Race Across the World's Mark and Margo on taking a pretirement sabbatical
Your wish-list destinations don't have to wait for retirement, which Race Across the World's Mark and Margo prove.
As strong advocates for travel, we're big fans of the pretirement sabbatical. But what does that actually mean? It's an extended trip, usually taken in your 50s, that lets you tick off dream destinations before retirement even comes into view. Think of it as bringing forward the trip you've been promising yourself, while you've still got the energy and curiosity to make the most of it
In developing its own sabbatical policy, Newmarket Holidays is aiming to lead by example in a campaign for breaking the stigma around pre-retirement travel.
“The data clearly shows that many over-50s are caught in a travel limbo. The retirement age may have slipped a little farther away, but their urge to explore the world certainly hasn't. Instead, some find themselves trapped between the fear of ageism-based discrimination if they step away from their careers, and the burning desire to travel.” – Niel Alobaidi, CEO of Newmarket Holidays
With that in mind, our team recently sat down with Race Across the World favourites, Mark and Margo, who formed deeper connections and made life-long memories abroad during their own travel adventure. From their initial reservations about committing to the trip to their top suggestions for making the most of your time while abroad, here are five of Mark and Margo’s must-dos for your own pretirement sabbatical.
How to make the most of a pretirement sabbatical
1. Don't wait for the 'right time'
It's easy to think you'll travel 'one day', after work slows down, after the mortgage is paid, after retirement, but life doesn't always stick to our timetable. A pretirement sabbatical isn't about escaping your life; it's about making sure you really live it. Take that trip now, because the memories you make, the confidence you gain and the people you meet become part of your life today, not something you hope you'll still be able to enjoy years from now.
2. Choose ease over proving a point
On Race Across the World, we spent weeks making hundreds of decisions every day: where to go, how to get there, where to stay, what to do next. It was exciting, but it was also exhausting. After decades of organising work, family and everyday life, there's a real luxury in simply switching off and enjoying the journey. Hand the logistics to someone else, because there is something wonderfully freeing about knowing everything has been organised for you and you might even go on experiences you'd never have discovered on your own.
3. Leave room for the unexpected
Years later, you'll remember the people far more than the places. Some of our favourite memories aren't famous landmarks at all; they're chatting to people in tiny cafés, wandering through local markets, laughing with shopkeepers and finding little corners of a place we'd never have discovered if we'd been rushing from one attraction to the next, because the moments that stay with you are so often the ones you never planned.
4. Travel is better when it's shared
Travelling with other people adds something really special to the experience; you're surrounded by people who are curious, interested in the world and ready to make the most of this stage of life. You swap stories over dinner, encourage each other, laugh together and often end up sharing moments you'll still be talking about years later, so even when the holiday finishes, the stories, and sometimes the friendships, don't.
5. Don't underestimate what you're capable of
People sometimes talk as though adventure belongs to the young, but we couldn't disagree more. One of the joys of travelling later in life is that you've stopped trying to impress anyone: you know what you enjoy, you appreciate comfort, and you value unique experiences. Adventure doesn't have to mean pushing yourself to the limit; sometimes it's simply saying 'yes' to somewhere you've always dreamed of visiting, knowing everything has been thoughtfully planned so you can relax, switch off and enjoy every moment.
If there's one thing we'd say to anyone thinking about a pretirement sabbatical, it's this: don't put your life on hold waiting for retirement, because the greatest souvenir you'll bring home isn't what's in your suitcase; it's the reminder that you're still capable of surprising yourself.
Make time for a pretirement sabbatical with Newmarket Holidays
It's not too late to explore the world the way you want to, and with our escorted touring collection, your dream escape could be closer than you think. To get the ball rolling on your own pretirement trip or for more information on the options available, give one of our friendly holiday planners a call today. You can also browse our full range of escorted tours on our dedicated destinations page.
