When Your Age Is an Advantage for Travel Discounts
Good deals are out there, but so are sham savings. Here’s how to sort through them
MANY OLDER ADULTS have the money, freedom and desire to take trips. The travel industry recognizes that and seeks the business of folks 50-plus by trumpeting lots of discounts. But the process of finding real savings can be bewildering. So we asked Pauline Frommer, editorial director of Frommer’s guidebooks and host of The Frommer’s Travel Show podcast, to give us her best tips for senior travel discounts. Her first advice: The search for discounts is made trickier because the travel industry usually doesn’t have set prices, so don’t jump at the first shiny deal. “I find that often things listed as a senior discount are just come-ons,” she says.
Here are her tips for real savings:
HOTELS
You can usually do better than an advertised senior rate at hotels. Almost all hotels in the world have contracts with brokers such as Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz stipulating that they can’t advertise prices that are significantly lower than those posted publicly by the broker. Instead you can save 25 to 30 percent at “clubs” such as @Hotels on Instagram. Travel + Leisure magazine and many professional organizations have clubs, but they charge fees while @Hotels is free. Once you find a club rate, call the hotel and see if they can beat it. Sometimes a direct call to the hotel will get the best rate because they don’t have to pay a middleman.
AIRLINES
A few airlines, including British Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines, still offer senior discounts, but these are rarely the best rates. Each year, Frommer’s tests the top airfare search engines, aggregators and booking sites to see which find the lowest fares on more than a dozen identical flight searches. Top billing for 2024 went to Momondo/Kayak, followed by Skyscanner and Skiplagged.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ATTRACTIONS
Many cities provide a senior discount for public transportation, including buses and subways, as well as attractions such as museums. Sometimes all you need is an ID that proves you’re old enough. Other times, you need to fill out an application to get a card. So check online well in advance of your trip. And be aware that some senior discounts are only available to residents.
NATIONAL PARKS
U.S. citizens and permanent residents 62 and older can purchase an annual national parks pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80. (A $10 processing fee is added if ordered online.) Most parks are free, but some charge people under 62 up to $70 for an annual pass for that one park alone, plus a fee that varies from park to park. Check the National Park Service website at nps.gov to see if any fees are charged at parks you’ll visit.
TRAINS
Train travel can be a great way to relax without the hassles of flying or driving. In the U.S., Amtrak offers a 10 percent discount for folks over 65. On services operated jointly by Amtrak and Via Rail Canada, you’re eligible at 60 for the 10 percent discount.
MEALS
Many chain restaurants and some local eateries offer discounts to AARP members. Check member benefits at aarp.org/ourbenefits. If you are interested in a restaurant that’s not on the list, ask—they might offer a discount anyway. And of course there are still early bird specials. If you want to check out the best restaurants in town, a good strategy is to make lunch your main meal. Many restaurants offer the same fare as dinner for significantly lower prices.
USEFUL WEBSITES
SeniorLiving.org and TheSeniorList.com list senior discounts for many things, including travel. These lists can be a terrific source for discounts, but again, they may not be the best prices, so be sure to do your homework before packing your bags.
AARP TRAVEL CENTER
When comparing rates for hotels and resorts, car rentals, cruises, airfare and vacation packages, rail and tours, AARP members should check the AARP Travel Center. One example is car rentals: AARP members can get discounts of up to 30 percent off base rates, a free upgrade on compact to full-size car class bookings when available, plus an additional driver at no cost at Avis and Budget. Find it at expedia-aarp.com.