Dear Savvy Senior,

My husband and I are both in our late 50’s and would like to start doing some traveling when we retire in a few years. We have been looking into some different travel groups but are feeling a little overwhelmed with all the options. Can you recommend some good travel companies that cater to retirees on a budget? Also, any travel discount tips you could pass on would be helpful too.

Unsavvy Travelers

Dear Unsavvy, It’s estimated that Americans over age 50, account for nearly 80 percent of all leisure travel spending. Retirees today travel more often, go farther, and stay longer than people in any other age group. As a result, they’re offered an enormous and sometimes confusing array of travel options and discounts to choose from. Here are some tips that can help.

Travel Companies

There are many travel companies that cater their business to the rapidly growing 50-plus population. Depending on where you want to go, what you want to do and how much you want to spend, there’s a variety of companies that can satisfy your needs. Here are some good ones to consider:

• Elderhostel: This is a great place to start. Elderhostel is the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and over and their travel mates of any age. They offer thousands of affordable programs, hosted by educational and cultural institutions in all 50 states and 90 countries. www. elderhostel.org, 877-426-8056.

• Grand Circle Travel: The nation’s largest senior tour operator offers international vacations exclusively for people age 50 or over. www.gct.com, 800-959-0405.

• 50plus Expeditions: Specializes in adventure travel all over the world, from hiking in the Austrian Alps to exploring in Costa Rica. www.50plusexpeditions.com, 866-318 5050.

• Interhostel: Offers adults over age 50 a wide selection of learning and travel programs all over the world hosted by universities or other educational institutions. www.learn.unh.edulinterhostel, 800-733-9753.

• Overseas Adventure Travel: Offers adventurous trips to unusual destinations. Groups are limited to 16 participants over age 50. www.oattravel.com 800-493-6824.

• Grandtravel: Specializes in intergenerational vacations for grandparents and their grandchildren, ages 7 to 17. www.grandtrvl com, 800-247-7651.

• Connecting Solo Travel Network: A travel club that offers tips and advice for solo travelers and information on many single-friendly tours, cruises and other vacation adventures. www.cstn.org, 800-557-1757.