Month: January 2025

The couple dated for five years and share a daughter.

Traveling as a woman over 50 brings unique opportunities for exploration, personal growth, and making memories. As 2025 unfolds, new travel trends and insights are reshaping the way we explore the world. 

Here are some of our favorite trending travel styles and travel technology:

1. Solo Travel – Solo travel continues to gain momentum among women over 50, offering opportunities for self-discovery, independence, and the chance to make personalized itineraries that cater specifically to our interests and passions. 
2. Wellness Travel – Wellness travel is expected to grow exponentially in 2025, with women over 50 leading the way in prioritizing self-care.
3. Adventure Travel  Women over 50 are embracing activities like hiking, snorkeling, and even skydiving with enthusiasm, proving that age is no barrier to experiencing new thrills.
4. AI-Powered Trip Planners – Apps like Hopper and Expedia now use AI to predict prices and suggest the best times to book.
5. Virtual Reality (VR) Previews – Platforms offer VR tours of accommodations and attractions before booking.

Keep reading to discover more about trending travel styles and travel tech trends.

2025 Trending Travel Styles

While most of these travel styles are not new, they are rising in popularity with women over 50.

Solo Travel – The Rise of Empowered Journeys

Solo travel continues to gain momentum among women over 50, offering opportunities for self-discovery, independence, and the chance to make personalized itineraries that cater specifically to our interests and passions. 

Research from Road Scholar shows that 85% of its solo travelers are women. They just launched their first-ever collection of trips exclusively for solo travelers.

Photo credit: Greece, Alyssa Bichunsky & Road Scholar

Solo travel differs from single travel. Many married women choose to travel alone or join small groups with like-minded individuals. Why miss out on the joy of travel just because your partner isn’t interested?

This growing trend empowers us to step out of our comfort zones, explore new cultures, and meet fellow women travelers along the way. By traveling solo, many women find a renewed sense of confidence and the freedom to embrace life on their own terms, making it an enriching and transformative experience.

Top Destinations for Solo Women Travelers:

• Lisbon, Portugal – Safe, walkable, and rich in culture.
• Kyoto, Japan – Ideal for peaceful temples and gardens.
• Vancouver Island, Canada – Known for its vibrant local art scene and ample opportunities for whale watching.

Read Jet-setting into 2025 – Must-Visit Destinations for Women Over 50 to discover more fascinating and safe places for solo women travelers over 50.

Tips for Safe Solo Travel:

• Share your itinerary with loved ones.
• Use travel apps like TripIt and Life360 for safety and planning.
• Stay in accommodations with high safety ratings, such as boutique hotels or women-only hostels.

Read The Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel for Women over 50. 

Wellness Retreats – Prioritizing Mind and Body

Wellness travel is expected to grow exponentially in 2025, with women over 50 leading the way in prioritizing self-care. From yoga and meditation retreats to spa escapes and holistic wellness programs, these experiences are designed to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit. 

Women are seeking destinations that offer tranquil environments, personalized health programs, and opportunities to disconnect from the digital world. This shift reflects a deeper understanding of the importance of mental and physical well-being, encouraging us to slow down, focus on mindfulness, and return home feeling refreshed and revitalized.

Trends in Wellness Travel:

• Yoga retreats in Costa Rica.
• Spa getaways in Tuscany.
• Digital detox retreats in the Catskills.

Read 9 Yoga Retreats for Women Over 50

Planning Your Retreat:

• Look for programs tailored to your activity level.
• Check for inclusive meal options, including dietary preferences.
• Research the retreat’s philosophy to ensure it aligns with your goals.

Read 9 Wellness Retreats in the USA.

Adventure Travel – Seeking New Thrills

Adventure travel is no longer limited to younger generations. Women over 50 are embracing activities like hiking, snorkeling, and even skydiving with enthusiasm, proving that age is no barrier to experiencing new thrills. 

This trend highlights a desire to challenge personal limits, reconnect with nature, and add excitement to travel itineraries. Many women are finding joy in activities such as kayaking along scenic coastlines, zip-lining through lush rainforests, and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations that offer both physical and mental stimulation. 

These adventures provide a sense of accomplishment and help create unforgettable memories, making travel not just a journey but a celebration of vitality and resilience.

Accessible Adventures:

• Hiking in the Swiss Alps: Trails for various fitness levels.
• Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef: Guided tours available for beginners.
• Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey: A quiet yet thrilling experience.

Tips for Getting Started:

• Invest in quality gear, such as hiking boots or a travel snorkel kit.
• Join guided group adventures tailored to older adults.
• Always consult your doctor before engaging in physically demanding activities.

Read 15 Must-Have Accessories for Adventure Travelers Over 50.

Multigenerational Travel – Building Family Bonds

Traveling with family, including grandchildren, is becoming increasingly popular. These trips blend leisure with bonding opportunities, creating shared memories that span generations. 

Multigenerational travel allows families to reconnect in meaningful ways, whether it’s through exploring nature, experiencing new cultures, or simply relaxing together in a beautiful setting. With a variety of options to suit different interests and age groups, these trips are a chance to strengthen family ties and create moments that everyone will cherish.

Read 10 Around the World Family-Friendly Holiday Getaways to Enjoy with Grandkids.

Top Destinations for Multigenerational Trips:

• All-inclusive resorts in Mexico.
• National parks in the USA, like Yellowstone or Yosemite.
• Mediterranean cruises offering activities for all ages.

Read My 5 Unbreakable Rules for a Successful Multigenerational Family Vacation

How to Plan a Stress-Free Trip:

• Choose accommodations with family-friendly amenities, such as kitchens or adjoining rooms.
• Plan activities suitable for all age groups.
• Be flexible with scheduling to allow for downtime.

Read Traveling with Grandkids? Best Tech for Keeping Them Entertained.

Eco-Conscious Travel – Leaving a Positive Footprint

Sustainability is a top priority for many travelers in 2025. Women over 50 are embracing ways to reduce their environmental impact while exploring the world. Eco-conscious travel involves choosing destinations, activities, and accommodations that prioritize sustainability, ensuring that your adventures leave a positive footprint. This trend also highlights a growing awareness of the importance of preserving cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

Eco-Friendly Destinations:

• Green-certified lodges in Costa Rica.
• Sustainable safari tours in Kenya.
• Bike-friendly cities like Amsterdam.

Read What Is Sustainable Tourism and How Can You Incorporate It into Your Travels?

Sustainable Travel Practices:

• Pack reusable items, such as water bottles and shopping bags.
• Choose trains or buses over flights for short distances.
• Support local businesses and artisans.

Read 9 Eco-Friendly Resorts – 100% Sustainable Tourism.

Cultural Immersion – Authentic Experiences

More of us seek travel experiences that allow us to connect deeply with local cultures. Cultural immersion goes beyond sightseeing, offering opportunities to engage with local traditions, learn new skills, and form meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds. These experiences enrich your understanding of the world and create memories that resonate long after your trip ends.

Ideas for Cultural Immersion:

• Cooking classes in Provence, France.
• Participating in traditional tea ceremonies in Japan.
• Volunteering opportunities in Southeast Asia.

Read Why You Should Learn a New Language in a Homestay Abroad

Tips for Meaningful Connections:

• Learn basic phrases in the local language.
• Respect cultural norms and dress codes.
• Opt for homestays or local guides.

Personalized Travel Experiences – Doing it Your Way

Travel in 2025 is all about making every trip uniquely yours. Personalized travel experiences have become increasingly popular, offering opportunities to design itineraries that cater to your specific interests and passions. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or an avid photographer, services now exist to make your travel dreams a reality.

Examples of Personalized Experiences:

• Culinary Tours: Indulge in bespoke food journeys that take you through local markets, cooking classes, and exclusive dining spots. Tour operator International Culinary Tours offers tours that specialize in culinary, wine, and cooking tours in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Croatia, and Morocco. 
• Heritage Walks: Ground yourself in the culture and history of a destination with private guided tours. Heritage Horizons specializes in creating unique cultural experiences in India.
• Photography-Focused Packages: Capture breathtaking landscapes with packages designed for photography enthusiasts. Trips like Digital Photography in Nature: Capturing the Best of Costa Rica from Road Scholar will not disappoint. 

Benefits of Personalized Travel:

• Flexibility to create your own schedule and choose activities that truly interest you.
• Access to exclusive experiences not available in standard group tours.
• A deeper connection to your destination through meaningful, curated interactions.

Tips for Planning Personalized Trips:

• Use travel planning platforms that specialize in customized itineraries.
• Communicate your preferences clearly, including any dietary restrictions, mobility needs, or niche interests.
• Consider booking local experts or private guides to gain insider knowledge and unique perspectives.
• Personalized travel experiences are perfect for women over 50 looking to explore the world on their own terms. They offer a chance to go deeper into your passions while creating memories that reflect your individuality.

Micro-Adventures – Big Experiences in Small Packages

Micro-adventures are all about exploring the extraordinary in the ordinary. These shorter, hyper-local trips offer unique and rewarding experiences without requiring extensive travel or time commitments. They’re perfect for busy schedules or those looking to savor life close to home.

Ideas for Micro-Adventures:

• Nature Escapes: Visit a nearby national park, botanical garden, or scenic hiking trail for a refreshing day immersed in nature.
• Cultural Explorations: Attend local art shows, craft fairs, or music festivals to connect with your community and its creative energy.
• Historical Sites: Explore hidden gems like lighthouses, old mills, or historical landmarks that tell the story of your region.
• Day Cruises or Train Rides: Enjoy a scenic cruise or train trip through beautiful landscapes within a day’s reach.

Read Historical Journeys – 17 Ancient Sites and Landmarks in Europe and the U.S.

Tips for Planning Micro-Adventures:

• Stay Spontaneous: Sometimes the best trips are unplanned. Keep a list of local spots you’ve always wanted to visit for impromptu outings.
• Travel Light: Bring only the essentials—a good pair of walking shoes, a water bottle, and a small backpack.
• Look for Deals: Check local tourism websites, apps, or community boards for discounts on attractions and events.

Read National Park Bus Tours for Seniors.

Budget-Friendly Travels – Traveling Smart

Travel doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s how to stretch your dollars while enjoying the trip of your dreams. Budget-conscious travel is about making thoughtful choices that maximize value without sacrificing comfort or quality, allowing you to experience more for less.

Saving on Flights and Accommodation:

• Use comparison sites like Skyscanner or Kayak for deals.
• Consider house-sitting or home exchanges.
• Travel during shoulder seasons for lower prices.

Read House Sitting in Retirement: Travelling the World, One House at a Time.

Stretching Your Budget Abroad:

• Eat like a local to save on meals.
• Use public transportation instead of taxis.
• Look for free or discounted museum days.

Read 9 Senior Travel Discounts to Keep an Eye Out for on Your Next Holiday.

Travel Tech Trends for 2025 – Making Journeys Easier Than Ever

Technology is transforming how we plan and enjoy our trips. From apps that simplify booking to gadgets that enhance the travel experience, the right tools can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. Travel tech is especially valuable for staying connected, organized, and informed while on the go.

Travel Apps to Download:

• PackPoint: Helps you organize packing lists.
• Rome2Rio: Offers route suggestions using multiple forms of transport.
• Trip Advisor: Excellent app to research and find anything you need in your destination. You can read reviews from fellow travelers and also book through the app. 

Read 20 Essential Travel Apps for Women Over 60

Tech Gadgets to Consider:

• Noise-canceling headphones for long flights.
• Portable chargers to keep devices powered.
• Translation devices like Pocketalk for seamless communication.

Read 7 Noise-Canceling Headphones for Peaceful Travels

Read 10 Compact Power Banks – Keeping Your Devices Charged on the Go

Emerging Travel Tech Trends:

• AI-Powered Trip Planners: Apps like Hopper and Expedia now use AI to predict prices and suggest the best times to book.
• Virtual Reality (VR) Previews: Platforms offer VR tours of accommodations and attractions before booking.
• Wearable Tech for Health Monitoring: Devices like Fitbit or Apple Watch help track health metrics during travel.

Read Best Fitbits for Seniors

How to Embrace Travel Tech:

• Familiarize yourself with new tools before your trip.
• Use smart luggage with built-in GPS tracking for added convenience.
• Explore digital travel guides to plan efficiently and reduce paper waste.

Travel in 2025 is all about exploring the world in ways that align with your interests and values. Whether you’re traveling solo, seeking wellness, or bonding with family, there’s no shortage of opportunities to create unforgettable experiences. 

Read Travel Over 50 – Do It Yourself or Use a Travel Advisor?

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you planning to travel in 2025? What travel trends are you the most excited about? Tell us about it in the comments below. 

As we age, our bodies undergo many changes, but staying active remains one of the best things we can do for our health. As a personal trainer for women over 55, I have helped hundreds of women to build strength and balance. Whether you’re in your late 50s or well into your 60s, keeping your muscles strong and your balance steady can make all the difference in how you feel every day. If you’ve been looking for a way to stay fit, feel energized, and live your life to the fullest, it’s time to prioritize strength and balance.

Why Strength and Balance Matter More Than Ever

When we talk about fitness for women over 55, it’s essential to focus on two key areas: strength and balance. Here’s why:

Strength Training

As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass, a process called sarcopenia. This can make it harder to perform everyday activities like carrying groceries, lifting grandchildren, or even getting up from a chair. 

By incorporating strength training into your routine, you can combat this muscle loss, improve your bone density, reduce aches and pains in your joints by creating more strength and less pressure on the joints, and feel more capable in your daily life. Strength training helps you to stay active, involved in your community, and independent. It is recommended to add strength training exercises two to three times a week, you can get a good workout in 10-45 minutes. 

Check out these quick beginner friendly strength training exercises:

Balance

Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in older adults. Improved balance can prevent falls, reduce the risk of injury, and help you feel more confident when moving around. Losing your balance and having a fall can happen so fast. It’s essential to train our balance every day. Whether you’re walking down stairs, bending to tie your shoes, or simply standing up, balance plays a critical role in ensuring you stay safe and active.

When we were kids, we played tag, walked on curbs, changed directions often, and played hopscotch and balancing games all day! It’s easy enough to add some simple balance exercises into your daily routine. Check out these balance positions to add some static balance exercises to your daily routine:

The Benefits of Staying Active Over 55

The advantages of strength and balance training go far beyond just preventing injuries. Here are some of the key benefits that come with regular exercise in your 50s and beyond:

Improved Mobility

Regular exercise helps keep your joints and muscles flexible, reducing stiffness and increasing your range of motion. I can’t tell you how often I hear my clients tell me they are waking up with less aches and pains as they have added a regular exercise routine. 

Better Mental Health

Exercise has been proven to boost mood, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality. When the world feels out of control, giving yourself 10 to 20 minutes of exercise to focus on your health, boost your endorphins, and focus on you is one of the best things you can do. 

Increased Confidence

When you feel stronger and more balanced, you’re more likely to take on new challenges, whether it’s trying a new activity, feeling more confident in your clothes, or simply saying yes to an activity you might have been hesitant about before.

Longer Independence

Being physically strong and balanced helps you maintain your independence longer, allowing you to continue doing the things you love without relying on others and that’s one of the most important goals my clients have!

Read 6 Strength Training Tips for Women Over 55: How to Start and Stay Consistent.

Strength training and balance exercises are so important as we get older. They can help us to maintain independence, build confidence, improve our mental health, and more! But adding strength training and balance exercises can feel intimidating when you don’t know where to start. Grab my FREE Thrive After 55 Quick Start Exercise Guide.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you focused on improving your strength and balance? How has this improved your life?

A friend and I were enjoying a pleasant afternoon walk through the local park after having had lunch together. We happened upon what must have been an art class. Half a dozen young people, each at an easel, were valiantly painting the nature scene in front of them, with varying degrees of success. Their teacher walked around to each, pointing out one thing or another.

My friend sighed and muttered “if only” under her breath, as we turned to walk on. “If only – what?” I asked.

“Well, I would love to paint, but that’s never gonna happen.”

“Why not?”

“Come on, you know me, I’m not artistic. I’m a computer geek. I’ve been writing code for the past 20 years, that’s all I know. Algorithms, that sort of thing. I’ve never even played an instrument.”

“So?”

“Like I’m gonna suddenly discover an artistic vocation at 65? Yeah, right. So, how’s the family?”

It was my turn to sigh because I knew that my friend’s view of herself was the only thing standing in the way of her undertaking an artistic endeavor, with all the potential joy it could bring her.

How We Speak to Ourselves Matters

While my friend was talking, I was reminded of the powerful way in which Seun Adebiyi transformed his experience as an Olympic hopeful, unexpectedly diagnosed with lymphoma and leukemia. He absolutely refused to consider himself, as did his doctors, as “a cancer patient” but rather thought of himself as “an Olympic hopeful who just happened to be overcoming cancer.” What a marvelously life-affirming perspective. And yes, he successfully recovered and went on to a fulfilling career.

Psychological research supports the tremendous impact of how we view and therefore speak to ourselves about ourselves. Positive self-talk has been shown to be of great benefit in everything from losing weight to combatting depression to achieving excellence in sports and more. My friend was defeating her dream of painting before she even got near a paintbrush just by how she viewed herself: “Once a geek, always a geek.”

Learning The Tango

Victoria Zaragoza-Martinez, at 79, is having more fun than she ever imagined possible, dancing Argentine Tango, specifically the “Milonga” form of Tango. Victoria didn’t start as a Tango dancer. She was a lot closer to my friend’s “geek” description, having been a teacher and a support for her single Mom, and later a translator as well.

Victoria had danced some of the Spanish traditional dances as a young person, being originally from Spain, but then between school and work, that stopped. But once Victoria retired, she realized something was missing from her life, and after some false starts, found herself taking Tango lessons. It took her a while to muster up the courage to attend social dances – what if she couldn’t follow the steps? What if no one chose to dance with her? Yet Victoria persisted and now attends up to five Milonga social dances a month. It has become her passion, her joy.

Victoria could never have discovered the Tango dancer within her if she’d told herself what we so often say, “I’m too old,” or “I’ve never done anything like that” or her version of geek: “Once a teacher, translator, always a teacher, translator.” On the contrary, Victoria had to be open to the idea that anything is possible and be willing to give it a try. Is she a world-class Tango dancer? Probably not. Does that matter? Absolutely not. Is Victoria having a blast? Absolutely yes and that is what matters.

Don’t let what you say to yourself about yourself limit your life. You can be whatever you want if you accept the infinite number of ways that it may come to you and as long as your goal is to increase happiness in your life and not to accumulate trophies or plaques. And as long as you let your chosen activity bring you a measure of joy, then who knows?

And yes, my friend is now painting. Hesitantly, unsure of herself, but with a grin that tells me, “Yup, she’s happy!”

Let’s Reflect:

What have you always wanted to try but have never gotten the courage? What activity did you begin later in life that has brought you joy?

 She means business.