13 Ways AAA Members Can Save on Holiday Travel
No matter where the season takes you, AAA can help you get there for less.
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1. Hotels
Give family members a break from hosting duties and book a hotel room instead of crashing in the spare bedroom. AAA Members can save at AAA preferred hotel partners Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Best Western, and MGM Resorts while earning hotel loyalty points. Plus, thousands of properties give discounts to AAA Members, so whether you're looking for a quaint bed and breakfast or hip, urban accomodations, you can save with AAA Rates while enjoying perks like free breakfast or parking.
Holiday travel savings tip: Find and book your hotel at AAA.com/Hotels or through your phone on the AAA Mobile app. And be sure to look for the AAA Diamond designation—these hotels have been thoroughly inspected for quality, cleanliness and condition.
2. Restaurants
Whether you’re stopping for a bite along the way or taking the family out for a special dinner when nobody feels like cooking, eating out is an essential part of holiday travel. Thousands of eateries—from fast, casual fare to fine dining—offer discounts to AAA Members. You’ll find popular chains, such as Hard Rock Cafe (save 10%) and Denny’s (save 10% at participating locations), as well as many local, independently owned restaurants.
Holiday travel savings tip: One of the best ways to find AAA restaurant discounts is through the AAA Mobile app. Simply tap “Near Me” on the app’s dashboard to see local restaurants. Use the map filter to turn on “AAA Discounted” to find spots that give AAA Discounts. Or you can visit AAA.com/Save to find restaurants that offer discounts for AAA Members.
3. Gas
No one wants to pay more than they have to for gas. Find the lowest gas prices along your route by using the maps function on the AAA Mobile app. It shows the prices at thousands of gas stations—but most importantly, the ones nearest you. AAA Members can also join the Fuel Rewards Program at Shell and save at least 5¢ a gallon on every fill-up at participating Shell stations (restrictions apply).
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Holiday travel savings tip: Another budget-minded tool is the AAA Gas Cost Calculator, which you can use to estimate the amount of gas you’ll need—and how much it will cost—for your trip.
4. Rental cars (and RVs!)
If your holiday travel plans include renting a car, remember that AAA Members get up to 20% off the base rate of all rentals from Hertz, 15% off at Dollar Rent A Car and 10% off at Thrifty Car Rental. AAA Member discounts include free use of a child safety seat and a free additional driver. Visit AAA.com/CarRental to see all your available savings. Need something bigger? AAA Members can save $40 on an RV rental from GoRollick.
5. Car care
Taking your own car on a holiday road trip? You’ll want to make sure it’s in tip-top condition before you go. At AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities or AAA-Owned Car Care locations, AAA Members get a free vehicle maintenance inspection (upon request) with any paid service and 10% discount off repair labor (save up to $75 off) for regular-priced services.
Plus, members enjoy a 24-month/24,000-mile warranty on repairs at AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities or a 36-month/36,000-mile warranty at AAA-Owned Car Care locations.
Holiday travel savings tip: Should you need mats, wiper blades or other items for your car, NAPA Auto Parts stores give AAA Members 10% off on most auto parts and accessories.
6. Theme park tickets
Theme parks are festive places to spend the holidays, with twinkling light displays, live music, parades and more. AAA Members get exclusive discounts on tickets to Florida favorites, including Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Members can get discounts on tickets to other fun attractions, too, such as Dollywood, Biltmore, Georgia Aquarium, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and more.
Holiday travel savings tip: Visit AAA.com/Fun for the most up-to-date list of discounts. Or visit your local AAA branch to buy tickets.
7. Event tickets
Instead of watching A Christmas Story on cable—again!—plan to take the family out for some live entertainment. AAA Members can get discounts on tickets to events like Broadway shows, Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group performances, sporting events like NFL games, concerts, movies and more. Visit AAA.com/Tickets to see the discounts and order online.
8. Pet supplies
If any four-legged family members are joining you on your holiday getaway, get them the supplies they need through the AAA Dollars Online Mall. Members can earn AAA Dollars (which can be redeemed for cash back) at stores like Chewy and Petco. Members also save 30% on the first year of membership in Help4Pets, a pet emergency tag system that works whether you’re at home or on the road.
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9. Airport parking
Before you jet off on your holiday getaway, start your trip off on the right foot by saving a few dollars. At some major airports, AAA Members save 20% off The Parking Spot’s near-airport parking. The service includes shuttle service, luggage assistance—and even chilled bottled water!
10. Passport photos
If you need passport photos, head to your local AAA branch. They’re free for AAA Plus Members (two sets) and for AAA Premier Members (unlimited sets).
Holiday travel savings tip: Most AAA branches offer passport photos, but it’s best to call ahead to make sure.
11. Concierge service
On the road, you can have your own personal concierge—if you’re a Premier Member of AAA. Call the number on your membership card for free help with buying theater and sporting event tickets—even to order a car service in a foreign country.
12. AAA Travel Guides
Talk about a discount—AAA’s online travel guides are free. They cover top destinations in the United States and around the world and include maps, advice on getting around and finding fun things to see and do, and listings for AAA Approved and Diamond-designated hotels and restaurants.
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13. Clothes and gear
Taking a holiday trip to the mountains and need hiking boots? Or maybe you’re setting off for a warmer climate and need a swimsuit? Don’t forget to save with AAA when you’re buying the clothes you need. Members can also get cash back when shopping through the AAA Dollars Online Mall at stores like Macy’s, Kohl's, JCPenney and Dick’s Sporting Goods. You'll earn AAA Dollars which can be redeemed for cash back.