When it comes to travel, seniors are often on a fixed income. This means that they have to be mindful of how they spend their money. However, this doesn’t mean that seniors can’t enjoy the trip without breaking the bank. There are many ways to cut travel expenses when planned properly. In this article, we will go over some of the practical ways seniors can save money while they enjoy travel.
How can Seniors travel with least amount of money?
Budget planning is an art. If budget is a major concern for seniors while they travel, there are many ways to reduce costs. Each individual way to cut cost might sound insignificant but after adding up all of the little things, the savings becomes pretty significant. So how can seniors travel with least amount of money? It all depends on planning. As you go through this article, you will find out how elderly can save money while traveling.
Shop for Cheap Tickets
Shopping for cheap tickets in advance is always a good idea, no matter your age. But as a senior, you may also want to consider traveling during the off-season or shoulder season. This can often be cheaper than traveling during peak times.
There are many ways a senior citizen can get cheap tickets while they travel. Comparing prices from different travel sites is a good way to start. Kayak.com is a good travel website that allows you to compare prices from many different vendors.
When you make a decision on where to buy your tickets from, do not forget to see if they have coupons or deals going on. You can go to Retailmenot.com and type in the company’s name in the search bar. That will render list of coupons that seniors can use. Be mindful though that some coupons might work and some might not and they could be specific to certain conditions like travel dates, travel destination, etc.
Find Deals on Sites like Groupon and Amazon.com
Idea of finding deals on online shopping sites like Groupon or Amazon.com is a great way to save money on many things. But we do not recommend scrambling to find deals when your travel date is imminent. This is where advance planning comes into play. Sites like Groupon and Amazon.com has deals going on all the time. When you know you will be traveling in the near future, you should be looking out of deals they offer.
For example, let us say you are planning travel to Erie, PA and explore lake Erie. Let us suppose you find a Groupon deal where a local waterpark is offering 50% off during your travel period. If you like to spend a day in a waterpark, this is a great way to save money. By buying the deal you have instantly saved 50% and will be paying lot less than what you would at the entrance gate. This is of course an imaginary situation but you get the point.
Shopping early for things that you need while traveling is a good idea especially when you find a great limited time deals on sites like Amazon.com. By the way we do recommend seniors to be an Amazon prime member to save money not only during travel but all the time. For example, you find a lightening deal on Amazon where they offer an elderly friendly travel backpack for 30% off. If you were already planning to buy a backpack before travel, you can snatch that deal right away to save 30% off which will cost you 30% less than if you were to buy it right before heading out. You get the point!
Use Travel rewards or Mileage
Travel rewards points are a popular way to save money on travel expenses if your credit card company offers travel rewards program. By signing up for a travel rewards program, you can earn points that can be used for discounted travel tickets and other perks. To get the most out of your travel rewards points, it’s important to understand how they work and how to use them effectively.
Travel rewards points are typically earned by spending money on travel-related expenses such as airfare, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages. You can also often earn points by using a specific credit card for your everyday purchases. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for discounts on travel expenses. Some travel rewards programs also offer other perks such as access to exclusive airport lounges and complimentary hotel upgrades.
As a senior citizen on a budget, signing up for a travel rewards program can be a great way to save money on your travel expenses. Be sure to do your research to find a program that best suits your travel needs and habits. And don’t forget to use your points before they expire!
Share Hotel if Possible and if you are comfortable or Rent Airbnb property or VRBO property
When it comes to accommodation, another way to save money is by sharing a hotel room with other travelers. If you’re traveling with family or friends, this can be a great way to cut costs. We do understand many seniors prefer privacy but if cutting cost is more important than privacy, it is absolutely okay to share space with friends and family.
Given how expensive hotels are, the savings can be very significant when hotel room is shared.
Another way to save on accommodation is finding good deals on Airbnb.com especially if you are part of a group travel. This website let you rent a personal property just like a hotel room but you have an option to rent the whole house at your destination.
Similarly, VRBO also lets you rental vacation properties. You should check out VRBO website as well.
For example, imagine you are traveling to a city where hotel rooms cost $300 a night. You are traveling with 2 other senior couples. So altogether your group spends 3X$300=$900 for one night at a standard hotel.
After searching rental property at Airbnb or VRBO, you find a single family house with 3 bedrooms being rented at $450 a night and has $50 cleaning fees which adds up to $500. Going this route, your group just saved $400 a night instantly!
It might not always work out but you should always compare costs and go for the cheapest option!
Check to see if Vacation Packages can cut travel costs
There are many travel agencies who make custom travel package for budget travelers. You can customize the package according to your budget like if you want transportation included or if you want meals included and so forth. Sometimes it might be cheaper to get the whole vacation package that comes with airfare, accommodation, transportation and passes to various historic sites. You can then come up with your own calculation if you were to make your own plan and compare costs.
This is also a great option for seniors who want to make their travel or vacation as little hassle as possible. This option requires less management but is still a great way to explore the world!
You can start doing your research on Tripmasters.com.
AARP Discounts Related to Travel
AARP offers a variety of discounts for travel, including a discount on plane tickets. To get the AARP discount, you must be a member of the organization and book your travel through the AARP website. The AARP discount is available on both domestic and international flights, and it can save you a significant amount of money on your travel expenses.
In addition to the AARP discount, there are also other travel-related discounts that are available to members of the organization. These include discounts on car rentals, hotels, and cruises. If you are planning a trip, be sure to check out the AARP website for all of the latest travel discounts.
Using Public Transportation when possible to reduce travel cost
And finally, don’t forget about public transportation! When possible, take advantage of buses, trains and subways instead of opting for taxis or rental cars. If might not always be possible depending on the destination but if and when there are options available for public transportation you should certainly consider opting for them.
But there are times when this many not be appropriate for some elderly. If an elderly couple in their 80’s are trying to travel for least amount of money, saving on public transportation might not always be the best idea. Please consider wait times, ride comfort, etc. before you opt in for public transportation especially if you also have some health problems or do not feel you are at your best. In that case it is better to focus on other cost cutting ideas mentioned before.
Seniors can absolutely enjoy travel without breaking the bank. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to planning an affordable trip. Let us know in the comment section below what other ideas you have that can make travel more cheaper. Also let us know where you are planning to go next! Safe Travels!
