Virtual Reality (VR) Travel for Seniors: Explained Simple

For family members managing the care of an aging family member who’s not as capable as their younger years, this is where my family is. Not in Bali.

My mom and dad dreamed of a retirement with travel to Africa, the Caribbean, and a cross-country road trip, but our family’s diagnosis canceled those plans.

What is virtual reality travel?

“I had always dreamed of traveling there, but never found the time. I couldn’t believe I put on those goggles, and it was like I was actually there.”

Virtual Reality Travel is when you wear a VR headset to visit a virtual version of any travel destination in the world. 

VR means Virtual Reality.

VR travel is also known as “taking a VR vacation”.

My family takes VR tours of Brazil from our couch.

Virtual reality tourism has become an industry of its own, with products and technology service solutions suited to elderly and disabled adults.

Upon experiencing VR in general, many seniors’ first-impression is to say it feels like traveling.

Are you and an aging family member interested in your very own VR vacay? Welcome, now let’s get started.

Why might the elderly enjoy VR travel?

If reclaiming a regretfully forgotten retirement travel fantasy wasn’t good enough reason, here are more:

1. You can VR travel from home. My old dad does it lying in bed and sitting in his favorite chair.
2. You can VR travel for cheap. My family bought a VR travel headset for under $50 since we already have a smartphone.
3. You can VR travel together. It takes over $1,000 and technical know-how, but it’s possible. You can VR in-person with people in the same room. You can VR online with distant friends and family who live somewhere else.

Smartphone virtual travel app HeyGo was made for seniors and families to take a remote vacation together, to destinations like the Taj Mahal to the Swiss Alps, but unfortunately, it has since been discontinued.

How to take a VR vacation from home?

You can VR from home on a smartphone or computer at one of these enhanced virtual tourist sites. They’re not as interactive or realistic as Meta Oculus type full 3D virtual reality tours, but they’ve got free online general admission.

• Google Arts and Culture - Get in there and click around some museums and art galleries.
• Google Earth - Spin the earth around and put your virtual finger on the globe, wherever it stops is where you’ll go.
• Stellarium - A true-to-universe astronomy stargazer for people interested in star formations.
• FaceTime and Facebook - Remember, social media is online, which makes it a little virtual, so you can call your friends and family for a Zoom Video Call or text each other. Thumbs up!

What tech gear do you need for VR travel?

The virtual travel websites and apps listed above don’t require more than a phone or computer. They let you do 3DoF - the technical term for VR that lets you look around in different directions.

If you want to upgrade the VR experience to Side-by-Side (IMAX style 3D look) then you’ll at least need the type of VR headset you put your phone inside #ad. If you want to upgrade to 6DoF (top-notch awesome VR), then wait until Meta Quest 3’s late 2023 release before buying your first VR set. It’s your one-way ticket to virtually limitless leisure.

Click here to learn quick and easy how to use a regular smartphone with a smartphone compatible VR headset (works for iPhone and VR SHINECON).