There are a great many services and discounts available to military Servicemembers and their families. Simply having a military ID gives you access to benefits and services that are available on any given armed forces or military installation. But there are a lot of opportunities not generally known for military families to save money, some of these many are aware of and some of them most people don’t know about. Here are some ideas:
Entertainment and Travel- There are several ways that having a military ID or being a military family member can pay off when you vacation. Here are some different ways and things you can remember- Temporary Housing- Many military facilities have temporary housing or housing that you can access while traveling. Many times it is available for less than 100 dollars a night and can also feature rooms with kitchen facilities, which can further save you money. Its best to call ahead for a reservation and to see if vacancies exist.
ITT Information- larger military facilities have some version of the ticket, information and tours office. Military families qualify for substantial discounts on amusement parks, zoos, museums, and other attractions. Its good to look on the Internet to find out what is available in the area where you will be traveling. Sometimes there are even discounted tickets available for concerts, shows or other events.
Space A Travel- Military personnel and their families qualify for seats on military aircraft that are left over, or “space available.” This is a great way to explore and travel both domestically and internationally, but you have to have some flexibility on time, and be patient. But if you have flexibility, you can travel long distances for next to nothing, it’s a great benefit to many families. Armed Forces Rec. Centers- These are literally vacation destinations that are reserved exclusively for military Servicemembers and their families. They are service resorts managed by the United States Army to provide affordable vacation opportunities to military families. There are Armed Forces Recreation centers in Korea, Germany, Florida and Hawaii.
These facilities are very affordable and a great benefit to vacationing Servicemembers and their families.
Armed Forces Vacation Club- Many of the larger amusement parks have free admission or deeply discounted admission for Servicemembers and their families. Sometimes this is on a specific day, or at other times. Your base ITT ticket officer will have more information.
Regarding finding the best deals and discounts, the most important thing is to ask.
