Is AAA worth it?

[disneysnowflake]

We have AAA Plus.
The only reason we have AAA Plus is piece of mind for myself. DH works nights. He has to travel back and forth on an interstate that gets icy.
With the AAA Basic plan I was told they only tow up to 3 miles. With the Plus plan they tow up to 100 miles.
With the AAA Basic plan they will give you up to $50 for a locksmith service, but with Plus they give you up to $100.
With the AAA Basic plan if you run out of gas they will sell you a small amount to get you to the nearest gas station, but with Plus they'll give you that tiny amount for free.
I'm not sure what else is the difference between Basic and Plus, but it's not much.

Last year we got our 5 day Parkhoppers through AAA for a slight discount.
We originally booked POFQ with a AAA discount, but later got a much better deal with Disney released codes I was able to use. The only thing I didn't like about dealing with AAA is they constantly hounded me about booking a package deal. When I looked into the package deal I could book the exact same thing myself, and I didn't have to pay the gal the per person fee to book it for me.

I just went to AAA today to get info on our October 05 trip. The info the gal gave me for MYW tickets didn't seem right. The prices were exactly the same though AAA as what Disney's website quoted me. In fact, the package deal through AAA was $20 higher than what Disney quoted because AAA tacked on that $5 per person charge if I book with them. I asked the gal about the reason the AAA quote was exactly the same as the WDW site quote. She told me to call WDW and find out. Hmm.

We've never used our AAA towing or anything. I hope we never have to, but I have it for piece of mind. You just never know.

 

[Imzadi]

AAA has saved my butt so many times too. I had an OLD, car on it's last legs. The times it broke down & AAA came out and fixed it for free or towed it to MY chosen garage, is worth the price alone.

Their travel guide books for each state are wonderful. I traveled cross-country twice this way. AAA provided the maps, planned out the routes to follow and gave me the travel books for the 6+ states I drove through each way.

When I wanted to stay over in a particular town or city, I simply looked up cheap motels/hotels in the travel book. Anything over two diamonds (AAA rating system) will be clean & safe. Anything UNDER two diamonds, and you're simply paying for mold. ALL AAA rated rooms must meet a minimum standard of safety, regardless of the mold. LOL

What's great about having the travel book is that I didn't need to make plans in advance, and be locked in by a reservation. I simply stopped in a town when tired, that had a number of good listings in my price range, so I had a choice. If the hotel was full, or in a bad neighborhood, I simply moved on to the next.

Having the book also narrowed out which hotels would definitely be out of my price range. Or if I favored a particular hotel chain, which town or freeway exit they would be at.

 

[NandP]

If you are going to UNIVERSAL.. I would say WITHOUT A DOUBT it is worth is... The ONLY discount on rooms (on-site) is with AAA... all the Resturants honor it and so do many gift shops.... I saved the membership fee with my first night booking at the Hard Rock Hotel ....

 

[Jennyvelaz]

I just enrolled for the basic Plus! Your replies helped! Not bad for security. I might make this my new "shower" gift for all new expectant moms! They should have the security as well! Thanks again!

 

[granmanh603]

I guess I'm a little late with my advise. I was talking to my DD (AAA member) and she was telling me about the drug discount they have. So I went on line to their site and if you signed up on line it was $44 a $14 savings. Did you sign up on line. I didn't see anything about AAA Plus. I'm still on the fence but leaning over after reading this thread.

 

[Jennyvelaz]

Definately signed online. the rates are different in each area. DO IT! I feel so good about my purchase! Already booked the hotel....saved $15!

 

[NotTooGoofy]

Once I was away on business in a rental car and accidentally locked the keys in the car - AARRRGGHHH! Even though I was hundreds of miles away from home, AAA got a locksmith out to my hotel and got my car unlocked. I definitely think AAA membership is worth it!

 

[Candace]

AAA gives you a 30% discount on glasses at Lenscrafters - I saved around $130 on my last pair. Also, the prescription drug discount is good - my son does not have a prescription card w/his health insurance, so the discount from AAA really helps! Always save on hotel rooms, and just makes me a little more secure when my kids or I are on the road. I have it for all 4 of us and it is a little more expensive, but I think you make up for it in many ways.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I believe that it's worth the cost. We have saved lots of $$$ at Lenscrafters on our eyeglasses. We also saved on Disney tickets last June. I just booked a room only for Dec. 2005 and got the AAA discount, which is better than nothing.