Military discounts?
 

Does anyone know if a military discount is still offered in the States, at hotels especially?

When my husband was in the Air Force, we'd often get a discount.

I wonder if Veterans can still get a military discount? (They should!) Anyone got the 4-1-1?
:)>-

We often do with our retired ID. Most of the time we have had to show our ID.

I do the same thing as mms. The retired (blue) ID is almost always good for the govt. rate. Not sure about veterans who are not military retirees. That might be more difficult.

Thank you. The distinction between retired and honorably discharged is probably the key. I'll see what I can find out. Unless someone else knows?
:)>-

Retired military have ID cards. Non-retired veterans do not.

Most of the hotels/motels that give a military discount give the same discount as you would get with AAA, AARP etc. No better than the many "discounts" offered by the various auto clubs or organizations. I am retired also and some places encountered will only give a discount to active duty and family. We will often just ask, "can you give any kind of discount", the answer is most often yes. I always go with the idea 'It never hurts to ask'.

Most hotels and rental car agencies give discounts for military/gov't employees. But ask what they will want at check-in. Some require papers to show you are on official business and not just travelling for pleasure....I noticed this in Columbia, SC...first time I ever encountered it.

I've never considered using my retired military ID at a civilian lodging. AARP works just fine, and the discount is probably the same. Active duty, of course, deserve and should get the best rates.

It work only for military retirees. If they gave a discount to all vets it would cover a massive portion go of the population - and they're have to raise hotel rates across the board.

IME, military discounts are offered only to those who are active duty or retired and have the ID to prove it. Occasionally a business will run some sort of special that provides a discount to veterans but I have no idea how one substantiates a claim to be a veteran.
There is a program marketed as Veterans Advantage that purports to provide discounts, but their is a fee. When I looked at it it did not seem to be a good deal.

rizzo - federal employees techincally do not get discounts, rather book at a federal rate. The maximum rate in a given location rate is established by the GSA, and it is available only when traveling on government business, not for personal travel.

I don't know if this info is helpful to you but this hotel on Oahu is specifically for families of the military:
http://tinyurl.com/6x99h7

The size of military discounts compared to others such as "senior" AARP, AAA, etc. VARIES from hotel chain to hotel chain..sometimes it is better than the others, sometimes less, sometimes equal.

The Hale Koa referenced above is for retirees, Active Duty folks, as well as DOD civilians.