Cheap Senior Travel

For seniors age 50 and older it's possible to get any number of senior travel discounts if you just ask for them. Joining AAA or AARP can save as much as 20 percent on car rentals, and 10 percent off most hotel rates. They also have travel groups with low cost, all expenses included vacation packages.

Using a reputable travel agent for overseas or complex itineraries can save you a lot of headaches, but for simple national travel you can save money by booking reservations yourself. Some airlines offer senior discounts for those over 62, but you can probably beat that price by using a comparison site like orbitz.com and checking the rates from various airlines with flights going where you want to travel.

If you know where you're going and the kind of hotel in which you want to stay, compare rates at a site like travelicity.com or hotels.com. Then call the hotel directly and ask about special deals during your stay. Once you've gotten their best rate ask about a senior discount. It may or may not be lower than the special. Always be sure to ask about discounts at the time of booking, later will be too late. For an even cheaper option, check out ElderHostel.com, a not-for-profit group that caters to seniors.

Many restaurants also offer senior discounts. Again, be sure to bring it up while ordering your meal, or resign yourself to paying full price. Keep in mind that many businesses have senior discounts, but won't mention them if you seem inclined to pay full price. Always ask.