The Kids Are Grown. Is It Time for a Different Kind of Vacation?

Remember family vacations? Someone didn't like the restaurant. Someone else was bored. There were activities to arrange, bags to carry, and children to keep entertained. You might have returned home wondering whether you actually had a vacation.

Eventually, the kids grow up. Careers begin winding down, and retirement may suddenly give you something you rarely had before: control over your time. That can change the way you travel. Instead of packing every day with sightseeing, you may prefer a comfortable room, a quiet pool, good food, and a few excursions that don't require getting up at 6 a.m. And if you are traveling with your spouse or partner, a vacation can provide time together without the distractions that dominated much of your younger life.

Cancun, Mexico, might not immediately come to mind when you picture that kind of trip. Its reputation for nightlife and crowded beaches is well-earned. But Cancun and the surrounding Riviera Maya also offer adults-only resorts, spas, quiet pools, and plenty of opportunities to do very little at all.

For travelers in their 50s, 60s and beyond, that can sound pretty good.

Americans Over 50 Still Want to Travel

Getting older isn't keeping Americans home. AARP's 2026 travel research found that 64 percent of adults age 50 and older expect to take at least one leisure trip this year. Travel also remains a major spending priority, with 86 percent placing it among their top three choices for discretionary spending.

Older travelers are becoming more deliberate about those trips. They are comparison shopping, using loyalty programs and planning international travel earlier. Health and accessibility concerns matter, too. But AARP found those concerns tend to change how people travel, not whether they travel.

That can mean choosing a nonstop flight instead of making two connections, booking a room closer to the elevator, or spending five nights at one resort instead of racing through three destinations.

After the Kids Leave, Who Are You as a Couple?

There is another reason travel can take on new meaning later in life. For years, a marriage or relationship may revolve around children, careers, a mortgage, school schedules, and eventually the needs of aging parents. When the children leave home and retirement arrives, much of that structure disappears.

Some couples thrive on their newfound time together. Others discover that suddenly having breakfast, lunch, and dinner together every day takes some adjustment.

Relationship experts interviewed by AARP describe retirement and the empty-nest years as major transitions. Couples aren't the same people they were before children, and experts suggest this stage can be an opportunity to rediscover both individual interests and the relationship itself.

Licensed clinical social worker Allison Kent tells AARP that neither of you is the same person you were before becoming parents.

“Take the time to rediscover yourselves separately and together. Do not allow routine or stagnancy to be an excuse for disconnect.” — Allison Kent.

A trip can help. Away from household chores and familiar routines, you have time to linger over breakfast, walk along the beach, try something new, or have a conversation without a ringing phone or a to-do list interrupting.

You don't have to recreate the romantic vacations you took at 30. You get to figure out what traveling together looks like now.

A Different Definition of Luxury

Luxury changes with age, too. At 25, you might have been perfectly happy carrying luggage up three flights of stairs to save $30. At 65, an elevator can look pretty luxurious. Comfort matters. So does convenience.

Adults-only, all-inclusive resorts can appeal to travelers who want a quieter atmosphere without making dozens of decisions every day. Excellence Playa Mujeres, for example, is an adults-only, all-inclusive property north of Cancun. Meals, entertainment, and many amenities are available on the property, allowing guests to decide how much, or how little, they want to do. That simplicity can be part of the appeal.

Don't Plan the Trip You Would Have Taken 20 Years Ago

Age shouldn't automatically limit your travels, but it should influence your planning. Before booking an international trip, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that older adults review health information for their destination and meet with their physician or a travel-health specialist four to six weeks before leaving.

That is particularly important if you have chronic health conditions or take prescription medications. It is also worth asking some very practical questions before choosing a hotel:

• How far is the room from restaurants and the pool?
• Are elevators available?
• Does the bathroom have a walk-in shower?
• Can you request an accessible or ground-floor room?
• How much walking does an excursion actually require?
• Is transportation provided?
• Where is the nearest appropriate medical facility?
• Can the room accommodate medication that requires refrigeration?

Don't rely solely on resort photographs. A beautiful property can also be enormous, and what the hotel describes as a short walk may not feel short after a day in tropical heat.

Medicare Usually Stays Home When You Leave the Country

Americans on Medicare need to pay particular attention to medical coverage before an international vacation. Original Medicare generally does not pay for health care outside the United States, although there are a few limited exceptions. Some Medigap policies provide foreign-travel emergency benefits, and Medicare Advantage plans can have their own rules and benefits. Check your individual coverage before leaving.

The State Department recommends that older Americans traveling abroad consider additional health coverage and strongly recommends travel insurance that covers emergency medical care and medical evacuation.

That can be important. Depending on your location and medical condition, the State Department says an air ambulance back to the United States can cost from $20,000 to $200,000. Don't assume a policy marketed as "travel insurance" automatically provides comprehensive medical or evacuation coverage. Read what is actually covered.

Also, keep in mind that travel insurance and Medicare will not pay for long-term care, outside a limited amount of skilled care. However, many Long-Term Care Insurance policies will. Sometimes an individual or couple will bring a caregiver with them on their trip.

Take Your Medications — and a Little Extra

The CDC advises older travelers to bring enough medication for the entire trip plus extra in case travel is delayed. The State Department recommends keeping prescription medications in their original labeled containers and knowing the generic names of your drugs. Travelers who need refrigerated medications should determine in advance how they will transport and store them.

Essential medications belong in your carry-on luggage, not in a checked suitcase that could end up in another city. It's also smart to carry basic medical information and emergency contacts.

Pay Attention to Current Health Conditions in Mexico

Travel health recommendations can change, so it's important to check them shortly before departure. As of October 2026, the CDC reports increased cases of cyclosporiasis among travelers returning from Mexico, including people who visited Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The CDC recommends careful food and water practices.

👉 The CDC updates this page; if traveling to Mexico, be sure to check before leaving: CDC — Mexico Traveler View.

👉 Use this page before any international trip: CDC — Current Travel Health Notices

Mosquito- and other insect-borne illnesses are another consideration in some countries, including in Mexico. Repellent, appropriate clothing, and air-conditioned or well-screened accommodations can reduce exposure.

Heat deserves respect as well. Some medications and chronic health conditions can make high temperatures more difficult to tolerate. Drink water, take breaks from the sun, and don't feel obligated to spend every afternoon on the beach simply because you paid to be there. Sometimes the best place to be at 2 p.m. is in the shade.

Know the Current Safety Advisory

Cancun is in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, one of the country's most established tourism destinations. Many visitors spend most of their vacation at large all-inclusive resorts, where transportation, dining, entertainment, and other activities are available on the property.

Still, travelers should be aware of current safety guidance. As of October 2026, the U.S. State Department lists Quintana Roo at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution because of terrorism and crime. A Level 2 advisory does not mean Americans are being told to avoid Cancun. The State Department recommends paying attention to your surroundings after dark and remaining in well-lit pedestrian areas and tourist zones. Going to places on your own, outside groups or approved areas, may not be wise, as it is in many locations worldwide.

Transportation is another area where a little advance planning can reduce unnecessary risk and hassle. Consider arranging airport transportation directly through your resort or another reputable provider before you leave home. The State Department advises travelers in Mexico not to hail taxis on the street and instead to use authorized taxis or trusted ride-share services where available.

For travelers planning primarily to relax at an established resort, prearranged transportation and reasonable precautions can make a Cancun vacation easier and more comfortable. Because conditions can change, check the State Department's current Mexico travel advisory shortly before departure.

Think About the Weather Before You Book

Cancun is warm throughout the year, but seasons matter. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Historically, activity peaks around Sept. 10, with most Atlantic tropical cyclone activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October.

If you're traveling during hurricane season, review airline, resort, and travel-insurance cancellation provisions carefully. Retirement can provide an advantage here. Without school calendars or limited vacation days controlling your schedule, you may be able to choose dates based on weather, crowds, and price.

You Don't Have to See Everything

Cancun and the Riviera Maya offer plenty beyond the resort. You can visit Maya archaeological sites, see a cenote, take a catamaran trip, spend time on Isla Mujeres, or visit Puerto Morelos. Pick what interests you.

If an excursion requires hours in a bus followed by miles of walking in the heat, decide whether seeing it is worth giving up most of a vacation day.

You can also stay at the resort. An afternoon at the pool followed by a massage, dinner, and a sunset doesn't represent a wasted day. For some people, that's exactly why they came.

Choose the Resort for the People You Are Today

When comparing hotels, look beyond the ocean view. Consider the size of the property, walking distances, elevators, bathrooms, room service, accessibility, transportation, and access to medical care.

Excellence Riviera Cancun is another adults-only, all-inclusive option in the Riviera Maya, with suite accommodations, multiple pools, restaurants, and spa services on the property. The best hotel isn't necessarily the most expensive one. It's the one that makes your vacation easier.

This Stage of Life Has Some Advantages

Aging changes travel. You may pack more medications and fewer pairs of shoes. You may think about health insurance before you think about restaurants. But there are advantages to traveling later in life.

The kids don't need to be entertained. No Little League baseball tournament is waiting next weekend. Retirement may mean you don't have to rush home Sunday because you're expected at work Monday morning.

And if you're traveling as a couple, you may finally have something that was in short supply for much of your marriage: time. Time for a long dinner. Time to sit by the water. Time to talk. Time to discover what you both enjoy now.

You spent years taking care of children, building careers, managing a home and possibly helping aging parents. There is nothing wrong with taking a trip where nobody needs anything from you. Except maybe the person sitting next to you asking if you'd like another cup of coffee.