Dear Ageless Traveler,

Ahoy from the Western Caribbean! I’m writing to you onboard the Texas Country Music Cruise, sailing to Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Honduras. If you’re curious about the cruise, you can download my free eBook on Texas Country Music—a journey through toe-tappin’ history, colorful stories, and the people who keep country music alive at sea and on land.

I am thrilled to share that 50+ travelers are officially trending! A 2025 Phocuswire report shows that 70% of Americans aged 50+ plan to travel this year, up from 65% in 2024. We are the Super travelers, and Curiosity is our Superpower. Gerontologist Ken Dychtwald called his biography Radical Curiosity asserting that seeking out the new keeps us young. Travel is the easiest way to get unstuck from routine and be a lifelong discoverer.

We can all learn from this week’s podcast. I dive into the often-confusing world of passports and visas—from second passports and expedited processing to visas for extended European stays. You’ll learn how to avoid scams, understand processing delays, and navigate the Schengen Visa for multi-country travel across Europe.

Here’s what’s covered in this week’s usual segments of The Ageless Traveler:

• Ask Adriane: Greece’s Golden Visa for Older Travelers and Long-Term Stays
• News You Can Use: Cyber Travel Scams to Avoid
• Culture Vulture: Highlights of Cozumel and Costa Maya for Non-Divers and Non-Swimmers
• Luxury Travel for Less: How to Save on Shore Excursions

If travel is part of your life’s picture, The Ageless Traveler is here to inspire and guide you.

Cheers,
Adriane

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P.S. This week I will be visiting Honduras for the first time and two new cities in Mexico, Cozumel, and Costa Maya. If you have enjoyed visits to any of these places join our Facebook Salon and educate me on the things I should not miss.

P.P.S. If you would like to know more about how to fit travel into your life, please join our Facebook Salon, and also contact me by voicemail or text HERE and ask questions. Frequent affordable, travel takes know-how. That’s what The Ageless Traveler provides free of charge every week through our podcasts, blog, eBooks, and Travel Tuesday Newsletter.

This Week’s Highlights

On Our Podcast Passport and Visa Know-How, Schengen Expedited and UK Authorizations “Travel is therapeutic, and I truly believe everyone should travel, regardless of age or health.”

Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or planning your first international trip, this episode will help ensure your travel plans go off without a hitch.

My guest, Antoinette Leon, shares expert insights on obtaining passports and visas, avoiding fraud, and understanding expedited services. We discuss dual citizenship, traveling with minors, and the Schengen visa covering much of Europe.

We also tackle common pitfalls and scams—like fake government websites that overcharge and delay applications. Don’t miss this essential guide to smoother, safer travel.

Cozumel and Costa Maya for Non-Divers and Non-Swimmers

To my shame, I cannot swim. That’s growing up in Brooklyn for you. Yet, I love the water. I look for alternatives to snorkel or scuba wherever I go. Cozumel and Costa Maya offer rich cultural, historical, and water experiences right from the port.

In Costa Maya, start your day exploring the aviary at the cruise port—a hidden gem where you can stroll along rope bridges and meet colorful tropical birds. From there, take a one-hour ride to Chacchoben, one of three nearby Mayan ruin sites, known for its partially uncovered temples peeking through the jungle canopy. A taxi from the pier is about $32, and a tour averages $64 with guide and admission fees. The ruins at Kohunlich and Dzibanché are also within reach for those seeking more adventure.

After your cultural fix, unwind at Mahahual Beach, just minutes from the port. Stroll the seaside promenade, enjoy a massage under a cabana, or sip a cool drink while browsing artisan shops.

Like Costa Maya, Cozumel has its Mayan Ruins. San Gervasio Ruins is an ancient Mayan ceremonial site dedicated to the goddess Ix Chel — easily accessible by taxi.

For dedicated land lovers, Port Aviary Tour offers rope bridges over the harbor where you can see tropical birds ($14) — a photographer’s dream. Punta Sur Eco Beach Park offers lighthouses, crocodile lagoons, and walking trails teeming with birdlife. Or relax at Playa Palancar, on a lounge chair, enjoy the beach club’s delicious ceviche, and watch the calm waters; you might try wading.

Cozumel also has a marvelous reef you may not want to miss. Non-divers will love the glass-bottom transparent boat tours, offering a view of coral reefs without getting wet. For something unique, try SeaTrek Helmet Walks. Put on a personal submarine-style helmet and walk along the ocean floor while breathing normally. Want a real submarine experience? Try the Atlantis Submarine Adventure, where you descend over 100 feet below the surface in a submarine — dry, safe, and spectacular (but can be seasick-making).

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Luxury Travel for Less

How to Save on Shore Excursions

Cruise excursions can be memorable—but also expensive. Fortunately, you don’t have to book directly through the cruise line for a rich experience. Many ports offer taxis, shuttles, or hop-on-hop-off buses that can take you to beaches, markets, or museums at a fraction of the cost.

If you prefer something organized but more personal, try GetYourGuide, where you can find smaller groups or private tours often priced well below ship excursions. Many allow free cancellation and operate within your ship’s schedule. One site, Shore Excursions, is dedicated to that. Enter the name of your cruise line, the itinerary, and the date of the departure, and you will get shore excursions that fit with your schedule with guarantees to get you back on time.

And don’t underestimate the value of walking—many Caribbean and European ports are beautifully walkable, offering shops, cafes, and historic sites steps away. With some planning, you can create your own luxury experience—without the luxury price tag.

Group Up: If you meet like-minded travelers onboard, share a taxi or hire a local driver together. You’ll save money, enjoy a personalized tour, and often make a new friend.

If you have other hints and tips, join our The Ageless Traveler Facebook Salon and let us know them. We learn from each other.

Do you ever feel like there has to be more, but you just feel stuck in uncertainty?

You’re aware there’s more you want to give and grow into—more creativity, more connection, more meaning. But when you lean into that thought…

You freeze.
You hesitate.
You stop.

My friend, Wendy Green, host of the Boomer Banter podcast, created The “What’s Keeping Me Stuck” Quiz to help you name your stuck-ness.
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Then, over 5 brief emails, you get customized tools to help you get unstuck.

Try it out.

Don’t Forget to Download Our All of Our FREE Ageless Traveler Books