Time to travel After work, it's time for many to play

Rebecca Bria

Jun. 28, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Bill and Bonnie Sukus were stranded in Ireland following Sept. 11, 2001, after planes were grounded in the United States for several days.

The Jenkins Township couple was worried about covering the cost of staying abroad longer than expected. When they called the U.S. Embassy in Ireland and asked if help was available, they were informed Irish residents had offered their homes to American travelers trapped in the country.

That was just one of the many vacations the Sukuses will never forget. In addition to Ireland, the Sukuses have visited much of the East Coast, Alaska, California, Jamaica, Punta Cana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Cancun, the Bahamas, France, Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria. They also take smaller trips to places such as Cape Cod and Niagara Falls. They have both been retired for 10 years.

"It's a matter of time," said Bill Sukus, who has two children with his wife. "When you're working, you don't have as much flexibility to do trips. As an example, the trip to Alaska and the one to Europe, you're talking 11, 12, 13 days and that's a big chunk of time that you need to go to those places."

Bill, 57, and Bonnie, 54, say they plan to continue to travel several times a year as long as the cost of travel doesn't rise tremendously and they are physically able to.

Karen Monko-Nagle, owner of Sea the World Travel in Forty Fort, says cruises, European trips, Alaska, Las Vegas, Hawaii and the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf area are popular travel destinations among ages 55 to 70. Disney World also is a common travel interest because people in this age bracket enjoy taking their children and grandchildren there.

Bus trips to Washington, D.C., Lancaster, New England, Cape Cod and Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut also are desirable, she said.

And bus companies like Jo-Jo's Travelers offer frequent trips to Atlantic City casinos and other destinations popular among the older crowd. Many offer a convenient way for area residents to get away for a day or two.

And while travel to Europe and warm beaches is always trendy among this demographic, adventure travel, such as visiting jungles, rainforests and volcanoes, is growing. The newest type of travel targeted for this group are food and wine vacations that feature cooking classes and wine tasting.

Monko-Nagle says payment and spending options can make travel possible, even for seniors who have a fixed income. Monko-Nagle said clients are able to make monthly payments, depending on their situation, and the travel agency will work with them to arrange a trip within their budgets.

Top 10 travel destinations for people age 55-70, courtesy of Sea the World Travel:

1. Caribbean cruises

2. Alaska

3. Escorted tours of Italy

4. Escorted tours of other European countries

5. Las Vegas

6. Hawaii

7. California

8. Walt Disney (NYSE:DCQ) World (NYSE:DIS)

9. Costa Rica

10. Mississippi River cruises

Newstex ID: KRTB-0215-26307570