by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: August 17, 2008   Last Updated: August 21, 2008

Who exactly is a senior? That will depend on whom you ask. At some point between 50 and 65 years of age, you will be eligible for all the benefits that being a senior brings with it. Have you finally decided it is your turn to see the world? Many people never do any real traveling until they retire. Suddenly you are faced with the options, do I take a tour or do I travel on my own? If you are not a seasoned traveler, a tour is a very good option. How does one go about finding the perfect tour?

First, ask yourself a few questions.

1. Where do I want to go? Has it always been your dream to see Europe, South America, Japan or Alaska?

2. How long do I feel comfortable being away from home? Tours can last anywhere from one day to months.

3. How much am I willing to spend? Tours can run anywhere from under $100 to the sky is the limit.

4. How much activity will be too much for me? Look at the itinerary very careful to determine how often you will be moving and what activities are included.

5. Do I want everything included? You can choose a tour that allows free time as well as one that plans every minute.

6. Do I want to travel with others my age or a more diverse group? This is a very important consideration; these will be your travel companions for the entire trip.

7. Will being away from home pose any health risks or issues?

If you are single, you need to decide if you are willing to pay the extra premium for going solo or are you willing to take the chance of being paired up with another single. This is a complete case of Russian roulette, it can be murder or it can be wonderful. By the time you realize which one it is, it may be too late to change it.

Now that you know what your expectations are, it is time to go about finding the perfect tour to meet those expectations.

Being a senior has its rewards. One of them, if you are an American, is that once you become 50 you are eligible to join AARP, The American Association of Retired Persons. Most of us won't be retiring at 50 but we can reap all the benefits that we are entitled to through membership. One of these rewards is discounts on accommodations and yes tours. While they don't have their own tours, they have arranged with several major tour operators including Collette, Brendan Worldwide Tours and AMA Waterways to give discounts to their members.

Seniors make up a major portion of the traveling public. They have more money to spend and their schedules are more flexible than their younger counterparts are. Only four

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