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Tips for Your Boomer Years

Helping Boomers Find Wealth, Health and Happiness in Your Boomer Years

Archive for the ‘Boomer Travel’ Category

Where to Find Great Senior Travel Discounts

Posted by JE Jones on Mar-8-2010


Where to Find Great Senior Travel Discounts
Among baby boomers and seniors, travel is often a number one priority in retirement. Finding travel senior discounts can a great way to save money and, lets face it, saving money is fun too! Here are some great senior travel discounts to help you save money:

Senior Travel Tips and Discounts

Senior Travel Tips and Discounts

Senior Discounts on Transportation

When you begin planning your trip, how to get there is the first thing on the list. These places offer senior discounts:

Greyhound Senior Discounts - Traveling by Greyhound bus allows you to really see the countryside and leave the driving to someone else - Plus it saves money over flying. Greyhound offers discounts for seniors of 5% on fares for those age 62 and older.

Amtrak offers a 15% discount for those age 62 and older. For those age 60 and older, Amtrak offers a 10% discount.

Hotels offering Senior Travel Discounts

Best Western offers a 10% discount for those over age 55, plus extras like early or late check-in, free room upgrades or complimentary continental breakfast.

Choice Hotels offers a 10% discount to seniors over age 50 and a 20-30% discount for those over age 60 with advance reservations.

Hyatt Hotels offer up to a 50% discount for seniors over age 62.

Marriot Hotels offer a 15% discount for over age 62, available for hotels worldwide.

Other Travel deals for Seniors

National Parks Senior Pass This pass is for seniors over age 62 and costs $10, which gives free or reduced rates at National Parks. The pass is valid for the lifetime of the cardholder so it’s well worth the $10!

Check out special seniors only tours like this Younger Next Year Boomer Ski Retreat or these Spring Training Travel Packages for Seniors. Besides the advantage of traveling with other seniors, great travel rates are built into these all-inclusive packages.

Travel specialists like VacationsToGo offer senior travel discounts on cruises and tours.

Check out Exploritas, formerly Elderhostel, which offers not-for-profit travel for learning and adventure for those over age 50. Over 8,000 different tours available in all 50 states and 90 different countries.

As always, if you are retired military, a member of AAA or other groups, be sure to check those discounts too when you travel. Sometimes the way to get a great deal is to ASK for it! One way to keep up with new discounts is to sign up for newsletters offered by sites like these:

AAA offers a newletter on discounts available

AARP members get discounts on travel items like airport parking, rental cars, at hotels and more.

Orbitz and others. Besides a newsletter, Orbitz offers many travel discount coupons to use when planning a trip through their website.

Be aware that sometimes the best senior travel discounts are available only on the website and sometimes, it’s best to call the hotel or place you’d like the discount to see what’s available. If you don’t see the discount on their site, call and ask.

If you’re traveling outside the continental US, make sure the senior discounts still apply. Also ask about possible restrictions. Sometimes better deals are available if staying during the weekdays as opposed to weekends, for instance.

This is just the tip of the iceburg in senior travel discounts. As I find more great discount sites, I will post them so keep checking back.

Support Your RV Lifestyle - Book Review

Posted by JE Jones on Dec-29-2009



Want to retire and live the RV lifestyle? Full time RVing can be a rewarding way to spend retirement,

Support Your RV Lifestyle by Jaimie Hall

Support Your RV Lifestyle by Jaimie Hall

filled with fun and adventure. My husband and I are planning for full time RV living as soon as he retires in a year or so. Although people of all ages would love to live the RV life, retirees and others also need to make money on the road. Believe it or not, there are many ways to so this.

When we began our search for ways to support full time RVing, I purchased Jaimie Hall’s book Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd Edition I highly recommend this book at a great RV lifestyle resource. Jaimie interviewed full time RVers for over 10 years and put together their tips and advice for working on the road.

It’s possible to take your job with you using her recommendations and resources. First, you need to evaluate how much money you need to make, what sorts of qualifications you already have for making money on the road and setting goals for yourself.

Hall covers setting up your own business that you can take with you while RVing, like writing, or how to find jobs at campsites, state parks or through tourism bureaus or temporary or seasonal work for RVers. She even has a section on managing your RV expenses and lifestyle considerations which are taken from stories told to Hall by other RVers.

The resources for those who want to live the RV lifestyle are worth the price of the book. Get a complete listing of state parks and tourism offices, tax information, grocery shopping and budget work sheets, websites for job searches, budgeting, using computers on the road, how to do a job search for the type of job you want, how to get hired at parks or resorts and so much more! I refer to this book again and again in our planning.

Since I like to write, I am already planning an RV blog about our travels. If you’d like to make money blogging about your experiences or some aspect of the RV lifestyle, visit the The Niche Blogger - a terrific resource that I used to help me set up my five money-making blogs. The Niche Blogger is a subscription site but you can learn all you need to learn in about 3 months of the subscription. You can cancel at any time and keep reusing the information to set up more blogs.

Jaimie Hall also has a free ezine and blog about her RV lifestyle experiences.

At present, my husband and I are RV shopping and downsizing our possessions so we can hit the road in another year. I’ll keep you posted on our progress.

Get Your Tickets for Mayweather vs Pacquiano!

Posted by JE Jones on Dec-24-2009

The highly anticipated match-up between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Pride of the Phillepeans, Manny Pacquiano is finally set for Saturday, March 13, 2010, in Las Vegas, NV. The Mayweather/Pacquiano fight will be held at the MGM Grand, chosen because it can accommodate the expected 30,000 in ticket sales.

Mayweather fight tickets are available now. This match-up has been years in the making and will finally settle the longstanding dispute over who should be named boxing’s Welterweight Champion.

In fact, the winner of the Mayweather vs Pacquiano fight will ultimately become undisputed king of boxing in the entire world.

Cockiness vs humble humility - Who Will Win?

Mayweather fight tickets are selling fast! Get yours today.


Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show Set for March 2010

Posted by JE Jones on Oct-20-2009

Think Texas and think country music, rodeos and livestock shows. Texans love country music and

Brad Paisley will be in Houston March, 2010

Brad Paisley will be in Houston March, 2010

rodeos and it’s well worth the trip to experience the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show which takes place in March 2010. Over 1 million spectators come to this - the world’s largest rodeo - each year. This year the entertainment will include country entertainers Brooks and Dunn, Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw, and for the young at heart - the Jonas Brothers.

We live in North Texas and love going to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo each year. Although we’ve been to Houston several times for softball tournaments while my daughter was in college, this will be the first time we’ve attended Houston’s Rodeo and Livestock Show. The biggest decision is which one of the terrific shows to attend?

Besides the artists already mentioned, more will be announced in early January, with one show each day from Tuesday, March 2 to Sunday, March 21. Tickets are on sale now at RodeoHouston tickets. If you click on your preferred attendance date, there is a photo of exactly what you’ll see from that seat. Ticket prices vary according to the artist and the seating area so there is a price range suited for every pocketbook.

I grew up on a farm and I love seeing the kids with their animals. Going to a livestock show is a great chance to reconnect with my own youth.

Besides great entertainment, the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show benefits youth and supports education, facilitating better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. The first was held in 1932 and since then, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has contributed more than $250 million to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, and other educational and youth programs.

Moving Within the LA Area? Try Local Melrose Moving

Posted by JE Jones on Oct-18-2009

If you are considering a move in the Los Angeles area, whether it’s personal or commercial, consider local Los Angeles Movers Melrose Moving. Melrose Moving serves the Los Angles area and they are reliable, professional and - best of all - affordable.

Melrose Moving also provides well-trained packers and they can accommodate last minute calls, as well.

Read some feedback from satisfied customers. of take a look at the free moving tips on their website.

If you are moving within the Los Angeles area call toll free, 1-800-431-3920, to get a free moving quote. Why not trust your next move in Los Angeles to a local moving company?

Shop Safely With NetSpend Prepaid Cards

Posted by JE Jones on Oct-9-2009

One way to protect your identity while shopping is to use a prepaid card for your purchases which allows you to shop using a credit card, such as those provided by NetSpend, which is not linked to your personal information. A leading company which provides re-loadable prepaid debit card in the US, NetSpend’s debit cards even allow those with no traditional bank account or credit history to shop online, make reservations or pay bills.

Who uses NetSpend?:

  • Teens managing their allowance - Teach your teen how to manage money by loading their allowance onto this prepaid debit card so they can make purchases anywhere.
  • College Students - Give your college student son or daughter a NetSpend re-loadable debit card to help with expenses. Many college students have no bank account for using checks or their own credit cards and a prepaid card can be used anyplace, anytime.
  • 84 million Americans have no traditional checking account and a prepaid card allows them to shop online, get airline reservations online, and make purchases without carrying cash.
  • Low to moderate income users receive over one trillion dollars in payments from employers or state and government entities which can be put onto a prepaid debit card.
  • Those with who don’t have credit histories or minimum balances which allow them to get debit cards from a bank.
  • Those who want to shop online safely by using a prepaid card which isn’t tied to any personal financial information.
  • Load the prepaid card before you take a trip so you don’t have to use personal credit cards when traveling.

A NetSpend prepaid card is just one more tool consumers of all ages and incomes can use to shop safely and securely to protect their sensitive personal information. Although this was a review for which I was re-embursed, I have used a NetSpend prepaid card when I was traveling and loved the convenience and security.

Joan’s Boomer Blog - History & Seafood in Boston

Posted by JE Jones on Aug-5-2009

I took a brief a break from food blogging to enjoy some delicious Boston seafood. I came to Boston with my husband so he could attend a workshop but we arrived a few days early to see the sights and enjoy the food. I am a history buff and studied history in college so I love collecting historical recipes books.

We walked the Freedom Trail, and I do mean walked. I’ve always loved to read about home life in the colonial days and at Paul Revere’s house I got a great little book called “Revolutionary Recipes,

Boston Commons in Spring

Boston Commons in Spring

Colonial Food, Lore & More” by Patricia B. Mitchell.

Mitchell’s book covers not only what ordinary people ate and how they cooked it, but also the colonial soldiers. If soldiers had nothing better, they got “fire cake” for breakfast, which was a “chewy, soggy, glob of flour paste which was baked on a stone.” This fire cake was a Valley Forge specialty. No wonder men wanted to desert!

Nathaniel Hawthorn's house in Salem, Mass

Nathaniel Hawthorn

The mid-day meal, cooked on the Colonial hearth was considrably better. Men and women worked from dawn to dusk and needed many courses served. “The rule was that if there were 12 diners, there should be 9 different dishes in each course,” writes Mitchell.

Here is a sample of a Colonial midday meal:

1. Soup
2. roast beef, roast pig, ham or mutton, with fish on Friday
3. another course of chicken duck wild game or turkey
4. cooked with cabbage or greens and sometimes a salad
5. vegetables like peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and corn
6. jams, jellies and/or cranberry sauce
7. cakes cookies sweetmeats, puttings like Indian pudding, bread budding and plum pudding
and/or pies
8. cheeses

Of course Colonials worked hard from dawn to dusk to burn all those calories too!

Here’s one recipe from Mitchell’s book for Oyster Stew, which was enjoyed by the Colonists which has
been modified to use today’s ingredients:

Oyster Stew Recipe

Ingredients

2 tbs all-purpose flour
2 tbs water
1 tsp salt
2 tsp worcestershire sauce (optional)
dash bottled pepper sauce
1 pt shucked oysters, undrained
1/4 c butter or margarine
1 qt milk, scalded

Directions for Oyster Stew

Blend together flour, water and seasonings in a large pot. Add undrained oysters and butter. Heat and stir gently. Simmer on low heat for three or four minutes.

Add scalded milk and cover.

Let stew stand for 15 minutes.

Reheat briefly and serve.

Serves 4 or 5.

Other recipes include Wassail, served at New Years and Fruit Cake for Christmas. The recipes and tidbits about Colonial life make this little book a delightful read.

Since this is a food blog, I have to include something about dinner in Boston. I enjoyed a broiled seafood platter at the Union Oyster House at 41 Union Street, which is billed as America’s oldest restaurant. The seafood was terrific and the atmosphere was great too.

Minuteman Historical Park, Concord, MA

Minuteman Historical Park, Concord, MA

I’ve come to the conclusion that spring is a beautiful time of year to visit the Boston area. Boston Commons was a riot of color with the spectacular flowering bulbs and trees.

I enjoyed Boston but my favorite parts of the trip were seeing the historical sites in Salem, Concord and the Minuteman National Historical Park. It’s very awe-inspiring to stand on the spot where “the shot heard round the world” was fired and where Louisa May Alcott lived and wrote Little Women.

Salem was so picturesque too. Best known for more than the Witch Trials, we, of course had to visit the Witch’s Museum and see the presentation. We also visited The House of Seven Gables and Nathanial Hawthorne’s home which offers beautiful views of Salem Harbor.

I found some great books on Amazon.com relating to historical recipes which are included in this slide show. I couldn’t find Patricia B. Mitchell’s book on Revolutionary Recipes but a few others she’s written are included here.

Senior Discounts Too!

National Parks Service offers great season discount passes for seniors.

Many need low cost vacation ideas with the struggling economy. To help out struggling families and baby boomers, the National Park Service has decided to waive summer entrance fees at 147 national parks and monuments all across the country.

Want to visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite this summer? The entry will be free on three separate weekends this summer.

Don’t forget, baby boomers, that the National Parks Service also has great discount passes available for seniors. Click here for more information.

You can get free admission on the following weekends: June 20-21 (Father’s Day Weekend - what a great gift idea!), July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16. So pack up the car or RV and take use this low cost vacation idea to see some beautiful scenery in our National Parks.

For more great money saving ideas, visit our money saving idea and senior discount sections.


As baby boomers age, the question of when to take the keys away will have to be made by spouses, children and even the DMV. My own father is 84 years old and recently had his license renewed by the DMV for 10 years!

Tom Vanderbuilt’s blog, “How We Drive”, recently had an interesting article entitled “What’s the Real Risk of Older Drivers?” In the article he concluded, based on recent research, that although crashes involving older drivers make the news, it’s wrong to demonize older drivers when statistics can’t be matched point by point between older and younger drivers.

Older drivers know that one serious mistake will get their license suspended forever, while younger drivers tend to feel “it can’t happen to me.” Younger drivers are more likely to be engaging in risky behavior, such as texting messaging, talking on their cell phones or being distracted by a carload of friends or by their own young children.

Older drivers for the most part also drive less miles than younger drivers and stick to more familiar surroundings where they know the roads and feel comfortable.

Deciding when to take the keys away from a parent is a huge decision because, in many cases, their car and their ability to drive gives them independence. As families scatter around the country, older drivers are less likely to have friends or relatives who can take them where they need to go.

My own dad limits his driving to taking my mom to get groceries or her hair appointment mostly but when the time comes that he can’t drive, it also means my mom loses much of her independence too because she hardly drives at all anymore, preferring to leave it to my father. I know for a fact that my dad’s reaction times aren’t as quick as they once were.

The fact is, though, I live a thousand miles away and both my sisters, who live near my parents, are still working. One of my sisters has a child in elementary school, as well. This past year, when my dad had to have a hip replacement, I went home to help care for him as my sisters aren’t able to take the time to do it.

If my dad has to quit driving - what then? As an old marine from WWII, my father hates each further loss of independence he suffers because he knows he’ll never get it back. Baby boomers are increasingly being put into the position of caring for aging parents and making these types of decisions for them.

When to stop driving is a major decision looming for baby boomers as they get older, for both themselves and their parents.

As to whether or not older drivers are the biggest danger on the road, in my opinion, they are not. I live in a large metro area and most of the major accidents in the news here are caused by drunk drivers, not older drivers. If there is a push to be made for taking risky drivers off the roads, I think the emphasis should be placed there, not on elderly drivers.

How do you feel about older drivers on our roads? Have you ever had to face the decision to take away your parents car keys? If so, how did you handle it?

One of the Top Ten Things to Do in DC - The World War II Memorial

One of the Top Ten Things to Do in DC - The World War II Memorial

When I consider the top things to do in DC, the World War ii Memorial has to be among the top three. Most baby boomers have fathers who fought in WWii and the sight of this Memorial and the veterans who come to see it, is very moving. On a recent trip to Washington DC, I decided to walk over to the World War ii Memorial even though I’d seen it on previous trips.

I wanted to get to the Memorial early so I could take photos and avoid the crowds. When I came walking over the hill from the Washington Memorial, I saw a crowd already there. At first, I was annoyed - that is, until I saw that the early morning visitors were a group of World War ii vets gathered for a photo.

There were probably 75 vets posed for the photo in front of the fountain and about half of these vets were in wheel chairs. Friends and family hovered around the group, taking pictures, smiling and applauding.

One reason this early morning gathering at the World War ii Memorial was so moving to me is that it brought my own father close to me. He’d been a proud Marine in WWII, fighting in most of the major battles of the Pacific. My dad is now 83 but he is still paying for the four years he spent in the war.


When my dad came home from the war, the doctor he saw had been in the Navy himself. He asked my dad if he’d been a prisoner of war. His bones and joints had deteriorated from lack of proper food for the four years he was in the Islands. His teeth required $2,000 worth of work - an astronomical amount in 1946. His entire body was in pain. When my parents got married in 1948, my mom remembers buying bags of oranges to build his health back up.

Due to an above average immune system no doubt, my dad survived the diseases in the Islands in WWii and he never suffered a wound bad enough to get sent home. He told me recently that the reason they never got any decent food was that no one was expected to survive long enough to suffer from bad nutrition. My dad and his buddy, Snuffy, managed to survive what could only be described as hell on earth for four years and lived to tell about it.

My dad never talked much about his World War ii experiences when I was growing up but when I reached adulthood, he told me many things. Now that he’s in his 80’s these memories from over 60 years ago are still fresh in his mind. Knowing what he went through, makes a visit to the Memorial all the more poignant.

My dad lives in Oregon and will never get to travel to Washington DC to see the World War ii Memorial. The joints of his hips have deteriorated and due to a blood platelet disorder, he put off having a hip replacement. Now, however, the pain is so bad, he has to risk the surgery or end up in a wheelchair. His hip surgery is scheduled for just before Thanksgiving.

Seeing this always proud old Marine bent over a walker and in pain is very hard on me. I can’t help him with this fight, any more than I could help him with the invasion of the Islands. All I could do is go to the WWII Memorial for him, take pictures to send to him and tell him about the experience.

If you’re a baby boomer who knows someone who fought in World War ii, the World War ii Memorial is an emotional sight but it feels peaceful too. Sitting there, I listened to the rush of water in the fountain which drowned out all the traffic noises of DC, watching the sun shine on the heads of the old Vets visiting the  Memorial, seeing how proud their families were, I thought of my own dad and wished he could be there with me.