Senior Travel Discounts

One of the few advantages of getting older is that you may be able to qualify for discounts on hotels, rental cars, air fare and other travel costs. The age required to qualify varies, usually no younger than 50 and no older than 65.

If you are willing to admit to your age, it never hurts to ask about senior discounts anytime you are travelling or buying anything, for that mattter. Sometimes you may have to show proof of age, or of membership in a group like the American Association for Retired Persons (www.aarp.org.) AARP advertises its senior discounts, which may amount to as much as 30 per cent on some rental cars.

If you are a fan of the national parks in the United States, there is a particularly good deal for seniors. My friend Paul was recently visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and found that a lifetime pass to the parks costs only $10 provided you are 62 or older and a U.S. citizen or green card holder. This compares to an annual rate for a park pass of $80.

In most developed countries seniors qualify for reduced fares on public transit and sometimes on trains. Museums, too, often charge lower rates for seniors. In the U.S. Sunbelt, seniors and others can benefit from the lower cost for early bird specials in many restaurants.