UPDATE: AAA Membership Will Help Millions Save Money This Holiday Season
Finding budget-stretching shopping discounts, travel deals and cheaper gasoline prices are just some of the ways AAA will help consumers this Fall and Winter
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While the worst of the recession may now be in the rearview mirror, many families are still searching for creative ways to stretch their holiday budgets this year.
Whether these expenditures involve gift-giving, travel or dining out, there are a variety of ways AAA can help its more than 51 million members financially this holiday season.
Rather than trying to save money by searching local shopping malls for a bargain, eating at fast food restaurants, and haggling with telephone operators for a decent hotel rate, AAA members can simply reach into their wallets for instant savings. They are also protected in several ways from major automotive-related expenses. And, they can go online to AAA.com to access various tools and products that will aid them this holiday season. If a family member or friend is not already a member of AAA, membership makes a great money-saving gift too. To join, go to AAA.com.
Six ways AAA helps consumers stretch and protect their holiday budgets
1. Before they reach into their wallet for cash or a credit card, millions
of AAA members pull out their membership card. AAA's Show Your Card &
Save(R) program is available at more than 164,000 locations in North
America. Deals include discounts on meals, hotel rooms, themed
attractions, car rentals, movie tickets, apparel and footwear, vision
care, prescriptions and auto parts. Members also save online with
well-known general merchandise retailers, as well as with many of the
Internet's best known and trusted specialty stores on items such as
jewelry, floral arrangements, books and other media, and luggage. Visit
AAA.com/discounts for a complete list. Last year, members saved an
estimated $2.1 billion via the Show Your Card & Save program.
2. When holiday plans include travel, seasoned travelers know to call or
visit a AAA travel agent or go online to AAA.com/travel. AAA Travel
Agency services are available to members and non-members, although
members are entitled to special benefits. AAA, which operates the
largest leisure travel agency network in North America, is able to
provide access to unmatched travel values via its industry partnerships
with leading travel providers, including the best tour and cruise
companies, a wide range of hotel operators, numerous themed attractions
and special destinations. In the current economy steep discounts, as
well as free upgrades and extras are not uncommon, but holiday
travelers should seek up-to-the-minute information for the best deals.
3. AAA members don't need to search all over town for the best prices on
gasoline. Many members and non-members go to www.aaa.com/triptik for
information on local gas prices updated as frequently as four times per
day. AAA's special relationship with the nation's leading provider of
retail fuel price information - Oil Price Information Service - makes
this information available on AAA's trip mapping and planning tool.
This is also the ideal place to plan your holiday road trip. You can
find hotels, restaurants and other points of interest. Plus, you can
plot your travels to avoid toll roads if you wish. AAA maps and AAA
TourBook(R) guides are also available free to members at their local
office.
4. A definite holiday budget buster can be an unexpected breakdown or
major car repair. As a free public service, AAA inspects auto repair
shops around the country and only approves those that meet and
continually maintain high professional standards for equipment,
customer service, cleanliness and training. To search for a AAA
Approved Auto Repair shop nearby, visit AAA.com/repair. AAA recommends
all motorists have their vehicles thoroughly inspected by a qualified
technician at least once each year; especially if they are
contemplating a long road trip. Regular inspections and maintenance can
help consumers avoid major repair expenses, or the frustrating
inconvenience of an automotive breakdown.
5. When it comes to paying for all those holiday items, members can use a
AAA credit card and reward themselves at the same time. The AAA
WorldPoints(R) card allows members to earn points redeemable for cash,
merchandise, gift cards, travel and more. Or, they can use the AAA
Cash Rewards card that pays back 1 percent of total net retail
purchases and there are no tiers to meet in order to get the best
return possible. Cardholders not only get some of the best rewards
available, the added benefits include no annual fee, reduced foreign
transaction fee, and zero fraud liability.
6. Should their vehicle fail them during the holiday rush, AAA's legendary
emergency road service is just a phone call or email away for members.
Basic membership includes free towing from three to five miles
(depending on local club policies) to any destination. AAA Plus
members are entitled to 100 miles of free towing in any direction.
Unlike most road service plans, AAA membership provides coverage for
any vehicle they are driving or riding in. Experienced drivers know
the expense of a tow alone will frequently pay the full cost of a one
year membership in AAA. In addition, the motor club's unique abilities
as a roadside problem solver means members are not left alone to find a
repair shop, arrange their own towing, secure a rental car or even make
hotel arrangements should their holiday trip be disrupted. Last year,
AAA responded to more than 29 million calls for roadside assistance.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
Stay connected with AAA on the web via:
Twitter.com/AAAnews
Twitter.com/AAAauto
Twitter.com/AAA_Travel
Twitter.com/AAADiscounts
YouTube.com/AAA
MySpace.com/AAAeveryday
AAA fan page on Facebook.com
AAA news releases, high resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact
sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.
Listen to a podcast about his news release at
http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=5&SubCategoryID=48
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
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