Planning and Budgeting for Travel in Retirement

According to AARP’s 2026 Travel Trends report, released in March 2026, 64% of adults age 50 and older expect to travel in 2026, with respondents planning an average of 3.9 trips for the year, and 86% of adults age 50-plus identifying travel as a top discretionary spending priority. Despite this enthusiasm, cost remains the primary barrier: 45% of respondents cited high airfare and 39% cited overall cost as concerns. International trips ranging from 7 to 14 days typically cost between $2,000 and $10,000 per person depending on destination, travel style, and accommodations. Building travel into your retirement budget as a deliberate line item, rather than treating it as leftover spending, ensures it is funded without undermining portfolio stability. Strategies for managing retirement travel costs include taking advantage of senior discounts and loyalty rewards programs, traveling off-season when prices are lower and crowds thinner, using travel credit card points to offset airfare and hotel costs, and considering destinations where the U.S. dollar provides favorable purchasing power. Travel spending tends to be highest in the early, active years of retirement, making it important to front-load this budget category in your planning while you are in good health and have the energy to fully enjoy it.

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Planning and Budgeting for Travel in Retirement

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