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October 12, 2026

Phil's Travel Journal | Peru - Reflections on My New Favourite Country!

Nineteen days in Peru: Pisco Sours in Lima, sand dunes at Ica, the Amazon, Machu Picchu, Cusco and Rainbow Mountain.

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October 7, 2026

Phil's Travel Journal | Time to Break Out

Phil on booking three months in South America, the surprisingly tricky question of the bag, and a first night in Lima.

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October 12, 2026

Peter's Notes | Looking Beyond

Peter looks past the sights to the people he met in Vietnam: a veteran, a hotel waitress, and those making tourism pay.

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October 12, 2026

Peter's Notes | Here Kitty Kitty

Peter set out to eat only local dishes across Vietnam, on the trail of Anthony Bourdain. His reflections on what to try, what to skip and how to stay well.

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October 9, 2026

Peter's Notes | Finding Food in Vietnam

Peter's field rules for finding a good meal in Vietnam — follow the locals, duck down the alley, climb the stairs — plus his top five dishes.

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October 6, 2026

September | One Place You Love, Or Many?

Phil talks to two recently retired friends who took their new freedom in opposite directions — one moved to the coast he loved, the other stayed put and travels more instead.

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October 6, 2026

September | One Place You Love, Or Many?

Phil talks to two recently retired friends who took their new freedom in opposite directions — one moved to the coast he loved, the other stayed put and travels more instead.

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August 28, 2026

July | Where Retirement's New Friendships Actually Come From

Phil didn't expect retirement to cost him friendships - or that travel would be what brought new ones in their place.

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August 28, 2026

June | The Travel Spending Paradox

Phil unpacks why old budgeting habits die hard in retirement, and why spending a little more on travel might be the wisest investment of all.

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August 11, 2026

May | Giving Back Doesn't Need a Fixed Address

Phil reflects on how retirement blurs the line between travel and giving back — and why the two don't have to be a choice.

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July 7, 2026

April | Retirement Wasn't What I Expected

This month, Phil challenges the common assumptions about retirement - from boredom to identity to how travel changes.

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Smartphone showing offline travel maps and a passport on a wooden table

July 29, 2026

March | The Travel Tech That's Actually Worth It

On the road and online - Phil asks cyber resilience expert Paul which travel tech is genuinely worth the bother, and which you can happily ignore.

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retirees board a train in Laos for their gap year

February 20, 2026

Southeast Asia Travel Diary | Week 1: Departure Day

The first of Sue's Travel Diaries as she joins the first ever DECADES chapter!

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July 29, 2026

Visas for Long-Term Travel: What UK Passport Holders Need to Know

What UK passport holders need to know about visas for long-term travel: the Schengen 90/180 rule, long-stay options in Europe, and rules for Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

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August 20, 2026

Long-Term Travel Insurance: What You Need and What to Avoid

A practical long term travel insurance guide for extended trips: duration limits, single-trip vs annual cover, the exclusions that matter, and what good cover costs.

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August 20, 2026

Staying Healthy on a 3-Month Trip: Health, Medication & Doctor Advice

How to stay healthy on a 3-month trip over 60: the GP conversation, 3-month prescriptions, vaccinations, managing conditions abroad, and the routines that help.

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August 20, 2026

Managing Your Finances While Travelling for 3 Months

A practical UK guide to managing money on long-term travel: fee-free cards, currency, pensions, direct debits and fraud protection for a 3-month trip abroad.

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July 29, 2026

Packing for 3 Months: The Complete Long-Term Travel Packing List

The complete packing list for 3 months of travel: luggage, clothing quantities, tech, medication and the leave-at-home list. One medium case really is enough.

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August 20, 2026

What to Do With Your House When Travelling Long-Term

Leave it empty, get a house-sitter, rent it out or home exchange? The complete UK guide to what to do with your house during 3 months of travel, insurance included.

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August 20, 2026

DIY Long-Term Travel vs Organised Experiences: Pros and Cons

DIY long-term travel or an organised experience? A clear-eyed comparison of cost, control, company and support, and how to tell which suits you for a 3-month trip.

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August 20, 2026

3-Month Travel Itinerary Ideas: 8 Routes for Retirees

Eight tested 3-month travel itineraries for retirees (Portugal, Italy, Japan, Greece, Spain, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Mediterranean winter sun) with month-by-month rhythms and realistic costs.

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June 17, 2026

Solo vs Organised Group: Which Is Right for Your Retirement Gap Year?

Solo or organised group? A practical comparison for retirement gap year travellers - covering cost, freedom, social connection, and who each format actually suits.

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May 27, 2026

Best Gap Year Destinations for Retirees in 2026

The best gap year destinations for retirees in 2026, evaluated on what actually matters: cost, healthcare, visas, safety, and the quality of the long-stay experience.

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Find out why staying longer - not travelling further - is the secret to more meaningful travel in your 50s and 60s.

July 29, 2026

Extended Travel Ideas for Your 50s and 60s — From South America to Southeast Asia

Extended travel ideas for your 50s and 60s, from South America to Southeast Asia — and why staying longer beats moving faster.

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View of an inner city park with lake

July 29, 2026

The Safest and Most Liveable South American Cities for a 1–3 Month Stay

Find out which South American cities are best suited for longer stays of one to three months...

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June 10, 2026

How to Tell Your Family You’re Taking a Retirement Gap Year

How to have the conversation with your family about taking a retirement gap year - what they’re really worried about, and how to navigate it well.

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June 3, 2026

Overcoming the Fear of Taking a Gap Year in Retirement

The real fears that stop retirees from taking a gap year - health, money, loneliness, family, age - and what actually helps you work through them.

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April 22, 2026

10 Signs a Retirement Gap Year Is Right for You

Not everyone should take a retirement gap year. Here are 10 honest signs it’s right for you - and what to do if it isn’t.

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April 22, 2026

Golden Gap Year vs Extended Holiday: What’s the Difference?

A golden gap year and an extended holiday share surface similarities but differ in mindset, cost structure, and outcome. Here’s how to decide which is right for you.

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April 22, 2026

What Is a Golden Gap Year? And Why Retirees Are Taking Them

A golden gap year is an extended trip of 3-12 months taken in retirement. Here's what it actually involves, who's doing it, and why it's become so popular.

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a retiree volunteering in a school while they are on their gap year

April 22, 2026

How to Take a Long Break After Work Ends — Without Starting From Zero

Find out why extended travel after work ends offers the space and clarity that this transitional phase actually needs.

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