Best Senior Travel Websites

The Internet has revolutionized personal travel research. Much more comfortable with computers than perception might dictate, mature travelers of both sexes love to research their own vacation themes, destinations, alternative accommodations, and tour operators. They may still book through a travel agent. but they want to have a lot more input into the eventual mix than in the far more predictable planning for a conventional, mainstream holiday. Senior Travel Editor Alison Gardner

Travel with a Challenge is a global travel resource, updated monthly, that speaks directly to the mature/senior traveler through richly illustrated feature articles and fast-breaking travel news around the following alternative travel themes: ecological, educational, cultural/historical, and volunteer vacations worldwide. Also check out prize draws and discounts on the homepage. The web magazine, whose host is our Senior Travel Editor Alison Gardner. attracts 1.6 million readers worldwide yearly.

Eldertreks is the world's first adventure travel company designed exclusively for people 50 and over. With 15 years of experience, they offer active, off-the-beaten-path, small-group adventures in over 50 countries. The all-inclusive land journeys focus on adventure, culture and nature. Choose a wildlife safari in Kenya, explore Mongolia by camel, hike to Patagonia's Torres del Paine, or navigate the awesome ruins of Angkor Wat.

Road Scholar is a great place to begin your adventures in lifelong learning, from a stalwart friend of active seniors.

Rick Steves . the first columnist for Transitions Abroad, is the ultimate respectful and respectable American ambassador to Europe with his Europe Through the Back Door country guides, city guides, forums, acclaimed video/DVD series, and much more. Check out his great website, www.ricksteves.com. for senior-friendly tours.

Senior Travel and Vacations . part of the About.com network, offers useful articles and resources for senior travelers.

Over50AndOverseas is an informative and resource-intensive website for those who are mature or senior in age, may have retired, and wish to volunteer overseas in order to make a difference. The site is hosted by a very active volunteer since he participated in the Peace Corps in 1991, John Dwyer. our contributing editor on Senior Volunteer Service Abroad.

IndependentTraveler.com has a section with practical tips and articles for senior travelers.

Smarter Living s Senior Travel encourages older Americans to travel creatively both domestically and abroad, and features regular columns. While much of its focus is mainstream in theme, there are many tempting deals, especially in heavily discounted transportation, and excellent travel tips and articles on destinations that make this site a valuable addition to the alternative traveler s information portfolio. Also sign up for the free Senior Travel E-Newsletter to learn about late-booking travel discounts.

Tripadvisor Senior Travel Forum is fairly active and offers answers to many common travel-related questions.

ElderTrav.com is a website featuring senior alternative and adventure travel as well as links to senior tours, in addition to articles.

JourneyWoman.com offers articles and resources for woman travelers, including a section for adventurous women over 50.

International Living has information for seniors who wish to move and live abroad (or travel). Much of the content does require a subscription.

Overseas Adventure Travels specializes in small group tours for seniors to destinations around the world. The organization, based in Boston, Mass. offers to "take you off the beaten path so you can participate in everyday life in your destination," allowing opportunities for as much cultural interaction as possible with the local culture as you explore. Also offers a travel forum for seniors.

Walking the World offers adventure travel tours for people 50 and better. Adventure travel is a way of experiencing the world, not as a passive observer, but as an active participant. And walking, more than any other type of activity, allows you to experience firsthand not only a country s majestic natural areas, but its rich and varied human cultures as well. With Walking The World, you ll be walking through small villages, meeting the local people, and sampling some of the world s finest food and drink.