Planning for a happy retirement

Three in every ten people aged over 50 plan to spend their retirement travelling the world with 57 per cent of over-50s who already have the travel bug - with the admission that they had holidayed abroad within the last three years.

A survey to mark the half-century anniversary of the maiden commercial jet flight, the Boeing 707, has questioned the over 50 age group to discover how their travel expectations have adjusted in the 'jet age'.

The survey also calculates that the over-50 age group has accumulated 91 per cent of savings and current account assets, 43 per cent of ISA assets and 33 per cent of shares.

Reza Attar-Zadeh, head of savings at Abbey, said: "It is amazing to think it is over 50 years since the first mass production commercial jet airliner launched.

"Air travel has transformed society, and the over 50s – who have high disposable incomes - are taking advantage of the jet revolution to travel the world."

Caravan and motor home owners are also very aware of their abilities to travel overland to exotic destinations.

14/12/2007 22:47:09