Reaching a certain age shouldn't mean slowing down; in fact, it can be the perfect time to speed up and see more of the world.
The good news is that your age can be your passport to a world of savings. From slashing the cost of train and coach fares to nabbing cheaper deals on European adventures, there are plenty of perks that make exploring more affordable than you might think. We’ve gathered some of the smartest ways to cut your travel costs, so you can spend less on getting there and more on enjoying yourself.
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If you’re 60 or older, the Senior Railcard gives you a third off train travel for £35 a year – and a three-year card is £80. There’s a handy tool to check how much you’ll save on your journey.
If you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers, you can convert every £2.50 of vouchers into £5 to buy your Senior Railcard. You'll only need £17.50 in Clubcard vouchers, exchanging these at 2x their value, to pay for the one-year Senior Railcard.
Make-up artist Joyce Connor, 61, from Reading, says: “My Senior Railcard is a godsend. It more than pays for itself. I’ve booked a Caledonian Sleeper with a cabin for a trip, and I even got a third off that.
“I make sure I book train tickets 12 weeks in advance as that’s when the cheapest tickets are released. And I also save money by travelling after rush hour and specifying which train I’ll take.”
You can save even more on trains by choosing a split ticket. Split ticketing is when you buy your ticket cheaply by buying the different legs separately. You don’t have to get off the train, although the train must stop at the stations you’ve bought split tickets from. If it’s a train with seat reservations you may need to change seats.
You can also use a split ticketing service like Split My Fare or The Trainline to help spot split ticket opportunities. Some of these services charge you a percentage of the saving, although you can also use them to see how to split your ticket and then buy your ticket direct from the train company without paying a fee.
If you do a lot of travelling with your grandchildren, take a look at the Family & Friends Railcard. It’s the same price as a Senior Railcard but offers a third off up to four adults and 60% off for up to four children aged between 5 and 15.
There’s also the Two Together Railcard: split the £35 annual cost between you and a partner or friend (£17.50 each). You then get a third off both fares when you travel together.
Travelling across Europe by train might bring back hazy memories of teenage summer holidays – but turning 60 bags you a big discount.
Interrail offers a 10% discount if you’re 60 or over on the day you start your trip and prices are competitive too, with many flexible tickets available. For example, if you want to travel for a month and take unlimited train trips on five of those days, a senior fare is €286 (around £249), or €364 (around £317) if you want to treat yourself to first class. You might have to pay extra for seat reservations on some services, including Eurostar.
A Senior Coachcard costs £15 plus £3 P&P for a year and gives you a third off fares across the UK – including at peak times.
It gets you a day return to anywhere in the UK (except airports) for £15 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, if you book three days in advance.
You can also get 15% off Fully Flexible fares if you want to travel to events such as festivals and football matches.
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If you’re in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can get a free bus pass when you turn 60, but in England you’ll need to wait until you reach state pension age, which is currently 66 (soon rising to 67 from April 2026).
In London, the Freedom Pass gives you free travel on buses, trams and trains. You can get one when you turn 66 – you'll just need proof of address. You may also get one if you are a London resident and have an eligible disability.
There is also good news for Londoners over 60 but not old enough for the Freedom Pass: if you live in a London borough you can pay £35 for a 60+ Oyster photocard which gives you free travel on buses, trams, DLR, London Overground, most National Rail services in London and part of the Elizabeth Line.
Check before you travel, as some restrictions apply before 9am or 9.30am on weekdays.
Londoners with a Freedom Pass or 60+ Oyster card can get a 50% discount on Santander Cycles subscriptions, taking them down from £20 a month to £10 or £120 a year to £60.
The subscription gives you unlimited 60-minute rides, and you’ll need to fill out a form to prove your eligibility for the reduction.
E-bike hire scheme Forest, which also operates in London, offers a 20% discount to over-60s if they provide proof of age through the Forest app.
With the rising cost of aviation fuel and no discounts for over-60s, flying can be an expensive business. But there are still ways to save.
Catherine Warrilow, travel and tourism brand consultant at The Plot, says: “Many people will be reaching retirement with a fixed income from a pension and trying to stretch their savings. With considerations like the increased cost of living and other financial burdens, being able to travel often means doing so on a tighter budget.”
She says that with travel continuing to rise in popularity, dynamic pricing can make it harder to find a cheap deal – although there are some options.
“Midweek flights can often be cheaper but watch out for add-ons such as hold luggage and meals,” she adds.
Connor shops around for tickets at the cheapest time of day with both flights and Eurostar. “I do what I call an ‘extreme day trip’,” she explains. ;
“I leave early in the morning and get the last flight or train home. That way, I also save on a hotel, but still get to see the sights.”
A recent Saga survey found that the over-50s like to take advantage of off-peak periods, getting away in September, May and June, as avoiding the school holidays keeps prices down.
Warrilow says: “Travelling out of prime school holidays is always going to save you money. Like all dynamic pricing, you'll see prices fluctuate based on the destination and the month, a lot of that being dictated by the weather.
“As an example, prices could be as much as 30% cheaper in September compared to July for destinations in Europe, where the weather is still wonderful and the sea warm.
“If you compare May to the Easter holidays, you're looking at a 20% difference in prices if you avoid the bank holiday weekends.
“Destinations like the Greek Islands and Portugal remain a little quieter and more relaxing in May and June.”
Some hotel chains offer discounted rates for over-60s or over-65s, so check before you book. It’s always worth checking prices for similar hotels in the same destination, to make sure you are getting a good deal.
Andrew Middleton, 65, from Andover, runs I’m Not Done Yet, a community for business owners who aren’t ready for retirement, and is a regular traveller with his work.
He says: “My top tip is to shop around and, with the advent of dynamic pricing, don’t be afraid to cancel and rebook if you find a better deal, particularly on hotel bookings. Use comparison sites and always check the small print.
“If you’re staying in a hotel over the weekend, Saturday nights are often the most expensive. So making your ‘weekend’ Sunday and Monday can have a dramatic effect on prices.”
As a solo traveller, Connor often pays a single supplement, so she searches for the best deals.
“Black Friday [in November] can be good for discounts and some companies remove the single supplement, or the prices are so low it wipes it out,” she says.
But be warned, you need to book early as no single supplement offers are in high demand. Saga Holidays No Single Supplements often sell out up to a year in advance at their most popular hotels.
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