. 1 underrated domestic travel destination. Often overlooked in favor of more famous hotspots in Florida and the Carolinas, St. Simons, Georgia, is the largest of the Golden Isles.
Travel + Leisure calls it a “retiree haven with pristine beaches” and suggests seniors not just consider visiting the barrier island, but retiring there for its restaurants, natural beauty, locally owned shops, tight-knit community and casual vibe.
Average cost per day:
- Budget: $93
- Mid-range: $211
- Luxury: $401
Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Retirees who aspire to international travel without crossing an ocean should consider Gros Morne National Park, which Travel + Leisure calls one of Canada’s least-visited but most stunning national parks.
This “hidden wonder” receives fewer than 250,000 annual visitors, compared to 4.5 million for the popular and crowded Banff National Park. Its 700 square miles include soaring mountains, lush forests, rocky coastlines, vast expanses of arid moonscape and one of North America’s largest moose populations.
- Cost: Several senior-specific organized Canada tours are available that include Gros Morne for between $310 and $369 per day.
Galena, Illinois
History buffs or retirees seeking an escape to a quaint and historic but bustling small town shouldn’t let Galena, Illinois, pass them by. It hosts year-round events like balloon races and winter snowshoeing, but the real draw is the perfectly preserved 19th-century buildings, most notably the 1826 Dowling House and the Ulysses S. Grant Home.
As part of a unique region that escaped glaciation, Galena is surrounded by stunning scenery, including bluff vistas and dramatic hills — you can see three states from Horseshoe Mound. The town itself is home to charming shops, boutiques, restaurants, attractions and events, many of which are priced for retirees and other budget travelers.
- Average cost of accommodations: Rooms in hotels, inns and B&Bs start in the low-$100s and three-star hotels start in the mid-$100s.
Editor’s note: All prices are from Budget Your Trip.
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