Baby boomers' children are fleeing the nest. With ample time and money at their disposal, boomers are seeking out travel adventure and vacation experiences that only a few years ago would be off the radar screen as foreign travel destinations. A number of travel services have sprung to action to backfill the thirst for this off the beaten path kind of travel experience.
Well heeled baby boomers are looking for travel experiences that are outside of the mainstream in traditional package vacations. With their children fleeing the nest and with ample time and money at their disposal boomers are seeking out travel adventure and vacation experiences that only a few years ago would be off the radar screen as foreign travel destinations. Factors that fuel the quest for exotic travel is that the boomer generation has been generously benefited by hefty inheritances and the experience of business travel in emerging markets. The boomer generation has always been known to be highly independent, one that tends to experiment and leads more often than it follows. It started in the 60’s with the hippy movement and the same fierce independence to break new ground has seeped through the establishment with them and has now spilled out into their retirement years.
A number of travel services have sprung to action to backfill the thirst for this off the beaten path kind of travel experience. But don’t assume that because boomers are flying off to exotic locations that they are willing to sacrifice the quality of their accommodations and services. On the contrary, boomers expect 5 Star accommodations and all the attention to detail that one would expect in the finest North American resorts. Granted they are willing to make allowances for cultural differences but the roof over their head must be leak free and experiencing the local culture by day can also means stepping back into the standards they are accustomed to when put their head to a bed at night.
One Toronto based travel agency (www.comforttravel.ca) is offering packages to Mongolia, a first on the Canadian travel scene. Mongolia is a sparsely populated region of Central Asia with prairie like grasslands, deserts, high mountains and crystal clear lakes. Mongolia is rich in history and steeped with architecture dating to the times before Genghis Khan. The country is famous for it’s abundant wildlife including wild horses and camels. The area is wild and untamed but the local people are friendly and curious regarding westerners. “We’ve just started offering Mongolian tours,” states Ali Qanun, President of Comfort Travel Canada and a seasoned exotic travel expert. “We have customers who actively seek out package tours to far off corners of the world,” adds Qanun. While Comfort Travel offers many conventional tour packages it specializes in travel to locations that are not the popular “bulk” travel destinations. “With many Russian immigrants coming to Canada we started into to travel packages to Russia to fill the need of family visits between the countries. Then we also realized that there were other more exotic reasons that customers were seeking travel to Russia,” says Qunun. As it turns out some of those traveling to Russia are touring Moscow and St Petersburg for a different purpose than old world architecture and scenery -- they are primarily looking for a partner in marriage. In fact Comfort Travel has told us a great many travelers go to Russia & Ukraine to find their sole mate. In contrast they also book specialized visits to remote Siberia in Russia for wild game opportunities, like bear and wild boar hunting.
Whether it’s Russia, Dominican, Africa or Mongolia, travel businesses that understand the changing marketplace influenced by boomer demographics are looking for new locations to tantalize travelers and vacationers. “When we had the opportunity for an exclusive Canadian tour to Mongolia we seized the opportunity knowing that the travel markets crave exotic destinations and it fits our business model” says Qanun. A word of wisdom though -- when you’re traveling to lesser known parts of the world you need an experienced travel agent that specializes in that region and understands the local culture and customs of the area. Having contacts and the proper guides can make the difference between a hellish holiday of misfortune and one of experiencing a new culture and country in a safe and comfortable tour environment.
While you can expect to see more new travel packages to exotic destinations become available, choose your travel agent wisely -- because everyone has learned in the last few years that the world can be a dangerous place. Although local knowledge and expert staff may cost a tad more than a published discount vacation, the peace of mind and inside local knowledge can make it well worth the package premium. You’ll get way more out of your vacation as well because you’ll experience an insiders view of the country and the culture as opposed to the more bland type of tourist package.
Comfort Travel, Inc. is a Toronto based travel agency that specializes in tours to: Europe, Russia, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and various other destinations. To learn more about the wide range of services they offer or to book a smoother and safer vacation at a reasonable cost, please visit http://www.comforttravel.ca or call 416-642-0372.
