When you’re not yet in your 60’s, you don’t really think of yourself as a “senior” yet, and never considered asking for senior discounts. But did you know that there are a bunch of discounts eligible for you once you hit five-zero?
If you are not comfortable asking for discounts for random and personal use, you might want to take advantage of this for your upcoming travels. Vacations are great but it can take a big chunk out of your budget, so why not just ask for senior discounts to save a lot on your travel expenses?
To help you out, here are some tips on how you can snag travel perks even if you’re not yet 60 years old or over.
Search through websites and inquire for discounts.
When planning for your trip, make sure to search through different travel-related company websites to see if they offer age-related discounts that you can take advantage of. If you can’t find special pages for this, send them an e-mail or make a call because most companies don’t usually advertise or post such as discounts on their websites.
Join AARP.
Although it stands for American Association of Retired Persons, you can actually join AARP when you’re 50 for a fee of $12 on your first year, and get huge discounts on travel, dining, entertainment, phone plans, healthcare products, insurance, and so much more. You membership also includes your spouse or partner already!
You can use your AARP membership to take advantage of 5-25% off on hotels, cruise lines, car rentals, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc. when planning for and during your trip.
Transportation
Hertz, an American car rental company that operates 9,700 international corporate and franchise locations, offers a special “50 Plus Car Rental Deal” discount code for renters over 50.
Hotels
The following are hotel chains that offer discounts and deals for travelers ages 50 and older:
- Aston Hotels and Resorts
- Best Westerm
- Mainstay Suites
- Holiday Inns
- Participating Intercontinental Hotels
Restaurants/Food Chains
Get freebies, discounts and great deals from the following restaurants/food chains:
- Arby’s
- IHOP
- Krispy Kreme
- Applebee’s
- Chick-Fil-A (varies by location)
- Chili’s
- El Pollo Local: (varies by location)
- Fuddrucker’s
- Jack in the Box
- KFC
- McDonald’s
- Steak ‘n Shake (some locations)
- TCBY
- Tea Room Café
Just ask.
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask, you won’t lose anything if you do so anyway.
Always carry your ID cards.
Always have a valid ID that shows your birth date and photo, in case you need it to snag some senior discounts/perks. Each country, state or city has their own set of rules for senior discounts so it’s always good to come prepared.
So there you have it, a few helpful tips to save on your travels. You know what they say, 50 is the new 60.
