HOW TO TAKE A SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND MEMORABLE ROAD TRIP

MARCH 4TH, 2021

Spring break is here! After a year of being stuck at home and avoiding adventure at all costs, you may be ready to pack your bags and flee town for a while. We don’t blame you. If flight travel is still out of the question, we encourage you to reimagine the traditional spring break and do something a little different. We’re talking about a spring break road trip. Below are a few ways you can hit the road and have fun in ways that don’t compromise your financial well-being or your safety.

Prep Your Car

If you plan to take your own vehicle on your mini-vacay, make sure it’s up for the trip. If you haven’t done so in a while, bring your car into the shop for a quick tune-up. At the very least, check the oil and have it changed, assess the tires (including the spare), change the air filter, and make sure the headlights and taillights work properly. Don’t break the bank bringing your car up to speed. Use your AAA membership to score discounts at AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities or remember to visit a NAPA AUTO PARTS store where you can save on all the things to do it yourself. 

Want to give your car a vacation or need a little elbow room for your road trip? No sweat. With AAA you get exclusive discounts and benefits when renting your vehicle through HertzDollar, or Thrifty Car Rental.

Plan Ahead

While Hollywood’s version of a road trip — one in which you hit the road without a plan, explore unknown areas and stumble upon hidden gems — is romantic, it’s not practical. To save the most money, and ensure you have safe places to rest, eat and stay, put together a loose itinerary that pinpoints open restaurants, affordable preferred hotels and open attractions. Use our digital Travel Guides or TourBooks to take the hassle out of planning and to access everything you need from the palm of your hands.

Planning what to pack is also important. Whether you need luggage, backpacks or travel accessories, remember that AAA members save on in-store and online purchases at Samsonite.

Purchase Tickets

If you already know what attractions you want to see ahead of time, make reservations via their websites. Not only is this mandatory at most places right now but also, it guarantees you won’t be turned away due to strict occupation limits. Also, when you buy tickets through AAA, you enjoy discounts that could add up to hundreds of dollars in savings for your entire family.

Embrace the Outdoors

During the pandemic, everyone was forced to get a bit creative in terms of ways to entertain themselves outside of the home. If you live in an area with higher COVID-19 numbers, you may be limited in where you can go and when. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still make the most of your time off. Use TripTik Planner to find national parks, recreational areas and other outdoor attractions along your route. If you prefer the comforts of home, AAA offers members discounts on hotels; however, if you don’t feel comfortable staying in a hotel, use the AAA Mobile App to find places to camp that boast family-friendly features and modern amenities.

The pandemic may have made it challenging for you to get away but not impossible. This spring, embrace all that your region has to offer via a short but still exciting spring break road trip. Fill-up your car and take AAA discounts with you to save along the way.