By Cathy Severson

There are many aspects of travel today that are unpleasant. I know many baby boomers who won’t go overseas because they don’t want the hassle of flying. Understood. There are simple tips to help improve your traveling experience. Whether you take a trip by boat, train, car or plane to visit family and friends or to venture to exotic locals travel is still the number one activity for new retirees.

Is your perfect vacation reading a book on the beach doing as little as possible? You might be surprised to learn that a 2007 study showed that people who were active during their travels reported much more satisfaction. People who took excursions, classes, got out of their comfort zone were much more satisfied than those who were content to settle for rest and relaxation.

There are two important aspects of travel. The first is the actual experience, but the other is the memory of the trip. That’s why pictures are so important. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky found that people write about their travel experiences have better long-term memory about them. This can be as simple as sending a post card, keeping a daily journal, or scrapbook of your traveling experiences.

Don’t hesitate to connect with others when you travel. Some of our best traveling experiences have been on small group tours or when we have stayed in intimate hotels where we had the opportunity to get to know the other guests or locals. There isn’t anything more rewarding than talking to other travelers while at café or taking an extra few minutes to communicate with locals.

There are many hassles with travel, especially if you go long distances. Take the time to document and savor your experience, meet others, and being active will greatly enhance your traveling experience.