One benefit of coming into your golden years is enjoying all the discounts you’ll get as a senior. More likely than not, many retailers, restaurants, and stores will make a special provision for seniors. This could be anything from 10% to even 30% discount! Many restaurants such as McDonalds start giving senior discounts to adults over 55 years old. Here are some of the many retailers that provide a senior discount.
Movie Theatres
Chain movie theatres such as AMC, Cinemark, Regal Entertainment, Bow Tie Cinemas, Landmark Theatres, and others all have senior discounts available. Some theatres even have senior discount days where movies are half off for seniors during weekday matinees. Check with your local movie theatre to see what sort of discounts or events they offer to seniors.
Travel
Car rental companies such as Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Alamo offer senior discounts that can take a chunk off your rental bill, especially if you are a AARP member. Alamo car rentals offers 25% off for AARP members, while Hertz offers rental deals for those over 50 in their 50 Plus Car Rental program. Other companies offering discounts for senior travelers include American Airlines, Delta, British Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. For each airline, call to check the details of the discount. Typically, the discount is applied to orders booked over the phone and applies to those 65 years or older.
If you’re not planning to travel by car or plane, try traveling by sea! Cruiselines such as Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Carribean, and many others all offer discounts for senior travelers and AARP members. The discount applies to those 55 years and older. Call and ask your selected cruiseline to see what they offer!
Hotels
Senior travelers have a strong advantage since hotels give senior discounts as well. Many of the discounts are given to AARP members but many hotels will have a discount for non-members. Hotels such as La Quinta, Best Western, Mariott, Wyndham Hotels, give a 10-15% discount. A vast majority of large hotel chains will have a senior discount but the amount varies. Call ahead to your hotel and ask about their senior discounts.
Restaurants
Major food and beverage chains across the nation will honor their seniors as well. Many restaurants will give 10-15% off for their senior diners, but since the discounts may vary with each locations, diners will need to ask about the discount in person. Restaurants such as Bob’s Big Boy, Applebee’s, Denny’s, IHOP, Waffle House, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonalds, El Pollo Loco, Jack in the Box, Krispy Kreme, Subway, Chili’s, Claim Jumper, and others all offer a senior discount or a senior special on their menu.
Classes
If you want to continue your lifelong education, your local college may offer a senior discount on tuition. Maricopa Community College in Arizona offers seniors a 50% discount on their tuition. Some states even allow seniors to attend college and earn a degree for free; Alabama allows seniors over 60 years old to pursue an undergraduate degree at any 2 year institution within the state for free. Some colleges will allow seniors to audit the courses for free; others will ask for a fee. With all these options, seniors have many opportunities to continue their lifelong education and even earn a degree!
Gyms
Special programs such as SilverSneakers offers free gym memberships across the nation. You can be eligible for SilverSneakers if you have certain health plans such as Medicare Advantage, Humana, Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem, and others. To see if you are eligible, visit the SilverSneakers website.
Retailers
If you’re a fan of shopping, many retailers will also offer discounts for seniors. Kohl’s is one store that offers 15% off every Wednesday to seniors over 60 years old. Ross offers a 10% discount to seniors to seniors over 55 years on Tuesday. Banana Republic, JCPenney, Dress Barn, Clarks, Goodwill, Hallmark, Salvation Army, and several other stores all offer a senior discount.
National Parks
If you’re a fan of the outdoors and enjoy hiking, the National Parks offers a special pass for seniors. For an annual pass to the national parks, seniors can pay $20. For an even greater deal, seniors can pay $80 for a lifetime pass into any national park as well as other recreational parks across the nation. Seniors must be over 62 years old in order to be eligible for the pass.
To read more articles about senior health and lifestyle, visit our Senior Care Center blog!
