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Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50, 2009-2010 Edition

By Joan Rattner Heilman

The tell-all bargain guide for 50+ travelers has more than 1 million copies in print

"Great trips for the over-50 - but not over the hill - crowd." Chicago Tribune

"A fantastic piece of research." New York Times

"The best single source of great deals for seniors." Selling to Seniors

"Those who fit the bill will find this trove of packages, discounts, and special tours invaluable." Travel and Leisure

The Secret is Out: You can travel, AND put away money for retirement.

Even in this rotten economy, you can still see the world and come back to your cash stash - but only if you're part of the 50-and-older travel set. Then you're entitled to literally dozens of travel discounts that can get you around the globe and back, without breaking the bank.

Joan Rattner Heilman, a leading authority on the extensive world of senior travelers, happily informs you that age has its privileges in Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50, 2009-2010 Edition (McGraw-Hill; January, 2009).

Heilman will give you the skinny on everything from upgrades and discounts for nearly every hotel nationwide, to breaks on things like greens fees, lift tickets, car rentals, shopping, school tuition, sporting adventures, and train travel.

There are pages of travel and tour operators that cater exclusively to those 50 and over. And it's not just travel discounts - you'll find ways to take a bite out of your bill at participating restaurants, health food stores, and supermarkets, too.

Heilman, a well-versed member of the 50+ group, knows the tricks of the trade. Her cardinal rules of are:

• Never plunk down your plastic for anything without asking about the availability of a senior discount first. Most vendors will not voluntarily disclose information about price breaks unless they're prompted - so it always pays to inquire.

• Be sure to ask about the discounts before you pay, order, or make a reservation, not when you've arrived or are settling the bill.

• Be sure to carry proof of your age with you, whether it's a membership card in an over-50 organization, or an ID with your date of birth.

• Use the internet to check on rates and discounts that are available to you.

 Here are some updated travel tips from the new edition:

• If you're planning on traveling abroad, always check with your destination's tourist office to see if there are any senior discounts or travel passes you may be entitled to.

• Many cruise lines offer senior discounts on top of their already reduced pricing - and some directly market to the 50+ crowd. The book features these companies and their contact information.

• An America the Beautiful Pass costs $10 but lasts a lifetime, and gets those 62 and older free admission to every national park in America.

Make your age pay off by using these unbelievably great deals for great adventures!

About the Author:

Joan Rattner Heilman is the author of more than a dozen books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. An experienced traveler in her prime herself, she's a savvy consumer who can spot a good deal and is always game for a great adventure. She lives in New York State.

Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50, 2009-2010 Edition by Joan Rattner Heilman; McGraw-Hill, January, 2009; Paperback, $16.95; ISBN-10 0-07-159884-7; ISBN-13 978-0-07-159884-2.

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