By Alex Moore
Many people hope to spend their retirement on the road, seeing things they missed during a career of hard work. However, cost can often present a barrier, with many seniors struggling to get by, let alone afford a vacation. According to Chime, a free banking services platform, the average cost of a one-week vacation in the U.S. is about $1,991 per person, or about $3,982 for a couple.
Thinking outside the box can help you travel for less, though. Many destinations in the Western Hemisphere outside the U.S. are safe, affordable, and relatively easy to reach by air. Take Panama, for example. The U.S. State Department gives it the same level of travel advisory as it does to France, Germany, and England. Many businesses will accept U.S. dollars, and Panama’s airport offers direct service to 16 states. Most crime is limited to the typical ilk of tourist destinations: pickpocketing and purse snatching from people who aren’t paying attention in high foot traffic areas, says the State Department.
To show how much you can save by travelling abroad, The Advisor has compared the price of a five-day, six-night stay for two at Disney World, one of the top U.S. tourist destinations, with the same stay at an all-inclusive resort in Panama.
Methodology:
We did our research as if we were looking for an affordable stay, travelling during the most affordable times of the year and choosing reasonably priced options. We included the price of travel, activities, food, and hotels. We based our search using Chicago as our base airport, as Chicago is one of the largest cities in the country and one of its busiest airports.
Disney World, With 4 Days in the Park and a Round of Golf
For our trip to Disney, we looked at flights and stays in June, which Google Flights says is the most affordable months to visit the parks. The total cost came out to $3,532.50 for a five-day, six-night stay for two people.
We estimated that the flight from Chicago to Orlando cost $375 per person, or $750 for two, by averaging the high and low end of the “typical price range” on Google Flights at the time of this writing. Next came the hotel. A stay at the most affordable Disney World hotel, the All-Star Sports Resort, would run $1,084.50. Add four days of park tickets for $798 (there’s a special at the time of this writing), $600 in food costs (or $50 per person per day, to eat mostly at counter service restaurants), and $300 for golf for two, and the price climbs pretty quickly.
All-Inclusive Resort, With a Trip Through the Panama Canal
We planned our trip to Panama for January, which Google Flights says is the most affordable time to travel to the country. We estimate the total cost for the trip at $2,682.40.
A flight for two from Chicago costs $1,180, more than the Disney trip. The hotel, an all-inclusive beachfront resort called the Grand Decameron, about 75 miles from the capital city (and airport, with transfers available), costs $1,202.40. That’s more than the Disney hotel, too, but the value is solid. While going to Disney requires you to budget for park tickets and food, the resort offers several included counter service and sit-down restaurants and bars, many pools and beaches, music and shows, and other social activities and amenities. (Golf is available, but we couldn’t find the price in writing.) That means food and basic activities in Panama cost $0, compared to nearly $1,400 for Disney.
he savings even hold if you budget an additional activity on top of the resort stay, just like we budgeted a day of golf at Disney. Only this time, you’re taking to the seas instead of the greens. A full-day transit of the Panama Canal, one of the greatest civil engineering feats in the world, is only $150 per person, or $300 total. Lunch is even included.
Conclusion
As shown in the budget table below, the winning vacation when it comes to price is Panama. The total budget for a five-day, six-night stay comes out to $2,682, which is $850.10 cheaper than going to Disney World for a stay of the same length. This isn’t the only international destination with a good airport that’s a budget-friendly option for seniors: The travel site ExplorifyNow also lists Mexico, Portugal, Costa Rica, and (to a lesser extent due to the cost of flights) Eastern Europe as good, affordable options for senior travel.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Do your own research, and make sure you fully understand your travel plans. It’s the key to a safe (and affordable) getaway!
Comparing Travel Prices: Panama All-Inclusive Resort vs. Disney World
A 5-day, 6-night stay for two, travelling from Chicago, Illinois
| Item | Cost | Cost |
| 2-way flight from Chicago | $750.00 | $1,180.00 |
| Hotel stay | $1,084.50 | $1,202.40 |
| Food and dining | $600.00 | $0.00 |
| Park tickets and resort activities | $798.00 | $0.00 |
| Golf | $300.00 | $0.00 |
| Panama Canal Excursion | $0.00 | $300.00 |
| TOTAL | $3,532.50 | $2,682.40 |