Budget Travel - AAA worth it?

The rate to join our local AAA (myself + wife) is $100. This is kind of expensive just to have roadside assistance (which we hopefully won't use).

I've heard many hotels offer AAA discounts. Is this worth it? Also, if you use your AAA discount, does this interfere with earning points for hotel rewards programs?

Thanks much.

Also, I'm a first time poster--so let me know if I posted this in the wrong place.

The hotel and car rental discounts, to me, make it worth it. It's probably been five years since we have had to use their road service (which even there, one tow and you have more than paid for the membership), but join year after year because of the discounts, the free passport pictures, etc

You get full points and credit with the hotels.

To see if it's worth it for you, look at your hotel bookings, your rental bookings, and price them out with and without the discount. If the savings are more than the cost of the membership it's worth it. If not, it's not worth it for you.

Depends.

If you travel enough
and
Don't have access to some other discount, such as Government or AARP

Just might be worth it.
Run some phantom reservations and check out the difference.

Also, I'm a first time poster--so let me know if I posted this in the wrong place.

Right place :)

Welcome to FlyerTalk

Depends.

If you travel enough and don't have access to some other discount, such as Government or AARP.

While the couple of times I used the gov't rate I wasn't asked for my gov't ID, it is supposed to be used for official travel only (mine was).

You get full points and credit with the hotels.

You indeed get full points, just fewer of them, because the rate is lower (unlike airlines points are based on $$$ and not miles).

EmailKid

The rate to join our local AAA (myself + wife) is $100. This is kind of expensive just to have roadside assistance (which we hopefully won't use).



But if you ever have to use it once, it will more than pay for itself. The few times I've needed to use it over the past 30-some years have paid for itself. In fact, I just upgraded to Premier, as they will do a 200 mile tow along with several 100 mile ones per year. Since I have to make runs to my parents house that are about 300 miles, it was a no brainer in case something happens.

Now, the discounts and such to me are a bonus.

Thankfully, I have never needed to use AAA for its primary role (roadside assitance) but it has paid for itself every year through hotel's dicounts.

I like it because I get free maps and tourbooks...

The rate to join our local AAA (myself + wife) is $100. This is kind of expensive just to have roadside assistance (which we hopefully won't use).

I've heard many hotels offer AAA discounts. Is this worth it? Also, if you use your AAA discount, does this interfere with earning points for hotel rewards programs?


I like it for the hotel discounts, but also was very glad last year when I was too tired a couple of times and locked my keys in the car.

The hotel programs I use still give points for AAA rates - a few less because of the discount, of course.

I have RARELY found the AAA discount to be the lowest available rate - it is usually higher than the AARP rate.

It does save you a couple of dollars at some of the attractions.

Having said that, I cannot count the number of times that I have been stranded out in remote areas late at night to have a AAA tow truck assisting me in changing a tire, towing my vehicle, or the like. Generally, that service has been in an hour or less.

In fairness, I have not used the emergency road service since I have taken the GM and Ford vehicles out of my fleet, but that is another discussion.

I have RARELY found the AAA discount to be the lowest available rate - it is usually higher than the AARP rate.

Not all of us are members of AARP ;)

Back when traveling was part of my work some of my coworkers found that Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn would give AAA discounts. Most of us didn't qualify for AARP.

I have roadside emergency as part of insurance, so no AAA discounts for me. OTOH, I collected more points for my hotel stays :D

EmailKid, missing life on the road

Not all of us are members of AARP ;)



We'll just wait till you change your handle to EmailGrouchyOldMan...

:D

We'll just wait till you change your handle to EmailGrouchyOldMan...

:D

I'm working on it :eek:

EmailKid

Frankly my AAA memberships is one of the few bills I don't complain about paying each year. One changed tire, one tow, one absentminded key incident, and it's already paid for. I definitely love the maps, tourguides, free travel agent perks as well. The discounts sometimes don't save you too much.

Honestly, if you don't want to spend the $100 for both you and your spouse, try it for a year, just one of you. My membership dues are a little under $50, yearly. Give it a try and if you feel like you're not benefiting from it and getting your money's worth, don't renew when your membership comes up.

I personally don't think it's worth it. The discounts hotels and car rental companies will give you are available through other means (sometimes just by asking), and the maps and trip guides are not very useful now that most people have internet access. I guess if you drive an old clunker that's constantly breaking down then it may be worth it, but if you need one roadside assistance call every few years or so then it's probably better to just pay for the service yourself than get an AAA membership.

I would definitely have AAA or some other roadside assistance program if taking a cross-country road trip or something like that. But if you just drive mostly in your area, then towing is cheap and help is nearby, so there's no point.

I like to drive my car in the snow when it shouldn't be. I live way outside of town with a very long driveway, and drive a genesis coupe in NW Ohio winters. AAA will yank me out my driveway about once every second or third year. Couple that with hotel discounts of a few bucks, discount movie tickets, and the occasional, I've run over yet another nail, screw, glass, etc and have a flat tire that I am unwilling to change and you can see that I have no issues paying the bill.

1. Hotel discount accross "almost all" hotel chains
2. Rental car discount (free additional driver for Hertz)
3. I found "many places" have AAA discount, sometime you may just have to "ask".
4. USA local Maps

If you travel a lot, AAA is worth more than membership fee even "no roadside assistance".

I live in Manhattan so I don't need a car, but I have been a AAA member for years. Between the hertz rental car discounts and starwood hotel discounts (especially at airport locations for some reason) it's very much worth it to me. You also get discounts around the world at museums and attractions - I pretty much always ask as you never know. Like others have said, if you travel with any frequency it will pay for itself, and that doesn't even cover the fact that if you ever need a tow it's there.

Wait until they run a special on two for one or similar.

I can't find how much I paid but was able to add my daughter for free which was a relief and peace of mind for me as she is in college in NH mountains and does have her SUV there but I still worry about her. Check the internet...

Also AAA has discount programs where if you use for online and other purchases you can earn dollars off your next years membership or points towards rewards. I think this may depend on which 'club' you join as they do have regional areas and each seem to offer slightly different programs.

I don't remember when the last time I needed a tow or assistance but just used it to save 20% on a rental truck reservation, and it steered me to a lesser known but national company that was already exactly half off the other big names in moving trucks.

My luck would be the year I don't get membership is the year my car starts to break down!

I love their tour books, maps, triptiks, etc...

So to me, yes AAA is a value well worth the money.

Here is a list of some discounts but I am sure not a complete listing. I did a quick search of "AAA membership discount code"

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/aaa.com

Never realized how much we saved using AAA until we let it lapse.

Definitely pays for itself.

I think so.

I just booked two three-day weekend rental car reservations through Hertz. I have USAA so I generally get good rates through that. I rebooked the reservations through the AAA.com/hertz website, and got myself an extra $20 off each reservation. Not an insubstantial savings.

not a bad perk

I think it's worth it for the peace of mind + the occasional tow or jump.

If somehow I get stranded - unexpected snow storm or I'm out of town and miles from anywhere or it's at night and I just happened to break down somewhere that doesn't feel quite safe - in any of these situations, I like the peace of mind of knowing I have a number to call and someone will be on the way. Sometimes I'm too far away to call family/friends, sometimes there's just no one close by who could help (my nonagenarian uncle isn't coming out in a blizzard to give me a tow!)

Totally worth it.

Price out one 100-mile tow in the middle of nowhere and you'll see why. I use the discounts occasionally, but having roadside assistance that shows up quickly and is already paid for is worth it. I can change a tire in five minutes and always carry jumper cables in the car, but it's still worth it to me when it's an issue I can't fix on the road--AAA will put the car in my driveway so I can deal with it vs. just taking it to the nearest shop.

Another advantage of AAA I've found is that their provider network is HUGE so they respond more quickly and are more likely to send the appropriate equipment than anyone else I've had to deal with.

Worth noting: if you can claim residence in more than one place, check the local AAA affiliates for each--especially above the basic level, prices and benefits vary somewhat (e.g. CSAA for NorCal covers motorcycles for free on Plus or Premier whereas Auto Club in SoCal charges extra)

I may have missed it if someone mentioned this, but the benefits "travel" with the member - in other words, if you are driving or riding in a car not your own, you are still entitled to your benefits.

I've had two calls in five years, one for a dead battery, and another when I broke the master key (ignition & doors) inside the glove box lock (the AAA locksmith pulled the broken piece out with a tweezers, put it together with the other piece, and was able to build a new key in about 20 minutes - the key he built is the one I still have on my keyring).

Regarding AAA rates at hotels, getting points & stay credits with AAA rates is not a problem (some chains, like Hyatt, like to play games with making certain rates ineligible, even they have left earnings on AAA rates alone).

Use AAA at Marriott branded all the time but where it can really save some major bucks is at Ritz Carlton, and when offered, on Ritz Carlton Club level rooms. Last weekend had a AAA club level rate at the Ritz Fort Lauderdale Beach and the rate was so low, the front desk clerk did not think we were a club level booking!

Worldspan

AAA is great to have in the event you have car trouble, but for us the travel perks by far outweigh any others. Not only does AAA get great hotel rates, but at Hyatt/Andaz hotels they also offer a AAA Breakfast Rate (good for 2 pp). With breakfast running $20+ pp, that's a $40 minimum savings each stay. Granted, the breakfast rate is not always available but when it is, we grab it. I'm not aware of any other chain that offers this perk.

Yes I do especially for road side assistance. They have saved me a couple of times when I have had road side issues.

For all of the above reasons, the payment I make to AAA for annual dues is one of the best purchases I make each year. If you stay in a hotel ten days per year, you're likely to save enough using the AAA rate to pay for the annual fee.

And, although my car has been trouble free for several years, I like the peace of mind the road service provides. Several years ago when visiting friends in California, I ran out of gas when I borrowed one of their vehicles with a malfunctioning fuel gauge. A quick call to AAA, a driver came out with a gallon or two of gas, and I was on my way (to a gas station for a complete fill up!).

I think it's worth it. I don't know what a jump costs normally but I needed one at 4am in Hollywood a month ago in someone else's car when their power steering pump malfunctioned and drained the battery. No Idea what it's would have cost normally or who I'd even call if not for AAA.

I bought AAA 5 years ago when I was stranded because my battery blew up in the middle of nowhere on July 4 at about midnight. (stupid Chrysler made car) AAA was the ONLY company who would come get my family in the middle of the night on a holiday, but you have to purchase a membership first. I have renewed the past 4 years and have always found it worth it. We now have late model Japanese made cars, but I still have used the roadside twice since then. Once was a flat tire in an inconvenient location, and the other was locking my keys in a rental car. Also, at least half of tourist type attractions have a discount (just ask every time). Finally, their booking portals frequently have good rates. I plan on using their passport photo services soon, as my whole family is up for renewal.

Also, a GREAT service no one has mentioned is their pre-negotiated car prices. We saved a bundle last time we got a new car by using this as our starting point for negotiation. The amount we saved (thousands) would pay for our membership for decades.

So yes, the peace of mind alone would probably be worth it. With the other perks, for sure a membership is worthwhile.

Also, a GREAT service no one has mentioned is their pre-negotiated car prices. We saved a bundle last time we got a new car by using this as our starting point for negotiation.

WOW, great idea to use this as a starting point in negotiation ^

EmailKid

Almost all hotels / car rentals will match AAA (or do better) if you negotiate, whether or not you are a member.

But, the roadside assistance can be worth it if you need it just once. It's like health insurance. True, if you never get sick you never need to see a doctor and can live to be 110. But....

The value of AAA roadside is also that it's easy and trustworthy. You call an 800# and the tow truck arrives and the tow truck driver knows that AAA has your info and he can't mess with you.

I use my AAA membership to buy discounted movie tickets. I drop by my AAA local office and pick up 10 Regal tickets at a time. Cost down here is $7/ticket vs $10 for most non matinee movies at the theater. I won't use if I go to a matinee (but matinee times are disappearing so this benefit continues to grow). Also, can't use tickets on new releases (I think it is in first 12 days) without paying a premium.

Welcome to Flyertalk!

I have always found AAA to be the most expensive roadside assistance out there. I found the least expensive to be with my cell phone company, and they cover everything roadside I could need. I used to be a AAA plus member, they still mail me at least twice a year trying to get me back as a member, but I haven't found enough use in the benefits to justify the fees any more.

For buying a car (new or used), Consumer Reports also has a fantastic service if you need help starting with the right price, a whole lot cheaper than AAA.

AAA discounts rock for the Orlando Parks!!!

I have been a member of it for 20 years. Just one roadside call a year pays for itself....it could be for a flat tie, dead battery or soemthing more.

I also use it on hotels. Generally the AAA rate is around $10+ off other rates for hotels or for campgrounds. going 10 times a year pays for the membership. You can get other discounts as well from it.

As for maps---buying maps in a store are around $5 each. Getting maps for your travels are free.

I was on Long Island in NY, and when my car "acted up=died:)" on two occasions when I called AAA, they took over 90 minutes to arrive, the second time they couldn't find a tow truck and were looking for other companies--eventually they came.
The new car I bought (a Toyota) comes with two years worth of towing--bye bye AAA.
I was in Atlantic City 16 months ago and needed a tow, I was towed to the only AAA "approved" shop there--a totally incompetent auto repair facility...

AAA is definitely worth it for me because roadside assistance is also covered up in Canada and I do lots of travel up there.

I once had a rental get a flat tire near Niagara Falls and I had to catch a plane in five hours from Toronto. I was about to do it myself only to realize that they didn't have the tools (jacks & lug remover) in trunk! :eek:

The rental car agency told me it would take me hours to send someone to help me. I called AAA instead and within 15 minutes, a CAA truck came and changed the flat tire for me right there. ^

I've used it when I've locked myself out of my car, saved lots on amusement park tickets, movie tickets, hotels, the app for restaurant savings, and I love the fact that it works for any car I'm in, not just mine. Worth it.

I would definitely have AAA or some other roadside assistance program if taking a cross-country road trip or something like that. But if you just drive mostly in your area, then towing is cheap and help is nearby, so there's no point.Towing cheap? Not where I live.

BTAIM, last week I had to have my car towed twice. First time to local shop, which decided the problem was too much for them and then again 15 miles to the VW dealership for new timing belt and water pump (ouch, but the car has 80k on it). Both times AAA took care of the whole process for me.

Last fall it was time for a new battery, called AAA, gave them the make and model of he car and the battery truck showed up and changed the battery in my driveway at my convenience.

This year before my vacation I hit the AAA website and had maps and Tourbooks delivered.

And most important to me, AAA's free engine check may have saved me a major engine repair bill and delays while on vacation. In Montreal, when I stopped at a CAA office with a question, the on-duty inspector/mechanic offered to check the engine while I was there and he found that I was down 1.5 liters of oil and referred me to an approved mechanic 3 blocks away. (I don't do my own oil, so just don't go there)

The hotel discounts are just gravy on top of the auto service for me.