Why do you travel?

[aplmac]

My parents are now in their late 70s and they are still purchasing insurance on their overseas trips. Is this generally still possible once they hit 80?

I believe so - but from what I've seen some "over-the-counter" style travel insurance providers that would allow for specific medical circumstances at little or no cost stop at age 80, so then it's looking to find a more heavy-duty insurer who may then require, for example, a medical before issuing a policy at a significant cost. I guess the older you get the more of a risk you become so cover drops and premiums rise.

 

[Forg]

Y’know, it’s a good question and I don’t know if I know the answer.

One thing I know makes me feel uncomfortable is going to places where people are struggling; I don’t like to be the wealthy foreigner surveying the lowly plebs … I want to be the scum when I go somewhere, that’s my comfy spot.

Last trip I organised was to the UK, and I used the theme “TV & movies” to book everything. I think that one was to enjoy seeing in-person all the things I’ve seen from afar via televisual entertainment. I think that if the Orange Terrorist’s hatred of foreigners goes away when he does, I’ll do another similar in North America.

But overall motivation? Really not entirely sure. I think I just want to experience new stuff, within the boundaries of zero risk to life or limb.

 

[Aeryn]

Most of my career I have worked on projects or managed teams or clients distributed across Australia and increasingly the world. So when we have needed to work together face to face ive happily travelled. The benefit of being childless and currently dog-less is that I can usually be available to fly at short notice when often other colleagues cant.

If travelling for work I will often stay on in a city for a day or two extra over the weekend at my own expense to check out things clients or colleagues recommend; as long as the return airfare cost isnt impacted.

As to why I travel on my own dime well its is because there so many places I've read about or seen on tv that I want to experience for myself and being an extrovert love striking up conversations with locals and fellow travelers alike. I love to eat authentic food, explore area outside the tourist traps to see how the locals experience a place although many touristy things are also still worth doing.

I want to visit so many places, every time I tick one off i usually end up hearing about others I add to my list. I want to go whilst im fit and mobile enough to do all the activities, be that swim/dive/snorkel, kayak or hike. I dont want to find myself retired with insufficient funds, or mobility issues or illness and then have regrets.

I try to go to at least one new overseas destination (be it a country, city or region) a year and also try to go somewhere in Australia I haven't been. But I also love to return to favorite places and challenge myself to find new experience there and visit the many friends i have all over the world.

Whilst I love my home city and my home, if I've got more than a normal 2 day weekend off you wont find me here, I'll be somewhere else.

I'll never understand people who don't use their annual leave, I always use mine and usually take extra leave without pay because the opportunity cost of not doing so is way too high imo.

 

[Human]

I travel when I need to mainly to visit and look after my elderly mother. She lives in Sydney and I live in Melbourne; she lives independently so I fly up every 4 weeks or so to do chores for her and to generally make sure she's OK. But it's not a burden -- I enjoy even those short weekend MEL-SYD trips and they go a long way towards helping me to maintain VA Platinum!

I travel when I want to, to escape, revive, relax and recharge. It can be as "small" as a long weekend somewhere in Australia or NZ, or as grand as a multi-week tour of another continent (mainly Europe). I also have family in Paris so it's nice to have something of a "base" there.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have always wanted to travel.
One of my earliest memories is lying in my Grandparents back yard as a small child on a sunny day gazing at the contrails of jets high above and imagining who was onboard and what exotic destination they were going to.
We didn’t travel a lot as a family and when we did it was usually a long car trip.
As soon as I was in the financial position to do it I actively sought out travel opportunities eg.teaching summer camps.
Moving here to the other side of the world as a young adult certainly increased the travel. I had already visited Australia twice as a student.

Now I travel both for work and pleasure.
I still get excited packing and I still love that take off roll on every single flight.
It never gets old for me.

 

[kpc]

I travel to see and experience places that I have seen on TV, online, read about etc. I always prefer to go to somewhere new...no matter how nice a place is, the 2nd time visit is never the same or as exciting.

I know quite a few AFFers have been to more than 100 countries and this has been a long term travel goal of mine. Covid really set me back, but since our international borders reopened 3 years ago, I have made a concerted effort to get to a 100 asap

At last count, I have been to 25+ new countries in the last 3 years and my current total is 87, give or take depending whether some places are considered countries or not eg Kosovo

People ask me what would I do when I get to a 100, simple answer is to keep going...I do accept I will never get to every country in the world

 

[MonteCristo]

I do very active travel. Not lounging around on deck chairs, at cafes, dining. Not my thing.

As a result, every day on our trips is pretty different.

Life at home is nice enough. It's comfortable. But it's ... samey.

So I adore having a different experience every day when travelling. There is very little routine. Almost every day you're going somewhere for the first time - some new museum, a new hiking trail, a new site, etc. Not every day is remarkable, or overly memorable, but it keeps you on your toes.

The one thing that makes me sad is knowing that for most places I will never be there again.

 

[VPS]

I'll never understand people who don't use their annual leave, I always use mine and usually take extra leave without pay because the opportunity cost of not doing so is way too high imo.

this for sure. Everyone I worked with always said that I would never die saying I wish I’d taken less holidays. I always used my annual leave and always bought extra leave and I don’t regret one bit of it.

 

[AuSammy]

Both parents emigrated to Australia from different parts of the world and one of my grandparents (who I never met due to WW2) a very well travelled ship’s captain. Hearing stories of other places was a common thing growing up.

With the advent of Television and overseas news and documentaries I added to a list in my head of “I’m gunna go there or do that one day”.

Most of my younger & midlife years were engulfed in long hours at work that for some part of it required me to travel domestically for work sometimes up to 10 sectors a week. However never internationally as raising a family building a home and budget priorities were elsewhere.

At last the kids were off my hands and a finding a new partner triggered me to stop just dreaming and talking about places to go and things to do.

In the last twenty five or so years have managed to tick off many of the gunnas in 76 countries and more planned this year.

In retirement, budgetary constraints are kicking in again slowing up the “visited” count but deep down know there is a limited time left for me on this planet.

Points have facilitated my travels around the world multiple times in J utilising all 16 sectors allowed each time in a CR to 6 of the 7 continents.

I continue watching fascinating documentaries and thus items keep getting added to my gunna list.

Travel certainly opens the mind, brings one down to earth and the reality as to how lucky we are in the country we call home. I feel so enriched by the experiences and people I have encountered in my travels abroad and some have become decades old friends

Touch wood the health is holding up fairly well and my credit card travel insurance still covers me for another 4 years.

Like many, still a bit in denial and refuse to call my gunna list a bucket list.

 

[bpc]

because life is short and the world is an amazing place

 

[Trekky1]

I've never traveled for business. I don't have family or close friends that I can travel to see. So all my travel is leisure related.

• I travel because I can afford to and I am healthy enough. One day I may not be able to.
• I travel to learn and experience events I can't at home. Seeing a Space Shuttle launch or attending a 50th Star Trek Anniversary convention are prime examples of this.
• I travel because I don't want to look back in XY years and say to myself, I could have....
• I travel so I can follow my beloved Sydney Kings.

I grew up with no travel, my parents lived week to week and we never traveled anywhere - not even in our home state.

I feel very lucky to be able to have traveled as much as I have.

 

[Bindibuys]

As a child, I travelled a lot by car with my parents.
My husband had never been overseas when we met. I made sure to change that. Our first trip was to Beijing 1986, and the bug bit him.
We decided that we would do as much overseas travel as possible before we hit retirement, and then do the grey nomad around Australia.
We travel because we love to see new things, we are more active on holidays than we are at home. Rarely do we return to somewhere we have already been, except for Las Vegas - where we get remarried each time we visit.

 

[Happy Dude]

I travel because I have to. It is under my skin and I am hopelessly addicted. To all parts of the process that is - the planning/research, the execution, the challenges/experience, the satisfaction and the memories. So if I don't travel, I am not "healthy". It makes me a "better" person, but an insufferable one when the topic arises.

There are dragons that must be slayed to really scratch the itch, but for now I'm in 'management mode':

- family (damn kids)​

- money (see above)​

- time (or lack of it, mainly due to still requiring employment)​

- health (advancing years and associated issues will be the biggest hurdle I'm sure).​

 

[Beano]

I travel by necessity. Necessary to see the children and grandchildren in Europe far away from my home in NZ. Also for work as I am the sole consultant in Australia for a major industry without which you wouldn't have the building high rise infrastructure. My business is always up and down!
( But an apprentice is in the wings).
I see some higher thoughts going on with which I am completely in-sync, but finances dictate the European trip every couple of years is all I can manage. I would love to do all other travelling to interesting places.

 

[Seat0B]

I still love that take off roll on every single flight.
It never gets old for me.

This is exactly how I feel about it too!

 

[Seat0B]

because life is short and the world is an amazing place

I really agree with you on this one @bpc

 

[Aeryn]

This is exactly how I feel about it too!

Me three

 

[bpc]

My parents are now in their late 70s and they are still purchasing insurance on their overseas trips. Is this generally still possible once they hit 80?

I just asked my pet robot, it said:

Yes, Australians over 80 can get travel insurance, but it is more limited, expensive, and often subject to stricter conditions. Here’s how it works:

Key Points:​

• Age limits:
  Most mainstream Australian insurers set age limits for international travel insurance between 79 and 85. Some stop at 80, but others offer coverage up to 100+ through specialised policies.
• Specialist insurers:
  Companies like Cover-More, Fast Cover, InsureandGo, AllClear, Go Insurance, and Australian Seniors Insurance Agency often cover older travellers, sometimes with no upper age limit.
  They typically require a detailed medical assessment.
• Higher premiums:
  Travel insurance for over-80s is usually significantly more expensive, especially for overseas trips.
• Pre-existing conditions:
  Many pre-existing medical conditions need to be declared and assessed. Some conditions may be excluded or may require extra premiums.
• Destination restrictions:
  Some policies limit travel to certain countries due to medical risk factors or availability of care.
• Travel duration:
  Trip length is often capped for older travellers—sometimes 30, 45, or 60 days maximum per trip.

Options to consider:​

Insurer	Age Limit	Notes
Cover-More (via Flight Centre or direct)	Up to 99 (depending on policy)	Medical assessment required
Fast Cover	No upper age limit	Pre-existing condition screening
InsureandGo	Up to 100	No medical for some conditions
AllClear Travel Insurance	No age limit	Specialises in seniors and medical conditions
Australian Seniors Insurance	Up to 99	Tailored for older Australians

Important:​

• Domestic travel insurance usually has fewer age restrictions.
• Cruise cover is often treated as international travel, even in Australian waters.

Summary:​

You can get travel insurance over 80, but expect higher premiums, medical screening, and possible exclusions. Using specialist insurers is usually the best approach.

 

[Seat0B]

My parents are now in their late 70s and they are still purchasing insurance on their overseas trips. Is this generally still possible once they hit 80?

My Insurer now is Easy Travel, and they don't seem to have an age limit on their policy (underwritten by CoverMore)- they just say that higher risk age groups may attract a higher premium.

They insure me for skiing with 2 total knee replacements and osteopenia, high blood pressure (controlled), high cholesterol, and leukaemia, all for a very reasonable Existing Medical conditions extra fee (in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands). I have never needed to make a claim, so I can't say how they are that way, but it's another option to add to the research by @bpc above.

Bizarrely, CoverMore themselves directly will not insure my leukaemia, but it is expressly covered as a stated condition for Easy Travel (who issue a CoverMore policy) .

It would definitely be worth their while to check around. Also be aware that some car rental companies impose age limits on rentals for older drivers too.

 

[drcam]

My Insurer now is Easy Travel, and they don't seem to have an age limit on their policy (underwritten by CoverMore)- they just say that higher risk age groups may attract a higher premium.

They insure me for skiing with 2 total knee replacements and osteopenia, high blood pressure (controlled), high cholesterol, and leukaemia, all for a very reasonable Existing Medical conditions extra fee (in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands). I have never needed to make a claim, so I can't say how they are that way, but it's another option to add to the research by @bpc above.

Bizarrely, CoverMore themselves directly will not insure my leukaemia, but it is expressly covered as a stated condition for Easy Travel (who issue a CoverMore policy) .

It would definitely be worth their while to check around. Also be aware that some car rental companies impose age limits on rentals for older drivers too.

I assume your leukaemia is CML (chronic phase) or CLL. Or are you in remission from acute leukaemia? In any case, best wishes for more health and long life!