Their kids have flown the coop—and now, it’s their turn to book a few plane tickets of their own. Empty nesters are parents whose kids have now grown up and moved out as they establish lives of their own. Empty nesters paid their dues and spent many years raising their families—and now they have loads more free time on their hands.
So, what do they do with all their newfound free time? Travel, of course! About one-third of empty nesters said they’re looking forward to taking more trips, and about the same amount said they’re also looking forward to taking longer trips. When you no longer have to plan a vacation around school schedules, you have a lot more freedom and flexibility to explore! Here are a few of the big travel trends I see (or predict!) empty nesters participating in:
A chance to reconnect
One of the best things about segueing into the “empty nest” stage of life is all the time you have to re-connect with your partner. The past few decades were a blur of rushed dinners, school sports and meetings, and homework help. Now, though, the kids are gone—and it’s just the two of you again. No wonder that 73% of empty nesters said they’re most looking forward to now planning a “just-for-two” escape, as opposed to a family vacation. My pick for a romantic getaway? Nothing’s better than a relaxing, all-inclusive resort stay—at an adults-only property—to unwind and strengthen bonds after a lifetime of putting your needs, well, last!
Rediscover your passions
Family comes first—and that’s why many parents have had to put their own hobbies and passions on the backburner for years. But I predict that empty nesters will use travel as a way to tap back into what used to light them up! Whether it’s art and architecture, food and wine, or golf and watersports, there are so many ways to align a vacation with your personal interests. Sharpen your knife skills during a cooking class, go deep-sea fishing on a chartered catamaran, indulge your inner history buff by exploring ancient ruins or WWII sites, taste incredible vintages at a world-renowned vineyard—embrace your empty nester status and dive into some “grown up” fun!
Re-frame a big life change
For many empty nesters, entering this new stage of life is more of a mixed bag—there can be a lot of sadness around seeing your kids grown up and “fly the coop.” Some empty nesters struggle with feeling directionless, or unmoored; according to one survey, nearly half of empty nesters experienced feelings of depression around their new circumstances (with women feeling harder hit than men).
These feelings are totally understandable—but I think travel can help here too. Finally moving forward with planning that bucket-list trip you’ve always dreamt of will give you something concrete to look forward to, during a time period that may otherwise have you feeling down. Give yourself the gift of exploration, on your own terms, and embrace the positive aspects of a big life change!
Are you an empty nester yourself ready to do some exploring of your own? I’d love to help! Learn more about my custom travel services, or complete a brief trip inquiry form to start planning together soon.
