In the spring of 2022, it seemed like everyone was hopping on a plane. (Others called it “revenge travel.” I just called it “happy to be out of the house.”) A friend whom I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic and I decided to spend a weekend in Charleston. We wanted to eat our way through the city (ice cream pictured here), see the ocean, take some architecture tours, and catch up and hang out.

Everyone else had the same idea at the same time. Azaleas were in bloom. Rental cars were scarce, and hotels were overbooked. After being surprised by rates that were out of our budget, I logged in to AARP’s Travel Center and found a deal at Emeline, a design-forward boutique hotel in Charleston’s historic district. I snagged a car rental, too. They were both such a bargain, I double-checked that they were for real.

I hesitated to tell my friend how I booked the room—I didn’t want her to think we were “old” by getting help from AARP. But she couldn’t deny it: Our South Carolina getaway weekend was saved. Read article