Don`t get me wrong. I don`t want to wish away the years. But the fact is, the older you get, the better the travel opportunities–especia lly these days, when hotels, restaurants, travel agents and tour operators are doing everything they can to attract ”mature travelers.”
People who reach their 60s–or in some cases, 50s–will discover they are suddenly eligible for special discounts and reduced rates virtually everywhere in the world. Moreover, organizations such as the 17-million-member American Association of Retired Persons are encouraging retirees to get out and explore the world by offering tours and services designed to meet their particular needs.
Here are some good travel buys to consider:
Alaska Bound: A Seattle-based outfit called TravAlaska Tours has established a ”55/55 plus Club,” which offers a $55 discount to travelers 55 or older who book one of its 9- to 19-day Alaskan travel packages before March 31. The excursions combine Inside Passage cruises with motorcoach tours through Fairbanks, Anchorage, Denali National Park and Arctic communities such as Nome and Kotzebue. Prices begin at $1,235. For details, contact TravAlaska Tours, Dept. SR, Suite 808, 4th and Battery, Seattle, Wash. 98121; 206-441-Tour.
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Swiss Miss: This year, 385 hotels in 140 Swiss cities and resort towns are featuring special rates for men over 65 and women over 62 (or for couples in which one partner is of the eligible age). The 1985 Season for Seniors program, sponsored by the Swiss Hotel Association, offers senior customers the accommodation of their choice including breakfast, service charges and taxes at a reduced rate. For a brochure, write to Swiss National Tourist Office, 608 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10020.
Directory results: Californian Harry H. Henry has updated his Senior Citizen Travel Directory, which tells where to find hotel, entertainment, dining and transportation bargains in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the British Isles. For a copy, send $3.95 to Senior Directory, P.O. Box 1822, Oakland, Calif. 94612.
Freedom Fling: From now through May 12 participating Holiday Inns around the country are inviting travelers 60 and older to take advantage of their Freedom Rates program, which features a maximum rate of $29.95 (single) for senior citizens on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights. Holiday Inns also offers a separate Senior Saving Program with a 10 percent discount for members of the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Retired Teachers Association and the National Council of Senior Citizens. For reservations, call 800-Holiday.
Seniors only: Anyone 50 or older is eligible to join the American Association of Retired Persons. For an annual fee of $5 ($12.50 for three years), members receive the organization`s bimonthly magazine, Modern Maturity, and 11 issues of the AARP news bulletin. Members are also eligible to join a group health plan and receive discounts on hotels, motels and car rentals. AARP endorses the tours arranged by Olson-Travelworld Ltd. in Culver City, Calif. To join, contact AARP, 1909 K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20049;
202-872-4700.
Passage to . . . : Designing enjoyable holiday packages for folks 55 and older is the whole idea at Passages Unlimited Inc., a Stamford, Conn., tour wholesaler. It will arrange ”at homes” (fully equipped resort or apartment- hotel accommodations) for people who simply want to establish a home base and explore Europe on their own. Those who need more help in planning their vacations may take advantage of moderately priced tours to the Continent, India and Nepal or the Soviet Union. Holiday packages, such as its 24-day excursion through the Greek islands ($1,579 a person including all air fares, meals and accommodations) may be booked through any retail travel agent. For a catalogue, write to Passages Unlimited Inc., 48 Union St., Stamford, Conn. 06906; 800-472-7724.
Other companies also specialize in programs for the ”mature traveler.”
Grand Circle Travel has been arranging tours for the 50-and-older set for 26 years. In addition to escorted worldwide tours, cruises and more leisurely
”countryside tours of Europe,” Grand Circle features ”extended vacations,” which enable travelers to choose a single overseas destination and stay as long as they want or add on excursions to other places. Contact Grand Circle directly (and ask for a copy of its free 24-page booklet, 101 Tips for Mature Travelers): 555 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022;
800-221-2610.
Saga International Holidays aims year-around, off-peak travel programs at people 60 and older. Opportunities range from domestic and international coach tours and cruises to ”adventure holidays” in Kenya, India/Nepal and Australia. Equally popular are its tours of the U.S. National Parks and the Canadian Rockies. Contact it at 120 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. 02116;
800-343-0273 (for information), 800-762-3413 (for brochure requests).
Yugo Tours has an extensive year-around program for retirees or seniors 60 and older. Its offerings include a minimum two-week stay at any of four coastal resorts in Yugoslavia. In addition, extended tours are available to the U.S.S.R., Malta, Egypt and Greece and various mini-holidays. For a brochure and more information, contact it at 350 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10118; 800-223-5298.