AAA-Worth it?

[Ngwira]

Absolutely worth it. We are plus members and have used the roadside assistance. We use it for hotel discounts and Amtrak discounts on the auto train. That alone is worth the $60.00 membership fee. We will be using it at T-Rex and Rainforest, as well as Bob Marley's restaurant in Universal Orlando.

 

[NewRVLady]

Wow you get good hotel discounts. I just made a reservation and the AAA rate was only $5 or $6 lower. I must be staying in the wrong hotels!

I love the Hilton Brands
Hampton Inn I use AARP
Homewood Suites I use AAA (I prefer this chain when available)
AAA is also what I use on the Cheaper Marriot chains
Mostly it is a $10 a nite discount

 

[powellrj]

I am amazed at the low prices you guys pay for membership. Ours is over $100. I want to say $120 and that is for regular not plus. The person that pays $20, I would buy memberships for everyone I buy gifts for at that price! I know they no longer offer the special parking places for AAA, so I am no sure what other things that are no longer offered.

 

[kj2mom]

What timing to read this today, just paid my $52 for my basic membership today. I love the roadside peace of mind but I especially love the discounted local amusement park tickets, I just have to remember to go there (there is an office right next to my work). Places like Lake Compounce and Canobie Lake Park are usual summer trips for us and remembering to get the tickets before hand can sometimes save me almost the amount of one admission. I also get a discount on my car insurance meaning I do make the membership fee back.

 

[HubbDave]

We just got our invoice for our yearly membership $81.00 for my wife and I

I have used it a couple of,times in my life. Worth the piece of mine

How good are the Canobie discounts?

 

[kj2mom]

I don't remember exactly but I do remember it was worth the effort to go get them. Lake Compounce I remember after buying the 3 tickets it was almost like one of us got in free. I want to say it was $8 off per ticket.

 

[kymom99]

We just got our invoice for our yearly membership $81.00 for my wife and I

I have used it a couple of,times in my life. Worth the piece of mine

How good are the Canobie discounts?

Ours is something like $102 for the 2 of us.

 

[thesugarpixie]

We got AAA when we moved back to PA so it would save on the costs of getting plates for our car. Still a member four years later and seem recoup the member costs each in money saved with hotel and other random discounts.

 

[scoobygrl79]

I'm so sorry for how ignorant I'm about to sound, but can anyone tell me why they think there is such variation in price? Is it likely the oldest factor in the book....location location location? I just can't believe I'm seeing differences in the $50s of the cost quotes posted....thanks!

 

[peg110]

I'm so sorry for how ignorant I'm about to sound, but can anyone tell me why they think there is such variation in price? Is it likely the oldest factor in the book....location location location? I just can't believe I'm seeing differences in the $50s of the cost quotes posted....thanks!

Supply and demand. It's what the market will bare. On top of that if you live in a certain area, you must get your membership at the particular regions rates.

As an example, I moved from an area where I was part of AAA North Penn region to just 30 minutes down the road. I am now in AAA Mid-Atlantic region. My rates for the same membership went up about $20 per person. While my membership was still valid from AAA North Penn, and I was entitled to use all the benefits (even from the new local office), when it came time for renewal, I had to renew with AAA Mid-Atlantic with the higher rate.

So you really can't even shop around unless you are actually MOVING.

What we have done is dropped the DW as an "Associate" member because any time we are on any long trip, We are together. We can go to the Office to get maps, info, etc.. .together so it's not an issue there either. Now the DD is driving though, and I am more concerned about her so I might get an associate membership for her.

The discounts can still pay for the membership even if it's $6.00 a night at a hotel or a 10% off a restaurant bill occasionally. My Father eats a lot at Perkins Family Restaurant. They give you 10% off. Even if you spend only $15.00 once a week, that's $78.00 a year. Since it's money he spends anyway, it makes a difference.

I guess it's value boils down to how you would use it and what you pay for it in your area. My biggest issue is to remember to ASK for the discount.

 

[scoobygrl79]

thank you, peg110, that does make sense

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We have the plus membership and as of today I bought an older car for my kids and DS20 will be taking it to college this fall, so I will have to add him for my mental health. We have used the towing portion multiple times. Once, it was a 101 - 103 mile tow. All I know, is it only cost us $6.00 for a tow that would have been about $600 if we had to pay out of pocket. I figure that one alone cover about 6 years of fees.

DH just had a dead battery last month and couldn't figure out how to jump with the placement of the battery in my new car, so he called AAA and someone was there in less than 15 minutes. We had planned on a tow, but he tried to jump it and it worked fine.

We have also done 2 passport pics for DH and I and 2 each for DD and DS, so it has been worth it for us.

 

[hsmamato2]

I got a basic one card membership last year for the discounts....it cost $48- but i can find that price again.... Anyone know where to look? I got a renewal paper that is $68.....

 

[lauradis]

Wow you get good hotel discounts. I just made a reservation and the AAA rate was only $5 or $6 lower. I must be staying in the wrong hotels!

AAA hotel discount is an normal 5-10% off hotel rates.

 

[hsmamato2]

I found it useful for hotel discounts and also fod discounts at the Dolphin last year

 

[savannie]

I heard that Disney discontinued their partnership with AAA this year. Does anyone know if that's actually true or not? That would be my main incentive for buying a membership.

 

[samsteele]

I heard that Disney discontinued their partnership with AAA this year.

Disney discontinued their relationship. With both AAA & CAA (Cdn chapter) travel. It has made a $ difference for me. I used to save a few hundred dollars each trip. Now, no perks at all at Disney save for the backup of a TA should my booking go off the rails. I have had CAA plus for the past few years as my vehicle is older, no lease & I purchased used. I didn't have any need for it for the past years but this past month, my battery slowly started to die. I had to have 2 boosts: 1) in my garage to go the work in the morning and 2) when shopping for groceries on a weekend. If I didn't have CAA, these 2 boosts would have cost $200 plus out of pocket. I get the CAA plus because of towing fees. I live in Central/Eastern Ontario, Canada so the tow fee on top of basic CAA to most garages would be nuts. Whether the "plus" feature is worth it depends on your location. If garages are thick in your area (as in a large City) and/or you don't normally drive out the country, then plus may not be of value.

 

[savannie]

Disney discontinued their relationship. With both AAA & CAA (Cdn chapter) travel. It has made a $ difference for me. I used to save a few hundred dollars each trip. Now, no perks at all at Disney save for the backup of a TA should my booking go off the rails. I have had CAA plus for the past few years as my vehicle is older, no lease & I purchased used. I didn't have any need for it for the past years but this past month, my battery slowly started to die. I had to have 2 boosts: 1) in my garage to go the work in the morning and 2) when shopping for groceries on a weekend. If I didn't have CAA, these 2 boosts would have cost $200 plus out of pocket. I get the CAA plus because of towing fees. I live in Central/Eastern Ontario, Canada so the tow fee on top of basic CAA to most garages would be nuts. Whether the "plus" feature is worth it depends on your location. If garages are thick in your area (as in a large City) and/or you don't normally drive out the country, then plus may not be of value.

Thanks for the info! Our insurance covers towing, and we keep a portable battery charger in the car for those sorts of issues. I think we'll skip the membership for now.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I got a membership back last year when I had a car that the roadside assistance had expired. I never used it for that thankfully, but I did get some hotel discounts with it.

 

[jeepnjudy]

We use ours for all sorts of stuff... roadside assistance when needed (peace of mind), trip planning, vacation books, etc... We love our membership but understand it is not for everyone.