Visiting Possible Retirement Destinations

By: HCO

Traveling to a potential retirement area might sound like a vacation, but really, it may be your only opportunity to test out what it’s like to live there. Create an itinerary or checklist for your trip, so you can get the most out of your experience. And budget your time well, so you have enough time to explore each in and out of your potential future home.

Make the most of your trips to potential retirement destinations

You’ve clocked years of work, and now it’s time to consider places where you may want to retire. Visits to your potential home — to get a feel for the area before making any big decisions about a move — are crucial if you’re considering relocating. You’ll want to ask yourself questions like:

• Does this area meet my basic needs?
• Will I have easy access to amenities?
• Does the community offer activities that peek my interests?
• Is the cost of living right?
• Do I feel welcome?
• Is there adequate housing?

Of course, this kind of trip can be a little bit for pleasure. You’ll just have to keep in mind that you also need to get down to a lot of business. That’s why we’ve provided ideas for making the most of your stay.

Narrow your search

Before making any travel arrangements, do some research to explore areas that suit you. It’s important to keep in mind that your potential retirement location doesn’t have to be a place you’ve been to before, and to:

Be honest about the things that matter most to you. There’s no template for retirement. Your ideal retirement plan should reflect the kind of lifestyle you want, offer the right everyday experiences, provide easy access to necessities and balance social activity with privacy.

Keep your finances top of your mind. Location, location, location. Think about how much you want to spend, especially if you’re on a fixed income like most retirees.

Learn about the area

Once you have a destination in mind, learn more about it. This way, you can pick out what you want to see during your visit. Look online for things you care about in a possible retirement destination and be sure to check each one out carefully to ensure it will meet your needs.

Don’t forget to:

• Explore your health services options. Is there a hospital or health facility nearby? Many health care systems offer virtual tours of their facilities on their websites. Newly renovated hospitals or ones that have development in the works are good indicators of a growing community. 
• Read the local news. Local news outlets reveal what the community thinks is important. You can get a sense of what the people are like, what kinds of events happen throughout the year, and how enthusiastic the news team is about where they live.
• Connect with the locals. Groups on Facebook and other social platforms can help you meet people in your potential community. You can break into different social circles, ask questions about the area, and even coordinate a meet-up.
• Research the area’s safety. It’s better to know how safe your potential new community is sooner rather than later. No matter how ideal your destination may seem, no one likes feeling unsafe. So, check out neighborhood crime statistics with resources like Crime Grade.
• Look for walkability. Nowadays, most communities are friendly for walking and biking, providing a way for seniors to stay active and connect with one another. If that’s important to you, check online for area for parks as well as walking and biking trails.

Create your itinerary

Determining whether your actual experiences live up to the online praise is an important part of the process. And now that you have a good idea of what you’d like to see, it’s time to make an itinerary for your visit. Schedule meetings. Plan a route for your tour. And carve out time to check out some of the “must-sees” you found online. 

Visit with a purpose

With all your research and planning complete, you’re ready to see your potential home for retirement. And your evaluation should begin the moment you get on the road. Be honest about how easy (or hard) it is to get there since complicated travel can impact visits from your family and friends.

Once you arrive, it’s time to take in all the details — everything from the area’s cleanliness and noise level to its political climate. 

Reflect on your future

After you’ve immersed yourself in your destination and visited with a purpose, reflect on what you’ve learned. Can you see yourself living there long-term? If so, you can always make additional trips, possibly at different points of the year, so you can feel confident when it comes time to decide.