Golden Rules of Travel for the Over 60
Now that you’ve finally got the time, you have the golden opportunity to perfect the way you travel. After all, it’s not just about getting from A to B anymore; it’s about creating a journey that resonates, recharges, and revitalises. So, as you set your sights on a world waiting to be explored, it’s time to embrace a fresh approach: to travel with purpose, respect, and a hint of adventure.
At Riviera, we know our guests want to travel well, and that means blending curiosity with care. Travel should inspire, not intrude; it should leave both you and the places you visit better for the experience. With that in mind, our travel experts have put together some of their favourite travel tip.
Our Tour Managers, the seasoned guides who accompany you on your adventures, are experts in the art of traveling well. They know how to make packing easier, how to keep you safe, and how to steer you toward the most authentic local spots - the places you’ll tell friends about for years. Meanwhile, our Product Managers, true masters of the itinerary, know the destinations better than the backs of their hands. They take all the hassle out of planning, curating routes that balance must-see landmarks with hidden gems that only locals know.
These golden rules are here to help you ‘travel well’ in every sense - from thoughtful planning to effortless enjoyment. Tread lightly, explore deeply, and don’t forget to laugh along the way. Here are our best insights to make sure you’re exploring without exploiting, all while taking the hassle out of your holiday:
Top Travel Tips:
Learn the language
There's a common misconception that English-speaking tourists tend to shout and speak slower when interacting with locals, rather than making an effort to learn a few key phrases in the local language. While mastering an entire language can be challenging, there's always time to embrace the beauty of communication by learning a handful of simple phrases.
Diane, a Riviera Tour Manager, says "Even if you don’t speak the local language, it’s worth learning how to say 'Please' and 'Thank you', 'Hello' and 'Goodbye', and use them frequently when you have to communicate. Remember too that English is probably not their first language, and although they may speak it well enough, making demands in English can come across as rude to the locals!"
Laura, one of our European Product Managers, adds, “Other helpful phrases include 'Excuse me', 'Sorry', 'Can I have the bill please?', 'Where is the toilet?’ and, of course, you should always learn ‘One glass of wine please!’”
If you have allergies or medical conditions, you can preprint a card in the local language with the details. "This is great in an emergency and means you can be helped quickly and efficiently," advises Riviera Tour Manager, Matt. And if you're out exploring, don't forget to carry around the address of where you're staying, just in case you have to take a taxi back there.
Make the most of the off-season
The advice from Senior Product Manager, Linda, is to "travel in shoulder season.” This is the period of time between a region's peak season and off-season. Now that you’re retired, you have more free time so you can choose to avoid the busiest times of the year. There are whole host of benefits to travelling out of the main season, "Europe is still a lovely temperature before the start and end of the main season and, at this time, the crowds will have died down and it will be cooler for exploring," reveals Laura.
Of course, you should always do your research to ensure you're getting the most out of your preferred destination. "In the Mediterranean area in spring or early summer, you'll enjoy the landscape at its most colourful, but if a quieter holiday sampling the food and culture is more your style, autumn could be a better time to visit," explains Keith, a Riviera Tour Manager.
"Absolutely! And avoid places like Italy in the month of August as 60% of the population are on holiday. In fact, avoid all school holidays if you can. The prices are higher, and places are much more crowded," adds Matt.
Dig into the local cuisine
Sampling the local cuisine unveils new facets of your host country. The best-loved dishes are those recipes that are passed down through the generations, made from local, seasonal ingredients and best shared with the ones you love. As Matt puts it, you need to "get into the back streets to find where locals eat and drink" to enjoy the most authentic meals. Don't ignore the simple places with paper tablecloths!
Of course, the further you travel, the less likely you are to be familiar with the dishes. According to Shelley, a Riviera Tour Manager, "you need to be prepared to be a little vulnerable and put yourself out there." There may be times that the menu can feel a little intimidating - especially when it's not in English! (On a Riviera holiday, this is where our Tour Managers can really help, recommending the best restaurants and dishes based on their years of travel experience – if they haven’t tried it, it’s probably not worth eating!) "On a recent tour to Japan, guests were trying lots of different kinds of restaurants, ordering styles, and foods. They embraced the opportunity to try new things and enjoyed the experience - even if they felt a little silly.”
Stay safe while travelling
It's quite common to feel vulnerable in a foreign country but there are a few really simple ways to ensure you stay safe while you're travelling.
Make sure all your travel documents are safely tucked away. "Never carry passports unless you have too, keep them in your safe in the hotel" recommends Matt. "And if you're putting valuables in a safe or suitcase, place everything in one small bag" adds Diane. This means you can grab everything in one go and there's less chance of something darkly coloured, like a credit card, being left behind. (It's an especially great tip for a multi-centre tour, where you'll pack and unpack more than once.)
While you're out and about, Bethan - a Product Executive on our River Cruise Team - suggests opting for a small bag, like a bum bag, over a rucksack. "You can fit any personal items you need - wallet, phone etc - while avoiding pickpockets and rucksack rummages!" And you don't have to carry everything with you. If you have several debit and credit cards only carry one of each, keep the rest in your safe, that way if the worst happens, it's easy to stop the card without losing access to all your money.
The rules of the road don't take a holiday just because you do! It's easy to get distracted but it's really important to "remember not to walk down the middle of the road when sightseeing. Keep to the pavements," says Diane, and make sure you know which direction the traffic is supposed to flow. Remember, approximately two-thirds of the global population drives on the right side, not the left as we do.
Pack smarter, not more
Travelling light is always a plus, especially if you're not staying in one hotel for the entire trip. On a Riviera holiday, we plan visits to wineries, olive mills, markets and lovely shopping streets, so "you'll want space to stock up for your journey home!" says Laura, "wine in Europe is often great value and really good quality." It would almost be rude not to squirrel some away!
However, if like us you struggle to prioritise what to pack, our team of experts have compiled a list of the most useful items to remember.
"I always take an extension lead with a couple of plug sockets on it - because sometimes there might not be a socket by the bed close enough for your phone, and then you only need one adapter!" says Claire, a European Product Manager.
Linda admits, "I'm a big bookworm. I used to hate the idea of a kindle or ebook reader as nothing beats the feel of paper and the smell of a new book! But I have to say, they are a godsend for travelling if you read as much as I do! (I read 8 books on my last holiday!)"
To stay hydrated (or, rather, caffeinated) while being eco-friendly, "I always pack a refillable water bottle or a coffee thermos. This means I can fill it at breakfast and have warm coffee for the entire morning," says Shelley.
On a Riviera holiday, “a small notebook and pencil/pen is useful for jotting down important information each day, like the departure time for our next exciting excursion,” suggests Dianne.
She also suggests, "Take spare plastic bags to protect items that might leak in your suitcase or to separate your shoes from your clothes. Additionally, pack small snack bags or a little sanitary disposal bag to store your headset and receiver when they are not in use." Dianne also told us she's made her own glow-in-the-dark coaster which helps her easily locate her water in the night and acts like a night light - she's a packing savant!
Travel with Riviera
We've been doing what we do for over 40 years - that's over 14,000 days of planning and perfecting our holidays. So, if you want to avoid the stress and hassle of planning a trip, simply let us what we do best! (And if you don’t believe us, check out our latest awards.)
If you're lucky enough to find yourself on a Riviera holiday, Shelley's advice is simply to “embrace it! It might feel like we're packing so much in, but Riviera is excellent at balancing the bucket-list must-sees with some special, lesser-known gems. Plus, there'll be plenty of free time for you to either relax and recoup or do a little independent travel. Trust the process."
We provide all the information you need to know about travelling, your hotels or accommodation, and your destination - in the travel documents we send to you ahead of your trip. So "read through all of the paperwork thoroughly that Riviera sends you in advance to avoid missing any important information," advises Dianne. It'll help alleviate any pre-travel stress.
Tour Managers, like Shelley, Dianne, Matt and Keith, are our boots on the ground. Their sole mission is to ensure you have a superb time. And many have been with us for more than a decade, some even two. While they're too humble to say it themselves, our guests have described our Tour Managers as kind and well-organised, with a great sense of humour and heaps of knowledge you won't find in any guidebook. So, whatever the question, don’t ever be shy to ask! The Tour Manager is there for a reason and even if they don’t have the exact answer you need, they are there to help you find it! From burning questions on the history and culture of your destination to the best places to eat, they'll go out of their way to find the answers.
If you’d like more travel tips, guidance on what to pack, where to go or what style of holiday is right for you, you can find all this and more on our blog.
