Resources & Savings
Senior Perks
& Discounts
Hundreds of discounts you've earned — travel, dining, retail, healthcare, tech, and financial perks available to retirees right now.
Always ask. Many businesses offer senior discounts that aren't advertised. The standard rule: if you're 55 or older, ask before you pay. You'll be surprised how often the answer is yes.
1. Travel Discounts
Airlines
- American Airlines: Senior fares available on select routes — check aa.com or call reservations directly
- Southwest Airlines: No senior fare, but their Wanna Get Away fares are often the lowest available; AARP members get additional perks
- United Airlines: Senior discounts on select international routes; check united.com deals section
- AARP Travel: Negotiated discounts with multiple airlines through aarp.org/travel
Hotels & Lodging
- Marriott Bonvoy: Senior rates at participating properties — ask at booking
- Hilton Honors: Senior discounts available at select properties
- Best Western: 10% discount for AARP members; AAA members also eligible
- Choice Hotels: Senior rates and AARP discounts widely available
- Motel 6 / Super 8: Consistent 10% senior discounts at most locations
National Parks & Public Lands
- America the Beautiful Senior Pass: $80 lifetime pass — admits you and up to 3 adults to all 2,000+ federal recreation sites (national parks, forests, wildlife refuges). Age 62+. Best travel deal in America for outdoors lovers.
- Annual Senior Pass: $20/year if you prefer not to pay the full $80 upfront
- Purchase at any national park entrance or online at store.usgs.gov
Rail & Bus Travel
- Amtrak: 10% discount for travelers 65+ on most rail fares — select "Senior (65+)" at booking on amtrak.com
- Greyhound: 5% senior discount; additional discounts available through AARP
- Local transit: Most major city transit systems offer reduced fares for seniors — check your local transit authority; many are free or deeply discounted at 65+
Cruises
- Most major cruise lines offer senior discounts of 5–15% — Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Celebrity all have senior pricing on select sailings
- AARP Travel Center negotiates cruise discounts; always compare AARP pricing against the cruise line directly
- Repositioning cruises — when ships move between regions seasonally — are deeply discounted and popular with flexible retired travelers
🏞️America the Beautiful Senior Pass — $80 Lifetime (Age 62+)→
✈️AARP Travel Center — Hotel, Car & Vacation Discounts→
2. Dining & Restaurants
Many national chains offer senior menus or discounts — most start at age 55 or 60. Always ask your server before ordering; discounts are rarely posted visibly.
| Restaurant | Senior Discount / Perk | Age |
|---|
| Denny's | Senior menu with reduced portions and prices | 55+ |
| IHOP | Senior menu available at most locations | 55+ |
| Applebee's | 10% discount at participating locations | 60+ |
| McDonald's | Discounted or free coffee/drink at many locations | 55+ |
| Burger King | Discounted coffee and small drinks | 60+ |
| Chick-fil-A | Free small drink or coffee at many locations | 55+ |
| Perkins | Senior menu with discounted meals | 55+ |
| Subway | 10% discount at participating locations | 60+ |
Note: Restaurant discounts vary by franchise location. Always confirm with your server — and remember to ask even where it's not posted.
3. Retail & Shopping
| Retailer | Discount | Day / Age |
|---|
| Kohl's | 15% off every Wednesday | Every Wednesday, 60+ |
| Ross Dress for Less | 10% off every Tuesday | Every Tuesday, 55+ |
| Michaels | 10% off every day | 55+ |
| Jo-Ann Fabrics | 20% off every Tuesday | Every Tuesday, 55+ |
| Goodwill | 10–20% off at participating locations | 55+ (varies by location) |
| Banana Republic | 10% off with AARP membership | AARP members |
| Rite Aid | 10% off first Wednesday of each month | First Wednesday, 65+ |
| Walgreens | 20% off first Tuesday of each month (AARP members) | AARP members |
Costco & Warehouse Clubs
- No specific senior discount, but the annual membership pays for itself quickly for households buying in bulk
- Costco's pharmacy, optical, and hearing aid departments consistently offer pricing well below retail
- Sam's Club similarly offers pharmacy and optical savings that benefit retirees on fixed incomes
4. Entertainment & Culture
Movies
- AMC Theatres: Senior pricing at most locations — ask at the box office; AMC also offers a Tuesday discount day
- Regal Cinemas: Senior pricing Tuesday–Thursday at most locations for ages 60+
- Cinemark: Senior matinee pricing most weekdays for ages 62+
Museums, Zoos & Attractions
- Most major museums offer senior discounts of 20–50% — always ask at the ticket window
- Many museums have free admission days; check their websites for schedules
- Smithsonian Institution — all 19 museums and galleries in Washington D.C. are always free
- Many state and local parks offer free or discounted admission for seniors — check with your state parks department
- National Park Service — Senior Pass covers entrance fees at over 2,000 federal sites
Arts & Performance
- Most symphony orchestras, opera companies, and theaters offer senior discounts of 10–30%
- Rush tickets — last-minute unsold seats — are often available at steep discounts and retirees with flexible schedules are perfectly positioned to use them
- Many community colleges and universities offer free or low-cost cultural events open to the public
5. Healthcare & Prescriptions
Prescription Savings
- GoodRx: Free card saves up to 80% on prescriptions at 70,000+ pharmacies — often beats insurance copays for generic drugs
- RxSaver: Another free discount card worth comparing against GoodRx for your specific medications
- NeedyMeds: Directory of patient assistance programs from drug manufacturers — many offer free medications to qualifying patients
- Medicare Extra Help: Federally funded program reduces Part D costs for lower-income Medicare beneficiaries — apply through SSA
Dental, Vision & Hearing
- Costco Optical: Significantly below-market pricing on eyeglasses, contacts, and exams — membership required
- Costco Hearing Aid Center: Hearing aids at a fraction of typical audiologist pricing, with professional fitting
- Walmart Vision Center: Low-cost eye exams and frames; no appointment required at most locations
- Community dental clinics: Many areas have dental schools or nonprofit clinics offering reduced-cost dental care for seniors — search "dental clinic near me" + your zip code
- AARP Dental Insurance: Group dental and vision plans with competitive rates for members
Fitness
- Silver Sneakers: Free gym membership program included with many Medicare Advantage plans and some Medigap plans — check if your plan includes it at silversneakers.com
- Silver&Fit: Similar fitness benefit included in select Medicare plans
- YMCA: Reduced senior membership rates at most locations; some YMCAs offer scholarship programs for those with financial need
💊GoodRx — Free Prescription Discount Card (Up to 80% Off)→
🏥NeedyMeds — Patient Assistance Programs Directory→
🏋️Silver Sneakers — Check If Your Medicare Plan Includes Free Gym Access→
6. Tech & Telecom
Cell Phone Plans for Seniors
- T-Mobile Essentials 55+: Two lines for $55/month total for customers 55+ — one of the best value plans available
- Verizon 55+ Plan: Available in Florida; competitive pricing for two lines
- Consumer Cellular: No senior-specific discount, but plans start at $20/month with no contract — popular with retirees for simplicity and AARP partnership
- Jitterbug (Lively): Simple phones and plans designed specifically for seniors; 24/7 urgent response button available
Internet & Connectivity
- Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): Federal benefit providing up to $30/month toward internet service for qualifying low-income households — check eligibility at affordableconnectivity.gov
- Comcast Internet Essentials: Low-cost internet for income-qualifying households
- Many internet providers offer senior or low-income rate tiers — always ask your provider directly
7. Financial & Banking Perks
Banking Fee Waivers
- Many banks waive monthly maintenance fees for customers over 62 or 65 — ask your bank directly; this is rarely advertised
- TD Bank: Free checking for customers 60+ at most account tiers
- Bank of America: Monthly fee waivers available for senior customers on select accounts
- Credit unions consistently offer better rates and lower fees than commercial banks — worth considering if you haven't already
Car Insurance
- Most major insurers offer mature driver discounts of 5–15% for drivers who complete an approved defensive driving course
- AARP Smart Driver Course: Online or in-person; completing it qualifies you for discounts at most insurers
- AAA: Member discounts on auto insurance, plus roadside assistance, travel perks, and retail discounts — one of the highest-value memberships for retirees
8. Free Tax Preparation
Two federally supported programs provide free tax preparation for qualifying seniors — no income restrictions for the AARP program, modest income limits for the IRS program.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
- Free tax preparation for taxpayers 50+ — no income limit
- Over 3,500 locations nationwide; also available virtually
- Handled by IRS-certified volunteers trained specifically in senior tax issues
- Find a location at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARP-NOW
IRS VITA Program
- Free tax prep for households earning under approximately $67,000
- Available at libraries, community centers, and other public locations
- Find a site at irs.gov/vita or call 1-800-906-9887
📋AARP Tax-Aide — Free Tax Prep for Age 50+ (No Income Limit)→
🏛️IRS VITA — Free Tax Preparation Locator→
9. Key Memberships Worth Having
A handful of memberships pay for themselves many times over in discounts and benefits for retirees.
| Membership | Annual Cost | Why It's Worth It |
|---|
| AARP | $16/year | Discounts at hundreds of hotels, restaurants, retailers, pharmacies; free tax prep; travel deals; insurance programs |
| AAA | ~$60–$80/year | Roadside assistance, travel discounts, hotel/car rental savings, insurance discounts, retail partner discounts |
| National Parks Senior Pass | $80 lifetime | Free entry to all 2,000+ federal recreation sites for life — best one-time purchase for active retirees |
| Costco | $65/year | Below-market pharmacy, optical, hearing, gas; bulk savings that more than offset membership cost |
| Sam's Club | $50/year | Similar to Costco; pharmacy and optical savings particularly valuable for Medicare gaps |
Disclaimer: Discount details, ages, and availability change frequently and vary by location. Always verify current offers directly with the business before making plans or purchases. RetireCalm™ may receive compensation from affiliate partners at no cost to you.