Plan Your Dream Trip

Decide on the purpose of your trip.
Senior Travel
Our Senior Travel Expert
5 Subcategories in Planning Your Dream Trip
28 Articles in: Planning Your Dream Trip
A good travel agent can help you plan a wonderful trip. - Rob Melnychuk / Photodisc / Getty Images
How to Find a Senior-Friendly Travel Agent
Travel agents can save you time, money and headaches. Find out when you should consider using a travel agent and learn which questions you should ask.
SeatGuru helps you choose the best seat on your flight. - Courtesy SeatGuru
6 Indispensable Travel Planning Websites
Some travel planning websites truly stand out. Here are six of our favorites.
Guidebooks and websites can help you decide what to see at your vacation destination. - Tim Graham / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Limited Time and Lengthy Bucket List? Here's How to Decide What to Do
Once you have decided where to go, what will you do when you get there? Focus on your top choices using our road-tested travel tips.
Photo © John Boyer
Beyond the Tour Group: Alternatives for Gentle Walkers
For travelers with mobility issues, some tours are simply too fast-paced. Discover the alternatives to the traditional group tour experience.
Photo © Google
Let Google Maps Help You Plan Your Next Trip
Google Maps is far more than a direction-finding tool. It is also a vacation-planning tool. You can use Google Maps to learn about your hotel's surroundings, check traffic conditions, look at hiking and cycling options and much more. Learn how to use Google Maps to plan your next trip.
A solo senior traveler enjoys the UK's Lake District. - Tim Graham / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Should Seniors and Baby Boomers Travel Solo?
Find out whether solo travel is right for you.
Photo © Nancy Parode
What Is an Authentic Travel Experience?
We hear a lot about authentic travel experiences, but what are they, actually, and how can you find them? Authentic travel has several aspects; learn what they are and find out how to incorporate them into your next trip.
Photo © John Boyer
How to Find Travel Companions
Many mature travelers want to see the world, but are held back by cost. Learn about places to meet like-minded travelers, both in person and online.
Visitors to the Temple at Esna, Egypt - Carl & Ann Purcell / Getty Images
Is a Tour Group the Right Choice for You?
Tour groups offer many advantages as well as some disadvantages. Discover the pros and cons of senior tour groups.
Don't let worries about pickpockets, language barriers or money ruin your trip. - Sascha Shuermann / Getty Images Europe / Getty Images
How to Overcome Travel Fears
Most of the time, travel fears can be overcome. Take a closer look at some common travel fears and discover ways to deal with them.
Photo © Nancy Parode
Discover Your Dream Destination
If you've dreamed for years of traveling to an exotic island, a famous national park or world-class art museum, start planning now. Find out how to narrow down your travel choices and choose the trip that's best for you.
You don't have to rent a clunker in order to get a low rental car rate. - Photo © Thinkstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images
How to Find Your Best Rental Car Deal
Find your best rental car deal using our road-tested bargain hunting tips. Learn to search for a rental car bargain and discover how to find car rental discounts.
Greyhound 6267 CMGS Greyhound # 6267, an MCI 102-DL3, is about to turn left into the Claremont, CA Greyhound Station from Indian Hill Blvd, bound for Los Angeles. - pfsullivan_1056/Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0
Why You Should Consider the Bus for Long-Distance Trips
You can travel economically by bus across the US and Canada. Learn about bus travel, particularly Greyhound Lines, and decide if long-distance bus trips are right for you.
Photo © Las Vegas News Bureau / LVCVA
How to Get There
Planning a trip? You'll need to decide how to get to your destination. Consider the pros and cons of cars, trains and other transportation options.
Photo © National Park Service
American Battlefields: History and Heritage
Visiting a battlefield can be both enjoyable and awe-inspiring. If you're a history buff or a nature-lover, why not plan to spend some time at a famous American battlefield? Learn about the history of the area, trace the battle's progress as you drive or walk through the battlefield and spend some time outdoors.
Photo © Great Wine Capitals Global Network
Discover French Wine Regions
French wines are famous around the world, and with good reason. Wherever you go in France, you can find vineyards and a well-established winemaking tradition.
Palacio-Duhau-Park-HyattBuenosAiresMariaElianoCoverGetty3504x2336.jpg - Photo © Mariana Eliano / Cover / Getty Images
How to Use Trivago to Research and Compare Hotel Prices
Trivago is a hotel price comparison website that allows you to see prices for over 700,000 hotels worldwide. Find out how Trivago works and how to use it to find the best price on hotel rooms.
MaponiPhoneJustinSullivanGetty3000x2000.jpg - Photo © Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
How to Find Road Trip Stopover Spots
Where will you spend the night en route to your destination? Find websites and apps that can show you your route halfway point.
MonaLisaCrowdRussellMountfordLonelyPlanetImagesGetty2249x1500.jpg - Photo © Russell Mountford / Lonely Planet Images / Getty Images
How to Avoid Crowds When You Travel
Fighting the crowds can ruin almost any vacation. Find out how you can avoid crowds the next time you travel.
GoldenTempleAmritsarJaybeeMomentGetty2000x1500.jpg - Photo © Jaybee / Moment / Getty Images
Visit a Sacred Site on Your Next Trip
Take a photo tour of some of our favorite religious sites around the world. India's Darbar Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, is Sikhism's most sacred site.
ManonBeachEchoCulturaGetty3868x2579.jpg - Photo © Echo / Cultura / Getty Images
Travel Tips for Introverts
If you're an introvert, our travel tips will help you carve out the recharging time you need.
ATMPeopleWmMurphyEPlusGetty2250x1500.jpg - Photo © William Murphy / E+ /Getty Images
11 Ways Travel Has Changed for the Better
We hear plenty of travel complaints these days, but I would argue that travel has, in fact, changed for the better.
Florence American Cemetery Hall - Photo © Old Line Photography. Licensed to About.com.
Why We Visit Sad Places When We Travel
Why do we feel drawn to places where sad events happened? Find out why some travelers visit sad places.
Grandmother and grandchildren at art museum - Photo © KidStock / Blend Images / Getty Images
How to Make the Most of Your Museum Visit
Our tips for visiting museums will help you make the most of your day, especially if you are traveling with grandchildren.
Photo © Spencer Platt / Getty Images News / Getty Images
How to Find Free Walking Tours
Learn how to find free walking tours around the world.
Photo © Buena Vista Images / Digital Vision / Getty Images
When Spontaneous Travel Won't Work
Spontaneous travel is very appealing, but some things - visas, for example - must be organized in advance.
Travel guidebooks can help you plan a wonderful vacation. - Photo © Fredrik Skold / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images
Do You Need to Use Travel Guidebooks?
Smartphone apps and travel websites offer alternatives to the traditional travel guidebook, but can they replace your favorite travel guides?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Traveling Abroad?
If you are considering a trip abroad, but have some concerns, take a look at some of the pros and cons of international travel.
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