Senior Discounts, Travel Clubs, and Hotels

While oldsters shouldn't expect any special treatment at tollbooths, they do get a break from the biggie ground transport companies: Amtrak (800/USA-RAIL or amtrak.com/) and Greyhound (800/231-2222 or greyhound.com/). The first offers the 62 and older traveler discounts of 15% of all Amtrak tickets, except for the coveted first class tickets on the auto train, the sleeper car, and weekday Acela and Metroliners. Check first to see what general discounts Amtrak is offering before cashing in the senior trip. While Greyhound does not have a senior discount program as Amtrak does, it offers 5 percent off unrestricted passenger fares and periodically throws sales for the over 55-crowd.

National parks

One of the best national discount offers for seniors is the "Golden Passport" program of the U.S. National Park Service. For a one-time fee of just $10, seniors are given the passport, which allows them free entrance into any National Park for life. The passports do not need to be renewed, and they will also cover the entrance fees of anyone traveling in the car with that senior (so put granny in the front seat!). Along with free entry, passport-holders are given a 50 percent discount on such in-park facility charges as camping fees, tours, fishing licenses and more. Full information is available online at nps.gov/fees_passes.htm. Seniors need to apply for the passport in person when they arrive at any National Park that charges entrance fees (some don't).

The big senior club

Of course, everyone is aware of AARP, which uses just the acronym now that Americans are waiting longer to retire. This massive organizations is open to anyone over 50, retired or not, and claims to offer significant discounts on travel products. Whether these discounts are better than what seniors would get should they use a hotel or airline discounter is a matter of much debate. Suffice it to say that card-carrying AARPers can usually save 15-30 percent (occasionally 50 percent) on lodgings and transportation most everywhere in the United States. A one year membership is $12.50. To contact the club, go to aarp.org/ or call 888/OUR-AARP.

Savings for the older skier

And would you believe there are discount-granting clubs for mature skiers into their eighties? One, the Over the Hill Gang International, (its motto: "Once you're over the hill, you pick up speed") has 6,000 members in all 50 states and 13 countries, accepts members starting at age 50, and promises major discounts. Members not affiliated with local groups can obtain lifetime memberships for $510 (for members over 63) and $760 (for members 50 to 63); most group members pay $175 for three years, $75 for one year, and join periodic ski tours of the group (they also go on sporting-type summer trips). Contact: Over the Hill Gang, 1820 W. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (phone 719/389-0022, Web site: othgi.com/).

Theme parks for seniors

While the largest amusement parks, Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens, do not offer seniors cheaper admission, some of the nation's top amusement parks slash their gate prices sharply, and one of them waives admission altogether.

All Six Flags parks (sixflags.com/) offer senior prices and children's prices (kids under a certain height are free). Below are some of the most popular Six Flags parks.

Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey): Age 55 and older pay $30 instead of $38.99. And that includes the amusement park and the safari park (but not the separate Hurricane Harbor Water Park). Phone: 732/928-1821.

Six FlagsMagicMountain (Los Angeles): 55 plus gets front gate admission for $30 instead of $48. Does not include the water park. Phone: 661/255-4100.

Six Flags Over Texas (Dallas): Those over 55 are admitted for $27, rather than the regular $42 fee. Phone: 817/530-6000.

Six Flags Great America (Chicago): Front gate admission is $30, not the full $45. Phone 847/249-4636.

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (Louisville): 55 and older get in for $22, and seniors 65 and older are admitted absolutely free. Phone 502/366-8746.