Changes in travel approach as you age

Oh so many changes in the past 16 uears for us! We are 73 and 82, BTW.

• Business Class over water
• Checked bags for a multitude of reasons: I cannot hoist anything significant over my head, convenience of being unencumbered in the airport, packing our trekking sticks; volume of stuff needed for 2 month trips like extra meds and clothing suitable for 40 - 85 degrees
• No stairs in lodging so ground floor or elevator (usually we rent apartments)
• Walk-in showers if at all possible
• We still love public transport but avoid buses when we have luggage and make use of taxis when the walk is more than a kilometer with luggage

I hate driving at home so avoid it overseas.

Well…the first thing I thought of is our change in mindset regarding money. We did take a few big trips before retiring 6 years ago, but most of our vacations for decades were trips to visit family, or to the beach. We lived well below our means and were able to sock away plenty for retirement (and we know we were very fortunate to be able to do that). Well, we’re spending our kids’ inheritance now! We’re traveling now while we’re able, and not squeezing pennies like we used to. On our last trip, we flew business class for the first time in our lives (previously we had used Premium Economy, a must for my 6’4” husband). There’s no going back — we’ll continue to fly business for any long-haul flights.

Of course we will ensure that we have enough for our needs in our later years, but we worked hard for a long time and were very prudent, so we’re enjoying the splurges.

Yeah, no stairs in lodgings - this is so important.

We were staying Carcassonne in March, and my wife arranged for a nice apartment - on the 3rd floor, 3 sets of stairs, 16 steps per set, 3 nights. Now we check very carefully about the stairs issue. When we visited Italy in 2022, the apartment in Siena was on the 5th floor. I couldn't do that today.

We have lived overseas for several years and visited over 80 foreign countries.

When young we had less money, so we did everything on our own and stated in budget hotels or B&Bs, taking public transportation like the London Underground, etc.

We are pushing 80 and for the past 5 years favor group tours. Group tours take care of most everything, lodging, transportation, tour guides, most meals, etc.

I have a bad knee, but can still keep up with the groups and walk up to 3 or more miles a day (since it is not done all at one time).

We have never paid for expensive lodgings, since we don't spend much time in the hotel.
We actually prefer B&Bs, but our group tours usually provide great lodging, most of the time up to a 3-4 star hotel. In places like Egypt or poor countries, we get 5 star top lodgings.

We always check our luggage, since we are not comfortable with what we can cram into carryon luggage. Never had any lost luggage. Delta has a great record on that account.

When I first started traveling overseas, I wanted to see historic places, but the more I traveled, I wanted to see scenic places and places with notable wildlife. We love our fjord cruise in Norway up to the North Cape, our cruise around the Horn of South America; our Alaska cruise; Galápagos Islands cruise; and our safari in Kenya and Tanzania.

the first thing I thought of is our change in mindset regarding money.

One of the unintended benefits I've gotten from this Forum since I found it 8 or so years ago it's to be able to look into the future to see how my travel style may need to change as I age. I'm 62 so I hopefully have plenty of years left before I need to consider the physical side of travel. However the money side has been a mental challenge. I've been retired for almost two years and earlier this week for the first time I had to take money out of my retirement savings. I spent 40 years with a save, save, save mentality and now to start withdrawing has been a bigger challenge than I expected. The money is there to be spent and to be drained over the next 30 years, but it's been a mental hurdle to be willing to do it.

The 70 milestone birthday is coming this year for me. Probably my two biggest changes in the last five years are taking multiple European trips per year instead of one and taking my light packing to a tenaciously lighter level. The first one is because the travel years are finite, and I would like to enjoy more while I am still very mobile. The second one is because I don’t want to risk an injury that could have been avoided.

I do have to balance my second point with situations like Christmas Markets and a Pastel painting workshop where my packing will be heavier. In those cases, I am bringing my 2-wheel carry on instead of my favorite Cotopaxi 35L and eliminating small B&B rooms that mention high floors.

Something else that’s changed, but I’m not sure if it’s because of age, my amount of travel and/or being a widow. The enjoyment of being in the moment whatever I’m doing vs. the feeling of “go, go, go” has definitely changed in the past years - although I still love changing cities very often. : ). Seeing the beauty of a location or site, pausing for a quick sketch, smiling at family life culture in the evenings in the piazzas - the peaceful contentment - “il dolce far niente”.

I am old and l leave it at that. I have.a bad knee as well as neuropathy in my feet. There is mobility issues.

I used to take public transportation from home to the airport and back again so as to save money. This is easy to do in Austin but the last few trips I have treated myself to a Lyft and I love the convenience.

When I search for a hotel, I plug in elevators to the higher floors. I will not book a hotel that does not have an elevator.

I do not rush in my sightseeing. I do not have to see everything. I greatly enjoy what I do get to see and do not focus on what i have missed. I am not the energizer bunny.

I sit more than I used to. I sit more at parks and I sit more in the museums. For my last trip which was a week in Paris, I took the hoho bus for the very first time. I really enjoyed the hoho bus. It worked well for me.

Once I walked several miles a day but I can no longer do so. I can still walk some but slowly and carefully with sitting down frequently.

I have accepted the aging process. I have accepted my limitations when traveling.

I have been taking one cruise every year but excursions have been presenting some difficulty. One Level excursions are not that interesting but Two level excursions are sometimes too challenging.

Last May, I went to Paris for a week, no cruise just land and in October i will go to London for a week, no cruise just land.. This is a change based on age and mobility issues.

To Everything There is a Season ....,

My husband and I are 68 and have developed some issues that will affect our mobility more and more as we age further, so our approach has been to try to do some of the more challenging trips while we still can, realizing that those we don't do now, we may never do.

So, in 2024, we went to Taiwan, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Walking around the ruins in the heat was a challenge.
In 2025, we went to New Zealand and Australia. (Challenging mainly because of flight length and because of snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef.)
We just returned from primate trekking in Rwanda, and, if I'm being honest, we probably left that one a couple of years too long. I'm not sure we could have done it in another year.

We also travel Premium Economy on flights over 4-5 hours, bid for upgrades to Business Class when we can, and break up our trips whenever possible, although our return trip from Rwanda consisted of 2 flights, totalling almost 24 hours of travel, including airport time. (We did stay in Montreal for the weekend instead of flying directly home to Calgary, which would have added another 4 1/2 hours of flight time and 2+ hours of airport time to the trip. And we did successfully upgrade to Business on our flight from Kigali to Brussels.)

We still travel carry-on only, but that might change as our ability to carry bags up/down boarding stairs--fairly common, in our experience--and hoist bags overhead diminishes. We'll never travel with extremely large bags, though. I much prefer travelling light.

We still prefer public transit.

We do look for places without too many flights of stairs now, although a couple of flights is still okay.

We are more likely to book an extra night at our accommodation if we have a flight that arrives really early after a long flight. (We didn't do this on our recent trip, though.)

We are more likely to book some kind of short stay accommodation if we have an evening departure. Some airport hotels will do hourly bookings now. We'd rather wait in comfort and privacy.

I'm more likely to use just my phone for photos, to keep down the weight of what I carry around all day.

I definitely have to pack a pair of reading glasses with me now. I can no longer get by without them.

At some point, we might have to consider group travel, but I really don't think I'd like it, so I'm not sure.

Oh, and one more. We no longer feel the need to climb to the top of every tower or high point to see the view from there.

In 2019, when I was 52, I was in Rome. On a rainy day, I was walking on the wet sidewalks from the Vittorio Emanuele Monument to Trastevere when I noticed that people in their 20s and 30s were just blowing past me while I was walking carefully to avoid slipping and falling. That’s when I realized I wasn’t young anymore.

I was 52, in good shape, thin, and I walked about four miles a day for exercise, but you age without realizing it. Since I love to travel and could afford to, I retired later that year so I could travel more.

I remember hauling my Mamiya Secor Camera around Europe. I now have a Zillion slides that I have to use a small viewer to squint at them because my projector is old and needs a bulb. I know that you can have them transferred to Digital, but you have to sort them 1st. Now I just take shots on my phone. LOL!

We started traveling when I was 55; I was fortunate to retire early. That was 8 years ago, and while I'm still up for a good challenge, I have noticed my knees and feet have other ideas.

Packing lighter and paying for premium economy on long-haul flights, it is so much better, and if there are only 2 of you, like us, we love getting the 2 seats together so we don't need to worry about others next to us and just spread out as much as possible.

We were also die-hard independent travelers, with backpacks, doing it all ourselves, but now we join a tour for a week or two to take some of that pressure off making all the plans. Then we plan some independent travel around that tour. It has worked out really well for us. I do still really enjoy the freedom of independent travel, so it's a give-and-take.

Also, we have decided that we don't need to see everything; we had major FOMO on our first couple of big trips, and it can lead to burnout.

It is called making adjustments. Agree with nearly all of the above statements. At 84 things just don't work or bend as well as prior years. Mobility is an issue so am shifting more to organized tours. Still staying within the one carryon bag but shifting to rolling luggage instead of the back pack.

Using business class is almost an absolute requirement. Fortunately blessed with a son who is a master at obtaining business class for us. We often don't have a return ticket so are very dependent on that son getting us home each time.

And very fortunate that our retirement income has nearly doubled since we retired so it is easy to be more flexible than when we traveled thirty years ago on tight budgets. Earlier we were both tied to the education calendar but now the non-summer months are available to us. Our one regret is that we have lost a couple of our travel companions. We keep wondering how many. good travel years do we have left but at the moment we only plan for the next one -- Sep 11. We have never had a bad trip.

I agree very much with checking a bag now, and I try to keep my carryon small enough to fit under the seat if necessary. For checked bag, I start with the mindset of not packing anything I couldn't afford to replace while at my destination.

We too have turned to organized tours (RS #1) so as to avoid the planning and logistics. For free time, we've done our research enough to know what's there, but not plan everything down to the minute. We recognize plans change and sometimes spontaneity is better.

We're tired of museums and churches, unless there is something well-known or historic to see. Focus is on the contemporary life, beauty, and atmosphere.

I started out in my '20s going low-budget all the way, but now recognize there is more to value than money. We're considering business class our next trip.

I am almost 56, so maybe a little younger. Changes in my approach to travel may not be just a countdown on the calendar.

I started out my travels staying in hostels, transitioned to private rooms in hostels or standard hotels, and now focus on aparthotels. For me, this change in accommodations isn’t necessarily about aging out of budget travel, but rather about my introverted personality. I simply need a quiet space of my own.

My packing has evolved. I still pack with a carry-on only mindset for my actual kit, but I have started checking a second, completely empty, carry-on-sized bag. I got tired of having to be incredibly tactical about bringing things back from my trips. Checking the empty bag gives me the ability to bring home souvenirs without the headache.

The most significant impact on my travel approach came after my catastrophic accident back in 2022. Pulling myself back together left me with a lack of confidence regarding my physical abilities, vulnerabilities, and whether I could travel again. I became obsessive over seat pitch and legroom on planes and trains. On flights I switched to Premium Plus. Thankfully I could cope with standard train seats. It took a couple trips over to get confidence back. I am still the sort that would absolutely do a tower, I long to stand at the top of St Paul's again but I'm slow and I'm horrified that my slow one step at a time with a non-working knee, would hold anyone up or impose on anyone in any way. Sometimes I do have to remind myself of these changes.

I posted this thread on adapting when my routines get interrupted - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/adapting

I definitely have to pack a pair of reading glasses with me now.

I had to laugh because it's a sure sign of getting older; my wife now packs more pairs of reading glasses than pairs of shoes...

One other thing about my age - this year, this time, we are just mobility challenged. My knee is not being cooperative. So, I don't want to go on hills. The up is fine - the down is a challenge.

I also stick with regular paved surfaces. Forest trails are no longer do-able. Unexpected drops that I didn't set up for are very jarring to the knee.

Ditto on the "no longer climb the towers". I do not climb much of anything.

As many have stated already, to get there I spend more to fly premium or business, check my bag, and get a taxi directly to my slightly more upscale hotel. Once there I always get an unlimited metro/bus pass each day (even a 5 minute ride versus a 15 minute walk can make an afternoon). The only thing I haven't figured out is why there are no baggage porters for first class cars on the train!

We are 80 and 83, and have been traveling extensively for 27 years. Like many of you, we have graduated to business class, elevators, taxis. We light up airport metal detectors with our artificial joints, and are learning about walking sticks.

The older we get, the more we avoid crowds, and cities. Now we mostly visit smaller, less travelled places, and stay longer. What keeps us going are long visits to small villages where we can just watch the sea, and eat simple fresh food, and recharge. We return home restored and energized and hoping to stay healthy so we can go back next year.

I go off-season, pack less, put fewer places on my itinerary, stay longer in each place, and prioritize conversations and experiences over “sights”. I buy a more comfortable airplane seat whenever possible.

Allan you put it so well:

The money is there to be spent and to be drained over the next 30 years, but it's been a mental hurdle to be willing to do it.

Luckily, it gets easier with practice!

At 72 I have made many of the same adjustments listed above - slightly upgraded airplane seats, hotels with elevators, etc. For the last few years I have started carrying a cane for long lines and museum shuffles.

But the biggest impact to my travel style has been the heat. I have always been more susceptible to heat than most. I pack short sleeve tops while other folks on the street are in sweaters and coats! I also thought that as I got older I'd be able to manage heat better (all those folks moving to Arizona and Florida). But instead it seems to bother me more each year. And, of course, recent weather trends just make it worse. So . . . I leave the hotel early to walk around, plan for a long midday break in the room or a movie or a matinee. I collect a lot of park benches. Churches are great for a sit down and cooler temps. Lots of art museums, which have become a growing interest. And I'm shifting from my favorite travel months of May and September to earlier and later months.

My perspective is that whilst age and infirmity frequently coexist, the latter is not an inevitable consequence of the former. I am in my 70s, don't smoke or drink alcohol at all, walk 3-4 miles and do 80-100 bodyweight squats daily, weight training 3X/week, no significant health or mobility issues. Until and unless something changes I'll travel as I have for decades...hand carry only, equipped with a RS Back Door bag (includes my 3-kg camera bag/kit), a Civita daypack, adequate fluency in more than just English (ability to converse as opposed to simply communicate)...and a positive attitude.

But the biggest impact to my travel style has been the heat. I have always been more susceptible to heat than most. I pack short sleeve tops while other folks on the street are in sweaters and coats! I also thought that as I got older I'd be able to manage heat better (all those folks moving to Arizona and Florida). But instead it seems to bother me more each year. And, of course, recent weather trends just make it worse.

pippin789, me, too. I have more and more difficulty coping with heat (and humidity) as time goes on.

I'm well over 70 now and agree with many of the comments that have been posted so far. A few thoughts.....

• I've always checked one bag during air travel to Europe, and will continue to do that. However in the past I used a Backpack but I've now bought a medium size spinner and will use that from now on although I still think or have the illusion that I could probably manage a backpack. Sometimes it's hard for me to admit that I can't do some of the things that I used to do in the past.
• I'll continue to travel with a dSLR kit for longer trips but that fits in the carry on that I normally use for longer trips. Yes, it's a bit heavy, but I enjoy photography when travelling.
• Depending on the trip, I will continue to use public transit (ie: the Leonardo Express or whatever) or taxis for travel from the station to the hotel. On a local trip I took to Vancouver about ten days ago, I decided to splurge and hired a car for the trip from the airport to the hotel.
• I've always used hotels in Europe that are listed in the RS guidebooks and try to choose those with elevators.
• I've found that walking now is more of an effort as I've gotten older due to leg and back issues. I try to get to the gym three times a week both for weight training and cardio, but even so I don't seem to have the tolerance / ability desire to walk long distances anymore.
• For domestic flights there's generally only one class of seating available, but for international flights these days I always choose Premium Economy.

Hopefully I'll be able to continue travelling for a few more years.

As I'm getting older, and aquiring more health issues, I made the decision to do things that make life, and travel, as easy as possible.

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, or does, or what some "expert" tells me to do, I do what I want. And what I want is ease.

When I see someone suggest taking 15 trains to save $5, I think "good for them, I'm taking the easiest route and the most comfortable seat." If it costs me a few bucks more, so be it. Less to leave to someone else.

I now have to take some medical items with me which, quite often, throws me into the "too heavy for carry on" category on some airlines. Even though my bag is the right size, weight forces me to check the bag. Does that mean I leave this stuff home so I don't get lectured by someone? No. I check my bag and get on with it. (Although most of the health items are in my "personal item" and it weighs a ton.)

I tell people.."In my mind, I am not my age. But then my body reminds me that I am."

As to cameras, my wife forbade me from bringing the massive dSLR. Instead I have a canon PowerShot sx740. AiE of.a.pack of cigs. Very light , easy to use. I am doing everything in auto mode.

As for camera choices, back in the film camera days, I had a nice Nikon SLR with a good sized bag that carried huge telephoto lens; wide angle and more.
With the digital age, I decided to pass on having to carry a cumbersome camera with lenses, so I purchased a digital that was a compromise, it didn't have detachable lenses, but had a good telephoto feature. I still use it after over a dozen. years.

I do take a few photos with my iPhone, to text to relatives while on a trip, and have considered just using the IPhone instead.

Still, if taking scenic shots of nature, it is nice to have the better telephone feature on the camera.

As to camera kit, mine is a c.2013 Leica M digital body nearly identical to the film body I used since 1970, along with the same 21mm,35mm and 90mm lenses also used since the 70s. All in a discreet stealth low-profile nylon bag the size of a small purse. I did use Nikon and Canon SLR kit for several trips but found it unduly bulky and always returned to my current kit. Just can't seem to get on with a mobile phone as my sole travel camera.

Thanks Paul, this was a very interesting read. It was good to see how many people have admitted to checking a bag and upgrading to a better class of service when flying long distance!

We too have slowed our pace of travel, not only because we'd like a break after lunch, but also because we're just so much more interested in where we ARE rather than in what I call, seeing one more monument'. We have a joke about not getting past the first floor of a museum - We can easily spend 3 hours on one floor in a great museum, and did just that in the Naples MANN recently. I won't repeat the mistake of trying to see too much like we did at the Louvre again!!

I've extended my research beyond guide books and we tend to arrive having watched some documentaries about what we're going to see. It really makes a difference! (We were standing in front of the 'Calling of St Matthew' by Caravaggio without having researched the church, and I thought 'I bet this is REALLY interesting but I have no idea why'! So of course when back at the hotel we watched a video about it.)

Recently in Rome we'd left our hotel breakfast & 30 minutes later saw amazing pastries in a window - So we stopped to try them, why not?!? And we especially enjoy those great moments chatting with locals, if we're in too much of a hurry to get to the next thing, we would miss those moments!

Well, here is the viewpoint from someone younger and near 50 but who is adapting to travel. We are all aging at the same pace after all. I have been traveling abroad since my late teens, and at 20 I did a major backpacking trip in Europe, mostly alone. I no longer stay at hostels and, although still on a budget (but a bit higher now), I prefer my own space and bathroom. It's fine if it's small as long as it's well located (closer to public transportation). I can't afford first class airfare but will pay up for a better seat in economy like Comfort+ on Delta.

I've learned to travel light and prioritize essentials. I no longer carry a heavy backpack, but a lighter one paired with a roller carry-on due to some back/shoulder issues I developed at 45! And as the years go by, I prefer more and more a solo trip than one in groups where I can focus on what I want and the freedom to see things at my own pace, changing and updating my itinerary as needed. I did a group tour last year to Morocco because it was the safer way for me to see the country alone, but I paid extra for single bedroom. I wouldn't like to share a room with a stranger.

Once I became a mother, so much of my time has been dedicated to kids needs, and I still enjoy our family trips, but I do appreciate the solo, introspective travels I do. And as a mother with young kid, my travels now are also less adventurous and less risky. I may not be bungee jumping or doing a waterfall rappelling, but I still climb the highest towers :-) . And I am entering a phase of not needing to see new places, but revisit old ones with new interests in mind, taking it all in with new eyes which make the place feel "new".

For older travelers, what has changed for you?

At 56, we started adapting our travel a lot over the past 10-15 years and even more so post-COVID.

We tend to spend more and focus more. Better flights, better hotels, and stick to one place for longer. And we go on more trips often for longer time.

We spent the past 3 decades "accumulating" - money, vacation time, ideas, & lists. Now we're working on using those to the max, which was the whole point of building it all up in the first place. Retirement beckons, and that will unlock even more options, but we've realized waiting any more is way too risky - health can't be taken for granted - so we have really started reprioritizing "now" rather than "later".

Tom, I think you are smart. We were on the edge of that "we will travel when we retire." trap. But stepped away. We delayed children for what we thought were appropriate reasons. Wife had a second son when she was forty. But we both lost parents earlier. My wife's mother died when she was in high school and her father just folded up his future plans. (Of course, if he had followed his plan we would have never met.). My father died two years after retirement and my mother lost all interest in traveling. So, in our fifties we did some reassessment, grabbed the two son, and hit the road. With both in education we did have the advantage of long summer months to travel and cruising became our thing as it was cheap and easy to do. Education salaries are not good but fortunately retirement programs are pretty good. So you should go when you can. Waiting for retirement may not be the best strategy. While our health reminds good, it can change so our trip planning rarely extends beyond the next 12 months are so. And we do buy insurance now. Good luck to everyone who is still moving.

I think one thing I'm going to change is no longer accepting a rental car with a manual transmission. I currently have an otherwise very nice Renault Captur with a 6-speed manual. What a pain in the neck. There are so many little towns in the Médoc where one needs to slow from 80 kph to 30 kph, and also lots of roundabouts that require slowing down at highway speed.

Always rowing the gearshift. I can still do it just fine, just don't want to.

I'm just baffled by Ricks's advice not to check luggage. I would take about 25-30 international flights a year (for a mix of work and leisure) and over my entire life of traveling have had luggage misdirected twice, and damaged once. And it's insured. So I always travel with checked luggage.

Now I'm 52, my main concession to age is nice hotels, and nice restaurants. I use public transport every day at home, so normally do so as well when I travel.

I certainly do not speak for anyone but I view it less as advice and more a rigid maxim. I gather the principle reasons to be avoiding airport chaos, protecting your belongings, and maintaining flight flexibility. Maybe following the advice not to check a bag saves people from over packing. Personally I am not wedded to the rigidity of it, and none of those reasons resonate with me. I approach packing as carry-on only, but I do nonetheless check an empty bag. I like what "carry-on" only offers but I like to have that checked bag too, so that I am not limited on bringing things home as well.

What I have not seen on this thread is the need to recognize that at some point your physical ability will decline to the point that you can no longer do the things you want to do. That may be at 60 or 65 for one and 75-80 for another. But it will inevitably happen. So, if you want to hike the Camino de Santiago or drive around England and Scotland in a rental car staying in B&B's get it done sooner rather than later. Don't delay those strenous bucket list plans. You really don't know when you will be unable to do them so do them!

• Longer trips, now 30 days, instead of 17 or 18 or 21.
• At least 2 “self-guided” e-bike tours with c. 10-12 days (total) on bikes.
• Biz class to Europe; Economy return.
• 2 star hotels are in the rear view mirror. Mostly 3 with a few 4.
• No frets about credit card limits. Minimal use of cash.
• Single country or two countries, not three (or four).
• More use of this forum.

Still carry on baggage. (Mid 70s now)

LATE ADDITION - Med Evac insurance on our 2025 trip. And probably again in ‘27.

Our longest time away from home has been 21 days and well match that again this Fall. While I was still working that seemed like a lot. My wife and I are going back and forth about the benefits of extra airfare costs with 3 or 4 2-week trips per year, compared to a couple of month-long trips. We won't know until we try and so we're currently planning a longer stay next Spring. Knowing ourselves, planning a 30-day trip with rest breaks built in may be frustrating because we're not sure what we'll do with ourselves. At home we can always putter around the house and get projects done, but I don't think the hotel or Airbnb would appreciate a room renovation during our stay.

An old friend of mine was considering leaving her marriage. She always loved England so she took a trip to Yorkshire and found a lovely B&B in a small village that she really liked. She negotiated a great deal for a month's stay. She got a room off the kitchen and asked the landlady if she could help set the tables, etc. for breakfast and help tidy up. She visited all the local sites, and offer to pick up necessities. By the end of the month, she became a life long friend of the family. They often visit each other. My friend lives in Williamsburg, VA with her new Husband.

I didn't start traveling abroad until I was in my early 60s. I was caretaking prior to that for about 16 years and also had too many work obligations.

During my first few trips abroad, I used Airbnbs and the trips were longer. One trip was 3 weeks and covered 3 countries.

Now I'm doing shorter trips, about 6-8 days and usually focusing only on one city or region at a time. I don't rent a car; I use trains and buses everywhere. I pick destinations which allow me to get a nonstop flight from my home city. I don't do Airbnbs. I stay in one hotel for at least 3 nights. I've simplified my itineraries very much and don't try to do too much in one trip. For example, one trip was Venice for 5 nights. I don't want to do an entire country in 2 weeks. It's crazy to move around like that. Like, I saw one tour group was spending only 1 night in Paris! I've spent close to 9 nights in Paris over several trips and haven't seen everything I want to see yet. A fast paced group tour of a country isn't my way to travel. I want to savor the location. I'm going to Switzerland later this year and will only visit the Berner Oberland in that trip, nothing else.

Agree with Robbie;
"What I have not seen on this thread is the need to recognize that at some point your physical ability will decline to the point that you can no longer do the things you want to do. "

When we first retired 16 years ago, in our mid-60s, we did more trips overseas (at least two or three a. year). Also, we did longer trips, most from 4 to 8 weeks. Now, we only. do 2-3 weeks.

Flying long distances like to Australia or from Atlanta to Tokyo, no more. Once in our 80s we will do mostly 2 weeks at a time and more within country.

Tours work so much better, since the tour company takes care of just about everything.

What I have not seen on this thread is the need to recognize that at some point your physical ability will decline to the point that you can no longer do the things you want to do.

I've seen a lot of that recognition. Perhaps you should re-read the responses.

Speaking for myself, at 73 I can no longer run 10k races, can no longer wrangle my wife's luggage onto the train along with my own, can no longer fly economy without feeling like it's an experience I can never repeat. At 78 my "no can do" list will be longer. At 83, longer yet. Assuming I'm still observing the grass from above.

I really don't think my awareness level is particularly different from anyone else's.

Paul-of-the-Frozen-North,
I concur with many of the responses. We are now 82 and 83. We check our bags (in spite of British Air losing them en route to Kenya, and not getting them for 4 days, then losing them on the way home). We go slower, sit down more often, splurge on, if not premium economy, then aisle seats at least. We plan fewer outings per day, no hikes (never big with us anyway), no really long walks, no 3rd floor rooms w/o an elevator.

In the 1970's we slept in $2.00 a night rooms, our VW Beetle, and farmer's fields with our $5.00 sleeping bags. Private baths were a rare exception in our hotel rooms. We usually chose the least expensive meal at cafes and restaurants, when we weren't having bread with a slice of ham and some cheese (a frequent meal). (The prix fixe menus back then had a pichet of wine included.) Somehow or other we spent 4 months driving around Europe with the VW we picked up in Wolfsburg, and spent just $3000.00 for gas, lodgings, food and entrance fees for two. Not deluxe by any means, but the experiences and memories are top-drawer!!! We couldn't come close to repeating it now.

I'm just glad I am still around to (hopefully) take more trips. I'm looking at you, Sicily, Scotland, Vienna (revisit), England (revisit), Quebec Province, New England states, Chicago, and Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnesota loop!

Comfort and pacing seem to become more important than fitting as much as possible...extra time between connections...fewer activities...a more relaxed itinerary....

Shawn made some very good points with which I totally agree.

What I have not seen on this thread is the need to recognize that at some point your physical ability will decline to the point that you can no longer do the things you want to do.

I've seen a lot of that recognition. Perhaps you should re-read the responses.

Yes. It seems to me that this is the inherent discussion embedded in the thread. Everyone is already talking about the exact reality of physical decline. They are just focusing on the practical ways they are dealing with it. Discussing bad knees, walk-in showers, and skipping high towers is the recognition.

One of my favorites:
Raspberries, Strawberries. -- Kingston Trio -- (Utube)

Re- turning to Paris within the next few years probably will be my last trip.

What I have not seen on this thread is the need to recognize that at
some point your physical ability will decline to the point that you
can no longer do the things you want to do.

Sorry, we are not planning on a decline, we work hard at keeping fit and are planning on staying as fit as we can, as long as we can and enjoying traveling as much as we can! My friend who's an Alzheimer's expert would tell us giving in to this attitude is the worst way to look at our lives. Work with what you have, sure make adjustments, but keep on traveling!

I have enjoyed reading this thread. My husband and I are both 67 and have already made a few adjustments traveling (no more spiral staircases to bathrooms, fewest possible connections, no more apartments at the top of the town). I am most inspired by how many of you years older than us are still traveling so well and want to thank you for sharing.

What I have not seen on this thread is the need to recognize that at some point your physical ability will decline to the point that you can no longer do the things you want to do [snip]Don't delay those strenous bucket list plans. You really don't know when you will be unable to do them so do them!

What I've seen on this thread is wisdom gleaned from experience used to make travel more efficient and pleasant. Regardless of one's stamina there's no reason to squander any of it unnecessarily. Agree about not delaying...life at any age can take a sudden veer off the path.

.....Sorry, we are not planning on a decline, we work hard at keeping fit and are planning on staying as fit as we can,...... And who on this site is not planning the same thing? Four years ago over the summer and most summers we would do at least a couple thousands miles on the bikes and now it is almost zero. Some people are more fortunate than others but now legs are giving out and no one knows exactly why? Being told that you maybe part of the 2% who simply don't have an cause is not helpful. Keep pushing.

PS. -- BethFl. -- 67 is not old. 87. maybe!

No one "plans" on a decline, nor deliberately causes a decline in one's health or ability to be active. Things happen...illness, accidents, genetics kicking in..... A person can do all the right things to stay in tip-top shape, but nothing is guaranteed in life. There isn't blame or shame in not being able to do what one once did. We can eat right, exercise, get our vaccinations and take our meds, refrain from unhealthful habits, but often that still isn't enough. The days march on. We needn't feel guilty about getting older and less mobile, nor smug about being super fit for our age. Sometimes our genetic makeup determines how we are able to travel. And yes, I know there are some things we can do to shorten or lengthen our lives, but we are often at the mercy of things outside our control. Just enjoy life as you are best able to! And happy travels!

Judy, well said.

A person can do all the right things to stay in tip-top shape, but nothing is guaranteed in life. There isn't blame or shame in not being able to do what one once did.

Amen to that, Judy!

Exactly. My DH has a genetic degenerative condition that will affect his mobility more and more. Exercise and diet have no impact, as it is neurological. He has always worked out and still does.

Being judged as not having looked after himself is not at all helpful. It’s ignorant and hurtful.

I’ve already outlived both my mother and her father by 9 years. I’ve outlived both of my paternal grandparents, too. I’m a dancer, and I still dance, including wielding and balancing two heavy swords as I dance. But I still don’t have the strength or stamina that I used to. It doesn’t make me somehow morally inferior, and planning our travel around increasing limitations is realistic and smart, IMO.

We just received some photos online from friends in Uganda on Lake Victoria...they have achieved their Bucket List Goal of Seven Continents. They are Birders. They are probably a Decade or two younger than me. I just came in from my deck sitting under an umbrella at my picnic table, after having a Soda and some Almonds and watching 2 Meadowlarks, that woke me up from my nap with their odd chirping. I am as happy as I'll ever be! P.S. I got a lot of World Travel in by being a member of the US Navy Reserve. So, I have less FOMO!

A person can do all the right things to stay in tip-top shape, but nothing is guaranteed in life. There isn't blame or shame in not being able to do what one once did. We can eat right, exercise, get our vaccinations and take our meds, refrain from unhealthful habits, but often that still isn't enough.

Judy is absolutely spot on! Carpe Deim!!

We are 68/67 and heading to Europe in 10 days for 4 weeks. We still do carry one, use public transportation where it makes sense, and rent a car where that makes more sense. This trip i looked for elevators or confirmed which floor tho apartment was on, as well as having air conditioning. We prefer apartments so there is more space to relax when we take a break from sightseeing. Fortunately we still have all our original body parts in working condition.

We are in our 9th year of retirement and travel about 4 months a year. 1 trip to Europe a year and then traveling in our camper van with our lab, Oban. We mix it up with camping, staying with friends and family and hotels. We do one long road-trip, and multiple shorter trips varying from 2 nights to two weeks. Although we’ve already decided that this year’s trip to the southeast from California will be the last coast to coast trip.

But good to see fellow travelers in their eighties still going to Europe.

We have adapted as well and feel very blessed that we are still in comfortable physical condition to travel and have the means to do so. I have read a lot of wit, wisdom and inspiration in the previous posts. I can also relate to how many are adapting as we have incorporated many of the changes posted; checking a bag (although it is only slightly larger than an US carry on), hiring a car to get us around when we are toting luggage (to and from airports and train stations), elevators in our accommodations, etc. Frankly, no a/c has never been an option…

We still take public transport if we are not dealing with luggage, and we often rent e-bikes.

When we go to Europe, we always let our grown (24 and 26 years old) single, children know they are invited to join us. Our eldest daughter, who lives in NYC frequently takes us up on the offer. Due to where she lives public transportation is part of her daily life. While we do use public transport when it makes sense for us, to and from the airport and train stations we are taking a cab or hired car - no discussion. That was difficult for our daughter to adapt to, I had thought because she considered it an extravagance, but I realized for her, it was another sign of aging in her parents.

I resonated with the title of this post after my last trip, then realized that at 46 with my husband turning 50 in 6 months, we're talking very different ages! I'm so impressed with y'all still traveling so well into your 70s, 80s and beyond! My travel career started in earnest when I was 30, and in the 16 years since, I've noticed my own changes. Plus I traveled fairly extensively with my mom who had mobility challenges in her 60s and my grandmother well into her 80s. She's 93 and done traveling now, but she still wishes she could, but it's become too difficult for her. Her last trip was at 84 where she walked up the Arc de Triomphe because the elevator was out, but that had her in bed for a full day afterwards.

For myself, when I lived in Europe, we were often on a budget and would pick hotel or hostel rooms accordingly. Now I do require a certain level of cleanliness, air conditioning in the summer, etc.

For bags, I bought a great cabin-sized-and-shaped bag without wheels that functions as a backpack (but not a "backpacker" backpack). And while I love the design and will still use it for certain things, I really wished on this last trip I'd had a roller bag, since we were being driven around so much, and I'd primarily gotten this bag to meet weight requirements on budget airlines. That's not as much a thing anymore, and less so now.

I'm also way more in the checking bags camp for long-haul/connection flights. I'm lucky in that we've only had checked luggage be lost once, but if you're spending time running around large airports, it's such a relief to check that bag, and it's also nice to bring a full size suncreen when you'll need it instead of trying to hunt down an overpriced version at the pharmacy (never conveniently located) at the beach you're going to. I weigh this choice based on price. I get free checked bags on some airlines, sometimes I truly don't need a checked bag and that's fine. I do love not having to fight for overhead space with everyone else bringing a large carry-on bag.

I used to be firmly in the public transit/train camp, and I still prefer that to renting a car in most situations, in areas that aren't well-serviced by public transit, I'm more likely to consider renting a car than I was before. And when I lived in Europe we started doing a lot more road trips during/after Covid for obvious safety reasons. I prefer to train versus drive when it makes sense, but I'm more willing to consider driving.

Ironically I'm probably in better physical shape now than I was a decade ago, so in some ways I'm more willing to do more challenging things than I was then, but I also value time as much if not more than money and because in theory we have more money (even if it doesn't feel like it these days) I'm way more willing to pay for a taxi to save time/effort than I used to be.

Between my previous job as a tour guide and my current job as an event manager in a space that covers 2 city blocks, and wearing improper arch support for most of that time, I've developed chronic foot issues and I've gotten a cortisone shot in my problem foot for my last two European trips and it's the best choice I've ever made. My footwear is entirely practical now, whether I'm traveling or not, paying for years of disregarding supportive footwear!

@sarah

My footwear is entirely practical now, whether I'm traveling or not, paying for years of disregarding supportive footwear!

I related so much with your post and this. I recently donated so many heels shoes from medium to high. I am so lucky that my current job doesn't require me to dress up daily as much. I kept a couple of medium heels shoes for events and ouch, my feet hurt so much afterward.

I happily pack only flats and tennis shoes now for my trips.

Joy - it's rough, isn't it? I fear I have a collapsed/collapsing arch in my left foot, so the vast majority of shoes I used to wear are totally out. I wear Hokas at work, even when I'm otherwise being dressy for events (luckily this isn't seen as weird anymore as the kids these days pair sneakers with dresses and skirts) and "Archies" flipflops and slides otherwise, and in the winter expensive arch-supporting boots. And I have to wear inserts with the closed shoes as well. Basically I'm not allowed to be barefoot or wear anything without serious arch support. I was never much for heels but I have a box of cute sandals and espadrilles I really need to get rid of because I can't see how I can ever wear them again.

To add to the indignity, I developed vascular issues in my legs that got much worse after having Covid, so I'm also supposed to wear compression socks. I relax those rules on vacation, but try to stick to it the rest of the time, not a joy in the humid midwestern summer. At least there are nicer looking ones now, including toeless versions I can wear with my beloved flip flops, but I'd feel weird going out in them.

In addition to the physical changes that come with aging, be prepared for potential mental changes. My husband was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago; it's recently been identified as Alzheimer's and he's receiving IV infusions for that - no cure but hopefully slows the progression.
Shortly after his initial diagnosis, I took two group tours in about 6 months (my first!) to places he was not terribly interested in. Shortly after those, my sister and I went on a 3 week trip without spouses. All those trips were fantastic and I'm so very glad I did them. I can't do that now - while we have some family nearby, he's not yet ready to impose on anyone. I've managed a few weekend trips without him but that's even getting a bit worrisome. He has trouble from time to time with his phone, TV remotes, computer, household thermostat... He still takes care of his basic needs and is safe with local driving. He will come along on a few upcoming short trips (related to grandchildren's athletic competitions) that he might prefer to opt out of but he really doesn't feel comfortable being left alone overnight for more than a night or two.
Add in some physical issues of his (recent knee replacement, hernia surgery, spinal issues) and travel changes greatly. Our trip for this past spring was cancelled due to his physical issues. I've got the flights booked (refundable, of course) for a 3 week trip for next spring and remain hopeful (and my hobby is travel planning anyway). We won't be traveling the same way we used to, but we're also a bit burned out with churches, museums, and the like and now prefer to go slower, re-visit places we've enjoyed in the past (otherwise I'd "ruin" his enjoyment by too much "going" in new places). There may be trips to new places for me in the future but I'm not one to complain and greatly appreciate the many great trips we've shared.
Aging sucks.

Hello elderlies, may i clarify how long can you afford to walk during your Europe trip per day? 8 hours walking between breaks? I only know that Europe is very very big. It's almost impossible for the elderly to go back to the hotel at mid-day for short break/rest then resume the journey per day.

Premium economy and business class help a lot for you rest/sleep? Not economy class?

I would like to know more about elderly people. Thanks so much.

Brigitte, I am now 82 and last went to Europe (France) at 79. At that time I had had one knee replaced and needed to have the other replaced, so walking could be painful, especially up and down hills. Also, with the typical back problems associated with age (for many, if not most of us) such as stenosis, deteriorating discs and/or lumbar scoliosis, 10-15 minutes is easy to handle, but after that it is a question of "Where can I sit for a few minutes?" or "Should I even try to continue?" and "Where is my Mobic or Aleve or whatever OTC pain med helps?" (Second knee was replaced since then, but back is still an issue,)

At 79 I still went everywhere the rest of the family did (up the hill to Castelnaud-La-Chapelle, along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, around the village of Le Pegue....I just took more time because I occasionally needed to stop and sit. And the pains at that time did overshadow my activities somewhat. I could no more spend 8 hours walking in one day than I could climb the steps at Notre Dame towers. However, I have never been a hiker our biker even when young. And if I was in a city like Paris or Munich, e.g., why would I want to spend 8 hours walking, even with breaks? I would want to stop at the sights and explore them, be it church, museum, or castle. Visiting such places would be the purpose for the day, and the walking would be incidental, for the most part, not the main use of my time.

When in my 30's, 40's, 50's, and even some of my 60's, I would climb those tower stairs or go up that hill or walk2-3 miles between sights. Now I don't have to prove anything to myself or others. Back then I swallowed my fear of heights to go up the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the roof of Notre Dame and to climb Morro Rock in Kings Canyon Natl. Park in California. I would sightsee in cities and towns by foot the whole day (with stops of course) when younger. I am now happy to let my travel companions go that extra mile or so while I sip an aperitif at a local cafe.

I hope I have answered your question somewhat. (I do regret forgoing a game of petanque with some cousins at their home in Bandol, because of my knee, back in 2023. But I took photos of everyone else!)

Brigitte...Flights. Depending on the airline, I can handle regular seating if I get an aisle seat, but having once flown business class (a splurge using points!) and once in Premium Economy, I must say they beat the cattle cars hands down. California to Hawaii or New York I can take regular seats, but any longer than 5 hours or so gets a bit uncomfortable. And we had our worst flight on Lufthansa (which I used to like) with the hardest, most uncomfortable seats in my whole life! Two long legs also, both bad...LA to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Cairo. Also, middle seats in the center 5 seat section on the way from LA to Beijing. The flight seemed interminable. If I get to travel back to Europe I will probably pay for the premium section. I am now old enough to justify indulging myself.

Husband and I are 70 and 58 and in decent physical condition - husband had knee replacement which has been great, but his back is not so great. I have plantar fasciitis and a blocked nerve in my heel (all same foot). None of these issues prohibit our travel; however, long haul flights are always in Premium Select (if a Delta flight) and if a good enough deal comes our way, we upgrade to Delta One (Paris to Atlanta for $600 was offered and we pounced on it). We pay for some additional comfort and take fewer long haul flights, but we are retired and simply stay longer (about a month) when we fly across the pond.

It's almost impossible for the elderly to go back to the hotel at mid-day for short break/rest then resume the journey per day.

Why do you say this? While I'm not in the "elderly" category, I see no reason why a mid-day rest can't be included on most days regardless of age.

I am 70. I can walk for 30-40 minutes without taking a break to sit. Actually, the amount of time varies from day-to-day. This variable makes life interesting and unpredictable. I often take a break mid-day. A few years ago I started buying Main Cabin Extra economy seats due to intermittent hip pain and more recently knee pain in one knee. I try to get a bulkhead aisle seat so I can stretch out my legs. On a flight scheduled for late this year the bulkhead seat isn't available so I've reserved an aisle seat in Main Cabin Extra. I'm hoping a bulkhead aisle seat will open up. I use a cane when traveling, mostly for balance. We, my husband and I, are looking more at lodging closer to pubic transportation stops. And an elevator is a real plus, although the first place on a trip this autumn will have at least one flight of stairs. And I am planning to get that pesky left knee replaced in early January.

My surgeon wanted to replace that knee this past spring, however I had a trip planned for early April. Then he wanted to replace it in May. Nope. Gotta a trip across the state for a week and in July a 2-1/2 week trip. So how about August. No can do. A trip planned for late September. Okay then, November. Not then! I need to decorate for Christmas and bake 1,000 cookies to give away. How about early January 2027? Deal, the doc said. Yes I am slowing down. But I will continue to travel as long as I possibly can. So for now I'm getting a second set of injections which really helped the first time before my trip last spring.

I had a career in home health care which entailed working with mostly older people many of who were role models in how they coped effectively with the physical and cognitive challenges life threw at them. These folks had a good attitude and adapted to the changes in functioning, although not without challenges. I want to be like them. I want to keep traveling making the necessary adaptations as they come along.

The day may come when I am not longer able to travel. Until then, I am looking forward to a trip to Germany this autumn. And a trip to Ireland, after the knee replacement and lots of physical therapy. Maybe Poland later in 2027. Or maybe Scotland. Or return to Switzerland.

So here's to all us older travelers who are doing our darndest to keep traveling to destinations old and new!

Traveler Girl

Judy, thanks for your lovely sharing.
Sorry for not being clear from the start. What i meant is, walking around between breaks means walking along the way and walking inside the museums and hiking or wherever the leisure places take you.

Let me give you an example for your better understanding - The one wakes up at 7:30am and has breakfast and started to go out at 8:30am and takes train to take her to the destination where she wants to go. Let's say Louvre Museum. At Louvre Museum, queue for a while and walk inside there and walk around to admire and appreciate the arts for few hours and come out of Louvre museum and has lunch break at 12:30pm - 1:30pm after queuing for a couple of minutes to buy lunch. After lunch, she goes to another destination - Notre Dame so she takes the train to go there. At Notre Dame, she is busy taking photos of Notre Dame and admire the architecture of Notre Dame and goes inside to see around and walks around for a bit.....till 3pm and has short tea break for 40 minutes then resume her rest of her journey....till the evening...that's what i mean of walking between breaks for 8 hours. Do you feel tired during 8 hours of walking between breaks?

Why do you say this? While I'm not in the "elderly" category, I see no
reason why a mid-day rest can't be included on most days regardless of
age.

Oh no, what i meant is, for example, after completing the journey at Louvre museum, need a rest so has to go back to the accomodation at Montmare for a few hours' rest and then go to Notre Dame to admire....that's why i said it is almost impossible because Europe is too big. Get the ball?

Brigette, the day you describe sounds like an average touring day for us. We're 72 and 68, no serious health issues or bad knees or such. We would typically also have a short mid-morning break (a cup of coffee, or just sitting on a museum bench for 5-10 minutes). We can walk 8-10 miles in a day, no problem (as long as there are breaks). Dinner is typically early by European standards -- no later than 7:30 pm, earlier if possible. Then we are DONE for the day, no nightlife for us.

After 3-4 days at this pace, we might have a lazy morning or afternoon.

Hmm. I don't know how you define "elderly," so I'm not sure if I qualify by your definition, Brigitte. At 68, I'm a senior, but I don't think of myself as, "elderly," which, to me, would be approximately 85+. Last month, I did 5 primate treks in the forests and volcanoes of Rwanda. We usually returned to the hotel afterward, though, except after both gorilla treks, we chose to do another activity immediately afterward so that we could spend the later part of the afternoon at the hotel pool.

The treks were, indeed, challenging, but more because of the high altitude and humidity than because of our age, although that contributed to the challenge, and I'm glad we didn't wait any longer to do this.

I walk a LOT when I'm on vacation, and I don't usually go back to my accommodation in between, but if I felt like I needed and wanted to, I would. I don't see why that would be a problem.

I get injections in my spine now, because I do suffer from back issues, but even so, a sit down for lunch is usually adequate for me to be able to do another activity in the afternoon. I was just in Paris with my daughter a few months ago, and we climbed the Notre Dame towers in the morning, and walked around the Canal St. Martin area in the afternoon, and then walked back to our apartment on the Left Bank via Place de la République and le Marais in the afternoon, sightseeing as we went.

But, again, perhaps you mean people older than I.

My husband turned 95 in July; I am 68. We’re working on his bucket list, and mine. One of our biggest accommodations has been going to the gym to keep ourselves able to comfortably travel, usually independently. Have we made adjustments? Sure, no stairs, hotels with elevators, walk-in showers only, wheelchairs in airports and museums. Fewer and easier activities, private guides rather than group walking tours. Only I climb the church belfries. I can see the time is coming when cobblestones will be difficult, so we’re thinking about other city options. This time we’re trying a private guided tour, which has cut down significantly on my research and trip planning time. That’s an accommodation, too. I’m still unsuccessfully lobbying for anything but economy flights, but we’re not there yet. Well, I am. He’s not. We check our bags on the way home. We stick to Europe, where we’re comfortable, for 4-5 weeks at a time, but I do factor in a few "rest days" each trip. Egypt and Australia are in the “too far away” category for us now. While I would drive, driving at night is out and I'm still a horrendous parallel parker, so there's that. I've mentioned before that with private drivers, I can actually enjoy the scenery as it goes by. It seemed like a real luxury, but sometimes it’s actually cheaper, or at least the same price, as renting a car. Since we're usually big city travelers, driving at all is less of an issue. We have no problem with trains and buses for longer distances, but in cities, we stay as “in town” as we can, and usually walk, or use Uber/Bolt for going further afield, unless public transportation is easy. We both can still walk 5 or 6 miles a day, but we certainly sit for lunch and dinner. It's about making it work for you, regardless of your age and/or physical limitations. Enjoy what you can do, accept what you cannot. I always have a Plan B for those unexpectedly slower days. Tomorrow, we're leaving for a month in Romania. Every trip, my husband says, “I think this will be my last trip.” On the way home, he says “Where are we going next?”

We used to stay four weeks on all our previous trips, and still was not ready to come home. The past year or two we feel three weeks is long enough as they are becoming more tiring. Maybe we should slow down more, but we still love to see as much as we can on each trip, and rest when we get home.

I'm more than ten years younger than you (63) but still consider myself an older traveler.

First - I know this is a Rick Steves forum, and he is the Travel Guru for this group, but I'm just gonna say this (with all due respect) - I don't care what Rick says about "never checking" your luggage! I check my luggage for a very good reason which is that I want to drop it off as soon as I enter the airport and then forget about it until I arrive at my destination.

I don't want to roll it through the airport, get on and off the Plane Train with it, carry it with me to the lounge and keep an eye on it while I'm getting food and drinks, carry it with me to the restroom, babysit it at the gate, carry it on board and wrestle it into an overhead bin - and then do it all in reverse when we land, get it out of the bin, roll it through the airport, take in the restroom, stand in the immigration line with it, etc. NOPE! I'll just grab it off the carousel when I get there, easy peasy. Rick can do what he wants, but I get free checked luggage with Delta and I intend to take advantage of it (I only do nonstop flights.)

Second - We don't rent cars in Europe, but that is a personal preference. I'm happy with a chauffeur taking us door to door without ever having to navigate the route, deal with traffic, stop for gas, or find a parking place (also they can drive into vehicle restricted zones to drop us off.)

For longer distances, we get a taxi or Uber to the train station, and again on the other end to our accommodations. Once we're at our destination we use a taxi or ride share to get around town if it's too far to walk.

Third - We also avoid big cities for the most part. I have no desire to ever go to Paris, Rome, or London again. On our last trip to Italy, we flew in to Naples (big city, but very cool, we loved it) and on our upcoming trip to northern France we're flying into Brussels (big city, but anything's gotta be better than CDG.) And we stay in small towns where it is not only more pleasant and less crowded, but it is less expensive. We get a home base and take day trips from there as the mood strikes.

Also, as I've gotten older, I have less interest in anything that involves crowds, timed entries, or standing in line. At this point in my life I refuse to stand in a line more than ten minutes or so. Nothing - no, not the Mona Lisa, The David, the Crown Jewels, or ANYTHING - is worth standing in line to see. (Anyway, I've seen those/done that and not one of them ranks among my most treasured memories of traveling in Europe.). Basically, I no longer travel to see things but rather to experience things and create memories. And for that, you need to get out of the tourist centers and do a deeper dive. I call it "traveling gently" and that is how we roll now.

I largely agree with StellaB.
--Definitely check bags.
--Won't drive in Europe.
--Experiences over what some describe as must-see.
But if there is something I want to see, I will play the timed-entry game.

One difference is that I generally like larger cities and can never visit London enough.

As fast as time away, my sweet spot is three and a half weeks (noting my first day is less than productive and my last day is getting to an airport to fly home).

And I will pay a bit more for a nicer hotel, and I want some extra leg room when I fly overseas.

But if there is something I want to see, I will play the timed-entry
game.

Okay, I admit we did ONE on our recent trip to Italy. We got a timed entry to the Capella Sansevero in Naples. They mainly do a timed entry because the Chapel is so small they have to limit how many people can come in at any given time. And yes, it was worth it to see the stunning sculptures in the Chapel, it was the highlight of our trip to Naples.

A couple of years ago we did a timed entry to see the Ghent Altarpiece - the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. That was also worth it. So I guess I shouldn't say I NEVER do it anymore, but rarely.

As to driving in Europe:

I was an adamant train-bus person. I often tried to make the case that train-bus travel made the most sense. In many cases, it does.

For our 2-M stay in Bretagne, we rented a car. Our landlord told us that we MUST rent a car. And he was right. We were in the most rural part of Bretagne, with almost no public transportation. Rental was the only approach that worked. Fortunately, my wife and I both have driven manual transmission (wife did have some issues), and this was a simple thing. I actually enjoy the shift thing while driving. We put several thousands of K on the car. We had a car from a French supermarket, and they were completely non-pushy about the extra insurance, so we did not get it.

If you are based in a rural area in Germany, France, UK - I'd get the car. Italy I'm still not keen on - the ZTL thing is so annoying, and I've read pieces where they argue (Italians, that is) that the ZTLs are a deliberate mechanism to extract fees from tourists.

My husband and I have certainly changed our approach to travel during the 50 years we have enjoyed visiting other places. We have aged and I agree with everything that other Forum posters have said. I think it's also important to recognize how travel has changed during the last decades. Air travel is no longer a pleasure, particularly as direct flights from our airport disappear. Like everything else travel is much more expensive; maybe travel costs have risen more on a percentage basis than other day-to-day expenses. Crowds force us to travel between shoulder seasons, generally mid-winter. We have aged out of car rentals in some countries so we use taxis and public transportation more and more; we study metro, bus and train schedules before packing a suitcase. Technology has become exceedingly important and forces us to constantly update our literacy. I don't know how anyone can travel without a smart phone.

After raising children we finally have the means and time to travel. We have to face the altered travel landscape, and identify how to accommodate our older selves to continue to travel, because even at our ages the benefits outweigh the inconveniences. Travel might be keeping us alive.

My husband has started to use a mobility scooter. For an already booked Danube cruise from Budapest, we took the scooter on BA. It worked, but was quite stressful, not least as I am not that nimble either!
We are lucky enough to live in UK, within easy driving distance of a lot of western Europe, so that's what we will be doing from now on (own car).