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The Tale of Two Older Adult Travel Surveys for Older Adults

Published on October 26, 2026

As the winter holidays approach, two reports spotlighting older adult travelers were released in October.  Washington, D.C.-based AARP published its October 2026 Holiday Travel Survey, “Holiday Travel is About Getting Together, Not Getting Away,” which closely examines how older adults balance family traditions and hosting duties against rising costs. The new report’s data builds on AARP’s Travel Trends reports from 2024, 2025, and earlier this year.  These reports track how travel budgets, behaviors, and motivations change for adults aged 50 and older.

The other survey, released by Denver-based Luggage Forward, a global provider of door-to-door luggage and sports equipment delivery, takes a close look at the travel preferences of Americans aged 55 and older.

Zeroing in on Holiday Trips

According to the newly released 4-page AARP travel report, nearly one in four adults aged 50 and older (24%) expect to travel during the upcoming holiday season. For those planning trips, holiday travel is less about taking a vacation and more about spending time with family. With costs rising, these travelers are carefully watching their budgets and making trade-offs to afford family trips.

Researchers collected data through online and telephone interviews conducted September 17–21, 2026, with 1,023 U.S. adults aged 50 and older, using NORC at the University of Chicago’s Foresight 50+ panel. These statistics were weighted to reflect the nation’s population aged 50 and older.

Family remains the driving force behind holiday travel decisions. Two-thirds (67%) of holiday travelers say spending time with family is their main reason for traveling. In comparison, 27% cite getting away from everyday life and 25% say they travel to relax and rejuvenate.

“The holidays are an important time for families to be together, and older adults are finding thoughtful ways to make those trips possible,” said Carey Kyler, Senior Director of Research & Insights at AARP Services, Inc., in an Oct. 21 statement.

“Costs are a real concern, so many are planning carefully and making tradeoffs to spend meaningful time with the people they love,” she said.

The study’s findings show that cost is still a major factor in travel decisions. More than one-third (37%) of holiday travelers aged 50 and over expect to spend more on holiday travel than last year, and 43% anticipate spending at least $2,000 on holiday-related travel.

Kyler says the newly released 2026 AARP Holiday Travel Survey doesn’t distinguish whether inflation, transportation prices, accommodations, trip length, or other factors drive higher spending. However, it does show that travel costs are the leading concern (52%) among holiday travelers. Other concerns cover safety (22%), health (15%), and airport security (13%).

“While we didn’t ask about the source of funding for trips on this particular survey, our annual 2026 AARP Travel Trends survey shows that most 50-plus travelers (86%) identify travel as one of their top three priorities for discretionary income,” she says.

“Despite cost concerns, nearly two-thirds of adults 50-plus say they planned to travel in 2026. Instead of pulling back, travelers are adapting – planning earlier, comparison shopping, and leaning on loyalty programs and digital tools to stretch their travel dollars,” she added.

Placing a High Value on Family Connection

The AARP report also found that nearly one in five holiday travelers (18%) expect to spend $5,000 or more on holiday travel.

“While it’s not surprising that older adults continue to place a high value on family connection during the holidays, seeing the concern about costs (52%) but that still nearly 1 in 5 (18%) plan to spend more than $5000 on holiday travel shows that the desire to spend time with family, bring loved ones together, and create intergenerational memories continues to be a strong driver of travel decisions,” says Kyler.

According to the findings, more than one-third (36%) are concerned about flight delays. Nearly four in ten holiday travelers (38%) expect to spend more on travel than on holiday gifts.

The report also indicated that three in ten adults 50-plus (29%) say keeping family traditions would make holiday travel worthwhile. Additionally, 34% typically host family or friends at home during the holidays, while 28% either travel to see loved ones every year or alternate between hosting and traveling.

But what about older adults who won’t be traveling during the holidays? Are they staying home because of costs, health concerns, or simply because they prefer to host family gatherings?

“While the survey does not ask non-travelers why they’re staying home, we know that the most often cited travel concern is travel costs (52%), and the top reasons for making holiday travel worthwhile are ‘travel to spend time with family’ (67%), ‘having loved ones together in one place’ (52%), ‘making memories among generations’ (35%), and ‘reconnecting with people I don’t see often’ (32%),” says Kyler.

Since 2015, AARP has conducted travel research to better understand older travelers’ changing needs and choices.

“Our travel research helps us understand what motivates older travelers, what challenges they encounter, and how their needs are changing,” says Kyler. She notes that family connection is an important part of travel, and looking specifically at holiday travel provides another way to understand how travel fits into the lives of people 50-plus.

Bucket List Destinations Big for Older Travelers

While AARP’s report focuses on holiday travel and family connections, Luggage Forward’s newly released survey looks at what older Americans want from travel year-round.

According to the company’s findings, older Americans want cultural discovery, bucket-list destinations, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. For some, these experiences matter more than finding the least expensive vacation.

Commissioned by Luggage Forward and conducted by Propeller Insights in May 2026, the survey questioned more than 1,000 U.S. adults aged 55 and older.

According to the company, respondents were representative of the U.S. population by age, gender, region, and ethnicity. The company stated a maximum margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

“Older Americans are anxious to explore, finally visiting the destinations they’ve dreamed about, spending meaningful time with loved ones and enjoying experiences they may not have had time for earlier in life,” said Audrey Kohout, co-CEO of Luggage Forward, in an Oct. 15 statement announcing the survey’s findings. “Making those trips happen means removing unnecessary friction along the way. When logistics aren’t the primary focus, the road ahead becomes that much more rewarding.”

Kohout said the company’s own customers inspired it to look more closely at older travelers. Understanding what drives this group is important, she explained, noting that people aged 55 and older now have more time and money to travel than past generations.

“This survey stresses the actual pain points they face and tests common assumptions about senior travel against real data,” Kohout said.

“The research shows a group that favors bucket-list experiences, travels strictly on its own terms, and still relies heavily on Google and personal recommendations rather than AI tools,” adds Kohout.

The findings show that rest remains important to older travelers. More than half (59%) identified rest as a travel priority, followed closely by visiting family and maintaining relationships (55%). Comfort and ease were important to 40% of respondents.

But that doesn’t mean older Americans aren’t interested in exploring new places. More than one-third cited new cultural and instructional experiences (35%) and visiting bucket-list destinations before it’s too late (35%) as reasons for traveling. Another 31% were motivated by once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

In comparison, 22% of the survey respondents cited value-conscious travel. For some older travelers, the experience itself may matter more than getting the best price.  Road trips remain popular, with 67% of respondents preferring them, followed by beach vacations (58%) and city breaks (48%).

According to the survey findings, solo travel is even more popular than taking trips with friends. Traveling with a spouse remains the most common arrangement, with 75% saying they take trips with their partners. However, 21% report traveling alone, compared with 16% who travel with friends. Organized group tours are much less popular, with only 3% of respondents booking these trips.

Mixed Feelings About Cruising

The Luggage Forward survey also found that older travelers have mixed feelings about cruising.

Only 11% of respondents say cruising is a top travel priority, while 10% report that their interest in cruises has declined as they’ve gotten older. Nearly one-quarter (24%) say they oppose cruising.

Still, cruising remains in many older adults’ travel plans. According to the researchers, 42% plan to take a cruise at least once or twice a year.

The findings also show that not all older travelers are planning international trips. Italy, Australia, and Canada emerged as top international destinations respondents hope to visit over the next year. However, 42% say they do not plan to book an international vacation during that period. Luggage Forward suggests that overseas costs and international concerns may influence those decisions.

When it comes to planning a trip, older Americans aren’t necessarily turning to the newest technology.

While artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to gather information, 57% of respondents say they use Google to plan vacations. Another 53% rely on recommendations from family and friends, while 46% use online travel sites such as Expedia and TripAdvisor.

Only 11% say they use AI tools to plan their vacations, making it the least-used planning method among those listed.

The survey also asked what would encourage older travelers to try new travel services. Nearly two-thirds (64%) cited recommendations from people they know, followed by an easy, transparent booking process (44%) and online reviews on sites such as Google or Trustpilot (43%).

While AARP and Luggage Forward looked at older travelers from different perspectives, both surveys show that family remains an important reason for traveling. They also found that costs are a concern, although older adults are not necessarily giving up their travel plans.

Whether it’s spending the holidays with your family, taking a road trip, or finally visiting your bucket-list destination they’ve dreamed about for years, older Americans still want to travel. For some, it’s about seeing new places. For others, it’s about spending time with family and friends. Sometimes, it’s a little of both.

Holiday Insights: Download the latest AARP Holiday Travel Survey. Go to: Family Remains the Driving Force Behind Holiday Travel

2026 Trends: Review the AARP 2026 Travel Trends Survey at

2026 Travel Trends: A Survey of U.S. Adults Age 50-Plus

2025 Trends: Access the AARP 2025 Travel Trends Survey.  Details at

2025 Travel Trends: A Survey of U.S. Adults Age 50-Plus

2024 Trends:  Check out the AARP 2024 Travel Trends Survey findings at

2024 Travel Trends

AI Data Centers Spark Utility-Cost Concerns for Older Rate Payers

Published in RINewsToday on May 25, 2026

The Industrial Revolution began at Slater Mill in Pawtucket and transformed the economy through machine-powered manufacturing. Now, 260 years later, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the economy again as computers take on more jobs and reshape industries.

Artificial Intelligence may feel distant from the daily lives of many older Rhode Islanders, but the electric bills needed to power it could become personal. As AI data centers expand across the country, consumer advocates and lawmakers are asking whether residential rate payers — including seniors on fixed incomes — could end up subsidizing the energy infrastructure needed by some of the world’s largest technology companies.

For older adults living on Social Security, pensions, or other fixed incomes, even modest increases in electric bills can mean tradeoffs with food, medication, transportation, or home maintenance.

AI data centers have servers and special computer hardware that run AI systems. Thousands of advanced chips quickly process data to train and run AI models for tasks such as analytics, image generation, and chatbots. Large data centers consume significant amounts of electricity and require advanced cooling systems. This has led to concerns about higher electricity bills, increased water use, and environmental impacts.

The rapid growth of AI has accelerated investment by major technology companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. By March 2026, Consumer Reports noted that there were 3,069 data centers across the country, with 1,489 more planned or under construction. Rhode Island has seven data centers.

Some researchers say that AI is driving up electricity demand. A report from Bloom Energy in January 2026 predicts that U.S. data centers will use between 80 and 150 gigawatts of energy, almost doubling from 2025 to 2028.

Opposition Builds Against AI Data Center Projects

Gallup Poll’s first survey on data center construction, released on May 13, 2026, found that many Americans are worried about AI data centers being built in their communities. People are concerned about the use of large areas of land and the possible environmental, economic, and social effects. Seven out of ten people surveyed are against these projects in their area, and almost half (48%) are strongly opposed. Only about a quarter support the centers, and just 7% are strongly in favor, notes Jeffrey M. Jones, the author of the Gallup Poll report.

About one in five people who oppose data centers worry about how they might affect daily life. Their concerns include increased noise, air and water pollution, heavier traffic, and the desire to use the land for something else. Some also mention higher utility bills, rising living costs, and the possible need for subsidies.

“Most of the remaining opposition stems from general or specific concerns about Artificial Intelligence,” notes Jones.

Even though many people have concerns, the survey shows that supporters of AI data centers view the situation differently. Most supporters point to potential economic benefits, such as new jobs, increased tax revenue, and improved infrastructure as the main positives.

When it comes to politics, the Gallup poll found that most people—whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent—do not want a data center built near their homes. The survey notes that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to be strongly opposed (56% compared to 39%), with independents in the middle at 48%.

Older Ratepayers Push Back Against Higher Utility Rates

As AI data centers grow rapidly, AARP in Washington, DC, is monitoring rising power demand and the associated costs. Approximately 40 states have considered legislative or regulatory action related to the impact of large data centers on utility costs, grid reliability, or water use.

AARP’s 2025 report, ‘Powering AI, Draining Wallets: Consumers Could Be at Risk for Steep Electric Bills,’ was conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago and sampled U.S. households aged 50+. Survey results show that 69% of people aged 50 and over have seen their electric bills go up in the past year, and one in four say the increase is significant. 78% are worried about rising electricity costs, underscoring the financial stress many older adults feel.

75% of respondents call on state leaders to ensure that regular customers do not have to pay for the electricity used by new data centers. While 78% think data centers should cover their own utility costs rather than receive government assistance, just  3% believe ratepayers should pay.

Both Democrats (76%) and Republicans (74%) want state governments to protect customers from having to subsidize AI data centers.

In Oklahoma Older Residents Weigh In on AI Data Center Debate

Also, an AARP report, “Utility Affordability and Large Data Centers,” noted that older Oklahomans, especially those living on fixed incomes, are very worried about data centers and whether they can afford their bills

“Across the country, states are facing the same fundamental question: how to support rapid growth in energy demand without risking affordability for everyday consumers,” said Jenn Jones, Vice President of Financial Security and Livable Communities at AARP, in an April 28, 2026, statement announcing the release of the report.

The survey found that most Oklahomans (92%) think state leaders should make sure current residential customers do not have to pay for the costs of new data centers. Many (86%) also believe that data center companies should pay for the big electricity and infrastructure costs themselves.

Regulating Rhode Island’s Burgeoning Data Center Industry

Supporters of data center development argue that the facilities can bring construction jobs, permanent technical and security jobs, local tax revenue, and investment in electric-grid infrastructure. The central policy question is not whether data centers should exist, but who pays for the added power capacity they require — the companies that use it, or the broader pool of residential and business customers.

On Jan. 28, 2026, House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) introduced H 7331 to implement state regulations on data centers being built in Rhode Island. The bill was referred to the House Corporations Committee. In the upper chamber, Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) later introduced the Senate companion measure, S 2776, on March 4, 2026, which was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. Both legislative proposals have since been recommended for further study.

“Data centers have become controversial because they often require improvements to the electric infrastructure, with ratepayers footing the bill,” said Rep. Kennedy. “This, coupled with substantial environmental implications, requires a regulatory framework that can balance the economic benefits of data centers with our energy and environmental concerns,” he says.

Both legislative proposals require the Public Utilities Commission to ensure protections for ratepayers in Rhode Island by preventing data center operators from passing their electricity costs on to residential and other business customers. Data centers must pay their own way to protect ratepayers from subsidizing the large-scale private energy demands of these projects, and no costs related to the construction of electric infrastructure should be allocated to other customers.

It would also require each data center to submit an annual report to the RI Department of Environmental Management detailing daily water withdrawals, the cooling technologies used, and water recycling or reuse practices. It would allow the DEM director to require a data center to submit a water efficiency, conservation, or recycling plan as a condition of any permit issued. A final provision requires financial assurance that provides for site restoration in the event of abandonment or cessation of operations.

For older Rhode Islanders, the debate is likely to be less about artificial intelligence itself than about affordability. As data centers expand, lawmakers and regulators will face a basic question: how to support new technology and economic development without shifting private infrastructure costs onto households already struggling with rising utility bills.

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