You called in your room request long in advance, gave your credit card information and the hotel confirmed by email a guaranteed reservation number. But, after a long, tiring flight, you arrive and the front desk clerk tells you there’s no room for you. The lame excuses start. The hotel’s all booked up solid, and many people who were supposed to check out decided to stay another night. So sorry. However, he can get you a room at a hotel nearby. Of course, the rate is a bit higher ... etc ... etc.

When most senior travelers today were young, the Soviet Union was our enemy. It threatened to blow us all to hell with atomic bombs, unless of course, we wiped them out first. Those of us who did wartime duty in Korea and/or Vietnam in the 50s, 60s and 70s, were familiar with Russian weapons. They were used to shoot down our planes and kill our GIs. In those days of the Cold War, not many of us had any wish to visit Russia.

With travel costs dropping way down from their impossible heights during the past several years, now’s a great time for savvy seniors to do some homework. Turn on your computer and phone to get the very best possible bargains for springtime getaways. Forget list price, rack price, posted price, Vincent Price, deep discounts and last-minute deals. Go in with eyes and ears open for bargains and grab ‘em while they last.

If so, sign up with Elderhostel’s Intergenerational Ballooning program. In case you’ve never heard of that phrase, here’s your chance to find out, and then have a heck of a time living it with someone very young and extra special to you.