Savvy Seniors: 2005
More and more retirees are tackling Europe. Is Europe friendly to older globetrotters? Please share any special deals, tricks, or advice.
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Advantages of Age
At 69 I am now an "older traveller." Compared with being a "younger traveller" as I was in 1969, things have improved for me. In general, Europeans respect older people. Although nobody gives me their seat on the metro (yet), I have noticed that younger people gladly engage with me in conversation and seem interested in me as a person. I recommend that senior travellers stay in hostels occasionally. The ones I've been in welcome people of all ages. You have an opportunity to meet people of different nationalities and ages.
USA Mon 09/12/2005
ITALY NEXT SPRING
Sandra~~~Senior Discount ages vary greatly around the world. I have traveled in 50 countries and I am always surprised where they give discounts and often by the low age they require.
I always ask at hotels, restaurants, museums, events, RR stations, bus terminals and any place I have to pay to enter.
You have to ask if you qualify. Some will give you a discount if you are over 50; others require ages up to 65.
Always ask because most places don’t advertise them and you wont know if you don’t ask.
M. G. ZAPP
DALLAS, USA Tue 08/23/2005
Italy next spring
I am planning a trip to Italy next spring. What age do they consider "Senior Citizen"? In the US it is usually 65. I will be 63, and going for the first time.
Sandra
Redmond, Wa USA Mon 08/22/2005
senior traveling in Europe
3 mos trip 68 yrs old 2 yrs ago, traveled by train Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, Germany,
Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czech, Austria,Italy,Monte Carlo, hotel reservations online, train reservations thru the American tkt office in Munich, good time, war just started, anti american remarks and demonstratons in Madrid,Barcelona was good, going again in May,
Richard Schultz <email>
Absarokee, MT USA Sat 08/13/2005
SENIOR DISCOUNTS ALL OVER THE WORLD
I agree that it is wise to ask always for senior discounts. They are seldom advertised and you will be surprised when you find one and I have been amazed to find that some of them are as much as 50%. Don’t be afraid to ask. I always ask at stores, restaurants, and all transportation.
V. M. CHANDRE
DALLAS, USA Sun 07/31/2005
Pen Pals
Hello all,
My ten year old sister want to have a few pen-pals from around the world to write too. I haven't a clue as to where to start looking . I have search countless websites and most of them only cater to ages 13 and older. If for any chance you have any information I would really appeciate this .. Happy travels......
aa liyah <email>
new york City, new york USA Wed 06/22/2005
Tube stations in London
Nurse Spark~~please note that the subway system in London is call the tube or underground. You wouldn't ask where a metro station was, ask where the tube station is.
Oh USA Sat 05/14/2005
SENIOR DISCOUNTS IN FRANCE
I have copied this report from July, 2000.~~~On our last trip to Europe we smiled and politely asked if the establishment offered a Senior Discount, even when it was not posted that one was available.~~~ In every instance we got one; sometime it saved us as much as half price. Don't be afraid to ask, but remember to smile.Lyn Suarez ~~~Tulsa, OK ~~~ 07/27/00
nashville, tn USA Wed 04/27/2005
SENIOR DISCOUNTS IN FRANCE
I always ask everywhere I go because rules change daily; some who didn?t give discounts last week may give them today. You will not know until you ask. I ask at stores, RR stations, air lines, restaurants, museums, busses, trolleys and castles.
ROGER M.
DALLAS, USA Wed 04/27/2005
Senior Travel
My husband and I are 66 years old. We had a great trip to Spain. We checked all of our luggage but one small soft briefcase with meds & extra clothes and my purse. The checked luggage was 2 small rolling suitcases, and a small bag that fit around the handle of one of them. We are fit enough to walk around attractions such as the Alhambra, but we took the red bus up the hill to its location. We also stayed upstairs in two places which had no elevator and were fine. We always included down times in our days, only one or two main sights. The sidewalk cafes are great for resting and absorbing the culture. The lobby of the Amadeus Hotel in Seville is a pleasant place to sit and read. One of the last places we visited was Tarifa where we spent our time on the uncrowded, unpolluted beach rather than taking a tour of Morroco or Gibralter. We plan to continue traveling as we get older, and add services such as taxis, elevators, etc. as needed. We took taxis from the airport or stations so we didn't have to deal with luggage, but I did buy our train and bus tickets using my limited Spanish, and we managed the luggage on them O.K.
Rosemary Shively <email>
Briggsdale, CO USA Mon 04/25/2005
London Metro stairs
LondonIf you have trouble with the stairs try not to take the metro since most undergroud staions have lots of stairs and corridors instead to the metro take London's public buses. You get to do a bit of sightseeing and your not walking up, down, and thru large undeground tunnels.
NurseSpark <email>
Newtown, PA USA Sat 04/02/2005