Travel smart: affordable getaways for retirees
Retirement is that golden period when you finally have time to indulge your wanderlust. Whether you want to travel to visit family, revisit favourite places or discover new ones, the world is at your fingertips. Except, of course, most of us don’t have unlimited funds to fuel our adventures. From air to rail, here’s how to find the best discounts to help you reach your destination, plus other tips and tricks for budget-friendly travel.
Flight savings for seniors
While no Australian airlines provide senior fares, there are other ways to access flight savings to see those bucket-list destinations. If you’re a Seniors Card holder, have a look at your local directory to find out if any travel agents near you are a participating business - some advertise 10% off airline tickets. If you live regionally, check out the Regional Residents discounts promoted by Virgin and Qantas, which provide reduced fares within Australia.
Rail travel for pensioners
For domestic travel, rail can be an economical journey. In the Sunshine State, Queensland pension card holders can access up to four free long-distance fares each year to destinations such as Cairns and Rockhampton. In New South Wales, residents with Pensioner Concession Cards or Veteran Gold Cards are eligible for four Pensioner Travel Vouchers that can be redeemed for free TrainLink Regional services. You can also use the vouchers to travel interstate and pay 50% for the interstate portion of your trip only - making a trip from Sydney to Melbourne or Canberra, for example, very affordable. Similarly in Western Australia, a Pensioner Concession Card entitles you to a free return trip (or two single trips) per year on the Transwa network - the perfect excuse to explore your own backyard.
Budget-friendly destinations and planning
There are a few golden rules that will help you get the best value for money when planning your trip. Some tips:
- Avoid school holiday periods, when prices are at their highest.
- Aim for low-season or shoulder-season travel.
- Opt for self-contained accommodation so you can prepare your own meals.
- You could use ‘price watch’ on airfares to nab the best deal.
- Rent out your home while you’re away (for longer trips).
- Plan trips to visit friends and family and save on accommodation costs.
- Look into signing up to travel loyalty programs.
- Plan your itinerary around free or low-cost activities (walking tours, museums, gardens etc).
- Make sure you have adequate insurance in case something goes wrong.
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Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency Pty Ltd (Apia) ABN 14 099 650 996 AR 239591 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 (AAI), the issuer of Home, Landlord, Car, Caravan, Motorhome, Boat, Travel & Compulsory Third Party Personal Injury (CTP) Insurance.
The information is intended to be of general nature only. We do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.
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