AARP Travel: Celebration Vacations for Seniors

Author: AARP
Published: 2014/07/22 - Updated: 2021/11/22
Topic: Disability Travel Information - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: AARP Travel Celebration Vacations are a popular way to celebrate special milestones in life like anniversaries, birthdays, family reunions and weddings.

Travel is the number one aspirational activity for the boomer generation, and we are seeing not just AARP members but also non-members who seem to prefer investing in a Celebration Vacation for their life's special moments.

AARP Travel has been leading the field of travel for people 50 or older and their families since 1958 and identifies emerging trends that influence how their members dream, plan and book vacations.

Introduction

AARP Travel, a valuable resource for America's 76 million baby boomers who spend over $120 billion annually in leisure travel, announce new insights related to CELEBRATION VACATIONS.

Main Item

Taking a Celebration Vacation is a popular way to celebrate special milestones in life like anniversaries, birthdays, family reunions and weddings. AARP research found that the joy and satisfaction of travel make it a top choice for celebrating an important milestone with 78 percent of people 45+ saying that they have taken or intend to take a Celebration Vacation in the next two years instead of throwing a party, getting a piece of jewelry or other item.

"Travel is the number one aspirational activity for the boomer generation, and we are seeing not just AARP members but also non-members who seem to prefer investing in a Celebration Vacation for their life's special moments," said Sami Hassanyeh, AARP Chief Digital Officer. "Our research shows that Celebration Vacations are replacing parties, special events, jewelry, big-ticket items for the home or new car purchases with an increasing number of people 45+ wanting to travel more with their family and friends."

AARP Travel has been leading the field of travel for people 50 or older and their families since 1958 and identifies emerging trends that influence how their members dream, plan and book vacations. Celebrating anniversaries is the number one reason people 45+ plan a Celebration Vacation with 87 percent of them choosing a vacation over a party, jewelry, or other item to celebrate anniversaries. People 45+ indicated celebrating milestone birthdays as the second biggest motivation for them to plan a Celebration Vacation (77 percent) followed by retirement (69 percent) and a wedding (66 percent).

Reasons Americans 45+ Choose Travel to Celebrate Personal Milestones

There are a variety of reasons why people 45+ choose travel as a way to celebrate personal milestones including the following:

AARP's recent research also revealed some pain points in planning Celebration Vacations, including sticking to a budget (17 percent), budgeting (13 percent), and identifying destination activities (11 percent). The new AARP Travel website (travel.aarp.org) aims to alleviate some of these pain points by providing tools like the Trip Finder to build custom itineraries and by highlighting discounts.

AARP Travel and Fodor's Travel Help You Plan Celebration Vacations Planning Celebration Vacations is now easier than ever-travelers researching their next getaway can go to AARP Travel and find expert advice and recommendations from Fodor's Travel. The site's expanded content now includes more activities, places to explore, travel tips and entertainment options to complement the destination guides first unveiled on the AARP Travel site in March.

One of the newest additions is Weekend Getaways (travel.aarp.org/weekend-getaways), which includes itineraries curated by Fodor's Travel. The collection recommends local escapes less than three hours from home, including where to eat, shop, and stay, from popular cities including Denver, Washington, D.C. and more locations nationwide.

AARP Travel's range of travel tools and features include:

More AARP Travel Celebration Vacations Research Findings The new AARP Travel research also indicates a vast majority of Celebration Vacations taken in the last two years were taken in the U.S. with the top destinations being:

Top Celebration Vacation Destinations for Americans 45+

63 percent of the respondents took Celebration Vacations in the U.S. as opposed to international destinations in the last two years with the top destinations being:

18 percent of the respondents chose tropical/beach destinations with the most popular beaches being:

While the dream of a Celebration Vacation is becoming more mainstream as a way to celebrate personal milestones, there are some challenges that people 45+ face planning for one. Top ten hardships in planning a Celebration Vacation include:

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by AARP and published on 2014/07/22, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, AARP can be contacted at aarp.org NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Explore Similar Topics

- Experience the unspoiled beauty of the British Virgin Islands: pristine beaches, rich history, and Caribbean culture without the commercialism. Discover hidden gems, explore diverse islands, and enjoy world-class sailing in this accessible paradise.

- Interview with His Excellency Dawoud Al Hajri Director General of Dubai Municipality regarding quality of living for the disabled.

Citing Information and Page References

Disabled World (DW) is a comprehensive online resource providing information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): AARP. (2014, July 22 - Last revised: 2021, November 22). AARP Travel: Celebration Vacations for Seniors. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 11, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/travel/celebration.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/travel/celebration.php">AARP Travel: Celebration Vacations for Seniors</a>: AARP Travel Celebration Vacations are a popular way to celebrate special milestones in life like anniversaries, birthdays, family reunions and weddings.

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it's important to note that our content is for general informational purposes only. We always recommend consulting qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.