Holidays For Those Golden Years: Lago Maggiore, Wine Tour in Bordeaux & Train Trip In Canada
I imagine the big 50 is like any birthday, dreaded, ignored and finally acknowledged by consuming a little too much wine, surrounded by friends telling you it’s just a number. Let’s face it, changing decades is never going to be easy or fun, but crossing over the half-century mark has always been seen as a significant milestone.
When I started my research into ‘over-50’s holidays’ I imagined luxury cruises and quiet resorts specifically geared towards this market, meaning there would be no screaming children or boisterous party-goers.
Browsing the web I discovered this was clearly a lucrative market for the travel industry, with most agencies having dedicated sections to ‘Over-50’s’ holidays. Pilgrimages, cruises and bus tours featured high on the list of what was on offer and before choosing what I believed to be a perfect holiday or destination for travellers of this age, I decided I needed advice.
It was through talking to my parents and my friend’s parents, all in their 60’s, that in fact, they were weren’t slouching off to some staid resort, zimmer frames at the ready, but were travelling the world and doing it in style. Safaris in Africa, cycling trips through Switzerland, train trips across Russia and Canada, boat trips to Alaska and cruises to the fjords in Norway. As they reeled their trips off, I realized they were just as hungry for adventure as those in their 20’s and 30’s. They didn’t get to do it in their 20’s and now they’re making up for lost time and they have the disposable cash and time to do it properly. Whether it’s hiking in the Rockies, Opera Season in Vienna, wine tours in France or boating on the Italian lakes, travellers of this age realize our time here is not infinite and if you want to feel alive, you’ve got to get out there and see it for yourself.
For information on wine tours in Bordeaux, lakes in Italy and a train trip across Canada please download this PDF – Holidays For Those Golden Years
Julianne Mooney 
Julianne, just back from a week at a wedding in Bordeaux and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. If you like beautiful food, scenery, people and wine (and who doesn’t) it is the place to go. Definately seemed to be for a slightly older tourist but I wouldn’t let that put anyone off. Lots of older people whizzing up hills on bikes at a much faster pace than me! Went to La Dordogne region just outside Bordeaux and got to see the beautiful towns of Sarlat, Beynac and Limeouil.
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After seeing your review on TV3 I am planning a trip with my husband in August for a week. I was thinking of 4 nights in Bordeaux and 3 nights in St emillion. If you have any recommendations on traditional places to stay or any info on what to see or do I would appreciate it thanks a million. A
Hi Angela,
Ah you will love it!
We stayed in modest hotel, so really it depends on what your budget is. If you were treating yourselves you could try – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotel/121667/Chateau-Le-Thil-hotel-Bordeaux-France-review.html or Boutique – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hotel/36445/Hotel-Seekoo-Bordeaux-review.html or this B&B is supposed to be lovely although it is not city centre- http://www.laferrade.com/
The tourist office is excellent and often have accommodation deals including wine tours – http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/uk/bordeaux_patrimoine_mondial/empreintes_de_l_histoire/les_places_du_vieux_bordeaux.html
For St Emillion – try http://www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/uk/ as they list all accommodation options or if you are going crazy – http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/plaisance/#.UtjuSmRdVsg
Or something very traditional just outside St Emilion – http://www.lacloseriedefronsac.com/english/htm/hotel.htm
I hope this helps!
Best,
Julianne