Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 64

IslandTHE
Life - February/March
A BRAND NEW SECTION FOR
OVER 60s2011

Age no barrier so sky
and sea's the limit!

The UK’s more mature population
is apparently fitter, healthier and
wealthier than ever before and when it
comes to enjoying different and exciting
experiences, age is no obstacle.
Tour operators are turning their
attention to this growing sector
and responding creatively to client
expectations of upgrades and
complimentary on-board spending on
cruise holidays. P&O Cruises report
that passengers are booking the full
itinerary to experience the glamour of
circumnavigating the globe instead of
taking segments.
With no-fly cruising from
Southampton, the world’s your oyster.
Bath Travel guarantee smooth sailing
from the moment you lift the phone,
they have discounted offers on many
of their other holidays and a free taxi
service if you choose one of their Titan
Hitours or a cruise costing over £3,000.
Prompted by redundancies and early
retirement, a lot of people are taking
a ‘grey’ gap year and last year, free
from the responsibility of children, forty
thousand ‘oldies’ upped sticks to see
the world and to enjoy an adventure
like exploring South America instead of
two weeks in Torremolinos.
The good news is that there are
insurance companies out there, like
64

World First, who design policies for
people aged up to 100 and cover
anything from trekking holidays in the
Himalayas and winter sports activities to
grizzly bear watching!
Another popular holiday for the
over-60s is glamping. Forget the villa
in Spain, nowadays they are buying
motorhomes instead and with the vast
improvement in campsites and holiday
parks, it’s become a popular option for
a break outside the school holidays.
Pitchup, an online guide to campsites,
has a list of wigwams, pods or lodges
with spas – how about a break in a
luxury yurt at The Apple Farm at Afton
Park in Freshwater?
Because we are lucky to live in an
idyllic place, some people may prefer
to holiday nearer home. Isle of Wight
Camper Van Holidays has a fleet of
Retro VW vans, all with a character of
their own, and a list of camp sites on
the Island. The vans come equipped
with everything you need on holiday
and included in the price is full
comprehensive insurance, breakdown
cover, and a ‘Welcome Gift’ a hamper
of local produce.
Another ‘home base’ is Warners
Bembridge Coast Hotel exclusively for
adults is set in 23 acres of landscaped
gardens with stunning views of the

Solent and billed as the place “where
grown-ups love to go.” The hotel has a
cabaret theatre, a gym, an indoor bowls
complex and an outdoor bowls green.
A door to door home pick-up service
provided by Kardan Travel Holidays Ltd
means you’ve no problems with luggage
and can relax from the word ‘go’.
This year they have a comprehensive
programme of day tours and a huge
choice of holiday destinations in the UK
and on the continent. Canon Michael
Weaver is leading a ten day holiday in
the Holy Land from 9 May to 18 May
operated by Maranatha Tours. Flying
from Heathrow to Ben Gurion airport in
Israel, the itinerary includes the Galilee
region, Nazareth, the Golan, the Jordan
Valley and Jerusalem. You can contact
Canon Weaver on 01983 753786 for
more information about this interesting
holiday.
And whether you feel like pushing the
boat out or are budget-conscious, start
to plan your holidays now.

Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com