Pictures of Danny and Renae from the Carillion show case themselves in their travel destination, and one with their dogs on the couch

From Alaska to Waikiki: Budget Travel Tips From Two Carillon Explorers

January 5, 2026 | Carillon Residents, Senior Living

When Danny and Renae Hargrove talk about retirement, they treat it like a green light, not a slowdown sign. They’re booked, packed and ready to go, oftentimes in what their grandkids coined their “robot car.”

“It practically drives itself and makes traveling so much more relaxing.” Danny said. “I can look out the window, sightsee a little and the silly thing reminds me to look forward every five seconds.”

For this globe-trotting couple, the best part of retirement is more time to explore, more chances to snag a great deal and a cottage at Carillon Senior Living they never have to worry about while they’re gone.

Since moving in a little over a year ago, the Hargroves have become the kind of neighbors everyone wants: warm, funny and full of practical travel wisdom. If you’re curious about vacations for seniors on a budget, senior travel discounts, or what it really looks like to live a lock-and-leave lifestyle, Danny and Renae have plenty to share.

The House Hunt That Led Somewhere Better

Danny and Renae have known each other for more than 50 years as family friends. After each of them lost a spouse, their longtime friendship turned into something more, and they’ve now been married for 10 years.

Before moving to Carillon, the couple lived in Granbury and were trying to relocate closer to their son and grandkids. They sold their house, moved out, parked their RV in Lubbock, and started touring homes. They looked at seven houses in one day. After the last one, Renae turned to Danny and said, “I don’t want to do this.”

They love to socialize and realized that in a new house at their age, they might never even meet their neighbors. That’s when Carillon came back to Danny. Years earlier, he’d put their names on a mailing list to receive occasional emails about events. He dug one up and they stopped by.

Their sales counselor encouraged them to walk around, and the residents they met in the halls kept saying, “Oh, you’ll love it here.” None of it felt staged, Danny said. Two days later, they signed their contract. “Honestly, it was almost a fluke, but it turned out to be exactly what we needed,” he said. “We love it here; The only thing is we wish we’d moved in 10 years earlier.”

Cruise Lovers, Road Trippers and Social Butterflies

Danny’s travel history stretches back decades. He worked in the oil industry around the world, lived in Ecuador, and was invited by close friends to take a cruise to Alaska more than 20 years ago.

“We boarded in Vancouver, sailed up and back and fell in love with it. That kicked off everything.” He’s now cruised to Alaska seven times. When Danny and Renae married, he wanted to share that high seas experience with her.

“I absolutely loved it,” Renae said. “It’s like being taken care of. The only bad thing is you gain weight because the food is so good.” The couple has now enjoyed eight cruises together, often two or three a year.

One of their most memorable and lengthy trips was a couple months ago. They flew into Honolulu, spent a week in a hotel, rented a car and explored the island. Then they boarded a cruise ship, visited five islands, stayed on the same ship as it headed to Alaska, sailed the Inside Passage and finished in Vancouver. They were gone 22 days, with 16 of those on the ship and they loved every minute of it.

“Alaska is gorgeous,” Renae said. “I think you could stick a popsicle stick in the ground and grow a flower.”

Lock-and-Leave Lifestyle Makes Travel a Breeze

One of the biggest reasons the Hargroves love Carillon is that it’s a lock-and-leave community, so they can travel on a whim with peace of mind. “We’ve never locked our door in the past year. Even when we were gone a month,” Danny said.

They trust Carillon’s 24/7 security, and the pet-sitting service was the clincher. Team members stop by their cottage twice a day to feed, water and walk their dogs, Georgie, their inquisitive toy poodle (named after Curious George), and Cappy, their rescue “hero dog.”

Once, while they were on a cruise, a neighbor heard barking and mentioned it to security. The team checked the yard, came inside with permission, made sure everything was fine and then called Danny and Renae just to put their minds at ease.

“That’s why we’re so comfortable cruising,” Danny said. “We know our dogs are taken care of.” Instead of staying at a boarding facility, they get to stay home, coming and going through their doggy door while Danny and Renae roam the world.

Travel More, Spend Less: Danny and Renae’s Senior Travel Budget Tips

Don’t Underestimate Timeshare Presentations. Danny recounted a Branson trip: “They offered us four free nights if we’d listen to a timeshare pitch. You’ve got to have thick skin. Go in convinced not to buy.” Later, the timeshare company called again. “They asked, ‘Want to go to Hawaii?’ I said, ‘What you got?’ They offered six free nights in Waikiki if we listened to their spiel. I said, ‘Let’s get after it!’”
Relocation and Last-Minute Cruises = Massive Savings. Danny also recommends watching for repositioning and last-minute cruise deals. When cruise lines move ships seasonally, those itineraries can cost far less than standard routes. He and Renae once booked a Hawaii-to-Alaska sailing that was $5,000 cheaper than cruising the islands alone, and scored a penthouse suite for about what they’d normally pay for a balcony.

He’s also had luck with late discounts. He received an email from Princess (the couple’s go-to cruise line) about a ship sailing from Galveston, just six weeks away. As departure gets closer, cruise lines often drop prices to fill remaining cabins, making it a great time to book. Tip: Check out Vacations to Go.

Know Which Airlines Offer Senior Discounts. Not all do, but Danny has found a different trick: fly out of a smaller airport when possible. He once rebooked their New York flights out of Lubbock instead of Dallas. “It was about $600 cheaper each. They want to keep regional airports busy.” He also suggests booking flights “way in advance” for cheaper fares.
Pack Smart and Pack Early. Renae said one of their best affordable packing “hacks” is using a local laundry service to fold their clothes before a trip. When she wasn’t feeling well before their recent Hawaii cruise, Danny took their clothes in, and the laundry folded everything so neatly that she could just lay them in the suitcase. Bonus: When they unpacked on the ship, there wasn’t a wrinkle in sight.

Her other big lesson: don’t wait until the night before. They start packing a few days ahead, keep a checklist, and leave the suitcases open in a spare room so they can add things as they remember them.

Travel While You Still Can. Renae often tells neighbors, “Yes, we travel a lot, but while we still can! And many people here say they’re glad they traveled when they had the chance.” Danny agrees, especially for older adults who worry about health or mobility. In their experience, cruise ships offer solid medical support, and airports and cruise lines make travel with a cane or wheelchair easier, with early boarding and extra assistance.
Consider Booking Through Travelocity. Danny likes booking excursions through Travelocity because you can often cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. But he saves it for easy, close-to-port outings. If an independently booked tour runs late and you miss the ship, you’re on your own, while ship-booked excursions usually come with help getting you back on board or to the next port.

Other Budget Boosters Worth Knowing

If you’re wondering, “what discounts do I get when I turn 55?” the answer is: quite a few, especially on lodging and attractions. The trick is that many senior discounts age 55 aren’t loudly advertised, so it pays to ask everywhere—hotels, museums, tours and restaurants.

AARP: For older adults thinking about a longer-term retirement travel budget, AARP is an easy way to unlock senior travel discounts with one membership.
Hotels With Senior Citizen Discounts: Many major chains offer 55+ rates. When booking, look for “Senior,” “55+,” or “AARP” pricing, then compare it to any sale or member rate. Sometimes the promo is lower.
Flights: Airline senior fares are less common than they used to be, and they vary by route and timing. Your best move is to check the airline’s site and, if needed, call to ask what’s available.
Trains: If you’d rather not drive as much, Amtrak gives travelers 65+ a 10% discount on most fares.
Parks: If you’re 62+, the America the Beautiful Senior Pass is $20/year or $80 lifetime for national parks and federal lands. In Texas, the Texas State Parks Pass ($70) can quickly pay off with a year of day-use entry for you and your same-vehicle guests.
Other tips: The Senior List is a helpful resource that tracks “senior discounts age 55” across different categories. If your retirement travel budget is limited, Travel Texas offers ideas.

More Miles, More Memories

Next up, the Hargroves are headed to Washington, D.C., in their robot car to catch the spring blossoms, along with more time with family in Austin and the Dallas–Fort Worth area. They’re also hoping to add river cruises to their list, both in the U.S. and in Europe, especially in Holland, where Danny once lived.

Danny and Renae are proof that retirement can be your most adventurous chapter yet.

No matter where they’re headed next, one thing stays the same: Carillon is the home base they’re happy to return to, where their dogs are safe, neighbors feel like friends, and the lifestyle makes adventure easy.