There was a time when nothing said ‘student’ quite like the sight of a fresh-faced youngster tramping around with a backpack on their shoulder and a map in their hand, asking for directions to the nearest youth hostel. It was a familiar sight you wouldn’t be surprised to see in any city in the world.
The ‘gap year’ has become a global rite of passage for school and university leavers, a stepping stone between the worlds of childhood and adulthood, education and work. While it can take other forms, travel is its most common expression. The aim is discovery - as much of the self as of the big wide world waiting for the gappers to explore.
Yet in recent times, an altogether different demographic has started hitching a lift on the gap year bandwagon. Backpacking isn’t something that is traditionally associated with people of retirement age. Yet travel industry insiders are noticing a sharp increase in enquiries from people aged 60-plus. So popular has the trend become that it has even earned a nickname - the Grey Gap Year.
The pandemic likely has a lot to do with the uptick in older generations opting for what has previously been seen as a young person’s approach to travel, as has the current cost of living squeeze. Interest in long, big ticket travel adventures in general has soared since the lifting of travel restrictions. After two years-plus of travel frustration, people want to make the most of their freedom again. And it has also made everyone aware of the need to take opportunities while they can.
At the same time, however, everyone is acutely aware of the mounting pressures on their finances right now. Blowing large sums on travelling the world in luxury doesn’t sit well with that. New retirees might be blessed with the time to explore at length, but they are no doubt left wondering how far their pensions will stretch with all the current economic uncertainty.
The great appeal of backpacking to young students, of course - aside from the sense of adventure - is that it represents a cheap, no frills way to see the world. You travel from place to place using low cost public transport or budget flights, you stay in hostels, you eat local. No luxuries, just fabulous experiences. It’s an approach that can appeal to people of any age.
So if you like the sound of greeting retirement with an extended bout of travelling, or taking a break from ordinary retired life, what do you need to know about backpacking in your sixties? Here are some top tips to get started.
Put together a budget
With most holidays, the first thing you ask yourself is ‘where do I want to go?’ But with any kind of extended touring, including backpacking, a better question to start with is ‘how much money do I have for my trip?’ This works particularly well for backpacking because half the fun is deciding where to head next on the hoof. But your budget will also determine things like how far afield you go, how long you travel for, how you get around etc.
Unlike young student-age gappers, though, you probably have plenty of financial commitments at home to think about. You might still have a mortgage, there will be bills that need paying even while you are away etc. That makes it even more important to work out exactly what you can afford in advance, and divide that up into a workanle budget over a sensible period of time.
Apply for a travel money card
On the subject of making your money go as far as possible when travelling, people are very conscious of exchange rates at the moment, with a weak pound pushing up the cost of travel to many places worldwide. With that in mind, you want to be getting the best deals possible.
Using a debit card is the easiest way to take out cash and pay for purchases in different countries and in different currencies. Your bank will also give you exchange rates as good as you can find anywhere, and better than traditional cash exchanges or local banks. But the problem with debit cards is that you will be charged a transaction fee every time you use it.
The best option is to get a travel money card. These can be used just like a debit card, giving you the freedom to use ATMs or pay directly anywhere you go. They will still offer decent exchange rates, and the big benefit is that you won’t be charged transaction fees.
Protect yourself with travel insurance
The longer you travel, the greater the risk that something could go wrong, whether that’s falling ill or having your money and passport stolen or having a flight on to your next destination cancelled. As well as being frustrating and perhaps a little scary, these can all be costly. Especially falling ill or being injured somehow, as if you need medical assistance on your travels, you will have to pay.
Travel insurance is an essential for backpacking. However, as a would-be grey gapper, there are two things to be aware of. One is that, depending on how long you plan to be away for, standard travel insurance policies may not be suitable. If you want to travel for anything more than three months, you will probably have to ask for a long stay policy.
That will push the price up, as will your age. Travel insurers view older travellers as being a higher risk, especially in relation to medical claims. You may find high street insurers quote you eye-wateringly high premiums for a long stay policy if you are in your sixties or older. Others will operate an age cap and refuse to insure you at all if you are over it.
If in doubt, search for a provider that specialises in insurance for older travellers. Explain what your plans are so they can advise whether you need a standard or a long stay policy, and see what kind of deal they can do for you.
