Seasoned, Savvy, and Still Exploring: Travel Truths for 2025
🧭 Opening Reflection
What Older Adults Can Teach the Travel Industry
By Lawson Brooks III, Publisher of Fit2Journey
The travel industry loves to talk about the “silver tsunami” — that wave of aging Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who are supposedly redefining retirement with adventure, leisure, and freedom. But for all the talk, you wouldn’t know it by looking at airport terminals, hotel marketing, or most travel apps. Older adults are too often an afterthought — treated as passengers, not planners; liabilities, not leaders.
But here’s what the travel industry often forgets: older adults are not just customers — we’re architects of the modern travel economy.
We travel year-round, not just in high season. We’ve perfected the art of finding value without sacrificing comfort. We’re loyal to brands that respect us and ruthless about dropping the ones that don’t. Most importantly, we travel with intention. Our journeys aren’t fueled by fear of missing out or social media stunts. They’re driven by memory, meaning, and mindfulness. That is something worth studying.
Want to know how to build an unforgettable guest experience? Ask the 67-year-old who’s taken trains through Italy and can tell you the difference between a hotel that’s “accessible” on paper and one that truly welcomes aging bodies. Want to know how to craft loyalty? Ask the 72-year-old traveler who returns to the same Caribbean island every year not for the beach, but for the people who remember her name.
We understand that wellness isn’t a trend — it’s a necessity. A good night’s sleep, a walkable city, and low-stress airport transfers aren’t luxuries — they’re baseline needs for travelers of any age. What we’ve learned through life and miles is that the best travel isn’t fast or flashy. It’s meaningful, comfortable, and purposeful.
If the travel industry wants to future-proof itself, it needs to stop chasing trends and start listening to travelers with time-tested wisdom. Those of us over 60 have been places. We’ve seen the world change. And we’re still moving — not despite our age, but because of it.
🌍 Destination of the Week
📍 Chiang Mai, Thailand – Cultural Calm Meets Affordable Comfort
💬 For travelers seeking tranquility, culture, and care for the body, Chiang Mai delivers all three — without draining your savings or your energy.
Why It’s Ideal for the 50+ Traveler:
Chiang Mai blends ancient tradition with modern ease. Nestled in northern Thailand, it’s less chaotic than Bangkok and far more affordable than Thailand’s island resorts. With its cooler climate, slower pace, and walkable Old City, Chiang Mai offers older travelers a chance to explore temples, markets, and lush landscapes — all while prioritizing rest and recovery. The culture here respects elders, and hospitality is offered with warmth and grace, not obligation.
Top Activities for Mobility and Rest:
🧘♂️ Wellness Retreats: Choose from affordable day spas or multi-day yoga, meditation, and detox programs in the surrounding hills.
🏞️ Doi Suthep Temple: A sacred site with panoramic views — accessible via funicular or a gradual climb for those up for it.
🐘 Elephant Nature Park: A humane sanctuary for rescued elephants (no riding!) with shaded paths and low-intensity walking tours.
🧵 Cultural Crafts & Cooking Classes: Learn traditional Thai cooking or textile arts — mentally engaging, physically gentle, and socially enriching.
💰 Budget: $45–$65/day
This includes accommodations in a 3-star hotel or guesthouse, local meals, transport via tuk-tuk or Grab app (Thailand’s Uber), and daily excursions. High-quality Thai massages cost as little as $8/hour. Long-stay rentals are widely available for snowbird travelers.
🧘♀️ Body + Being
Meditation Apps Worth Trying at 30,000 Feet
Let’s face it — even for seasoned travelers, flying can be physically draining and mentally jarring. Tight seats, loud passengers, dry air, and unexpected delays can turn any journey into a stress test. For older adults especially, maintaining calm and circulation during long flights is more than a comfort — it’s a health priority.
That’s where meditation apps come in. Whether you're dealing with pre-flight jitters, in-flight anxiety, or just trying to doze off over the Atlantic, guided meditation can center your breath, soften your body, and turn that cramped economy seat into a personal retreat. No incense required.
Here are three of the best free or low-cost meditation apps that work beautifully offline. (Just download your sessions in advance) Disclosure, I use Insight Timer because of a basic free guided session.
🧘♂️ Insight Timer
Best for: Variety and deep rest
Why we love it: Over 100,000 free guided meditations, many by wellness experts and spiritual teachers from around the world. Perfect for flight anxiety, sound sleep, or even quiet affirmations while boarding.
Tip: Try “Yoga Nidra for Travel” or “Deep Rest Body Scan” during your next layover.
📱 Calm (Free trial available, then $69.99/year)
Best for: Soothing voices and polished user experience
Why we love it: Clean interface, sleep stories narrated by familiar voices (think LeVar Burton and Matthew McConaughey), and peaceful soundscapes to drown out cabin noise.
Tip: Use the “Breathe Bubble” exercise during takeoff — a helpful visual tool for calming the nervous system.
🌿 Breethe
Best for: Gentle encouragement and personal growth
Why we love it: Designed with simplicity and older users in mind. Offers mini-sessions focused on confidence, mindfulness, and even grief or life transitions — all perfect for the reflective space that travel often creates.
Tip: Their “On-the-Go” category is ideal for short-haul flights or airport waits.
Long before luxury rooftops and curated cocktails, there was Hogate’s—a spot where the music was live, the seafood was legendary, and the crowd knew how to make power moves look effortless.
In No Room in Paradise, Monroe Gray makes a weeknight sojourn to Hogate’s to unwind with friends and shake off the stress—but he has no idea what the night still has in store.
No Room in Paradise — Available Now. For More info, visit:
The Official Website of Author, Lawson Brooks
#NoRoomInParadise #DCThrowback #BlackAuthors #90sVibes #HogatesNights #PoliticalThriller #BookstagramBlackAuthors
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