August 27, 2004 -- When do you cross the line from middle age to senior citizen? It depends on who's offering the membership or discount. According to the AARP, you're officially there when you're just 50 and they invite you to join. The federal government stretches it to 65, when you first qualify to receive social security and Medicare benefits. And somewhere in between are the airlines, hotels, B&B's, tourist boards & restaurants, all usually offering at least some aged-based incentive to buy their products.
In the Air
Although the major air carriers dropped their senior coupon books post 9-11, most continue to sell "senior fares." You can get such fares at the big airlines (American, Continental and United) when you're 65 or older; at the smaller airlines (Alaska, America West, ATA and Frontier) when you're 62 and older. Two drawbacks: these fares are not available in all markets, and, worse, they aren't necessarily cheaper than the standard 14-day advanced purchase fares. Many low-fare carries like Jet Blue don't even offer senior fares saying their regular prices are low enough already.
The lesson here is to compare before you make the purchase; don't simply trust that calling something "senior" necessarily means it's cheaper in cost.
On the Ground
Bedandbreakfast.com publishes a massive database of B&B's across the country and the world. We recently received notice of specials that many inns are extending to mature travelers for the month of September.
- At the Woods Hole Inn in Folsom LA, seniors get September rates starting at $85 per night midweek, $100 on weekends, with free wine tasting and concerts at nearby Pontchartrain Vineyards (wine making in Louisiana, who knew?). Contact them at www.woodsholeinn.com or phone 985/796-9077.
- Rockland Maine's Lakeshore Inn has September rates for seniors staying two or more nights for under $125 nightly per room, a 20% discount, they say. Contact them at www.lakeshorebb.com or at 866/540-8800.
- At the Victorian Manor Inn on Staten Island in New York City, seniors from 55 and up save 20% through September, they say. B&B rates start at $85 nightly. Contact them at 718/816-6801 or at www.vminnyc.com.
- At the Vegi Farms B&B in Mariella PA, seniors 55 and over can stay two nights and get a restaurant gift certificate plus a round of miniature golf. Stay three nights and also get 50% off the regular rate of $95 to $150 for the third night. More information can be found at www.vegifarmbnb.com or at 800/854-0399.
For more current offers, visit www.bedandbreakfast.com, click on "Advanced Search," then "Special Packages" and select "Seniors are Special" from the dropdown menu
On the Web
Tourist boards' information centers and websites are great resources for discounts and current offers. Taking a look at www.nycvisit.com, the official site for New York City tourism, we found that most top attractions have special rates and services for senior travelers like:
- $10 admission to the Empire State Building
- $8 ferry rides to Ellis Island and the newly reopened Statue of Liberty
- $10 entrance fee for the splendid Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
At selected NYC hotels, there are discounts, too. The Howard Johnson Plaza near Times Square takes 15% off for seniors 60 and older, 10% off for other AARP members. At the Radisson Hotel New York East Side, their "Senior Break" allows those 50 and over a 25% discount. The fantastically-located Mayflower Hotel on the Park (Central Park, that is) features a 15% senior discount.
To find the tourist board for your intended destination, click over to www.towd.com, an easy to use directory for visitors centers around the world.
For more information on senior travel, read our Compendium of Trip Planning Resources at or head over to our Senior Travel Message Boards.