Many can recall travelling in our youth like we’re ticking off a checklist. With tight schedules and tighter budgets, we throng to major tourist destinations such as Paris or New York City, before hitting the most popular (and most crowded) hotspots in town. Not so for mature travellers, many of whom have been there, done that and now realise that secondary destinations and off-peak seasons offer a world of possibilities.
Silvers, especially who have the good physical and financial health to travel separately from their families, can stand to benefit from the flexibility and cheaper prices afforded by travel that goes off the beaten track, whether in terms of secondary destinations or off-peak seasons.
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Less crowds, shorter queues at secondary destinations
By holidaying in secondary destinations, or during off-peak seasons, silver travellers have the added benefit of thinner crowds and therefore shorter queues at airports, hotels and attractions – which in turn, means more room to plan a more leisurely paced getaway.
"The savings from travelling like that add up to quite a lot, which I can use to stay there longer or for another holiday (laughs)."
While she prefers free-and-easy travel, she enjoys the “safety and convenience” of a tour group, especially when visiting more exotic locations without fellow travel partners – and provided these agencies make provisions for silver travellers.
Travel tours targeted at, or adjusted for, silvers are nothing new. There are major tour companies like Chan Brothers Travel and JTB Singapore offering senior-focused trips, along with boutique firms like Silver Horizon Travel Co-op targeted specifically at the silver market.
These accommodations, he says, include extended stays in two main cities per trip to minimise packing and unpacking; a travel pace that is deliberately slower, capping out at visits to two attractions per day; and more free leisure time baked into the schedule, allowing ample time for rest or exploration.
New travel experiences await
After all, many silvers have switched up how they travel since Covid-19 pandemic measures were lifted. Vivienne says that, in general, she and her friends are willing to spend more time – and more money – travelling compared to before.
For Jeremiah, silvers’ desire for unbound travel translates into increased demand for “once-in-a-lifetime destinations” such as the mountainous nation of Bhutan, as well as chasing the Northern Lights in Alaska, along with a search for “hidden gem experiences” that reveal an unseen side of the country.
Recommendations for secondary destinations
Jeremiah highlights several hidden gem destinations where tour packages with his company are seeing increased popularity: Kyushu and Okinawa in Japan, outside of the usual Tokyo or Kyoto; coastal delights in Korea’s Jeolla, Gyeongju and Goeje Island, a departure from the typical Busan or Jeju Island; and rugged areas of China for those looking to escape the city, with rising secondary destinations such as Guizhou, Xi’an and Hainan Island.
"There are visitors gradually discovering southern and eastern parts of Taiwan, including offshore islands like Quemoy (Kinmen), Matsu and Penghu. Those who enjoy a slower pace of life in a more rural area, which you can’t find in a city like Singapore, will enjoy Taitung or Hualien."
Finally, Tourism Australia highlights a series of nature- and geology-themed tours bringing you from the coasts of Southern Australia to the heart of the outback.
Wildlife enthusiasts, for example, can head to Adelaide for a spot of whale-watching before nipping to the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary for a sleepout tour under the stars. They can also head to the Albrohos Islands off Western Australia’s southwest coast for snorkelling, seaside barbies and stargazing.
Of course, all of these are just suggestions. For those who aren’t big on travelling with a tour group, there are plenty of secondary destinations out there – if you’re willing to put in the work to find them.
