42 Travel Discounts for Seniors

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

Related: Senior Discounts on Restaurants, Retail, and More

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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).

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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. 

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%.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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