I have been a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) since I was 16 and they have definitely helped me in a few awkward situations: when a BBQ got stuck under my car on the freeway (true story!), when I drove over a curb by accident and got stuck, and the multiple times I got a flat tire while having to park on the streets of Berkeley, California during college. While I still rely on them for roadside service, I have discovered the many travel and dining discounts they provide for members.

In addition to their full-service travel agency, AAA also provides discounts on individual hotel bookings so you can plan a more independent trip.

To do a search, either go to AAA.com and search for properties or search your preferred hotel brand’s site. Many hotel sites, like Hilton.com, offer a space to input your membership number to quote you the preferred AAA rate. A nice perk of Hilton.com is that it compares other available rates to the AAA rate so you can see which is lower. If you are taking a road-trip and will not be booking reservations ahead of time, I recommend picking up one of their guide books (available at most branch offices) which lists properties by city. If you are concerned about spotty cell or Internet access, a good old-fashioned book may be the best way to go.

I have also used my AAA card to get discounts on sightseeing tours. While in Mexico, I showed my card and got a 10% discount on a Gray Line Tour to Chichen Itza from Cancun. Gray Line offers tours all over the world so I usually check out their site before departing on a trip.

Additionally, you can save money on car rentals, restaurants, online purchases, admission tickets, and even passport photos by visiting their user-friendly site. For those traveling abroad, they have separate sites that will allow you to search for discounts in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

For more information on joining AAA, please visit their site to learn more about the various levels of membership.

If you have any comments of questions, please post here or email kristina@diwyy.com.

-Kristina