Aaa Travel Deals: Are They Worth It?

AAA Travel is a full-service travel agency that helps you book travel expenses such as flights, hotels, cruises, and rental cars. They offer exclusive deals and discounts to their members, such as hotel and cruise discounts, as well as vacation planning assistance. AAA Travel also provides roadside assistance benefits, including free towing, spare tire replacement, and fuel delivery. While the internet has made it easy to find low travel prices, AAA can save you time and provide peace of mind with their expertise and additional services. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using AAA Travel and whether their deals offer good value for money.

AAA hotel discounts

AAA members can access a range of hotel discounts and deals. Members can save up to 15% when booking with Preferred Lodging Partners, including Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy hotels. For example, members can save 5% or more and earn bonus points with the AAA Preferred BWR program at Best Western hotels. Similarly, members can save up to 10% and earn Honors points when booking with Hilton.

AAA also offers exclusive hotel deals and savings at select hotels, with discounts of up to 10%. Additionally, AAA conducts on-site professional inspections of hotels across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and those that meet AAA's rigorous inspection standards receive a Diamond designation that conveys the kind of experience offered. This can help members choose hotels that fit their interests and budgets.

AAA members also have access to travel agents who can help find discounted travel deals, including hotel deals, that fit their schedules, budgets, and personal preferences. These deals may include additional benefits such as free breakfast, free parking, and loyalty program extras. Overall, AAA provides its members with a variety of hotel discounts and deals, as well as resources to find the best accommodations for their needs.

AAA cruise deals

AAA offers a range of cruise deals with various benefits and add-ons. As a AAA member, you can save time and money by taking advantage of their cruise deals and having access to free support from a AAA travel agent. This means you won't have to shop around or worry about missing out on limited-time offers.

Some of the cruise lines that AAA has partnered with include:

• Carnival Cruise Line: Offers a wide range of vacation experiences for all types of travellers, with entertainment, dining, and activities onboard, as well as budget-friendly options. AAA members can receive a 2-category upgrade, a 50% reduced deposit, and up to $75 onboard credit.
• Celebrity Cruises: Provides premium entertainment, world-class cuisine, and a luxurious cruising experience. AAA members can receive up to $100 onboard spending credit per stateroom, with an additional $75 credit for sailings of 3 nights or longer.
• Princess Cruises: Delivers a premier cruising experience with luxurious amenities and destinations worldwide. AAA members can receive up to $150 onboard spending credit, a $50 shore excursion credit per stateroom, and reduced deposits during specific quarterly booking windows.
• Royal Caribbean International: Well-known in the cruising world, offering signature activities and delights. AAA members can receive a bottle of sparkling wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, and up to $100 per stateroom onboard spending credit.
• Holland America Line: Offers mid-sized cruising with personalized attention and a high staff-to-guest ratio. AAA members can receive $50 per person onboard spending credit, plus an additional $50 onboard spending credit for the first two guests in the stateroom.
• AmaWaterways: A highly-regarded river cruise provider with state-of-the-art amenities and comfortable accommodations. AAA members can receive $200 in savings and up to $300 onboard spending credit, with additional savings of up to $600 per stateroom on select sailings.
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise: Provides an all-inclusive, grand river cruising experience in century-old rivers in Europe, Egypt, and the Brazilian Amazon. AAA members can receive $300 per stateroom onboard spending credit on select sailing dates, plus up to $500 per stateroom savings on all sailings.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Offers a luxurious cruising experience with small-port destinations, customizable journeys, and butler service. AAA members can receive up to $500 per suite onboard spending credit on select sailing dates.
• Cunard Line: Delivers a luxurious and refined sea voyage experience with British elegance. AAA members can receive up to $900 onboard spending credit per stateroom, plus additional credits and reduced deposits during specific quarterly booking windows.
• Azamara: Caters to adventurous and sophisticated travellers seeking cultural immersion. AAA members can receive $200 onboard spending credit per stateroom, plus an additional $150 credit on selected sailing dates.
• Oceania Cruises: Provides elegant and personalized experiences with smaller ships, accessing exotic ports, world-class cuisine, and comprehensive spa retreats. AAA members get up to $200 shipboard credit for bookings in 2024.

AAA travel insurance

AAA's travel insurance provides benefits such as trip cancellation coverage, primary emergency medical benefits, 24-hour travel assistance, and optional enhancements to tailor the plan to individual needs. One notable feature is the Car Rental Protector, which offers primary coverage for collision, loss, and damage up to $50,000, along with 24-hour emergency assistance, providing peace of mind when renting a vehicle.

For families, select plans offer free coverage for children aged 17 and under when travelling with a parent or grandparent. This feature ensures that families can travel with added financial protection and security. Additionally, the Theme Park Protection plan offers custom benefits for vacations to U.S. theme parks, making it ideal for family trips.

The Enhanced Insurance plan is perfect for those embarking on extended journeys or international travel, providing an even higher level of benefits and peace of mind. For frequent travellers, the Annual Insurance Plans offer ongoing benefits designed to cater to their unique needs.

AAA members can also take advantage of exclusive member benefits, such as proactive SmartBenefits and the free TravelSmart app, which provide additional tools and resources for a worry-free travel experience. By choosing AAA Travel Insurance, members can travel with confidence, knowing that they are protected against unforeseen events and emergencies.

AAA vacation planning

AAA Travel is a full-service travel agency that can help you book flights, hotel rooms, cruises, and rental cars. They also offer vacation planning services, providing expert travel advice and assistance with reservation changes, flight mishaps, and other travel needs during your vacation.

AAA has a range of ways to help you travel and create your perfect trip. They offer independent, locally hosted, and guided travel options. With independent travel, you can set off on your own, with the option of customized itineraries, pre-arranged air, car, and hotel bookings. Locally hosted travel means a local host will show you the way, providing assistance with sightseeing, dining recommendations, and travel advice. Guided travel offers group or private itineraries led by knowledgeable guides who will educate you on the history and culture of your destination.

AAA also offers ocean and river cruises. They team up with the world's premier cruise lines, as well as preferred river cruise providers, to offer unforgettable journeys and enriching itineraries.

AAA members enjoy exclusive savings and discounts on everything from passport services to cruises, tours, and vacations. AAA has partnerships with hotels, rental car companies, and cruise lines to offer special rates and benefits to its members. For example, AAA members can save up to 10% on select hotels and have access to exclusive hotel deals. They can also get exclusive member benefits and savings with Hertz rentals, such as a free child safety seat and an additional driver.

AAA also provides travel insurance, giving you peace of mind in case of travel delays, emergencies, and cancellations. They can also assist with obtaining an International Driving Permit for international travel.

Overall, AAA vacation planning offers a wide range of benefits, including exclusive discounts, travel advice, and peace of mind, making it a valuable option for those seeking assistance in planning their perfect vacation.

AAA travel free vs paid

AAA Travel is a full-service travel agency that helps you book travel expenses such as flights, hotels, cruises, and rental cars. There is a free and premium version of AAA Travel. The current membership plans start at $66 per year and cap at $127. All membership plans include AAA Travel's roadside assistance benefit, which offers free towing, spare tire replacement, jumpstarting a dead battery, and fuel delivery for personal or rental vehicles.

When AAA Travel is Free

As a non-member, you can book travel purchases for free online. However, you won't have access to a AAA travel agent or exclusive member-only discounts. The booking experience is similar to using Priceline or Expedia, which can offer better deals than booking directly from the carrier or hotel.

When You Need to Pay for AAA Travel

You need to purchase a membership if you want discounted theme park tickets, vacation planning help from an AAA travel agent, and additional travel discounts on flights, hotels, cruises, and rental cars. The two biggest reasons to consider joining AAA Travel are the vacation planning assistance and additional travel discounts.

AAA Travel isn't always cheaper, but there are instances when they offer better deals, especially for hotels, vacation planning, and discounted theme park and attraction tickets. There are some member-only specials for cruises and rental cars, but it's recommended to compare prices with other booking sites to ensure the best deal.

Booking a Hotel with AAA Travel

When searching for a hotel online, there is a field box to enter your AAA number to be eligible for an additional discount. Sponsored listings appear first on the search, but these are not always the lowest-priced rooms. Rooms with the "AAA Rate" tag above the price are usually cheaper when booked with AAA Travel instead of directly from the hotel. For example, booking a room with AAA at the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown costs $20 less per night than booking directly through the hotel website.

Booking a Flight on AAA Travel

As a non-member, you may not find significant discounts on AAA Travel compared to other flight search engines. However, if you're already booking your hotel or another travel purchase with AAA, booking your flight with them can save time. Additionally, you won't pay any third-party booking fees or a higher rate.

Benefits of Joining AAA Travel

The primary reason to join AAA Travel is for the full-service vacation planner and exclusive travel discounts. AAA is the largest travel agency in the nation, and their agents are professional travel planners who can schedule the best trip at the best price. They can bundle your travel purchases, potentially resulting in a discount due to your AAA membership. Additionally, AAA members can order TripTiks and travel booklets that provide up-to-date information on fuel prices, AAA-approved hotels and restaurants with member-only discounts, and construction delay information.

Joining AAA Travel can be worth it if you want access to a full-service vacation planner and exclusive travel discounts. While the internet has made it easy to find low travel prices, using AAA Travel can save time, which can be just as valuable as saving money. AAA Travel is best for vacation planning assistance, roadside assistance, and booking select travel purchases at a discount. If the savings exceed the annual membership fee, it's worth joining AAA.

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