The dues are $12.50 a year. The discounts on travel perks have paid off for me since I don't use AAA. The monthly magazine is excellent. For me it was worth it.
I love your closing line....
Still Climbing in Pinnacle

This is not your parents AARP. The publications are more than worth the membership fee. IMO, it is geared more toward people in their 50's.

I get some great deals online from AARP, but haven't used them yet.

DH joined AARP last year when our car saleswoman pointed out a $500 discount for the vehicle we were purchasing. She even did all the paperwork for us. We haven't used the travel discounts yet because of AAA.

It's worth the money. I booked several several hotels through them on a trip from Virginia to San Diego and back. In some cases when I told them I found prices lower elsewhere, they offered prices less than the competition. Their discount percentage varies with the different chains.

I find that they have good car rental prices.

They also have terrific advice for 50+ on all aspects of your life at this stage.

And they have other good discounts as well. Check out their site www.aarp.org

Hope this helps...
Debi

Very often AARP's hotel rates are better than AAA. Sometimes a hotel doesn't has AAA rates but AARP rates are still available or could be the other way around. So having both has benefits too.

I refuse to join AARP because it has become little more than a PAC (Political Action Committee). The other benefits can be obtained elsewhere without the politics.

Curious

I agree with you, Curious.

I was recently disturbed when they came out against reforming the current Social Security welfare program, saying that investing 2% of your payroll taxes into the market was too risky, even though it was a voluntary program. Now, they are selling mutual funds to their seniors. Such blatant hypocricy.

Definately worth it. The magazone and newsletter are worth it alone. And regarding travel discounts, we have AAA and some chains like Motel6 only give AARP discounts, not AAA.

I joined AARP because of their politics. Glad to see them protecting us from the Bush administration.

But the discounts on travel have been a big help. I'm 52, so without the AARP I wouldn't qualify for the senior discount at motels or car rentals. I often save about 10%.

I also used the AARP discount when I had an eye exam and bought glasses earlier this year. The savings on that alone, would cover several years of membership fees.

Keith

It was a better travel benefit when I was under 65, but I remain a member to support lobbying AARP does.

Yes. Our savings on motels alone more than make up for the annual dues.

AARP also gives a discount on AOL membership which is worth more than the membership fee.

Thanks for that info, Judy! I've been an AARP member for three years now but didn't know about the AOL discount.

One of the major reasons I joined is because I like the PAC aspect. I'm glad to support an organization that's watching out for us.

But we've taken advantage of the hotel discounts many times. Because we're not AAA members, the AARP discount has been a big help.

The higher option AARP motoring plan is better and cheaper than AAA.

Wish I could get an AARP membership (I'm only 41). Everyone gets old and they need a nice powerful lobby to keep the elderly special interests in mind.

What's the higher option motoring plan?

We only used AARP hotel/motel discounts occasionally because we have also have AAA and generally the discounts are the same.

Their magazine offers great feature articles and useful advice, and I do appreciate their politics and their work on our behalf. Those are the main reasons that I have maintain my membership all of the years.

Nina

Curious and Budman,
Good for you!

emd,
Do you really want to join an organization of people who lobby for a policy that harms their grandkids just to allay their own irrational fears? Tell them your not that selfish.

Before someone else points it out, I had a typo in my prior post. "your" instead of "you're"...Sorry...

When AARP came out in favor of the Bush Medicare drug plan that is now causing havoc, I dropped my membership and vowed never to join it again. Then it had the audacity to recruit members into its drug plan created as an option under the new medicare drug plan.. AARP looks out mainly for itself, and if some of you members don't realize that, shame on you. I'm glad that some like Curious, etc. have caught on. AAA gives you all the travel deals you need.

there: its obvious what your political affiliation is. elderly people are humans too with definate health care needs. not everything has to do with grandkids when the elderly are still living and need it. don't worry EVERYONE is so super involved with children's issues its so politically correct and perpetuates the ageism in America.

It seems that posters here are more informed about AARP than most members - seeing it for what it is - a lobbing organization and insurance seller.

I have no objection to an organization having these as their goals - what I do object to is that AARP is not up-front about what it is they do. I know plenty of oler peole who pay their dues to AARP, seeing them as a neutral organization who just gives them discounts.

Well, I certainly have more to think about than the discounts. Thanks for the information. I will consider it all.

Interesting, as the promotional letter I am holding says, "As a member you'll have resources to exclusive discounts. Dependable insurance programs and investment resources. Improtant helath information and more." Ten on the back of the letter is a list of 22 things AARP does for you. Four of them are related to "standing up for your rights" (described further as confronting age discrimination by employers, strengthening social security, protecting pension benefits, fighting predatory home loan lending).

I didn't intend a political discussion here, but there are politics involved. Anyway, it is more than the travel discounts and similar benefits that are emphasized in the face of the letter.


Thanks everyone.

Sorry I can't help...I'm not eligible as yet...

Well if you are lucky to live long enough, your day will come...

Depends on your needs. The rates are usually the same or higher then the "best internet user" rates, but AARP rates usually offer cancellations while internet rates are non-refundable.

I got the membership going on a tour. $12.50 membership got me $50 off the tour price, but I got the membership only after deciding on that tour.

By the way, if you pay for 3 years upfront, the membership fee is even lower.

I certainly agree with Curious and Budman (no surprise there).
I was a member for 10 years and never used a single benefit.
I feel very much the same about AAA now that Trav Checks are historical relics.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

I hope this doen't sound like a paid advertisement, but their auto insurance rates are by far cheaper than anything else I've found. On the other hand, their hotel discounts can usually be beat just by surfing around the web.

FainaAgain,

It must depend on the hotel chain. When I have compared, the AARP rate has been consistantly lower than Internet Users Rate. In fact stopped even checking the IUR.

Keith

Keith, you got me thinking... what is an unusual thing Where the heck did I see the same rate, only AARP would let me cancel?

Not my next trip to Chicago, no. Maybe Best Western in Tel Aviv? Memory lapse

Lately I have seen hotels listing AARP/and then something like "older guest" - in any event, they do not require guest to be AARP, just over age 50 to get same discount - and I have never had anyone ask for a AAA or AARP card.

I have been an AARP member for less than a year. I enjoy the magazine and have not taken advantage of any of the travel discounts.

I had no misunderstanding from the beginning that AARP would be working hard to serve my best interests with nothing in it for them...same with AAA.

I have my opinions on Social Securtiy and other issues that face older Americans. Have they formed those opinions for me? No. Can they affect my opinions? Well I don't know yet, it's up to them to try.

I just heard an AARP ad on TV claim they have over 2,000,000 members. There must be a reason.

Yes, and 2,882,955 people voted for Ralph Nader during the 2000 Presidential election.

I just went to Pearl Vision to get new glasses (the damn things are expensive). After the clerk went down a litany of insurance and discount organizations, of which one of them was AARP, I got the same discount just by being able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Stay away from Lensmaster, Budman. I can't guarntee what deal they will give you on the glasses, but their attached opticians will not give you near as good a price.

Keith

Opps, LensCrafters.

Curious, Budman and a few others, you might find it interesting if you haven't read the National Legal and Policy Centers report on the AARP - the link I have in my notes (recent gerontology graduate) and yes, over 50 yrs old, is
http://tinyurl.com/sxwgt

It's the nlpc.org web site if you can't access this link.

People have to decide for themselves, but giving this organization money , in my opinion, requires some thinking and research. It is no longer an advocacy group for the elderly (or soon to be elderly) it is a policial advocacy group which gets enormous funding not just from membership dues but from federal grants, read: taxpayers money and if they are taking money from the federal government and subsidized by them how neutral can they be on some issues (Social Security, taxes, medical, and even some instances of campaigning regarding gay rights and whether or not you are for gay rights, what is the aarp doing lobbying in that area vs. using their time and money to improve elderly rights)

Their membership numbers have also been questioned as they won't release actual numbers even though they've been asked to but just "quote a number" rather than stating the actual number of paying members, which inflates their numbers and inflates their 'power' policitally as a block.

their commercial interests far outweigh their advocacy interests as there are conflicts that naturally arise from a group who earns much of its money not from membership dues but from co-branding with companies (who often do not have elderly interests in mind) and federal grants from various branches. It's a business - they get kick backs from every group they promote as a deal for seniors which is how they also make most of their money.

So, if you are interested in what a group actually does with your money, even the small amount of dues you pay - and if you are interested in what they 'accomplish' by saying they represent x amount of members (without asking those members to vote on whether or not they do indeed support what the AARP lobbies for) everyone should read / research a bit more about them and make up your own mind. The report I mentioned above by the Policy Committee is very, very interesting reading.

Business week also had an excellent article on them back in March of 05 "By Raising it's voice, AARP raises questions" and there are several books also available on what the AARP has become in the past ten years. (Trust Betrayed, Inside the AARP and AARP: America's Most Powerful Lobby and the Clash of the Generations)

Some good resources on elderly issues can be found through the web sites for the American Society of Aging as well as the National Society on Aging.

AARP may have some 'good deals' but whether or not they come at a price - as in your membership supporting things you may not, is something an individual may want to consider.

Politics, politics! one day I am going to join AARP for discounts

AARP gets most of its budget not from dues but from selling stuff (insurance, financial services, etc).

z, from the recruitment letters I have gotten, it sounds like that is exactly what they'd like for all people over 50 to do. The letter definitely related primarily to discounts (18 of the 22 points on the back of the lette had to do w/discounts). But it seems they have a larger purpose, and I am glad it has been brought up.

emd

Have followed this thread with interest - excellent question and discussion. Have pondered the same question myself but DH is completed opposed due to AARP's political agenda so well stated by Budman and escargot.

We will not be joining AARP.

Sandy

One of the best things about this thread is that heavy politics have been discussed and no one has degenerated into name calling and bashing others not who do not think like they do. And that type of informed discussion is always more informative (and potentially persuasive) than yelling and screaming and getting the thread deleted.

Thank you, Escargot, for sharing some very interesting information.

And regarding emd's comment above: Perhaps the more mature generation has a bit more patience, tolerance, and ability to express itself without degenerating into profanity and name-calling.

Interesting thread. I belonged to AARP for a couple of years but I did not renew my membership, for reasons that others here have indicated.
I can't believe the number of mailings I still get from them "reminding" me I have not renewed my membership. I did not renew over five years ago.

Perhaps their membership has dropped considerably and consequently that is why they are sending out reminders to former members at least monthly year after year? Anyway, thanks for the good discussion!

LoveItaly, - yes, there membership has dropped , we think, over the years, but membership numbers can be inflated (like counting non dues paying members as in counting the spouse of a dues paying member since they get free membership) and other ways of skewing statistics - at one point their membership jumped by tens of thousands in a week.....think it was when they suddenly counted spouses ...and it isn't just the numbers that make them a hefty political lobbying effort -

most of their money comes from royalties and relationships with the management fees of services they promote thru co-branding - so when this is the case with any provider, a person needs to ask - are they really choosing the best provider of insurance/investing/etc for me or the one that gives them the largest share of the pie?

The second biggest money maker for them is ads - and no, they don't select which products are truly good or not or offer the best service or discount, just whoever will place an ad - which is misleading to some elderly who assume aarp is only promoting, offering, or allowing advertisers who would do best by seniors.

The 3rd largest income source is federal grants, your tax dollars, and we are talking tens of millions of dollars a year - way at the bottom of list is membership dues, etc -

the report I mention above is written by teh watchdog group for ethics in public policy, it isn't long, and has several intersting graphics.

some won't care what aarp does in other regards, but some people might, and as someone mentioned should just be informed (if they choose to be) and make their own individual decisions, but most shouldn't assume all benefits or deals are the best just because they are promoted by aarp - often better deals are elsewhere by groups who do work to benefit seniors and people in general.

even googling the history of the aarp is an interesting exercise, one we had to do for one of the classes where senior/elderly service groups was our focus.

and EMD: yes, I agree, isn't it great to just put out information, share, agree to disagree, just throw info into the mix and have it all remain as it was meant to me - just an informative, lively discussion.

and to keep this travel related, no I don't personally think the travel benefits are worth the membership.

You know I got my membership "free" when I was part-owner of a company. I am in the same group as LoveItaly now, ex-member.

Their discounts weren't considerable at all. I've always found cheaper, especially for the car/health insurance quotes I did. Car- I found cheaper by $100 for every six months.
Travel- I do better on the internet, especially with lodging.

But when I read some of their articles in years' past, my hair nearly started on fire. They are not speaking for me. And I got solicited in mail /postage for more than any $$ fee I would ever have given them if I had joined. They must be getting their money from somewhere-duh!

This is clearly not about elderly rights, but about a political lobby using the elderly as a image/ marketing facade.

Glad to see some are so discerning before the fact. Thanks for the question, emd.

As all us baby boomers need all the help we can get....

Have to go renew my membership now

The AARP web site has very useful information and even a forum! You don't have to join to use that information.

I always check both AAA and AARP for travel discounts and use what ever works best - sometimes something else!

Recently have used the AARP passport with Travelocity and that gave me even better car rental rates both here in the US and in Europe with both Hertz and Avis.

DH and I have been members for years. A great organization. We switched car insurance to AARP saved over half what we were paying. And for hotels and restaurants we use it all the time. Also we have to take the "Over 55" driving course and renewal every four years to save even more on our car insurance and AARP offers it free of charge. Well worth the price. And love their magazine, it has some extremely helpful articles.

Part of the reason they have so many members is that they make membership so cheap - my guess is that they would make even more money if membership was free since that would be more people on data base to sell, and more people to sell stuff to. But by charging a small amount, membership is perceived as more valuable - since nothing for nothing...

And the other reason is that so many peole like my in-laws get sucked into everything AARP "endorses". I long ago gave up arguing with them when they complained about all the "special interest groups" yet 2 minutes later would sing the praises of AARP.

My guess is that people posting here are not a representative sample - we are more curious (not necessarily smarter, just curious) and trying to be more informed about a number of subjects - so the fact that responses on this thread indicate knowledge of what AARP is about does not mean the majority of the US does.

I'm shocked at the perceptions people swallow whole. What Lincoln said is really true.

No advertising is allowed on Fodors, if it were allowed I could give you two major car insurance companies that are cheaper than AARP for 90% of all car insurance seekers and with local and fast response to claims.

I can't imagine what you were paying before if you think AARP car insurance or related Health insurance is a great deal.

And can anyone tell me what AARP is doing for Baby Boomers, and be specific because I'm an Economics Major first and always.

The hypocrisy in their selling Mutual Funds after taking some of the stands that they have- well it speaks for itself.

And when they did Goldie Hawn as the new 50, well I couldn't read anything in there with a straight face again. Of course, we all look just like her right.

The articles are like U.S.A. Today crossed with the Nat. Enquirer, and sometimes so circular in logic that I have wondered if they think older people are also stupid people.

This thread got me thinking. Over the years I have had conversations about ARRP with several friends and family members as everyone gets an "invitation" to join ARRP when they reach 50 it appears.

Not one person I have talked to has taken out the ARRP membership and to my knowledge not one of them is here on Fodors.

So do I have intelligent people in my life or what? LOL.

And JJ5, uhm, I don't look like Goldie Hawn either, thank goodness. Take care, I am sorry for all the burdens and sorrows you have been having.

JJ5: you ask if aarp thinks older people are stupid, - maybe , maybe not - but what they do know is what often goes hand in hand with becoming a senior citizen or elderly person - they often become anxious, worried or even frightened about their future and many don't have family members to guide them or help sift through the info, so instead they rely, sometimes blindly, on organizations and sometimes that organization is AARP - and sometimes that is unfortunate because in my mind, (and obviously in the minds of my professors while getting my recent degree in gerontology and elderly studies) feel aarp does not always have the best interests of elderly in mind, but rather the best interests of their bottom line and policical favors owed for federal grants, etc.

Many elderly need assistance and look to organizations for it - look what happened with the new prescription drug plan - most elderly couldn't even decipher it - the chocies and rules were incredibly confusing and a debacle, the country should be embarassed about.

If someone chooses to use AARP, that is fine, as long as, with anything, they are knowledgeable, IF they care about where their money is going - because when you use their services, you are putting money into their coffers, which is used to lobby politically for things that can actually make it difficult for the elderly.

Also some people just assume if something is publicized by the aarp, that the organization has reserached and found you the best deal and this is not necessarily so at all, but some, especially when they are elderly, don't have the time or perhaps the ability anymore and they rely on anything aarp says as being gospel truth.

What do they do for baby boomers? what do they do period? interested in knowing, read some of the articles, particularly the ethical one I mentioned in my first response. Just even give it an overview.

In essence, it's your hcoice - if you don't mind them using your money (co-branding kickbacks, etc as mentioned above - they don't choose the investment firm based on neutrality, but on which one gives them the best percentage back to them), and if you don't mind the things they lobby for and against, then that is any individuals choice.

It's no different than investing money individually with a firm and not knowing where they invest - if you are interested in socially sensitive investing then you find out where your money is going and what it is being used for and make your decision then. - some don't care what any company is investing in, others do.

But every time you use aarp for rentals, investments, travel, etc you are putting money into their coffers b/c of the deals they have made with these companies they 'sponsor' so to speak. So it isn't that you write a check, but you still are giving them money to fight for things you may not want.

Everything they offer is available elsewhere, including over 55 driving courses (at many major hospitals, AAA and other senior service agencies, for free and for small fees), sometimes you just have to do some research. Good sources are also the Hartford Insurance Co and AAA for just info packets and the American Society on Aging, which has good info on its web page.

AARP used to be an advocacy group, it is now a political group, they have even separated a branch info a foundation to avoid doing things they were doing and told to stop b/c they were crossing the legal line as a non profit and how they were using their grant money. This is fact, documented in articles I mentioned above.

JJ5 as an economics major, and if you have an interset in the relation to elderly, if you haven't you might find interesting articles/papers by Alicia Munnell, Patrick Purcell and the Administration on Agins Profile of Older Americans (2004), and the Global Summit on the Aging Workforce (Pfizer Journal 2005) all with economic relationships.

Ok, I ranted enough on this topic, obviously one close to my heart as I work with many seniors/ elderly who I see confused about many things....I'll get off my soapbox !! Anyone, do what you want, just know what it is you are doing and using and participating in for your own sake - so you don't give money to a group who supports something that may not be in your best interest.
Don't take anything at face value - research !!

I have been an AARP member since I retired eight years ago. As stated earlier, I make hotel reservations through them if a Holiday Inn Express is not available where I want to spend the night.

I also have my supplemental health insurance with them and have never had a problem with a claim. They have always paid what medicare doesn't cover. I chose category F because it also gives me health coverage while traveling overseas.

Thanks, escargot, for your research sources especially, but also for your thought and length of reply. I appreciate your expertise on the subject, and your training has helped you. Mine has too.

I have both AARP and AAA memberships. The travel discounts for AARP and AAA are pretty much identical. We have been asked to present our card when booking a reservation using one of these rates.

The magazine is somewhat interesting, although it used to be better when they had "My Generation" for the baby-boomers. Not all of us over 50's have a keen interest in medical supplies and programs, and pharmaceutical ads (no wonder drug prices are so high.)

AARP did enable me to obtain very low cost auto insurance through Hartford, and other agents told me that theirs were the cheapest rates we could find anywhere. We are paying just over $ 800 a year for two autos, a 2002 Volvo and a 2002 Ford Escape. This is a high limit policy that coordinates with our umbrella liability policy.

Other products they offer can be expensive, such as their Medicare part D supplement that I had to research for my parents. As in all purchases, buyer beware.

My husband also wants the AAA coverage, since we can add our daughter to the membership. That auto membership benefit has saved her a number of times when she needed service (such as the jump start her car required at 1 am on a December Monday morning at the Chicago airport instead of us driving from Milwaukee to rescue her.)

I've always seen AARP as a lobby for me -- I'm 62. It's the largest lobbying organization in the country, many tens of millions of members. Are all these people members because of low-cost insurance? I don;t think so. It's the only group where, working with local and regional AARP groups, you can get something pushed up from the bottom to the top, can make a stink, shout out an injustice and get some attention because of the huge membership. It's like being a member of a church or a political party. Of course, like anything else, you get out of it what you put in. And if you only join for the travel discounts....

saving for future reference. Not that I am that old or anything. Thanks all for the info...

We let our AARP membership expire. Then, a few weeks ago, the AARP rate ("no AAA rate available for your dates") was $50/night less at the Hilton Garden Inn where we wanted to stay (for it's proximity to family and terrific TA reviews), so I renewed our membership online immediately. I was quite impressed that I was able to print a membership card which I needed upon check-in for that rate.

Last night I saw a TV ad that shows why AARP has so many members. Older couple, wife stressing that they don't have enough life insurance, cost of burial, his bad health. He says calmly "Not to worry, we are members of AARP" and then goes on to tout some overpriced life insurance for older people.

A lot of people buy memberships becasue of, as someone mentioned earlier, the fears of older people.

Embarassed to admit we have a membership - bought by my mother for my husband on his 50th as a joke, since he dislikes the politics of AARP.

On our recent trip out west, we saved $75 each on our United air fare and $50 on the Enterprise rental car -- a total of $200 on that trip alone. Not bad for the membership fee. Many motels these days give you a discount, too.

We also have our Medigap policies with them, but I don't think you need membership to get those.

Vermonter

With just minimal research and with most online discount brokers you can get hotel rooms and car rentals for less than what AARP discounts bring you. I do it repeatedly.

The AARP is just a no brainer easy way to get SOME discount. It is not a great discount when you compare it to combo specials or the best online brokers. It's about the hotelsdiscount.com level.

I have stated that I did NOT hold an AARP, and I have AAA, and still opted for a lesser price I found by myself.

I disagree with at least 3 or 4 of their political agendas- so I would not want money from my purchases to kick back to them in any way.

I agree with one of the early posts-- the magazine alone is worth the very low annual membership fee. Also, for you "under 50" people -- I read recently that although it is not widely advertised or publicized, anyone of any age can join AARP and get the benefits as an "associate member".

I had the membership for a year and found that the discounts were not beneficial to me. Most of the travel discounts will give the same amount of discount for being a 'senior citizen'.

I would advise you to go to a few of the on-line sights you imagine yourself using this discount and compare as if you had the membership. That way you'll better be able to judge whether it will help you.

Many hotels offer regular senior rates--you don't absolutely have to be an AARP member to get them.