Last updated on June 23rd, 2024
Why these women 65+ will never be too old for travel
By Amanda Burgess
To media and consumer-driven society, aging is a problem to solve – particularly for women. Yet not one of the wanderlusting women ages 65-plus I sat down with to discuss aging’s many benefits would trade places with their younger selves. Even though all of them have aches and pains that remind them of their linear age daily, behind every grey hair and wrinkle lies the story of a life well-lived and well-travelled. Overlooked or misrepresented by media, entertainment, and even the travel industry their dollars should command, these age-defying women travellers 65+ continue to do what they’ve always done – blaze their own trail and hope the rest of the world catches up to them.
These women blaze their own trail
At JourneyWoman, our focus is squarely on reflecting the experience and wisdom of our community of mature women travellers on our own platforms, and to the travel industry at large. The wisdom from these women travellers 65+ only adds to our 30-year heritage celebrating women of a certain age.
“On the whole, I don’t think there is much interest in the lives or opinions of older people, especially women. So many of us are educated, well-travelled, creative, and have a wide range of experiences, but in Western society, that doesn’t appear to count as much as youth, beauty and celebrity,” says Margaret Byrne, 71.
JourneyWoman Advisory Board member Joy Fox, 85, echoes that sentiment. “I don’t see people my age doing what I do, or have done,” she says. “I don’t know why – we are a force to be reckoned with. We have seen so many changes in our lifetime. God, people my age, we could run the world. All this experience and life skills, mostly going to waste. There is a great focus on youth.”
73-year-old Barbara Leonard thinks it’s a matter of disrespect. “The media and society do not respect older people. They seem to think they are disposable, needy, selfish and not deserving of respect for the journey they have been on,” she says. “Technology brings so much to people instantly – there is no respect for the wisdom one earns by living.”
Read on for a compendium of the biggest benefits age offers the traveller, along with some sage advice for the younger generation.
“We’re still living the old paradigm of age as an arch. That’s the old metaphor: You’re born, you peak at mid-life and decline into decrepitude. A more appropriate metaphor for aging is a staircase. The upward ascension of the human spirit, bringing us into wisdom, wholeness and authenticity.” – Jane Fonda
Behind every woman who ages well is a memory of one who was doing it right
One of the things we found in speaking with women travellers over 65 is that those who had aging well modelled for them by plucky older relatives in their youth are now living it in maturity.
“I have a recollection of my aunts – my mother’s sisters. They were very lively people. Two of her sisters who never travelled anywhere went to visit their other sister who was a missionary in Peru,” says Diane Wolfson, 69. “They travelled through the jungles of Peru on their own and I remember thinking: Oh my god. They’re so OLD! And they’re doing this? They were younger than I am now! Here I was thinking they were old to be doing this, and there’s no way I’m stopping travelling because of my age.”
new fashion in Morocco
“I had two grandparents that were very special in my life, maybe more so than my own parents. My grandfather lived with us, and helped me become the person I am today – as did my grandmother in a different way. I guess they were old, but I never looked at them that way. I felt they had so much wisdom and knowledge,” she says. “My grandmother wrote stories and was a traveller. She was near 80 and still travelling. That woman was way ahead of her time – she was just doing what she wanted to do. I loved it. They were really good mentors for becoming older.”
She says this photo captures how she feels about aging:
Continuing to enjoy life and travelling, with lots of laughter
“My parents both died fairly young – my father in his 50s, my mother in her early 60s. So I’ve outlived both of them. I did have a grandmother who was probably around my age when I was 10. It’s interesting because I always thought of her as being old, but I thought of my mother as being older,” she says. “My grandmother was a simple woman but she always said what was on her mind. I was horrified that she would be so outright about things. My mother would say: Oh, she’s old. When you get old, you’re allowed to say and do whatever you want. And I thought: Wow, I can’t wait to get old. I realize now that I’ve started doing that: I now have that old mouth that just says whatever I feel like.”
Ft. McHenry
Entrepreneurship with local artisans
“One of the benefits of being a mature, well-educated woman is that you’re not afraid of expletives. And you have no fear to put a fool in his place. That’s the power of language and experience. You can learn a lot from Shakespeare.”
– Dame Judi Dench
Five things these women know that you don’t
1. We don’t act our age
Women are given mixed messages about aging. The beauty industry tells us we need to do everything within our power not to look our age for as long as possible. The fashion industry tells us to dress our age. Society tells us to act our age. Here’s what no one tells you and every woman discovers for herself: Age is nothing but a number. No one who is actually living feels their age, as these women travellers 65+ told us.
“I’m 71. I don’t feel 71, because I have no idea what it is meant to feel like. I’m often in pain with arthritis, and that reminds me that I am getting old. I sometimes have to stop and think about a plan and how I will manage it with a doggy knee,” says Byrne. “I seem to attract respiratory ailments. It slows me down a bit but it doesn’t actually make me feel old. I have had to accommodate pain since my early 20s. The new ailments are just more accommodations rather than a sign that I’m old. There is certainly no travelling with just a carry-on – my ‘accommodating’ supplies ensure that!”
Dee Kurtzer, 70, echoes Byrne’s views on ailments being the only sign of ‘age.’ “I’ll admit, the only reason I’m beginning to ‘feel old’ is due to some health issues,” she says. “It saddens me how much emphasis is placed on looking young, dressing a certain way. Many people think I’m 10 to 20 years younger than I am because of my go-go attitude. They say they can’t keep up with me. I hope I’m the type of woman that the devil says each morning: Oh, crap – she’s up again!”
2. We have the freedom to indulge our passions – like travel
How many risks did we not take as we built homes, families and careers? How often did we stay inside our comfort zones? How many trips were left to the realm of dreams? Not anymore. In their golden years, JourneyWomen make no apologies for who they are. They do what they want, when they want – within reason.
“I’ve gotten braver and realize that regrets include what you did NOT do. I am more willing to try something new than ever before and be more philosophical about outcomes,” says Marti Sladek, 74.
The something-new feats she is most proud of?
“In my 60s, managing – with the urging and encouragement of my 85-year-old companion – to make it up all 600 steps to the roof of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet,” she says. “In my 70s, and on an ankle recovering from a serious break, hiking all over Machu Picchu, Peru. Oh, and taking up tango dancing in my 60s!”
Kurtzer hasn’t allowed age to rob her of the things she’s always loved to do, instead indulging her whims as often as possible. “I know I don’t have a lot of years ahead, but I still plan to get the most out of them,” she says. “I still love most of the same things I did as a young woman, but my stamina isn’t what it used to be. I still attend rock concerts when I can, and want to travel again. I love parties and being around people.”
3. We have a broad perspective
As we age, our eyesight might weaken, but our ability to see the bigger picture sharpens. We stop seeing the world in the idealistic black and white of youth and develop an understanding and appreciation of all the shades in between. We connect more easily with those who are different from us. We travel as more humble and confident versions of our former selves.
Byrne says the greatest gift age has given her is the understanding that despite having different cultures, human beings have much in common. “I remember being in Eastern Turkey, in Ezerum. We had been warned that the East was much more conservative and had seen fewer Westerners. My friend and I were walking along a street and a couple were coming the other way,” she recalls. “The woman was in full hijab, down to the niqab and black gloves. She was determinedly walking towards me and I was expecting some sort of recrimination for not being covered up. I was trying to plan how to deal with it. Instead, she walked up to me, stood in front of me, put out her hand and said: ‘Welcome!’ I was so happy that I had learned enough Turkish to respond in her language. The more I travel, and the more I age, the more our commonalities become evident.”
Our perspectives on aging shift with time too. For Leonard, the biggest surprise has been learning that aging wasn’t nearly as bad as she’d feared. “So far, it has been like a travel trip. Some smooth patches, some rough patches. It would be boring if it wasn’t,” she says. “But each day is an opportunity. I have no choice but to move forward, so I might as well make the best of it. Each decade brought its own surprises and gifts. The only issue I have with the current one is a few more aches and pains. I wouldn’t trade one of them to be young again. I was so uptight when I was younger – shame it took me so long to learn to lighten up!”
4. We don’t give a damn what others think
From a young age, women are taught to value external validation. We seek approval. We seek acceptance. We strive to keep the peace. Age teaches us that keeping the peace comes at the expense of our own. Playing small to make others comfortable keeps us caged. As we age, we learn to take up space – in a room, in our own lives, in the world.
“For my younger self, it was important what other people thought of me. It doesn’t matter what people think of me now, as it is not my business. I am comfortable in my own skin. I like who I am. I am happy with my life,” says Fox. “I have become a gentler person – not so aggressive or assertive as I was during my business days. I try hard not to judge people, I try to be kind. At this time in the life span, we have wisdom to let things go that we cannot change, to know get our knickers in a knot when things go wrong…except for technology. When that goes wrong, I curse with words I didn’t know I knew.”
Kurtzer agrees. “I grew up in the 60s, and the media and society were caught up in the ‘youth revolution.’ We often heard people we admired sing about ‘…hope I die before I get old.’ I thought that was a stupid view of aging,” she says. “I had friendships with many older women, and we talked about the good things that come with getting older. In some ways, I looked forward to getting older and not caring about what others thought or did. I’m 70 now and so much happier than when I was younger. I am so much calmer, less anxious, more fun, and I rarely worry about what people think.”
5. We have the bone-deep confidence that comes from being and accepting yourself
The biggest benefit to aging according to our panel of kick-ass women travellers? Getting to a place where you can be 100 per cent authentically, uniquely yourself – no apologies.
“The big benefit is living long enough to ‘get over yourself.’ I no longer worry about what I say (within reason), what I wear (within reason) or what I do (within reason),” says Byrne. “So glad to just be ME. I get to do what I want to, with nothing to prove. I am finally getting acquainted with ME. For too long, I was who I HAD to be.”
For many, the secret to weathering the ups and downs aging is living a meaningful life. “I think the key is to keep having fun, whatever fun means to you. For me, it is the joy of travelling, singing, dancing, dressing up, being silly, laughing with people I like being with, building beautiful gardens, knitting, painting, writing,” says Fox. “The ability to have fun is essential to forgetting your age. Being comfortable with who you are is also a key component. Be kind to yourself, love yourself, help where you can. Keep having fun.”
Why they’ll never be too old for travel
“I will NEVER be too old to meet new people and hear their travel stories. I’ve had the travel bug since about age 7 or 8. When my legs finally give out, I’ll read about travel and share my experiences.” – Dee Kurtzer, 70
“I will never be too old to take an interest in other places or cultures. If ever become too frail (or poor) to travel, I will still seek them out in books and documentaries. I can’t imagine overcoming the habit of thinking ‘How would this travel?’ when buying new clothes!” – Margaret Byrne, 71
“A NEW adventure!! A new culture to experience! A new food adventure! New vistas! I may have to curtail some physical things as I grow older but I will always try to find something new to look forward to, even if it is just a new ethnic restaurant. Or exposure to foreign culture programs at the local college. Never too old or frail to at least be an armchair traveler.” — Barbara Leonard, 73
“I feel if more people traveled, we would begin to see ‘others’ as just like us and realize the ‘differences’ are only cultural and superficial. Our souls are pretty much the same. We all want peace, hope, prosperity, family, love.” – Barbara Leonard, 73
“Creating art, I hope.” – Shakun Masheshwari, 72
“Learning new things, meeting new people, making new friends, and finding mentors in the oddest places exactly when I need them.” – Marti Sladek, 74
“Singing, having fun with friends, socializing, entertaining, learning something new. Making new friends, enjoying solitude and everything in nature.” – Joy Fox, 85
“At 70 years old, if I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to use the words ‘f*ck off’ much more frequently.” – Helen Mirren
Advice they wish they’d been given when they were young
1. Listen to your inner self more, and less to others: “I do wish when I was younger that I had put more emphasis on what I wanted and less on what other people thought.” – Dee Kurtzer, 70
2. Age is all in the mind: “It doesn’t matter what age you are – it is what age you feel and your ability to make the most of it. Do what you feel like doing and ignore your age. When your body tells you to quit, you will know. Keep your sense of fun and do things you enjoy doing. Be good to you so that you can be good to others. Do not listen to toxic people. Don’t make assumptions. Enjoy nature, we can learn so much from it. Do something nice every day.” – Joy Fox, 85
3. Never stop learning: “If you keep developing your creative side and become a lifelong learner, you will always remain young at heart and have a community to belong to.” – Margaret Byrne, 71
4. Getting older is nothing to fear: “The only thing that is the end of the world is the thing that is the only other option to aging. Oh, and cheap moisturizer works just as well as the expensive stuff!” – Marti Sladek, 74
5. Spend time with your elders: “Learn your grandparents’ history – what they’ve done, their experiences. Make time to talk and spend time with them. I wish I had done that more.” – Shakun Masheshwari, 72
6. Go with the flow: “You aren’t going to be young forever. Bloom where you are planted. Be flexible. You will be better off moving on to the next stage with your head held high. Don’t look back. Each decade is the new beginning of a new you. Never stop growing!” – Barbara Leonard, 73
Are you a woman traveller over 65 with advice to share? Please do it in the comments below!
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Amanda Burgess
Amanda Burgess is a Toronto-based writer and creative strategist whose bags are always packed for her next adventure. She is a Certified Cancer Journey Coach who creates a safe space for cancer patients and caregivers to design their dream lives – while living with cancer, and on the other side of it. Amanda freelanced for JourneyWoman until December 2021.
Excellent article. I am going to be 77 later this year and so want to take a few more adventurous trips before it’s too late. Problem is finding like minded travellers in my area or local travel companies that facilitate exciting tours for older women. It’s encouraging to read that there are like minded senior women out there.
Where do you live and where would you like to travel to?
Hi Loraine! We are working on ways to connect like-minded JourneyWomen with one another, and with our tour operators to cater to our audience. Stay tuned!
I’d love to know more about that.
Me too, I would love to know more about travelling groups.
We’ve just announced that WomenTravel.info is now part of the JourneyWoman family – this website offers tours just for women! Take a look and see if anything is of interest to you!
We’ve just announced that WomenTravel.info is now part of the JourneyWoman family – this website offers tours just for women! Take a look and see if anything is of interest to you!
Hi, I’m 74 and very interested in more travel. Please let me know about trips with like- minded people
Love the stories once this pandemonium of covid 19 is at an acceptable level and we can travel safely, can’t wait to start a new journey to travel.
Can’t wait to meet some fellow travelers.
I to have the problem of finding a travel partner
Tru
Go solo!
It’s so good to know there’s this group out there who loves to travel solo. I would love to see myself doing this one day. I love to travel, just need courage to take a first step as solo traveler.
If you ever find yourself in Botswana, I would love to chat with you about your life after retirement. I have a youtube channel specifically to share these kinds of inspiring stories. It’s called my life after retirement. I’m retired myself
This is so great. I live in Ireland
And I would love to travel with like minded people.
Do you know if there is anyone either in Ireland or the UK doing your type of holidays.
Anne
When I retired at 60, I told my two children I’d like to take each of my five grands on a trip of their choice. My granddaughter, Sloane was the first to choose. “Let’s set the bar high, Geeg ( what I’m called). Let’s go to Africa! And that was the beginning of five fabulous trips. I took each one by myself, not on a tour because I didn’t want them to be dragged around with adults and tour guides.I planned each trip to suit each child. They all went at age 13. They took me to Tanzania and Zanzibar, to the out islands of Fr.Polynesia, to the Grenadines sailing, to London and Paris, and to Costa Rica. I have always wanted to write about these magical trips. Some day I will.
At 66 I bought an old ruin of a house built in 1828 on the island of Eleuthera and restored cottage. I have enjoyed my winters there since 2007.
My kids took me to Colombia for my 80ieth birthday just before the pandemic, and my husband took me to Thailand at 79. I’ve a trip to Italy planned for September. So , yes, being old is fun, freeing and quite a wonderful stage of life! Lest you think I am rich, I’m not. I am a retired teacher who saves money to travel, and I do it sensibly not extravagantly .
Your story of taking your grandchildren on separate adventures sounds like one we’d love to tell, Lynn. Email me at [email protected] and we can chat.
LOVED this article. As I’m in slow, painful recovery from knee replacement, it can be discouraging, but,this afternoon was chatting with another elder woman, about whether to go to Galapagos or Sicily when I retire next year (at 75). At 71 I walked Gandhi’s Salt March trail, (240 miles) and am so grateful for the experience
Hi Alice. Slow and steady with knee replacement recovery. When you finally get there, it will be like having a new lease on life. As for Galapagos or Sicily, you can’t go wrong with either. Which one calls to your heart louder? Go with that one…and follow up with the other.
Never stop moving.I have travelled 75 countries. I walk daily,often solo.
You’re an inspiration! Thank yo!
You’re an inspiration! Thank you!
I didn’t get my passport until I was 62… trying to get in as much travel as I can. COVID derailed one year, though I did take trips around the US. I’ve just had a second knee replacement in 18 months, but still traveled to the Netherlands and Italy…on my way to Barcelona (I was in Spain when COVID hit) and celebrating my 70th birthday in Belgium and Switzerland this July. Will keep going until the money’s gone.
As a 64-year-young travel writer I love the “5 things these women know”. It is so very true that we adventurous old ladies know who we are, what we like, and that (often) the opinions of others are not that important. Thank you for these wonderful examples of older women who refuse to let age define them or slow them down.
We wanted you to know that we see you, we celebrate you, and we aim to be just like you!
Amanda’s write-up excited me very much. My late grandmother was overly expletive and I didn’t like that. It is sad to learn that we take long to be what we want to be. Send me more of Amanda’s travel stories.
Really enjoyed this article since I am 77 and have had two falls in the past eight months. It made me want to reevaluate my future.
Thank you
Joyce Newell
Really enjoyed this article since I am 77 and have had two falls in the past eight months. It made me want to reevaluate my future.
Thank you
Hi Joyce! So sorry to hear about your falls. When you do reevaluate, let us know what you come up with. In the meantime, sending you healing vibes and hopes that you’ll get back out there and travel again.
I can’t say enough how this entire article speaks to me. Friends and family always use the word “brave” when describing me and/or my adventures. All I know is that my definition of brave must be very different from theirs! Why is driving to parts unknown, flying to a foreign country, walking the streets of an unknown city considered brave?! I’m happy to be in the company of Journey Women everywhere.
And we’re happy to have you as part of our community of women. We are definitely brave, but not for the reasons others think.
Goodnews
Really enjoyed this. Would love to connect with a travelling group, or get more info on journeywoman.
We’ve just announced that WomenTravel.info is now part of the JourneyWoman family – this website offers tours just for women! Take a look and see if anything is of interest to you!
I’m interested in going to Mexico from Ireland in January and as I’m travelling alone would love to hook up with other ladies who are likeminded 70s
Bravo. It is so apparent that we got caught up in our own erroneous definition of old! I cheerlead you in your initiative . I still have my R. N. and intend to keep at it until I feel my age ! So far so good and connecting more and more to the connection of mind to spirit!
I loved your stories. I feel like a kid when I’m travelling. Feel like selling everything & moving into a tiny house that I could take with me on the road. I feel stuck . Unsure. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I m 81 and hope to travel again after the pandemic the thought keeps me going
I really loved the article. In my career in event management I travelled world-wide for my client to facilitate excellent experiences for their sales teams.
However, since I retired I’ve done several solo trips – Egypt, Botswana, South Africa, to mention just a few.
I certainly identify with many of the ladies’ comments and am so anxious to travel again in 2022. Knee surgery in my future notwithstanding, I’m ready to get out back on the trail.
If you really want to do some traveling, then you need to find a way to do it. I decided I needed to take an around the world trip to celebrate my 75th birthday, so I got out my research skills, pointed to places on the map I’d like to go, and got in touch with AirTreks, a company who plans your airfare when you’re doing an RTW trip. Terrific 6 1/2 week jaunt!
After retiring in 2001 I finally realized a 35-Year dream and joined the Peace Corps where I served in Ukraine for two years. Came home and still had itchy feet so arranged a job teaching in China for two years.
Knowing I was not ready to settle down yet, I found another volunteer/stipend job at a conference center for eight months in the Southwest, where I had never lived but was always curious about.
Just keep looking, searching, do your homework, and go. I’ve traveled independently for half of my 78 years, and I always manage to find folks to chat with along the way, in hostels, strolling down streets of new cities., local restaurants, etc.
Now my focus is changing a little and I intend to scope out places where I can stay longer, like a month or six weeks, if it looks like it would be an interesting opportunity for a good fit. Keep on traveling, ladies!
I am totally inspired and love your idea about being able to have a safe place to communicate with like-minded ladies for travel, etc.
River Cruise sounds awesome and staying in one place for a short time. Love it and excited.
I would like to see an older woman who depends on a walker or a wheelchair featured in Journeywoman. I can no longer get around without a walker but still want to continuing to travel. There are other travels and things to see that don’t mean you are stuck on a cruise ship. I know I am not the only woman in this position. Thanks!
We have several articles you can read on this topic, https://journeywoman.com/feature-articles/a-new-way-to-travel/, https://journeywoman.com/accessible-travel/accessible-travel-europe-young-at-heart/, https://journeywoman.com/feature-articles/7-things-learned-accessible-travel-alinker/ and would love to feature more women! Thank you Karen!
Hi Karen,I’m Shirley I now us a walker as my balance is not good I’m not happy to use it when I’m at home l think it’s pride ,but when I’m on holiday I don’t mind as I love walking and would like to keep my legs going as long as possible, I’ve just spent Christmas and New year in Benidorm was great, went by coach I thought as I was going on my own if anything should happen I would have someone to help I do like to go off on my own and then in the hotel you have company ,my passport runs out next year and I don’t know if I will renew it ,by the way I’m 80 my head is 25 my body has aged 😀 I like being happy a little harder now I’m on my own but I keep pushing myself I have a few holidays booked mostly in UK , I’m glad I spotted you message let my know if you hear or have heard from others in same boat ,best wishes Shirley
A safe and fun way to travel with a ‘community,’ as a mature adult woman is with the Semester at Sea Lifelong Learning program. You don’t have to travel the entire voyage but can do a partial, saving time and $$. I’m on their LLL Council and would be happy to answer any questions. I’ve gone on 2 around the world and several other shorter voyages, quite amazing! It’s a non-profit program. Check it out at semesteratsea.com and look for the LLL button.
Love to have more info on this way to travel
Came across your channel while searching senior travelling to europe and so inspired! Turned 80 this year, have not travelled in years and now rearing to go! A bit daunting as i need lots of advice on how to etc? Warm regards
I am in my 70’s and would love to travel, especially visiting Prague and Budapest and a maybe a few other European cities. I’m an especially shy person so am frightened as to how I would cope, especially when there’s a free day to do as you please and I’m on my own and I might get lost! Hopefully there will always be tour guides available. I’m South African, and I’m not sure if this applies only to American tourists? Of course I would need a Shengan visa/s and all things daunting. I have travelled Europe quite extensively in the past, but I’m on my own now.