AP vs Military non AP or AAA

[Robindianne]

Forgive my inexperience, but is there an easy way to tell whether it's cheaper to get the military stars and stripes park pass for 10 days and Shades of Green's $99/night for 10 nights; or to get some kind of AP special (not sure how AP stuff works re: park pricing and room discounts) for the equivalent? We really want POR (stayed there before) bad.

When planning our last trip with only 16 days notice, we got a Shades of Green overflow rate at POR but since we have more notice of our trip, I really don't want to wait so long and chance a room being available at POR again. Any ideas?

Any idea how the cost of joining AAA compares to either of these two other options?

Also do I need to live in FLA to have an AP? I guess that should have been my first question - silly me.

Thanks for the help and ideas.
Robin

 

[InstImpres]

You don't have to be a FL resident to be an AP holder (just pay a little more than in state people) Right now there are not AP rates released for your time. You could book a room regular rate at PO with a 1 night deposit and wait and see if an AP rate comes out. If so, you can apply it to that (or a package that may come out). If it really is out of your budget, than go with Shades of Green, If I read your post right, 10 nights at the end of April full rack rate is $1728.40, so yes above $99 a night. As far as I know from my family, you can still buy military passes on base or at SOG on arrival even if you are staying elsewhere.

Good luck
Sandy

 

[Cameo]

If you think you might go more than once during the year, consider the AP. You can buy an AP at Shades of Green for a discount, but then you won't have it available when you are trying to make your Best Rate ressies. I do not think that you can buy it and have them mail it. I believe you have to be there and present your military ID to buy it.

If it were me, I would probably buy the AAA membership and arrange a room at POR. Then I would keep checking back with SOG to see if any overflow rates come out. But, then you must be willing to chalk up the AAA membership to JUST being there for your peace of mind while on the road.

We are considering a AAA membership right now for our trip in early March since I'm doubtful that we will get any SOG overflow rates at that time. We've always had overflow rates in the past, but now that SOG is twice as big, I don't think they'll sell out. I don't really want to stay at SOG, but I also don't want to pay the Peak rate at that time.