Exclusive Travel Discounts for Veterans and Military Families

Family looking at a map while hiking in a National Park

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Taking the whole family on vacation can get expensive fast. Of course there are obvious costs like airfare and hotel accommodations, but there are so many day-to-day hidden costs like snacks, toiletries and daily meals that can quickly push you over your budget.

But if you're a member or veteran of the Armed Forces, chances are there are so many travel discounts and deals you haven't even heard of. Or maybe you've heard of a friend taking advantage of them, but it just seems too overwhelming to sign up for the deals for yourself.

Whether you're interested in seeing the world or checking off every spot on the National Parks list, to get you going on your next vacation and to streamline planning as simply as possible, we've rounded up the best places for veterans to save on travel deals.

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American Forces Travel

Think of American Forces Travel the same way you think of any major booking site, except here, deals are only available to veterans and their families. According to the website, you can save up to 50% on hotels, flights, car rentals and even cruises.

The standout booking here is definitely cruises. Although flights and hotel discounts will typically be around $50-$100 off on average, you can save a whopping 80% off cruise bookings. Bundle and save on a cruise vacation for the entire family. You just have to provide your social security number for veteran status verification before booking.

While American Forces Travel offers great deals, it’s still worth checking directly with your preferred airline . Many carriers provide exclusive military discounts or additional perks that may not appear on third-party sites. Here are a few airlines that offer discounts or benefits for veterans and active-duty service members:

We Salute

We Salute was formerly known as Veterans Advantage, and they're still providing major travel deals and discounts.

If you're planning a road trip, take advantage of their 25% off deals with Avis and Budget car rental services. They also offer 10% off American Airlines vacation packages, and 5% off United Airlines flights, Jet Blue and more.

However, We Salute deals extend way beyond travel. Make sure to take advantage of their 20% off deals at CVS, 30% off on Samsung computers, TVs and other electronics.

This site should definitely be one of your first stops when trying to save on anything you routinely buy.

Disney Military Salute

Did you know Disney parks offer their own military and veteran discount tickets? The key here is to bundle and save. Choose from four-, five-, or six-day park visit passes.

A six-day ticket with the park hopper option is $439, a five-day ticket with park hopper is $419, and a four-day ticket with park hopper is just $399.

Just be mindful that there are certain blackout dates for these deals. Tickets are valid from January 1, 2025 through December 19, 2025 and blackout dates are April 13, 2025 through April 26, 2025, and November 23, 2025 through November 29, 2025.

Military Cruise Deals

The best thing about booking a cruise is that you can travel to a new destination while you sleep, which virtually eliminates jet lag.

At Military Cruise Deals, you can browse by desired destination and you can even search by last-minute deals to get even more savings, that are exclusively available to military members and their families.

Many cruise lines also offer their own military and veteran benefits, and checking with them directly may help you score an even better deal. Here are some of the top cruise lines that offer discounts or perks for military personnel:

America The Beautiful Pass

If you love the outdoors and want to see parts of America that have been on your bucket list, you need to take advantage of the America the Beautiful Pass.

Normally, this annual pass is $80 per year per person, but veterans can take advantage of a free annual pass (active military) or even free lifetime pass (veterans). All you have to do is request a pass and pay the $10 processing fee online.

Plus, it even admits free parking and can cover up to three additional visitors at parks that typically charge entry fees per person. Use this pass at all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service locations and National Park Service sites, It will also cover amenity fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation sites and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites.

Brittany Leitner is a freelance journalist with over 10 years of experience in lifestyle, health, and more. She received a Digital Health Award for her reporting in 2019 as well as numerous awards for her work in poetry. She previously held positions as senior editor at Elite Daily and managing editor at The Dr. Oz Show. Follow her online @britariail.