Senior Travel Discounts

Discount deals that help your wallet

As a baby boomer, you’ve worked hard your whole life to save for retirement, making sacrifices and putting off traveling. Now that you’re over 50, you don’t want to blow your entire life’s savings on accommodations, meals and other expenses associated with travel. In order to find the best seniors travel deals, we’ve scoured the Internet looking for organizations and companies that specialize in offering seniors travel discounts. Many of those packages include discount airfare, accommodations, land transportation or rental cars, and even meals in some cases.

Plan in Advance

Before checking out the best seniors travel deals, remember that you should plan months in advance. Also, make sure that the seniors travel discounts are the best deal they offer by talking directly to an operator or by comparison shopping. Sometimes last-minute discount airfare deals can make your trip even less expensive, but you have less control over where and when you go.

The American Association of Retired Persons

The American Association of Retired Persons, better known as the AARP, offers membership to persons of any age and employment status, not just retired persons. Members can then use AARP’s Travel Center, powered by Expedia, to find discount airfare and other seniors travel discounts. Expedia is a well-known provider of some of the best seniors travel deals on the Internet and can be immensely helpful in finding the right package, including those that offer meals in addition to hotel accommodations.

The Canadian Association of Retired Persons

50plus.com is the Canadian Association of Retired Persons’ website, which, like its American counterpart, offers discounts to its members who, again, don’t have to be retired. Tripcentral.ca is the CARP’s preferred discount travel provider for the best seniors travel deals. Like Expedia, the Canadian company is Internet-based, but also offers a mailing address and telephone support for those who prefer a hands-on approach to finding seniors travel discounts.

Talk to a Travel Agent

Speaking directly to a travel agent, particularly a local one, can net some surprising seniors travel discounts, including those with packages that include accommodations, meals and guided tours. These agents can often customize your request and find some of the best seniors travel deals available.

As with all travel, it is best to begin a discount hunt with an idea of what you want and how much you’re willing to pay. Also, most trips include accommodations and many offer meals, but do not assume that; ask lots of questions and get the agreement (or itinerary) in writing.