Many discounts are available to seniors -- men and women of the "third age," as the French say; contact the French Government Tourist Office for information.
Seniors (60 and over with proof of age) can get A La Carte Senior, available at any rail station or online at www.senior-sncf.com. The pass costs 53€ ($69) and is good for a 50% discount on unlimited rail travel throughout the year. The carte also offers reduced prices on some regional bus lines and half-price admission at government-owned museums. There are some restrictions -- for example, you can't use it between 3pm Sunday and noon Monday, or from noon Friday to noon Saturday. There's no discount on the Paris network of commuter trains.
Air France offers seniors a 10% reduction on its regular non-excursion fares within France. Some restrictions apply. Discounts of around 10% are offered to passengers ages 62 and older on select Air France international flights. Be sure to ask for the discount when booking.
Members of AARP, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 (tel. 888/687-2277; www.aarp.org), get discounts on hotels, airfares, and car rentals. AARP offers members a wide range of benefits, including AARP: The Magazine and a monthly newsletter. Anyone over 50 can join.
Many reliable agencies and organizations target the 50-plus market. Elderhostel (tel. 800/454-5768; www.elderhostel.org) arranges worldwide study programs for those aged 55 and over. ElderTreks (tel. 800/741-7956 or 416/558-5000 outside North America; www.eldertreks.com) offers small-group tours to off-the-beaten-path or adventure-travel locations, restricted to travelers 50 and older.
Recommended publications offering travel resources and discounts for seniors include: the quarterly magazine Travel 50 & Beyond (www.travel50andbeyond.com) and the bestselling paperback Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50 2005-2006, 16th Edition (McGraw-Hill), by Joann Rattner Heilman.
