The Best Thrifty Travel Tips for Savvy Seniors

Are you craving a getaway but want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck? There are plenty of ways to ensure you stretch your travel funds as far as possible. If you’re itching to get out of town, take advantage of these budget-savvy travel tips for seniors.

Remain Flexible

One of the smartest ways for senior travelers to make the most of every dollar is to be flexible about their schedule. Did you know you can let travel-oriented web pages do your searching for you? Since you’re retired, keep your calendar open, sign up for alerts from various travel websites, and pounce on the great deals to destinations you find enticing. With that in mind, it helps to keep your property braced for vacation.

Angie’s List recommends certain preventative measures to ensure your home is safe and secure before you leave for any period of time. Make arrangements with a friend or neighbor for your mail and papers to be picked up whenever you’re away, and ask them to keep an eye on things. Stay on top of changing the batteries in your smoke detectors, lock any valuables out of sight, and if you leave home during winter weather, keep a faucet trickling and cabinets open to avoid frozen pipes. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and you don’t want to come back to a damaged home.

Find Discounts

There are many great advantages to being of retirement age, and one is all the senior discounts you can enjoy. When it comes to transportation, you can find special savings on virtually everything, whether going by plane, train, bus or automobile, and many hotels offer senior discounts as well. Public transit in many cities is free to seniors, and there are often discounts or free opportunities at tourist attractions such as museums. Check with any service providers and restaurants, as there are sometimes opportunities at individual establishments. When in doubt, it never hurts to ask.

Air Travel Ideas

There are several ways to save when you’re planning to fly. When it comes to looking for flights, Travel Channel suggests considering “jump-off cities,” which means you can take advantage of two popular destinations from the same spot. For instance, if you’re flying into San Francisco, you can enjoy all the city has to offer, as well as trek California’s wine country. Explore the idea of using regional airports, too, since while they might be out of the way you can often save substantially on your flight. And if you can travel light, only packing a carry-on bag will help you save on luggage fees, not to mention the hassles involved with getting your luggage corralled while coming and going.

Consider All-Inclusive Options

Seniors who are looking for ways to simplify travel plans can often benefit from purchasing vacation packages. You can avoid the hassle of planning your itinerary, you can enjoy adult-only options, there aren’t any financial surprises involved, and it’s often an opportunity to participate in tours which are exclusive to those who purchase the package. By opting for vacations which are seniors-only, you also avoid having to mingle with travelers engaging in activities which don’t interest you, such as the college crowd, or young children doing cannonballs in the pool. When thinking about all-inclusive vacations, U.S. News points out a cruise can ease a lot of travel worries, allowing you to plan in advance exactly what your costs will be, which is often a boon when you’re on a fixed income.

Just because you want to watch your budget doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy traveling. Take advantage of discounts and opportunities, and put your flexible lifestyle to work for you. With a little bit of planning, you can make the most of your travel funds and have a great time.