Senior citizens looking to travel cheaply have many options available to them. Airlines, tour providers, cruise lines and hotels all know and understand that senior citizens are the single largest group with leisure time to spare. Unfortunately, most of them are also living on a fixed income; which means that in order to attract their travel business it’d better be a good deal. In an age of declining customer service and rising expenses these good deals still exist, they just need some research.

Among the various senior travel discount clubs is the biggest and best known one of all, the American Association of Retired People (AARP) who’s been offering discounts of goods and services and championing the rights of senior citizens for many, many years. Cary carrying AARP members typically save between 15-30% on hotels accommodations and transportation expenses across the entire United States. A one year membership to AARP is $12.50 and you can join online or call then at 1-888-OUR-AARP.

Airlines have nearly all eradicated their senior fares but there are still a couple of airlines that offer senior perks, among them Southwest Airlines who’s no-nonsense sky bus approach to air travel revolutionized low cost getaways. Southwest Airlines guarantees that travelers, 65 and older, never have to pay more than $129 each way (plus taxes and fees) for their flights. Additionally theses senior fares are totally refundable and there is no advance purchase or minimum stay at your destination. Unfortunately, there is a limit to the number of senior tickets per plane, so it can be dicey getting senior tickets on a flight that is near or at capacity.

Occasionally hotels will offer a 10% discount to senior citizens booking without a travel agent, but the 10% is usually only the same amount that the hotel would have paid the travel agent as a booking fee, so in actuality they aren’t doing you any huge favors. That said there are some hotel chains that go above and beyond in the their senior discounts and really set the bar quite high, among them are Starwood Resorts who will occasionally knock off as much as 50% of the room’s rack rate as long you pay for at least one night up front, reserve well in advance, and understand that no refunds are typically allowed on this special deal. Other participating hoteliers offer senior discounts that go beyond the traditional 10% include Marriott Hotels and Days Inn who both offer seniors 15% off the advertised rack rate. Radisson Hotels and Choice Hotels offer even bigger discounts that run anywhere from 15-40% off the normal nightly rate.

Some of the best recreation deals for seniors can be had at the Six Flags theme parks across the United States, who all discount their admission price considerably for seniors and the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom park in Louisville, Kentucky discounts it’s admission to $22 for those 55 and older, and those over 65 are admitted free. Yes, free! If you’re less of a theme park fan and more inclined to get back in touch with nature, the non-expiring Golden Age Passport, available at all national parks, will offer those over 62 lifetime admission for one $10 fee. Apply in person at all national parks that charge an entrance fee. These passports also cover the entrance fees of anyone traveling in the car with the senior citizen and all passport-holders are given a 50 percent discount on in park camping fees, tours, fishing licenses and other goods and services. More information can be found online.

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