The packed tour bus — 6 a.m. lobby calls, ten cities in seven days — is losing its grip on retirees. Here’s what’s replacing it, and the numbers behind the shift.
The Scale of the Shift
AARP’s 2025 research found 70 percent of Americans 50 and older plan to travel this year, taking an average of 3.9 trips and spending about $6,847 per person. And trips are getting longer: 27 percent of those spending more say it’s because they’re staying longer at their destinations.
Why Slow Wins on Cost
Unpacking once beats paying for seven hotels. Weekly vacation rentals and month-long stays — some programs now require a full month minimum — spread the biggest cost, lodging, across more days. Travel pros say slow travelers often spend less per day than tour-bus hoppers.
Why Slow Wins on Comfort
No 6 a.m. wake-up calls, no racing for the bus, no living out of a suitcase. For travelers managing mobility or health needs, setting your own pace isn’t a luxury — it’s what makes the trip possible.
Why Slow Wins on Depth
Slow travel means living somewhere, not touring it — morning coffee at the same café, chatting with shopkeepers. Researchers call it the difference between seeing a place and knowing it, and retirees increasingly choose knowing.
Sources: AARP 2025 Travel Trends research, travel industry analysts
