Aruba's a great place for wise and seasoned travelers. In fact, a hefty portion of the island's guests, especially during the high season, are people over 50. If you're looking for a quiet environment with a more mature clientele, think about renting a unit in a timeshare. Most large hotels have plenty of seniors, too. If you're revolted by the idea of being segregated from the youngsters, fear not: No resort, hotel, or timeshare caters to one type of person only. Most feature a nice mix of families and couples of all ages.

Mention your age when you begin planning your trip; many hotels and most airlines and cruise lines offer senior discounts. And don't hesitate to ask for discounts after you're on the island. Just be sure to have some kind of ID, such as a driver's license, especially if no one believes you're a day over 45.

Members of the AARP, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 (tel. 888/OUR-AARP; www.aarp.org), get discounts on hotels, airfares, and car rentals. Grand Circle Travel (tel. 800/959-0405; www.gct.com) is one of hundreds of travel agencies that specialize in vacations for seniors.