I hope the Op and respondents above actually have a life byond this forum. Otherwise how is everyone doing otherwise ?

No question it's best to do your traveling while you are you still healthy, mobile and coherent. I feel like there's many places remaining on my bucket list and I hope I'm able to see a number of them in the next 5 years.

On 4/12/2026 at 10:44 AM, MisterTee said:

You should do your travelling early in life - see the world with young eyes.

Those experiences , both good and bad, become part of what and who you are .

Wasting your best years at some mind-numbing job and looking forward to travel and "really living" after you retire is beyond self-delusion.

I agree with a lot of what you say but there is a lot of benefits travelling when older, as long as your health is there. As you get older, you suffer fools less, but are more tolerant, you see things with eyes that have much more experience. You probably appreciate the differences between places more. You probably are a lot more easy going and in less of a rush to "Do Everything on a day" - Both situations have their pro's and con's. Health is the main issue.

On 4/12/2026 at 5:44 AM, MisterTee said:

You should do your travelling early in life - see the world with young eyes.

Those experiences , both good and bad, become part of what and who you are .

Wasting your best years at some mind-numbing job and looking forward to travel and "really living" after you retire is beyond self-delusion.

Even better is to travel when young AND old. If you still can.

7 hours ago, Shwaman said:

I hope the Op and respondents above actually have a life byond this forum. Otherwise how is everyone doing otherwise ?

That was quite the impressive post 😊 You obviously had nothing better to do. Ironic.

After a lifetime of travel, and at 85 years of age, I prefer the comforts of home.

5 hours ago, Vlada Floric said:

I agree with a lot of what you say but there is a lot of benefits travelling when older, as long as your health is there. As you get older, you suffer fools less, but are more tolerant, you see things with eyes that have much more experience. You probably appreciate the differences between places more. You probably are a lot more easy going and in less of a rush to "Do Everything on a day" - Both situations have their pro's and con's. Health is the main issue.

In practice, I do not agree with your statement. I started young, was easy going and didn't rush to do or see everything in a day, as you put it. Neither my friends.

We cycled across countries and always travelled with respect to the different cultures. Not every young person goes to holiday resorts and gets drunk.

Even when we went to popular holiday resorts, we travelled independently, discovering nooks and crannies away from the tourists.

Plus being young, we met young girls along the way 😊

How many old people do you see with backpacks?

The things we achieved are outside the remit of most older people. Not all, but many people have health issues when older.

Older people tend to plan everything out in advance, with guided tours, cruises and the like.... boring. Saying that, I did cruises as a child.

How would you have experience, if you hadn't travelled until you are older? Experience of what? Your little bubble consisting of home, work and two week holidays here and there?

Sorry, but no. Don't waste your youth.

On 4/12/2026 at 10:44 AM, MisterTee said:

You should do your travelling early in life - see the world with young eyes.

Those experiences , both good and bad, become part of what and who you are .

Wasting your best years at some mind-numbing job and looking forward to travel and "really living" after you retire is beyond self-delusion. Not many people can afford to travel when there young they are busy making money to support there families.

Everyone is complaining about how hot it is in Thailand but Thailand hasn’t changed its ways, still polluting the county with fires that are set for no real reason, burning crops, starting forest fires because no one cares, cars and trucks that bomb you with think smoke, factories with no pollution control. So this is what you get for playing with Mother Nature. You made your bed so sleep in it. Ever wonder why Thailand has so many people with Cancer? Just take a look outside. It’s only going to get worse.

15 minutes ago, pchansmorn said:

Everyone is complaining about how hot it is in Thailand but Thailand hasn’t changed its ways, still polluting the county with fires that are set for no real reason, burning crops, starting forest fires because no one cares, cars and trucks that bomb you with think smoke, factories with no pollution control. So this is what you get for playing with Mother Nature. You made your bed so sleep in it. Ever wonder why Thailand has so many people with Cancer? Just take a look outside. It’s only going to get worse.

What is that to do with 'travelling when getting older'? 😊 Wrong thread?

29 minutes ago, pchansmorn said:

Not many people can afford to travel when there young they are busy making money to support there families.

There's the option to travel before they start a family.

6 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

After a lifetime of travel, and at 85 years of age, I prefer the comforts of home.

I guess your last one will be a ...funeral Home!

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I guess your last one will be a ...funeral Home!

..and yours.

On 4/15/2026 at 5:50 PM, IsmeUno said:

What is that to do with 'travelling when getting older'? 😊 Wrong thread?

Quite, a bit like the relationship discussions that have appeared.

Over the years I have travelled most of Thailand an neighbouring countries. Now I am touching 80 I have to consider how to make the journey a bit more and if it it is worth it.

On 4/16/2026 at 8:51 AM, Thingamabob said:

..and yours.

Your going first Bob !

9 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Your going first Bob !

Time will tell. Still able to clean my own teeth. Socks and shoes more of a challenge !

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Quite, a bit like the relationship discussions that have appeared.

Over the years I have travelled most of Thailand an neighbouring countries. Now I am touching 80 I have to consider how to make the journey a bit more and if it it is worth it.

Relationships are pertinent. Without a travel partner, I would not have considered to travel quite as much, other than to find a nice place and to spend more time there. Some trips are suited to solo travel and some are best with a partner. I mean a real partner, rather than someone for whom you have to pay and who has no real input.

I may choose the cities/countries, wherein the girl will choose the places of interest to visit. We'll both search for suitable accommodation or just 'wing it' along the way. We've done a lot of worldwide travel together.

So relationships matter. Perhaps even more so when older.

On 4/12/2026 at 10:44 AM, MisterTee said:

You should do your travelling early in life - see the world with young eyes.

Those experiences , both good and bad, become part of what and who you are .

Wasting your best years at some mind-numbing job and looking forward to travel and "really living" after you retire is beyond self-delusion.

And yet that is exactly what the majority of Westerners do, too late realizing that the "one day" before their "I will do this or travel there" was just another word for "never".

22 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

Relationships are pertinent. Without a travel partner, I would not have considered to travel quite as much, other than to find a nice place and to spend more time there. Some trips are suited to solo travel and some are best with a partner. I mean a real partner, rather than someone for whom you have to pay and who has no real input.

I may choose the cities/countries, wherein the girl will choose the places of interest to visit. We'll both search for suitable accommodation or just 'wing it' along the way. We've done a lot of worldwide travel together.

So relationships matter. Perhaps even more so when older.

Like many others, context appears to outside your vocabularly.

The topic is about travelling, and there may preferences in respect of single, couple or group.

The ins and outs of the relationship are absolutely irrelevant. If someone does not want to travel alone it is no concern of anyone the choice of travel companion.

23 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Time will tell. Still able to clean my own teeth. Socks and shoes more of a challenge !

The old squats Bob ...

I asked a gay old man last night in the gym 81yo what's the secret ...plenty of squatting .. squat...squat

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Like many others, context appears to outside your vocabularly.

The topic is about travelling, and there may preferences in respect of single, couple or group.

The ins and outs of the relationship are absolutely irrelevant. If someone does not want to travel alone it is no concern of anyone the choice of travel companion.

I could hardly read what seems to be a somewhat confusing muddle of words.

Travelling when older. Perhaps unlike yourself, I've read here about the experiences of those who attempt such a pursuit.

Most oldies tend to get as far as domestic travel or taking their local spouses to their home countries. Alternatively, they might go on a solo cruise or guided tour. You, of course, are welcome to demonstrate otherwise.

As a younger person, my travels were far more extensive and being in an equitable relationship, with someone who relished the thought of us travelling together, travelled a great number of times worldwide.

If honestly, I have no idea as to what you are going on about, but I do know that every now and again you get a bee in your bonnet over the most trivial of things.

For me, travel and relationships go together. There are lots of places that I simply would not have visited were I not in an equitable relationship. If that fact bothers you, you are just going to have to deal with the issue all by yourself. I cannot help you.

Tells us about your travels. Young and old. Better than whinging and whining about nothing.

Another relevant point about travelling when older, is the lack of people with whom to travel. As a young person, it is/was easy to find travelling companions.

I remember doing so when I wanted to travel to Greece. Put feelers out for a travel companion and met a girl. Turn out she misread my post and thought I wanted a 'track partner'. 😊 Anyway, we went to lie down to talk about it and I woke up to her cat biting one of my big toes. Happily not painfully 😊

Throughout the years, I reached out to others and answered the call of others and made quite a few acquaintances along the way, worldwide.

How many who waited to travel when older have similar experiences? Travelling helped me to understand that there are really nice people out there, like myself 😊

The GOM(grumpy old men) are likely the ones who didn't travel when younger. Far more narrow minded, than experienced.

I see the GOM have arrived 😊

I did most of my foreign travel after I was 22. Some for work some for fun. Then again when I got married (wife from another country) then again in my 50's, ending up in Thailand. Now in my 70's, just to see kids and grandkids mainly in the UK or domestic once a year in Thailand.

Travel harder now, cannot lift heavy cases and legs slowing up. Travel lighter and sometimes let wife decide. 24 countries in total, probably no new ones now, also budget restricts holidays. Just the permanent holiday in Thailand and UK in the future.

My parents travelled a lot and took us kids with them. "Travelling and seeing how and under which circumstances other people live widens your horizon."

I kept that habit since I was a teenager, started travelling with friends or the actual gf, first all over Europe, later other continents too.

Interestingly I found out, you do not only learn a lot about the people from the countries you visit, you also learn a lot about the people with whom you travel, if they are really good and reliable friends or if they are selfish and not trustworthy, same goes with girl friends; you get a pretty accurate impression of how a life with her would be if you travel with her.

From the people in the visited countries, mostly Southern Europe, I learned that, working your butt off, being the fastest in the rat race, having the largest number in your bank account and all that is not necessarily the best way to a happy life.

I have to admit in order to really learn something from the places I visited, I always spent a few hours learning a bit of the local language before my journey. I had observed that most travelers, especially when from Northern Europe, the UK and the US spend most of their time at the hotel buffet, at the hotel pool and in some entertainment venue. Not me, well except the entertainment venues.

Many locals keep their distance from tourists because many of them perceive us as arrogant and acting like we can do whatever we want because we come from more developed and richer countries, which unfortunately sometimes is the truth.

However, there is no better way to break the ice than to speak a few words of their language and to adapt to their traditions.

And yes, all that did widen my horizon, because in my early 40ies I had pretty much visited every continent (I left Antarctica out), could compare the different climate zones, mentalities and infrastructures and therefore I KNEW Thailand was the place I want to spend the rest of my my life.

Now living in Thailand for about 15 years I do not feel this urge to travel anymore and I have to admit with 62 it would not be as easy as back in the day.

So my advice is, do your traveling in an age when health does not limit certain activities, choose your travel companion wisely as the wrong one might ruin the whole journey and most importantly if you learn a bit about the local customs and language you will not have to bother about finding the right travel companion as you won´t need one.

6 hours ago, Somjot said:

My parents travelled a lot and took us kids with them. "Travelling and seeing how and under which circumstances other people live widens your horizon."

I kept that habit since I was a teenager, started travelling with friends or the actual gf, first all over Europe, later other continents too.

Interestingly I found out, you do not only learn a lot about the people from the countries you visit, you also learn a lot about the people with whom you travel, if they are really good and reliable friends or if they are selfish and not trustworthy, same goes with girl friends; you get a pretty accurate impression of how a life with her would be if you travel with her.

From the people in the visited countries, mostly Southern Europe, I learned that, working your butt off, being the fastest in the rat race, having the largest number in your bank account and all that is not necessarily the best way to a happy life.

I have to admit in order to really learn something from the places I visited, I always spent a few hours learning a bit of the local language before my journey. I had observed that most travelers, especially when from Northern Europe, the UK and the US spend most of their time at the hotel buffet, at the hotel pool and in some entertainment venue. Not me, well except the entertainment venues.

Many locals keep their distance from tourists because many of them perceive us as arrogant and acting like we can do whatever we want because we come from more developed and richer countries, which unfortunately sometimes is the truth.

However, there is no better way to break the ice than to speak a few words of their language and to adapt to their traditions.

And yes, all that did widen my horizon, because in my early 40ies I had pretty much visited every continent (I left Antarctica out), could compare the different climate zones, mentalities and infrastructures and therefore I KNEW Thailand was the place I want to spend the rest of my my life.

Now living in Thailand for about 15 years I do not feel this urge to travel anymore and I have to admit with 62 it would not be as easy as back in the day.

So my advice is, do your traveling in an age when health does not limit certain activities, choose your travel companion wisely as the wrong one might ruin the whole journey and most importantly if you learn a bit about the local customs and language you will not have to bother about finding the right travel companion as you won´t need one.

I concur with most of what you have written.

I can say with certainty who were the rudest and most obnoxious tourists I discovered on my travels. Without a doubt the peoples who are currently smashing up religious symbols in other people's countries. That is with no malice nor exaggeration. The most disrespectful people I have ever met. From Europe to Asia...terrible.

Agree with learning about people with whom you travel, including yourself 😊

At one time I would use it to vet potential girlfriends. I remember being on a first date with a French girl, Emmanuelle, at a restaurant and during the date felt that we could go travelling to Thailand together. So I asked her there and then and that was that. She called her sister and we made plans.

Travelling alone also builds character. You learn how to present yourself, how to create trust and also how others may see you. You become more adaptable.

In fact I would actively encourage people to tell me what they saw in me. Unlike many here who recoil in horror at being told about themselves 😊

But I also enjoy travelling with someone. That's a different experience. Shared memories. Whilst you meet people along the way when travelling alone, relationships can be fleeting. So it's nice to be able to do things with someone on a longer term. To make plans and have travel experiences over weeks and months, even years.

Most of the things I experienced travelling as a young person, would not have occurred as an older person.

The other thing...acts of kindness. You can potentially experience many examples of this, which can also shape your own behaviour. People have done things for me, that I might have been reluctant to do for others. That spurred me on to be even nicer...and I thought I was nice in the first place 😊 In fact people would tell me that they saw niceness emanating from me. They could just tell. Perhaps that is why people were nice with me, as that allowed them to show their best sides too.

So many amazing experiences, with people being their wonderful best. I try to keep that ethos. Not always easy, but when you've experienced the best, why settle for less?

In some instances, it turned almost into a competition of niceness. Each wanting to show gratitude in appreciation.

My life has many of those people in it. People who will do their best without asking anything in return. Being good is it's own reward. Travel has helped to instil that in me. Not that it wasn't there before, but it was proof of concept. Even people who you might think would not be friendly, acting in ways you wouldn't expect. In Spain, police being exceptionally helpful. In both Spain and Morocco, mechanics waving you off when you try to pay. Thailand too.

So whilst I jested a little about GOM, I was also serious. People who don't travel and broaden their horizons, can end up with a limited and/or jaded view of the world. More easily brainwashed by propaganda and endless negative media reports.

My world is full of amazing people. I endeavour to be amongst that number.

If you haven't travelled before, do it. Young or old.

On 4/18/2026 at 4:45 AM, IsmeUno said:

I could hardly read what seems to be a somewhat confusing muddle of words.

Travelling when older. Perhaps unlike yourself, I've read here about the experiences of those who attempt such a pursuit.

Most oldies tend to get as far as domestic travel or taking their local spouses to their home countries. Alternatively, they might go on a solo cruise or guided tour. You, of course, are welcome to demonstrate otherwise.

As a younger person, my travels were far more extensive and being in an equitable relationship, with someone who relished the thought of us travelling together, travelled a great number of times worldwide.

If honestly, I have no idea as to what you are going on about, but I do know that every now and again you get a bee in your bonnet over the most trivial of things.

For me, travel and relationships go together. There are lots of places that I simply would not have visited were I not in an equitable relationship. If that fact bothers you, you are just going to have to deal with the issue all by yourself. I cannot help you.

Tells us about your travels. Young and old. Better than whinging and whining about nothing.

You could have gone off topic with a much shorter post.

On 4/16/2026 at 12:37 AM, georgegeorgia said:

I guess your last one will be a ...funeral Home!

Stupid again from you. How many people live past 100? My granddad passed away at the age of 113, and my sister is 87 now, keep mopping floors in hospitals, so you are close to the ones dying

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

You could have gone off topic with a much shorter post.

You might have taken the time to write something interesting, rather than continuing to drift off-topic 😊

Any memorable trips?

On 4/12/2026 at 1:44 PM, MisterTee said:

You should do your travelling early in life - see the world with young eyes.

Those experiences , both good and bad, become part of what and who you are .

Wasting your best years at some mind-numbing job and looking forward to travel and "really living" after you retire is beyond self-delusion.

That is useless information. A 60yo can't get into a time machine and go back to being 20yo to travel with young eyes. A 60yo who exercises can be stronger than a 20yo and enjoy travel more because they realise it is better than work.