gjkayak

Is AAA membership worthwhile?
We would use it only for emergency breakdown service and hotel discounts.
We drive about 5 to 7000 miles/year on out of town trips, and stay maybe 6 to 8 nights
in Hotels/motels.

Giovanna

We belong to both AAA and AARP, both of which get a 10% discount at most hotels/motels. We have used AAA's services on a few occasions, i.e. dead battery, flats, etc. and it was sure worth it to me when I was driving alone. My husband felt the same way.

Both AAA and AARP have discounts at places other than hotels/motels and furnish you with a list of what's offered when you join or renew.

trippinkpj

We think it's worth it, though sounds like we take more road trips than you. We have used it also for dining, museum and attraction discounts. And even with the internet, I like the free maps and tourbooks.

Scarlett

We had a built-in auto service with our car for mapping and emergency road work, etc, but we also have AAA.
The hotel discounts is a good reason but you can get International Drivers Licenses with AAA..

traveller69

We have had a AAA membership forever and have used them a few times. However, every new car we have purchased over the years also comes with an emergency road service. Although we continue to keep our membership I think we don't really need it. If you have AARP or even if you are senior we have found the senior rates in the motels are the same as AAA.

nevermind

We've been with AAA for almost 40 years and appreciate the discounts, maps, and guidebooks.

dfr4848

IMO absolutely. A couple of breakdowns, flats, etc per year and you've paid for your membership. While our new cars have had free road service, those generally last 2 or 3 years and we keep our cars much longer than that. We don't put that many miles on our cars either, but still think it's worthwhile. Besides the discounts others have mentioned (hotels, restaurants, some entry fees, etc), we use it extensively for maps etc to plan trips overseas, get travelers checks when needed and foreign currency. We've also had occasion to use it when a rental car company went south on us when we had a breakdown. Their vacation packages can be very competitive. It also has given us peace of mind knowing our daughter can use it at college (which is 1300 mi away) if she has a car problem. Along with a subscription to National Geographic, we think it's one of the best bargains around.

mlgb

It's worth it for the maps, guides and 25% of Dunn Edwards paint.

rjw_lgb_ca

mlgb: AMEN on the Dunn Edwards discount!!!!!!!

BoniseA

I've never heard of
Dunn Edwards paint.

Who carries it?

palmettoprincess

After waiting in a cold parking garage for two hours WITHOUT a AAA membership, I purchased one right away.

I purchased a membership for my sister-in-law who has everything, and she had a breakdown on an Interstate four hours away from home a week later(with my kids in the car.) Money well spent.

rjw_lgb_ca

BoniseA: Dunn Edwards is a purveyor of fine house paints, sold retail in the US Southwest: CA, AZ, NV, NM, TX. The quality is very high, and so is the price. The discount I get at their stores is a wonderful thing, especially when I goof and buy super-pricey Zinnser primer there instead of at Lowe's, where it's $5 cheaper!

georgiegirl

I have both AAA and AARP. Years ago I used to get maps for free, even some literature. Last week I dropped by to get materials on Switzerland. I had to pay for the map and the booklet unless I have the Plus card or book tour with them. I will keep the membership but will not upgrade to the premium status, just for peace of mind.

escargot

We've had AAA for more years than I can count.
I have never had to use it, but my daughter did once, when she was 20 and got a flat on a highway, unfortunately not in the most 'desirable' area of a city, - not only did AAA send someone in record time, they also alerted the police, who sent a nearby cruiser over as a precaution. That alone was worth all my years of membership and money - aside from some of the great discounts and things like maps, etc, that and of course, the cell phone which made it possible for her to call from her car.

bennnie

We've used our AAA membership twice in the last year and neither time was for our cars. First my sister broke down with my kids and our mom in her car and I used it to get her car towed home. Then my contractor got stuck in the mud in my yard and AAA towed him out.

Plus we get the maps, guidebooks, discounts etc...

All in all well worth the money.

toedtoes

Georgiegirl - try getting the map, etc. online. I thought I heard that if you go in they'll charge you, but if you go online they won't.

georgiegirl

Thank you. I will try on line. I am going to NYC next month. I will see whether I can get something for free.

SuzieTrue

DH and I have had AAA since we got married. Most times I've used the wrecker service, I've been at home or in town with some sort of problem. I just ordered maps and a book for our up-coming Florida trip on-line. Kids both have a card and it has been well used.

DebInTN

We have used the emergency road service many times. I've used my AAA discount on almost every hotel & car I have rented for 10+ years. It's a better discount than my Holiday Inn, Marriott or Hilton priority club discounts - which makes no sense to me at all!

georgiegirl

For clarification, I just ordered materials about NYC. They are free. However, the note on the screen informed me that to get free materials for Europe, I have to have Plus card.