Military Veteran Discounts

My husband is retired from the USMC and sometimes we forget that there are travel discounts for active military or veterans. Getting into the habit of asking takes getting used to but it’s been worth it! I think it’s really important that those who sacrificed for our country get every advantage they have coming to them, so I thought I’d put together a list of military discounts I’ve found available.

I also like to use my own images in my blog posts so enjoy some pics of my hubby from his Marine Corps days.

It’s important to note that we have military ID cards. It’s highly recommended that you find out where your nearest location is that can provide one and carry it, as some places will require one. If you have other military discounts that you’ve found, feel free to add them in the comments so we can all take advantage!

1. National Parks Lifetime Access Pass – veterans with a service connected disability rating are eligible for this pass – it provides lifetime free access to our national parks for the veteran and any other vehicle occupants. There are additional discounts on some services inside the parks, like camping, where available. You need to check at each park. Click on the pic for more info.

2. Hotel Discounts – anytime you book a hotel, instead of using the app, call the front desk and ask if they have a military discount. Some do, some don’t and some only have a limited amount they can give out per night but we’ve saved hundreds of dollars over the years just by asking.

3. Base Lodging – if you are traveling to an area that has a base, look to see if they have base lodging. It’s usually much cheaper than a hotel or Airbnb. We have stayed in the cabins at Camp Lejeune, NC many times and they are literally across a dune from the ocean. It’s been a while, but when we used them, it was $86 for a week! They had one bedroom, a loft, a small bathroom, a kitchenette, living room and a grilling area outside. You might have to clean them yourself before you leave but for that price, it’s a steal!

4. Groceries – whether traveling or at home, a lot of grocery stores now offer a military discount. We save 5% at our two most-frequented local grocery stores. And when traveling and buying groceries on your trip, be sure to ask. It adds up!

5. Rental Cars – we take a lot of road trips and usually use our own car so I haven’t taken advantage of this one, but I just Googled it to see the options and Avis, Budget and Alamo participate in programs that provide up to 25% off base rates to active duty military and veterans (looks like you have to pay to participate in the discount program, the Veteran’s Advantage, #8 below). One may be available at other car rental companies, but information wasn’t as readily available, so be sure to ask. That’s a pretty significant discount.

6. Airlines – many airlines will offer discounts or free luggage fees for active duty and veterans but for most, you have to call and ask. You will just have to weigh the time factor against the discount and determine if it’s worth it.

7. Rail and Bus – Amtrak offers a 10% discount to active duty military and participates in the Veteran’s Advantage program also, so Veterans can get 15% off through that.. Greyhound offers a 10% discount to active duty and veterans.

8. Veteran’s Advantage – I just discovered this program. It isn’t free but based on your level of service and when you served, you can try it for a small fee, pay month-to-month or pay for a year. Based on my husband’s status, it was $60 for the year. It looks like this is the program the rental cars participate in. There are also lots of participants outside of travel – Lenovo, local deals, 7 Eleven, Bark, etc. Depending on your needs, this might be a good option for you. I’m not affiliated in any way but thought it was interesting, so I wanted to share the info.

9. Verizon Discounts – Verizon offers monthly service discounts as well as up to 25% off select accessories. This is pretty incredible! You will definitely need your cell phone and data when traveling.

10. Company List – I found this list of companies that offer discounts, it would be handy to bookmark.

11. Restaurants, Retail Shopping, Amusement Parks, All-Inclusive Resorts – these are lumped together because there are too many to list. The bottom line is, there are numerous places that offer discounts to active duty and veterans, you just have to ask. You may have to show ID and some may only participate by location. But the savings can really add up!

I hope this was helpful and you’ll be able to take advantage of some of these and save some of your hard-earned moolah. I’d love to know if there are others that I missed!

If you need help planning some national park adventures, check out these posts: