If you plan on traveling to different major metropolitan areas this spring or summer for your senior trip, don’t forget about some of the great senior transportation deals available! Many large cities offer senior travel deals for their public transportation systems. Her e are just a few of them, along with some travel advice to keep in mind when purchasing these transportation discounts.

• Minimum age for qualifying for these senior travel discounts is generally 65 (a photo ID along with a Medicare card are the more popular forms of identification asked for)
• Systems can sell one-way passes, one-day, or multi-day and weekly passes. Always ask when purchasing your deal to see which best fits your travel needs
• Most bus systems require some sort of stored value fare card or exact change so make sure you have cash on your when using public transportation

1. Philadelphia – free subway and light rail; $1 rail in-state; 50 cents off for senior trips into Delaware or New Jersey
2. Pittsburg – free subway; light rail and bus
3. Baltimore - $1.20 all-day pass on light rail, subway or bus; half fare on MARC regional train
4. Cleveland - $2.50 all-day pass on rail, light rail and bus
5. Dallas - $2 all-day pass on light rail, bus, or heavy rail to Ft. Worth
6. Denver - $2.50 regional per ride on light rail and bus
7. Honolulu - $1 for bus
8. Minneapolis – 75 cents per rideat non-rush hours on light rail and bus; 1/3 off the regular fare on weekends on the heavy rail
9. New York City - $1.25 per ride on bus and subway; bus discount with special ID; varying discounts on heavy rail
10. Orlando - $2.25 all-day pass on bus

If you’re looking to go on a senior trip within the US there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration; one that can sometimes get overlooked is the safety of senior transportation. The Natural Resources Defence Council, or NRDC, created the Smarter Cities project which has released a transportation study identifying metropolitan regions with the nation’s leading transportation policies and practices. The study, created in collaboration with the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), compares and profiles

• U.S. regions based on public transit availability
• Use and cost
• Household automobile ownership and use
• Innovative, sustainable transportation programs

• Boston (In downtown Boston, around 65% of trips during peak hours are non-motorized due in large part to the city’s Complete Streets initiative, launched in 2009, to create streets that integrate pedestrians, cyclists and public transit with motorists)
• Chicago
• Philadelphia (Philadelphia has selectively expanded the city’s public transit system in certain neighborhoods to increase residents’ access to fresh food)
• Portland
• Oregon
• New York
• San Francisco
• Washington, D.C. (The Capital Bikeshare program has made more than 1,100 bikes available for pick up at solar-powered docking stations throughout the city and Arlington County)

Finding the cleanest, safest and most senior-friendly senior transportation can be a challenge when trying to find the perfect retirement destination. There are plenty of problems that come from flying to your destination, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. Here are a few ways to make senior air travel more agreeable. Use these tips and your flight could be the best part of your trip (although we thoroughly hope not!).

Research where you’ll sit

Block the noise

Bring your own water

With most airlines now charging to check a second piece of luggage—and some charging for the first—smart packing of carry-on luggage can be a real money saver. But that doesn’t necessarily mean packing more; it’s packing better, says Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler. Her travel advice:

• Shoes take the most luggage room, so fewer is better. Even for long trips, men can usually get by with packing one pair (and wearing another); women should pack only two, not counting flip-flops. Put rolled socks and underwear inside shoes.
• A merino wool sweater packs smaller than a sweatshirt; microfiber slacks pack smaller than jeans. Fabrics that are blends—cotton mixed with polyester or high-tech synthetics such as polyester microfiber—are more wrinkle-proof. “Wicking” fabrics can be washed in the hotel bathroom sink and dry overnight.
• When packing, “roll” knits and casual clothing and stack; dress shirts and woven fabrics should be packed flat, then layered with dry-cleaning bags or tissue paper between them.
• Avoid wasting space (and Transportation Security Administration hassles) by buying toiletries at your destination. To avoid the three-ounce limit, opt for nonliquid items—stick deodorant, powder makeup, packets (not bottles) of shampoo.
• Airline charges for checked luggage continue to change, so call your airline or visit its website prior to departure.

Visiting other countries is a great experience regardless of whether or not you are traveling solo or with a group; it can also be expensive, especially if you are traveling from the other side of the globe. When traveling to a foreign country, the easiest senior transportation is ideally driving a car. There are plenty of companies that help find an affordable senior car rental, but how to do you find the best options? #1 - Research If this is your first trip abroad it is probably best to research what their driving legislations are before you head over. There are many tourism websites available with all of this information available with links to websites and telephone numbers, if you would prefer to speak to someone directly over the telephone. #2 – When to Book It is better to book your vehicle in advance before arriving in other. Compare the prices, travel packages and insurance policies of different companies prior to agreeing to book a car as you may miss out on an amazing deal. There are usually various discounts for those who arrange their vehicle in advance and sometimes there are additional special offers for those who book online. #3 – Know where to pick it up! When you arrive in foreign countries, make sure you know where your automobile keys will be waiting.. Bring all of your booking details along with you and double check the contract that you have been provided with is correct before driving off in the rental car.