When it comes to travel, being older is better
My husband always says that “older is better.” On days when you’ve developed a touch of arthritis or you seem more forgetful than you once were, you may not feel that way. Yet, when it comes to travel, there are many advantages that come with age. The trick is knowing where and how to find these travel perks.
In fact, travel companies are increasingly seeking out opportunities to woo older travelers to help their bottom lines. That’s not surprising. U.S. News & World Report recently reported that boomers control 70 percent of all disposable income in the United States. Moreover, older travelers are likely to have more time to travel.
A report by AARP found that boomer travelers typically anticipate taking four or five trips a year. As a result, there are a range of discounts available for those “of a certain age”—so the next time you travel, be sure to ask whether a “senior discount” is available and what you need to qualify.
You may discover fabulous perks for those who have reached special milestone birthdays (50, 60, 62 or 65) offered by hotels, restaurants, transportation companies, entertainment venues and big-box stores that offer these discounts. Unfortunately, they’re often not well publicized so you need to be proactive.
An article I wrote for the PBS NextAvenue website lists tips to help readers find age-related discounts that can whittle down the costs of their next vacation. In addition, the article lists specific deals that might help you save money on your next trip.
***You can read the article in its entirety on the NextAvenue website.
This post was also reprinted on The Huffington Post on June 3, 2016.
Do you find that older is better? Are there any other senior discounts that you’ve taken advantage of while traveling?
Thanks for the reminder to always check for senior discounts. That’s true at home as well-we began saving on movies, transportation and more once we turned 60. And some grocery stores have a senior day where older folks get an extra discount- really worth knowing about! As mature travelers, we have the time to really enjoy the places we visit, unlike when we were younger and were attempting to hit all our bucket list items during our too-short vacations. Taking things a bit slower is fun as we “stop to smell the roses” more often!
I sometimes have to remind myself:-)