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senior couple splashing in ocean
Tom Merton/istockphoto

Having more time for travel is one of the biggest perks of being retired, and this list of travel discounts can help seniors cut their vacation costs. Starting at age 50 (the minimum age for AARP membership), you can cash in on numerous deals by simply flashing an ID, although some apply only to AARP members and some are offered only by select chain franchisees. Senior discounts have gotten harder to find (sometimes literally, because they’re hidden on websites or left off entirely). But whether you love RV trips or adventure travel, these discounts can make hitting the road a little cheaper.

Discounts and availability are subject to change.

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Carnival

Cruise ship Carnival Imagination docked in the Port of Ensenada, Mexico, ocean in the foreground and blue sky in the background, on a sunny day
Sherry Smith/istockphoto

If you are 55 or older, Carnival has discounted room rates for select voyages.

Related: Senior Discounts on Restaurants, Retail, and More

Expedia

Expedia AARP Travel Center
Expedia

This online travel giant runs the AARP Travel Center and offers 10% off hotels, 30% off base rates for car rentals, up to $300 onboard cruise credits, and free online or phone booking.

Haven’t joined AARP yet? Members age 50 and over get access to a wide range of services and benefits, including online events, classes, and community forums, as well as advice on everything from financial planning to health and wellness. Sign up here.

National Parks

woman hiking in Big Bend National Park, Texas
pchoui/istockphoto

The bad news is that the $10 lifetime pass for U.S. citizens and residents 62 and over now costs $80, although there’s an annual pass for $20. The upside is that you still get into every national park for the rest of your life for that price, and you get a 50% discount on amenities such as camping, swimming, and boat launches.

Alamo

Alamo Rent A Car
slobo/istockphoto

The car-rental chain’s Senior Circle promotion offers discounts to customers age 50 and over.

Related: Do You Qualify for These Car Rental Discounts?

Denny’s

Skyhobo/istockphoto

The ubiquitous eatery frequented by travelers across the country offers 15% off for AARP members and a special menu with lower prices for guests 55 and older at some locations.

Marriott

Marriott, San Francisco, California
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Guests at Marriott hotels can save up to 40% on room rates once they’ve reached the age of 62 — but it depends on the reservation and several variables.

Extended Stay America

Extended Stay America
Extended Stay America

If you need a suite with a kitchen for a while and are 55 or older, this chain will cut you a deal on a room — but not on an extended stay. Reserve for one to six days and you might get 5% off.

Allstate Roadside Assistance

worried senior calling for help with her car
Steve Debenport/istockphoto

Starting at $62 a year — with up to $10 off the first-year membership fee — AARP members can get towed anywhere, get gas in their empty tank, have flat tires changed, get their battery jump started, and get back into their car if locked out.

Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel

Grand Canyon Railway Hotel
Grand Canyon Railway Hotel

AARP members enjoy a 15% discount at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, including the RV park and a two-night “Canyon Explorer” package.

Trailways

Carolina Trailways bus
Carolina Trailways MC-9 by Jim Nelson ((CC BY-NC-SA))

This Northeast bus company provides a 10% discount for those over age 65, although some restrictions may apply. Some seniors may qualify for its half-fare program.

Avis

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

AARP members can save up to 30% off base rates for car rental at participating locations in the United States and Canada.

Related: Which Car Rental Company Is the Cheapest?

British Airways

British Airways
Flightlevel80/istockphoto

AARP members can save $65 on an economy ticket or $200 on a business-class seat for any flight to London, Europe, Asia, Middle East, or Africa booked by Jan. 31, 2023.

IHOP

IHOP, Taos, New Mexico
J. Michael Jones/istockphoto

No need for a coupon at IHOP, another traveler-friendly diner found all across the country. A special menu of pancakes, eggs, and French toast is already discounted for senior diners, starting at age 55.

Eurail

Eurail
Eurail by Roderick Eime ((CC BY-ND))

This European rail service offers discounts on rail passes for first-class or second-class seats.

Budget

Budget Rental Cars
Marina113/istockphoto

If you’re an AARP member, Budget offers a free rental car upgrade, a waived additional-driver fee, vehicle insurance, and 24-hour roadside assistance, as well as discounts of up to 30% off rental rates.

Castle Resorts and Hotels

Hawaii travel icon: Lei flower necklace in front of Waikiki beach and Diamond Head state monument in Honolulu
Maridav/istockphoto

For vacationers 55 or over booking a trip to Hawaii, this Pacific hospitality chain will take up to 25% off its best available rates at 22 hotels and resorts across the Hawaiian islands.

Hertz

Hertz
tupungato/istockphoto

Drivers age 50 and older save up to 20% on base rates when renting a vehicle.

Super 8

Super 8
Ken Wolter/shutterstock

Participating Super 8 hotels discount rooms by 10% off the best available rate for AARP members and other seniors 60 and older. 

Zipcar

London. UK. 4.10.2022. Zipcar ride hire car.
Josh Brown/istockphoto

Need a car only occasionally to get around for a few hours? Zipcar lets AARP members join for $40 for a year, which amounts to a 19% discount over the regular monthly rate after a $25 application fee. The company throws in $40 of free driving time, though.

Park Ride Fly

vacant parking lot with copy writing space
Singhanart/shutterstock

The offsite airport parking service Park Ride Fly USA offers AARP members a 12% discount, available at locations nationwide.

Amtrak

Amtrak
EQRoy/shutterstock

Hop aboard! Amtrak offers 10% off most fares for travelers who are at least 65 years old.

Liberty Travel

Liberty Travel
Liberty Travel by Friscocali ((CC BY-NC))

This travel agency offers travel packages that may bring breaks of up to $50 for people 62 and older.

La Quinta Inns and Suites

Shelby Township, Michigan, USA - March 23, 2016: Founded in 1968, La Quinta is a chain of hotels in North America with over 700 locations.
RiverNorthPhotography/istockphoto

La Quinta Inns and Suites offers AARP members up to 10% off the best available room rates.

Kingsmill Resort

Kingsmill Resort
Kingsmill Resort by Nat Johnson ((CC BY))

Just outside the historic grounds and theme parks of Williamsburg, Virginia, this resort offers AARP members a discount of up to 10%.

Red Roof Inn

Red Roof Inn, Manassas, VA.
Red Roof Inn, Manassas, VA. by Billy Hathorn ((CC BY-SA))

Seniors ages 59 and over get 10% off the cost of their room booking (so long as they can prove their age at check-in).

Avista Resort

Avista Resort
©TripAdvisor

Want to enjoy some quiet golfing near Myrtle Beach, but don’t want to deal with the noise and bustle of Myrtle Beach itself? This resort in North Myrtle Beach offers a senior discount at booking.

Best Western

Best Western
360b/shutterstock

Room rates drop 5% to 15% at Best Western for AARP members.

Motel 6

Motel 6
Jonathan Weiss/shutterstock

All seniors 60 and older get 8% off the best available nightly rate at this chain.

Choice Hotels

Comfort Suites, Brunswick, Georgia
TennesseePhotographer/istockphoto

Choice Hotels, which includes Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, and Comfort Inn, shaves up to 10% off room rates for AARP members or travelers age 60 and older. Advance reservations required.

Trump Hotels

Trump Tower, Chicago
400tmax/istockphoto

The former president isn’t against senior programs. His hotel chain cuts 10% off the best available room rates for seniors 65 and older.

Howard Johnson

Howard Johnson, Traverse City, Michigan
RiverNorthPhotography/istockphoto

Howard Johnson awards AARP members a 10% discount on the best available rate at participating branded hotels.

Greyhound

Greyhound bus
Vilches/istockphoto

Greyhound passengers age 62 and older with ID “can ask” for a fare 5% lower, we were told.

Hyatt

Hyatt Hotels
Kaesler Media/shutterstock

Hyatt offers guests age 62 and older discounts based on availability — but even at a hotel with plenty of rooms available at the time of your reservation, the savings might be no more than $20, we were told. That’s right: dollars, not percent. 

Intercontinental Hotels Group

illuminated Holiday Inn sign at dusk
sshepard/istockphoto

This sprawling hotel chain makes discounts on regular room rates at participating hotels “available” to anyone who is 62 or older or has a member ID card for a retired persons organization, but rates vary by location. In the past, the discounts have been as high as 15%.

American Airlines

American Airlines taking off from McCarran Airport in Las Vegas
Chris Parypa Photography/shutterstock

The airline is coy about senior fares, but a senior option can be found on its “Advanced/Multi-city search” page where it asks about passenger information.

Mermaid Cottages

Tybee Island, Georgia: Tybee Island Back River Historic District
Tybee Island, Georgia: Tybee Island Back River Historic District by Ebyabe ((CC BY-SA))

AARP members looking for a place to stay on Georgia’s historic Tybee Island can get 5% off booking these cottages.

United Airlines

United Airlines
IanC66/shutterstock

The airline offers special fares to those 65 and older, and also offers its Signature Service personal concierge and club lounge to those who need extra assistance.

Hilton

Hilton, San Diego Bay Front
LPETTET/istockphoto

There may be discounts of up to 10% off the best available rates when AARP members rent a room at Hilton Worldwide’s many chains — they include Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree, Hampton, Hilton Garden Inn, Waldorf Astoria, Embassy Suites, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts, among others.

Ramada

Mackinaw City, Michigan, USA - May 30, 2020: Exterior of the Ramada Inn and Suites in Mackinaw City, Michigan The hotel is now able to reopen after executive stay at home order restrictions are loosened due to Covid.
ehrlif/istockphoto

Ramada hotel customers age 60 and older may find discounts depending on location, according to the chain’s customer service department, although there are no set bargains online.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas
jimfeng/istockphoto

This cruise line occasionally offers special pricing to passengers 55 and over, but it reserves that pricing for specific trips.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines taking off from McCarran Airport in Las Vegas
Chris Parypa Photography/shutterstock

The airline offers senior discounts, but only in certain markets and not online.

Vacations by Rail

View from the most beautiful train journey Flamsbana between Flam and Myrdal in Aurland in Western Norway
HildaWeges/istockphoto

This rail tourism service offers AARP members $100 off train rides in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other locations as of May with the bonus code MBU100.

Related: This Is Why So Many People Feel Like They’ll Never Get to Retire

Meet the Writers

Emily Lugg is a freelance writer and writing tutor in the Writing Center at Ohio Wesleyan University. Always looking for the best investment for her family at the cheapest price, Emily uses research and consumer reviews as her sharpest tools for the savviest shopping.

Jason Notte is a personal finance reporter for TheStreet. His work has appeared in several outlets including The Newark Star-Ledger, The New York Times, The Huffington Post and The Boston Globe. He previously served as the political and global affairs editor for Metro U.S. and the layout editor for Boston Now, among other roles at various publications. Notte earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 1998