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Step 1
Engage the assistance of a trusted travel agent. While there are a slew of online resources to help you plan a vacation, travel agents often have access to deals and opportunities not available to the public. And a travel agent can help you think of all the details.
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Step 2
Narrow your scope of interest. While learning about Italy may be an admirable learning experience, you might get more out of the trip if you limit the educational aspects to museums or painters or architecture. You can plan the timing of each day's activities easier and get quotes for tickets to various events in advance.
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Step 3
Hire a local guide. Many popular tourist destinations employ locals to deliver educational talks about their home. You can learn the most from the people who lived through the history you wish to learn about. And locals often know the little known paths that can shed deeper understanding on a place or culture.
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Step 4
Know your limits. As a senior, you may have the curiosity of a child, but you must remember that you have the body of an aging adult and cannot walk all day without possible consequences to your health. Build stops and rests into your vacation. Use small buses to get around and get quotes on comfortable accommodations that can add to your experience, such as historical bed and breakfasts or old mansions turned into hotels.
