AAA... Is it worth it?

[Apheinrich]

we are looking into getting AAA and wanted your opinion as to if its worth it or not? what do you like about it and how has it helped you? we are going to have several hotel stay for my son's travel sports team, will it be that much of a discount for us?

TIA
amy~~

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I have never really used it that much for the discounts, but I have used the heck out of it for other things. I had a car that had a slow leak in one of the aluminum rims; they would come out and pump the tire back up relatively quickly every time. Used their towing service twice in 8 yrs. One tow charge w/o AAA or another package is more than the cost of the membership. Twice they came to the house to change the tire for me when I ran over a nail.

So, for us, it is worth it. The extra $1-3 off attractions or 10% off meals is nice if you remember to use it, but what is really worth it is the peace of mind knowing that if something happens, you have someone to come bail you out and that they will be there quickly.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Oh, we have also used their travel services. We get a free US road atlas each year ($7-14 value) and we get triptiks there. I like using AAA for triptiks even though we have GPS, b/c they map out the road construction you are likely to encounter. And they give you a huge book on the state you are visiting to make planning a bit easier.

 

[HayGan]

I just signed up for AAA strictly for the discounts. The discount I received on one night at the Hard Rock Hotel almost paid for the the fee for AAA!!! The other discounts I will get as well as the other hotel savings on our trip made it more than worth it!!!

 

[HayGan]

Oh, we have also used their travel services. We get a free US road atlas each year ($7-14 value) and we get triptiks there. I like using AAA for triptiks even though we have GPS, b/c they map out the road construction you are likely to encounter. And they give you a huge book on the state you are visiting to make planning a bit easier.

Thwy also mark speed check areas which can save you even more (by avoiding those tickets!)

 

[coinkc]

We travel all the time for my daughter's dance competitions. Marriot is really great about having a AAA discount available. I have saved anywhere between $10-$30 per night using my AAA card so for me it's definately worth the membership fee.

 

[mzlee]

We've had AAA for a couple of years and I can say it is truly worth it. I use it for hotel and car rental discounts quite a bit. My DH coaches high school basketball during the winter and my DS13 plays AAU basketball during the summer so we travel quite a bit. Just this past winter we had a tire blowout about 30 miles from home and they sent someone to come and put on our spare tire so I am pretty sure that service call paid for the membership by itself.

 

[rosanafamily]

I was just able to get the AAA discount added to my 8 night stay at ft Wilderness, was a little over $100 bucks!! The rate was not available when I first booked but is now!!

 

[dyna]

AAA Plus is worth it just for the towing for us but then I have 5 drivers on my AAA 6 cars an 4 Harleys 1 of which is old mean an has a mind all her own an has been hauled home more than once.

My DD was 80 miles from home when her car threw a rod that was the 1st year she had AAA Plus an that tow more than paid for the WHOLE AAA bill for the year for all our drivers. 13 months later same kid same car an had to be towed 80 miles again.

I must add that on Thanksgiving day my parents had to call AAA for a tow an the tow truck AAA sent out was not listed in my local phone book even tho they was local an the driver damaged the front axle on my daddys car that had to be fixed before the car could be driven. YES it was reported to AAA an they also paid for my daddys car to get fixed. Just took a couple days longer than it would have had the tow driver not damaged car!

We have on occassion used AAA for our disney visits when we wanted to go an couldn't find another discount. We often use AAA when getting hotel rooms other times.

WE ALWAYS GET OUR MONEYS WORTH OUT OF AAA EVEN WITH HAVING 5 PPL ON IT AN CARRYING THE AAA PLUS!!!!

 

[Darcy03231]

We're another family that gets our money's worth from AAA. We have 3 drivers and 4 cars. I also like knowing that if DD (17) has car trouble she can call them for a tow, gas, tire change, etc.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

I hate to steal another buzz line but, "Don't Leave Home Without It"
When our daughter first got her license, we joined (AAA Plus), within a few weeks we needed towing service. Since then they have saved me money on towing, tire changes, dead batteries, and keys locked in car. Been a loyal member since 1998 and when daughter got married she split off our membership and continues to also have a membership.
Seriously, it is well worth every penny, and this is even without considering the discounts and map services.

 

[maggiew]

A week ago I broke down on the highway (in Chicago!!) and was blocking traffic. I'm sure I was one of the people they talked about on the traffic reports because I was causing a MAJOR backup. I called AAA and they put a rush notation on the call since I was blocking traffic. I tell you, that AAA call was worth a lifetime membership fees to AAA. You wouldn't believe how NASTY people can be when you are broken down. LIKE I CHOSE TO BREAK DOWN RIGHT THERE!!!

But, I also locked my keys in the car on our moving day and they came out to unlock my car.

I got a flat tire one day and they came out and changed it.

These are all things that happened this year! So I think its worth it.

Plus you get the benefits of hotel discounts (I've never used it for Disney since there always seems to be other deals, but I have used it for other hotel stays.) And some stores give AAA discounts! I ate at the Hard Rock Cafe in New Orleans and they gave a AAA discount!

Maggie

 

[corndog]

I don't know anyone in real life who doesn't have AAA.

 

[Lisa_M]

I had AAA Plus under my parents and since I've been married, just AAA that IL's renew for us for Christmas each year. I always had clunkers so I needed that towing and used it often. Now that I have nice cars, they get hit, lol.

Anyway, when I got a flat tire, they came to change it. When DH drained the battery a few years ago playing DS plugged in with the car off, they came and jumped it. The battery was bad so it needed the supercharged thing they had. When I locked my keys in the car at the gaspump, they helped me out.

Plus the discounts are great little bonuses. 10% off on Target.com, the Disney and non-Disney hotel discounts, Payless 10% off, tickets for various things.

I would never go without AAA.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

We use our AAA for discounts on hotels, flowers, etc. We've never had to use it for our car. The first time we signed up and got the discount on our wdw vacation, the savings was enough to pay for AAA for the next 10 yrs! Only my DH is a AAA member, I'm not on it. But I still can call and make ressies through AAA in my husbands name and I order maps, etc. When you check in to a hotel you have to show the card and my DH is always there to show his card. If we have to use it for the car to be towed, etc. I still don't have to be a member. AAA covers the members car regardless and any car that the member happens to be in that breaks down. That also means that if I'm in someone else's car without DH and it breaks down, AAA will not help. By not having me as a member it saves us yet another $22 a yr.

 

[dizluvah]

Put us down as another family that loves AAA. It is worth every penny - car troubles are never expected and it is nice to know help is just a phone call away. I broke down Super Bowl Sunday about 20 minutes before the game and AAA was there within 15 minutes - to tow the car, they dropped it at our mechanics shop and I didnt' have to worry about a thing.

You can figure about 10% discount on hotels, etc.

 

[Joyful3Heart]

I have had AAA since I was a college student, and the piece of mind has been more than worth the $100/year (AAA Plus + DH). We do alot of road trips and we love the free maps and travel discounts. Check the website, you get other discounts as well, just showing your card at some restaurants and shops will get you 10% off.
My FIL traveled to OBX (about a 10 hour drive) last year w/o AAA...and broke down outside of norfolk . The tow to their rental home (86 miles) cost him $417. AAA Plus would have towed up to 100 miles included in membership AND found a AAA certified mechanic for him AND help set up a rental if needed. As it was, he spent the next day trying to figure out how he was going to get it fixed w/o being scalped .
So, as far as I'm concerned, never leave home without it!

 

[sherabby]

My car died in the driveway...fuel pump. The tow savings was worth it for us so far. I did use them to book our Disney trip but I'll never go through them again. Too much of a hastle if you need to change something. They have to do it. Also I'm told that our AAA office doesn't issue the diamond parking any longer yet when I email the main office they say that it should come in my packet. I don't believe they are very Disney knowledgeble.

 

[cjlvsccm]

Here's another vote for AAA! Have been a member many years. I made more use of the local tow and jump-off services with earlier vehicles, but love the TripTiks now that I make more road trips. And on aaa.com, you can run your own TripTik, and modify the route as you like it... you can even have it show the rest stops and price the gas stations along the way!!

Just two months ago, down in FL for a shuttle launch, my car decided to act up (on the way back to Cape Canaveral after shopping at Disney outlets in Orlando!). Just called AAA and got the number for a "AAA Certified Service Facility", just a couple miles from the hotel. They were honest and professional, and did a great job on my repair, with no jack-up on prices for out-of-towners. And they got a terrific review on the AAA reply card in return.

Just having that available is WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!

 

[Chicago526]

I have AAA just for roadside assistance, the travel discounts are just a bonus.

Just last year we had our car towed about 40 miles, would have cost a fortune without the AAA (our plan has extended towing distances). My car is 11 years old and has about 150k on it, I wouldn't pull out of the driveway without it.