The Fine Print: Yes, Growing Older Does Have a Silver Lining

Outside of trust-fund kids, no group has more leisure time than older folks-and the travel industry is well aware of it. Hotels, tours, airlines, and attractions target seniors with special offers, which unfortunately often turn out to be discounts in name only. The only way to figure out if you're getting a deal is to crunch the numbers. We've tried to help by doing some of the math for you.

Airfare The days when seniors received a flat 10 percent off on most flights are long gone, but there still are special offers available. On Southwest Airlines, travelers 65 and up never have to pay more than $129 each way (plus taxes and fees). What's more, the carrier's senior fares are totally refundable without penalty, and no advance purchase or minimum stay is required. One hang-up is that Southwest limits the number of senior tickets per ...