Good news for Canadian seniors – they don’t have to go far from home to find one of the world’s best destinations for retirees. That’s according to US-based health information organization Aging in Place, which has rated Canada No. 3 in the world for the seniors travel.
The research, called The Travel Retirement Index, compiled a list of OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries giving Canada a score of 8.49 out of 10 across all criteria, following the US (9.14) and Australia (9.04).
The remainder of the top 10 included Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Japan, and Turkey.
Criteria included public transport links, sightseeing opportunities, weather, and hotels with wheel-chair access.
Canada, for example, was cited as having an average of 537 mm of rainfall per year, making it one of the driest destinations on the list, thus giving “the best chance at a vacation without rain.”
The report further stated: “Home to world-famous natural landmarks, great cuisine, and rich culture, Canada is one of the most-visited countries in the world, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Canada is also one of the best senior citizen travel destinations we looked at… With more art galleries, attractions, and nature and wildlife areas than most countries on our list, there are endless things to do and sightseeing opportunities for retirees on vacation.”
The US – a favourite destination for Canadian snowbirds, of course – was tops, however, boasting more art galleries, nature and wildlife areas, and attractions than any other country on the list, thereby “giving endless opportunities for things to do while on holiday.”
The country also has the highest annual spending on inland transportation construction and maintenance (and) is “one of the best-connected countries” on the list.
Drilling down in the US, the Index listed Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Chicago as its top three cities.
Of the former, Aging in Place said: “One of the United States’ most popular destinations for travellers from all over the world and the States, Las Vegas is the best city for retired vacationers. Despite its reputation as the ultimate playground for nightlife and casinos, Sin City has endless opportunities for senior travellers. Las Vegas is home to more art galleries, areas of nature and wildlife, and attractions than most other cities on our list.
“With so many options for sightseeing, a vacation in Las Vegas is guaranteed to be entertaining for seniors. The driest city on our list, Las Vegas, gets on average 106 mm of rainfall each year, increasing the likelihood of a good-weather vacation.”
Other notable US city rankings: Orlando 9th, Miami 14th, Honolulu 17th, and Phoenix 20th.
The research also ranked some of the worst destinations for senior travel. Internationally Iceland took top (or bottom) spot on the list of 39 countries by a wide margin (a score of only .56), edging Luxembourg and Slovenia.
Why give Iceland the cold shoulder? According to the Index, while being “a top travel destination for many, thanks to the enormous amount of natural wonders on the small island… Iceland is the worst country we looked at for travelling senior citizens. Iceland has the highest average annual rainfall out of all destinations on our list, at 1,940 mm. (And) with the lowest spending on public transport construction and maintenance out of all countries on our list, Iceland is one of the worst countries for getting around… with no rail network and cars being used as the primary form of transport in the country.”
Founded in 2010, Aging in Place is a US-based organization dedicated to “connecting seniors and their loved ones with the right tools to make remaining in their homes and communities a reality.” AgingInPlace.org has been featured on official government sites, health newsletters, and cited in other authoritative online publications.