Senior discounts

It depends. Some places offer discounts for people over age x (museums, etc). Other “senior citizen” discounts are only for “citizens” so Americans do not qualify.

Thank you! I know that the US does not have a reciprocal agreement with the EU and senior discounts do not apply to US citizens. My travel partner insists she will get the discount because she is 65. She is welcome to try.

I'm over 65, and I have often received a "Rentner" (retired worker) discount in Germany. I don't think in Germany, the rentner discounts necessarily apply only to German citizens.

Now admittedly, when in German, I speak only German, unless the circumstances prevent it, but I don't think any German is fooled into thinking I am German, so as to give me a citizen's discount.

Although I am clearly a "senior", I usually don't bother with senior discounts. It's much simpler that way.

For museums and other attractions in Italy, the senior discount is generally limited to EU citizens. She should read the conditions for the reduced -price entry online before she asks for it—-it could be embarrassing to be turned down.

For trains, Trenitalia offers a Senior fare but you must first have a Carta Freccia. Do not buy tickets with theSenior fare without that Carta Freccia. Italo offers Senior fares on their trains without a membership or card, so you are safe buying that one.

When you are booking train travel they the trenitalia website, you have the option to purchase Adult or Senior. Choosing Senior gives you a slight discount (about 10%). If you apply for a CartaFreccia, you may get more significant discounts (up to 50%). But that seems to be a more complicated process.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187768-i20-k11555666-o10-CartaFreccia_if_you_are_not_from_Italy-Italy.html

I always ask at sights. Sometimes there are no residency restrictions, sometimes they give you the discount anyway. If you are using the train, the Freccecard is easy to get, easy to use, and saves a lot of money.

I believe the above post by travel4fun confuses Trenitalia and Italo. On Trenitalia, you have only the choice between Adult or Child when numbering the passengers. The “Senior” price comes up in the chart of available choices for the journey chosen. Click on the little “I” next to e word senior and it displays the conditions for the Senior fare. You cannot book it unless you have the Senior CartaFreccia. See the full terms for each fare class here:

https://www.trenitalia.com/en/html/trenitalia/Info_Tariffe_en_LeFrecce.html#SENIOR

(You may have to scroll down to find it).

Italo, on the other hand, lets you choose “Senior” when listing the passengers, and the price is not dependent upon a card or loyalty club membership. But the price may be no different than other discounts on offer.

You can get a Cartafreccia for Trenitalia as a non resident, but you can’t do it online and it must be done in advance. Last spring the process was a fairly quick few day turn around. Most recent reports show it could take a few months after you email your application in. If you have enough lead time, it is a fairly simple process of filling out a paper application, scanning it, and emailing it in.

I don’t think you will be allowed to buy senior fares without one, but I don’t know for sure since I had one when I made my purchase.

When we see a senior discount option posted, I always ask for it. I’d say it is granted at least 80% of the time. Just ask!

You might want to memorize the Italian phrases to ask for the senior discount. I always get a smile and often a discount. BTW, the qualifying age is usually 62, not 65. Another reason to ask.

Most of the concessions (discounts) I see offered are for young people, disabled people and one travel partner. Not many senior concessions, but it doesn't cost anything to ask.

Frequently discounts are available, especially at less crowded venues. You'll find the cashiers are reluctant to ask if you are old enough - as if they're afraid to break the news to you - so just ask.