10 AAA Discounts To Save on Holiday Travel

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The holiday season is in full swing, with an estimated 160 million Americans making plans to travel during the merriest — and busiest — time of the year.

If you are one of those millions, you may not know that your AAA membership comes with numerous discounts that can reduce your overall expenditures and make your trip that much better. AAA discounts help you save big on items ranging from car rentals to hotel stays and travel protection.

Read: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack

Here’s how you can use your AAA discounts to score great deals on items and services that rack up expenses during the holidays.

Membership Types

AAA, or the American Automobile Association, offers its members exclusive discounts on items and services. There are three types of membership tiers: Classic, Plus and Premier.

• AAA Classic costs $64.00 annually. It includes lockout services, roadside assistance, discounts on numerous services, and identity theft monitoring.
• AAA Plus costs $99.99 a year. It has all the perks of the classic membership but also includes lost baggage insurance and higher discounts on select services.
• AAA Premier is the highest tier, costing $125.00 annually. It comes with the best discounts, has all the services of Classic and Plus, and includes trip coverage, travel insurance, accident services, and a one-day rental at no charge with every tow service.

Bus Tours

When visiting a big city or sightseeing hotspot, you can hop on a bus tour that takes away the hassle of exploring on your own and falling into a tourist trap.

Whether you are unfamiliar with the area or don’t want to drive, AAA offers discounts on select bus tours that may operate in your city.

Discount percentages vary depending on your city, tour length and type, with Flex Pass options available. Some tours are half-day events, while others last a few hours depending on the sights and attractions available.

Hotel Discounts

Hotel bookings surge during the holidays, making it difficult to find an ideal room with a low price. But with your AAA membership, you can benefit from holiday discounts and deals on reputable hotels nationwide. The options are pretty varied as well, including:

• Best Western Hotels & Resorts
• Hilton Hotels and Resorts
• Hyatt
• Marriot
• MGM Resorts International

You can receive discounts on all brands associated with these chains, included under the AAA/CAA Preferred Hotel Partners umbrella. As a member, these AAA hotel discounts help you save between 5-15% on bookings, with chances to earn points.

Car, Motorhome and Truck Rentals

Opting for a rental vehicle is a convenient way to get around when you can’t drive to your destination but can’t last long without a vehicle when you get there. Fortunately, your AAA car rental discount comes in handy when you want to slash the prices of your rental.

With an AAA membership, you can receive up to a 20% discount when you opt for a car from Hertz Car Rental and up to 10% on cars from Dollar Rent-A-Car.

If you want to rent an RV, motorhome or trailer, you can benefit from AAA’s discounts with Outdoorsy and Penske.

Travel Protection and Privileges

The holidays are bright, bustling, and hectic — but not when you are dealing with travel delays, bad weather and emergencies when you are far from home.

As an AAA member, you can shake off some of the stress, knowing that you get exclusive privileges, deals and discounts when booking through the site.

You also get price reductions on trip insurance, rush passport services, group travel savings, AAA flight discounts and banking deals.  

International Driving Permits

If you are traveling abroad, knowing that you can get an International Driving Permit, or IDP, through your AAA membership gives you peace of mind.

The International Driving License is valid in over 150 countries, serving not just as a license but as a form of identification even if you don’t want to drive during your stay.

While the service costs $20 to get your IDP, Premier AAA members receive their IDPs and four sets of photos for free.

Discounted Cruise Fares

If you want to spend the holidays sailing on the deep blue sea, AAA offers discounted cruise fares on some of the most in-demand lines nationwide.

You can receive excellent deals for local and international cruises when you are an AAA member, on lines including:

• Royal Caribbean International
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Carnival Cruises
• Princess Cruises

Additionally, you can receive up to $300 in air credit on select bookings, 24/7 member care and unique vacation amenities when you book through the site.

Theme Parks and Resorts

Going to a theme park on vacation is a fun-filled way to bring smiles to the entire family. Whether you are looking for adventure or fun in the sun, your AAA membership lets you enjoy discounted ticket prices to:

• Walk Disney World Resort
• Universal Orlando Resort
• San Diego Zoo & Safari Park
• Universal Studios Hollywood
• SeaWorld
• Busch Gardens Tampa
• Madame Tussauds
• Aquatica
• Discovery Cove
• Adventure Island
• Sesame Place
• Legoland

You can also receive reduced rates on Go City Cards and combined CityPASS attraction prices.

Customized Vacation Packages

Many people don’t know that besides roadside assistance, an AAA membership also helps them benefit from vacation packages and travel planning at discounted rates.

You can visit the website, speak to an agent, discuss your plans, and receive excellent deals on hotels, rentals, restaurants, airline tickets, and other travel essentials. You can also choose from multiple vacation packages in local and international destinations.

Online Purchases and Subscription Services

Shopping for the holidays just got better with AAA’s discounts on online purchases.

Check the website often to discover the latest deals on the stores and businesses you love to shop from, as they change frequently.

Your options range from electronics to monthly box subscription services for pets and people, other types of subscription services and flower delivery.

Concert and Movie Tickets

If your favorite band or artist is in town, enjoy discounted tickets and event perks through your AAA membership.

Your membership lets you pay less for movie tickets at multiple theaters nationwide, including Regal, United Artists, Cinemark, Showcase Cinemas and AMC.

Benefitting From Your AAA Membership

AAA’s unique member privileges help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your upcoming holiday trip, especially if you are part of a large group or family.

With perks that range from savings on hotel bookings to top-tier roadside services when you are on the go, you can cover multiple trip expenses with one membership this holiday season.

Information is accurate as of Dec. 19, 2023.

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