How My AAA Membership Saved Me Over $100 on a Hotel

Your AAA membership could unlock a cheaper hotel stay for your next trip.

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Key points

• AAA memberships offer more than 24/7 roadside assistance.
• You can use your membership benefits to get travel discounts and more.
• Find out how a writer used her perks to save over $100 on a hotel.

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A membership in the American Automobile Association (AAA) can get you roadside assistance 24/7. But help with car trouble isn’t the only valuable benefit of this membership.

You can get discounts on trips, attractions, restaurants and more. Recently I used my AAA membership to get over $100 off a hotel stay. Find out how you could use your membership to save money on your next vacation.

Luckily, I haven’t had to use my AAA membership to get out of a stressful driving situation in many years. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get value from my membership.

My birthday is coming up, so I decided to book a weekend for myself and my husband. When booking the hotel, I remembered to check if the hotel offered a AAA rate. They did – which meant my weekend was about to get cheaper.

The hotel offered me two ways to save. I could save 20% by booking a non-refundable room or 15% by making a reservation that I could cancel up to 48 hours before my arrival. I appreciate flexibility, so I booked the refundable room and took a slightly lower discount.

So how much did I save? $113. It only took a few seconds to take advantage of this discount. I now have more money in my vacation budget to spend on a nice birthday dinner.

I also paid for the room with a travel rewards credit card, so I will earn rewards on my spending, which I can redeem for free trips in the future.

How to get the most out of your AAA membership

Do you have a AAA membership? While it’s worth having peace of mind with roadside assistance coverage, if you’re not using any of your membership benefits, you’re missing out on ways to save money.

Here are some suggestions that might help you get the most out of your AAA membership:

Don’t overlook travel discounts: You can book travel through the AAA travel portal to get great deals. You can also get a discount by booking directly with participating hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, and more. Simply mention that you are a member and show your card at check-in to take advantage of discounted rates.

Save money on attractions and event tickets: You can also use your membership to secure deals on admission tickets to attractions and events. It could make your next family vacation or weekend adventure a whole lot more affordable.

Pay less for electronics: If you need a new cell phone, TV or laptop, you can get a discount from eligible partners including HP and Samsung.

But the savings don’t stop there. You can save money in another way with these seven little-known benefits of AAA. You’re paying for your subscription, so be sure to use it to its full potential.

Use your membership benefits

It is worth checking the available discounts from time to time. You can download the AAA mobile app to your phone to easily view your membership benefits and discounts. You may be missing out on valuable membership benefits.

Are you looking for ways to improve your financial situation? See our personal finance resources for additional advice.