‘Ben’s Pass’ Provides Discounts in Philadelphia

Mature travelers heading for Philadelphia, home of Ben (“A penny saved is a penny earned”) Franklin, can now get a Ben’s Pass for Senior Citizens, good for many senior discounts in and around the city.

With the pass comes a 15-page directory listing the dozens of year-round discounts on accommodations, attractions, restaurants, performing arts and transportation.

And that doesn’t count the numerous free or reduced-price admissions in Philadelphia that are available to everyone, such as the Liberty Bell Pavilion, U.S. Mint and other attractions in Independence National Historical Park.

The directory “Philadelphia--Seniors on the Go” lists 30 city and nearby hotels and inns offering discounts of 10% to 50% for mature travelers, mostly using membership in the American Association of Retired Persons (50 years or older) as the qualification guideline.

The helpful booklet does not, however, mention some hotel chains’ individual travel clubs, such as Hilton’s Senior HHonors, Days Inns’ September Days or Ramada’s 4 For 1 rate, which might provide a better rate than the basic AARP discount.

And in Philadelphia, just as in any location, the senior rate is sometimes not the lowest rate available. Always ask about weekend specials or other package plans. Frequently, these can be lower or include extras that make them a better buy.

The guide has plenty of other tips. It notes that the city’s Yellow Cab Co. has a flat rate of $1.30 per ride in its service area for those age 65 or older. This deal is somewhat offset by the notation that seniors are requested to schedule their rides in advance by calling the business office.

But SEPTA, the local public transit system, allows seniors to ride free Monday through Friday during off hours (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and after 6:30 p.m.) and all day on weekends.

You can pick up your Ben’s Pass and brochure at the Philadelphia Visitors Center, 16th and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, or contact to the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1515 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, (215) 636-1666.

Also on the East Coast, the Williamsburg-Jamestown-Yorktown area in Virginia repeats its popular “September is for Seniors” program next month.

A new brochure lists more than 50 hotels, motels and inns offering an average 20% off for mature travelers. Four area campgrounds also offer the senior discount, as do several bed and breakfast inns and guest homes.

There are many more discounts and special savings forrestaurants, shops and area attractions. One of the more unusual is at Busch Gardens The Old Country. All month, grandchildren (18 and under) accompanying grandparents also get the senior citizen discount at the theme park.

The Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau sets age 50 and over for its senior promotion and notes that many outstanding events are scheduled for September, in addition to the regular attractions in the area.

For more information and the free September seniors brochure, write to the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box GB, Dept. SS, Williamsburg, Va. 23187.

Insight International Tours is a British wholesale tour company that was an early leader in the mature travel field but has since broadened its age appeal.

The company still has much to offer the mature traveler looking for on-your-own European vacations since it offers the more leisurely pace of travel that most seniors prefer.

It recently added a number of city-stay one-week packages now available in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Athens. They can also be combined in a 10-day format for London-Paris or London-Amsterdam. Or 14-day stays of London-Paris-Amsterdam and London-Paris-Rome.

Prices range from $145 for one week, one city, $555 for double-city stays and $975 for three cities. That includes accommodations, sightseeing and, with multi-city stays, air transfers between cities.

The new program is somewhat similar to that offered by AARP Travel Service and other tour wholesalers. To compare the various types of independent European travel available, see your travel agent for Insight’s City-Stay program. Or call (800) 582-8380.