Do you have AAA? How does it save you $$?

[MinnieMom]

I was thinking about joining AAA to book our upcoming Disney trip, but it's really only going to save about $100. So I'm curious, what other perks do you get from the membership and how has it saved you $$?

 

[camdensmom]

Having someone come and change my tire on a snowy night while I'm trapped on the side of the road was priceless.

In addition to that it always saves me $ on hotels.

Our outlets (Wrentham, MA) offers a savings booklet if you show your AAA card. I've saved a lot that way over the years too.

 

[msmayor]

The actual roadside assistance benefits have paid for my membership tenfold.

Four times my husband has needed to have his car towed back home from his office 30 miles away. Our Plus membership pays for tows up to 100 miles in full...without this benefit, those tows would have run us at least $150-200 EACH.

We've had our cars jumpstarted a couple of times. I've had a flat tire changed twice, right in my driveway.

Perhaps the one BEST time it paid off for us was a trip home from Disney when, at 65mph, one of our tires blew on I-95 in South Carolina at 7pm, just as darkness was falling...in an area where the shoulder was narrow and there was a downslope just off the roadway, a VERY difficult area to try and change a tire.

AAA was at our side within 15 minutes and changed the tire in 10. Had we needed to do that on our own it would have easily taken more than an hour.

Now that my 17-year-old daughter is driving, we've added her to our membership. Incredible peace-of-mind knowing that she can call for assistance whether she's the driver or not (membership benefits can be used even when she's NOT the driver...as long as she's in a car that needs help she can use her membership).

We do use it on occasion for hotel discounts (usually 15% or so off) and also used it for a 20% discount on theater tickets this December. But our primary use is auto related. Thanks to their great service, we'll never be without it.

 

[WeLuvTink!]

We get lots of discounts with our AAA card. Hotels almost always have the best rate with AAA. If you shop online, many times you can link thru AAA's site and get a discount.

Actually, since you'll save $100 on your Disney trip, that should be more than your annual membership, so you save $$ plus get a year's worth of roadside assistance. Why wouldn't you do it?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Hotel discounts and roadside assistance. Once on a trip to Disney, a tire came off a truck and landed flat in the road in front of me. I couldn't avoid it and drove right over it, damaging the bottom of my car. I pulled off, called AAA (I'm from Canada, so had CAA) and the guy showed up within a few minutes, crawled under my car to see what the problem was, drove off to get some parts, and fixed it on the spot. I tried to tip him $10 and he wouldn't take it.

Just one example among many!

Teresa

 

[kkheburn]

You get a discount at Payless shoes too. I think it is 10% off.

 

[FINFAN]

Needed our car towed to repair shop last week...tow was free ( within 5 miles)
DD was with a friend, they ran out of gas. AAA delivered roadside assitance w/enough for them to get to the gas station. Wasn't DD's car, was her firends, but since she had a AAA card w/her....they were covered.
Hotel discounts
restaurants at WDW Dolphin 20% off
we used the 8% off at Circuit City ( no longer offered, obviously)
We used it for hotel discount to take DD to college, that trip alone coverd the membership...all the other stuff listed was llierally the perks that come with membership
us dollar travelers checks free of charge
10% off at Hard Rock Cafe, Joes Crab Shck, Landrys Seafood
up to 30% off at lenscrafters for comprehensive eye exam and glasses
on line purchases @ Target 10% discount...selective items
20 % off most FTD arrangements
10% off Amtrack
Siruis Radio 20% discount on equipment, free shipping, activation, one month service


different levels of membership offer different coverage
ew are very happy with our membership

 

[summermac]

I took advantage of the lockout service a uh, few times. *embarrased*

 

[CTdiznymom]

The roadside service was a life saver when my DD was away at college. Very distressing to get a call when you're miles away. We take advantage of the hotel discounts along with the discounts you can get for local movie tickets if you go to the agency to pick them up. DH needed them to come out to jump start the car battery, and found that their price to replace it was competitive with our local shop. Very convienient to have them do it in our own driveway. They send out a small newspaper each month with trip and driving advise along with a listing of all the available discounts. Wouldn't be without our AAA card.

 

[crazelion]

AAA road assistance is worth it's weigh in gold. I was been told a lot times to the auto shop for free. I have numerous discounts for hotels, tickets and restaurants.

I got for the peace of mind that if get strand I know I can call for help.

 

[AnitaDisneyVacation]

Not that many people use them anymore (with GPS and the Web), but we use our membership to get free maps and guidebooks.

If you ever travel abroad, you get a good deal on traveler's checks and they can exchange dollars for euros right there at the store.

They sell discounted tickets to many theme parks and attractions (Six Flags, aquariums, Sea World, even Disney)

The benefit we have used the most is hotel discounts. We usually get 10% to 15% off the cost of the room.

 

[Katy Belle]

We use ours mostly for hotel discounts. We travel a lot and it does help a bunch! Also just KNOWING we have the roadside assistance is valuable. I'm in the USA in the summers with the boys and no DH for about 6 week. During that time I drive all over...from Nebraska to Texas, mostly. But knowing that I can call if I need help..priceless.

We used to use the Guide Books and I do use their on-line site some.

Katy

 

[DisneyMomOK]

All the above, plus 10% discount at Pizza Hut.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Three flat tires, two insurance policy discounts (one car, one renters) and one key locked in car in Las Vegas at 4 AM Rhode Island time, which matters because THAT'S the number on my membership card so that's the number I called, and that's the office that then contacted an AAA-approved service provider in Las Vegas - who was at my car before I made it back.

 

[jlima]

Hotel discounts
Maps & travel books - free!
Universal & IOA discounts (woo hoo!)
towing & jump start rescues
traveler's checks

Absolutely, just do it . . . I've had AAA since I was 15.

 

[gk90]

Our Disney AAA package (in 2007) included free luggage tags, a special storytime with a character (we booked it but didn't make it) and a free 5X7 Photopass photo that we liked so much that we used it for our Christmas cards. Some people swear by the AAA diamond parking pass, also part of the package--we never used ours since we always took Disney buses to the parks. But I've seen them on sale on ebay for $20 or more.

 

[hannah_03]

Ummmm... well my husband is famous for locking the keys in the car, running out of gas, and we've also needed it for tows out of the snow and on ice. So it has always paid for itself with us.

You just never know when you are going to need it!

 

[allison443]

Actually, since you'll save $100 on your Disney trip, that should be more than your annual membership, so you save $$ plus get a year's worth of roadside assistance. Why wouldn't you do it?

I agree!

 

[vod2117]

Yeah, we used AAA once or twice to tow our cars and it came in handy. Plus the hundreds of dollars we saved on our last trip from the AAA discount paid for the membership itself.

 

[MinnieMom]

Wow! Thanks for all your responses. You've absolutely sold me on the membership . . . with or without the $100 savings on our Disney trip. I can't wait to get my membership started!!