After a lifetime of investing wisely, working hard and saving up, you've finally earned the time to reap some relaxing rewards.

With careful retirement planning, your after-career years can become a time for exploration, travel and wonder. Leave Cincinnati behind for a while, and travel in ease with our tips for planning that dream vacation.

Plan ahead for long flights.

The days of dressing up in Sunday best and jetting off in luxury are long gone.

Air travel can be taxing even if you're flying first class— hurried, stressful, and less luxurious than in days gone by. With some forethought, though, you can make your experience a little less wearing.

Bring your own munchies.
Airlines aren’t exactly known for their culinary arts. If your flight is going to take more than a few hours, stash a few healthy snacks in your purse or carry-on. This is especially important if you are a senior who is managing diabetes. Bad weather, ground stops and other unexpected flight delays can make the time in between meals long and potentially hazardous for those with blood sugar issues.

To that end...

Don't put your medications in checked baggage.
If you have a medical condition that requires you to regularly take medication, make sure you have ready access to your supply of medications. Keep them in your carry-on, a backpack, hip pack, or purse. That way, if you experience a delay, or if your baggage is misplaced en route, you won't find yourself in a strange locale and in serious trouble.

Bring your own entertainment for the flight.
In-flight entertainment is, of course, always an option once you’re in the air, but bringing your own laptop, E-book, mp3 player or other entertainment means that you’ll have something to do while you’re waiting for your flight to be called, too.

Forget the cash. Keep your credit card handy.
The world's currency is increasingly electronic these days. Keeping your credit card close at hand gives you both liquidity, and an extra layer of protection against loss or theft.

Skip Branson. Go exotic.

So you scrimped and saved your whole life just to go jetting off to… Missouri? It’s great to get out and see family outside of Cincinnati, but think big, too! There's a whole world out there, and now you have time to see it! You might try:

Alaska. You don't need to be Jack London, or even particularly hardy, to head up to The Last Frontier. In fact, you could just cruise on in: many ship lines offer luxury cruises departing from Seattle or San Francisco, up to the glacial coasts, and back. You won't even have to feel cold.

Costa Rica. With a low cost of living and a sizeable ex-pat community, this Central American nation is known for its beautiful national parks, ecotourism, pristine beaches and salsa dancing nightlife.

Central Europe. A quarter-century after the fall of the Wall, countries that you might never have imagined visiting before you retired are now thriving, open societies. You might try taking a river cruise down the blue Danube from Vienna to Bucharest, Romania, with a stop in Budapest, Hungary, to sample wine and take in the glorious architecture, and Bratislava, Slovakia, to visit the ruins of Devin Castle.

The Maldives. A beautiful archipelago in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are famous for luxury beach resorts, scuba diving opportunities and the chance to get away from congested city life. It's a long series of flights, but absolutely worth the time.

Your senior years aren't meant to be spent marinating at home. Get out and meet people!

Even with the opportunity for exciting travel, after a long career and wise retirement planning, too many seniors become complacent and settle into routines. But retirement living can be so much more than sitting around the old Cincinnati haunts or puttering about the house.

You might explore the possibility of moving into a senior living community.

You'll have the opportunity to meet folks who, like yourself, are enjoying the good life and making the most of their golden years. You didn't work hard just to shut yourself away and slow down, and neither have Deupree residents.

Retirement communities can offer people a renewed chance to socialize, live a life of luxury and avoid the financial hassles of home maintenance.