Thread: AARP, is it any good?

Originally Posted by GeneK

I always throw their mail away, but today I was getting ready to toss it in the trash and noticed that members get discounts on hotels and cruises. Is this correct? Should I become a member? The cost is cheap, only $16 a year. Any feedback from any of you who are AARP members?

Gene bottom line is yes it can save you money...for example NCL offers exclusive AARP discounts.. and on a more everyday level.. I know a lot of people that utilize their supplemental insurances as well..not only convenience but for major savings as well..
so yes.. it is well worth the 16 dollars a year.. of course this is JMHO

I have been an AARP member for many, many years.

I have no idea why I keep renewing my membership.

On HAL all we can get is a $50 discount on the fare -- and if we accept that discount -- HAL won't let us have all the $$$ of shipboard credit that we can get.

Originally Posted by Krazy Kruizers

I have been an AARP member for many, many years.

I have no idea why I keep renewing my membership.

Plus i get free salad bar and beverage at sizzler....

I just got an email from Smarter Travel that linked me to an article about travel discount programs. Here is what they said about both AARP and AAA:

"AAA

Many travelers tend to take advantage of AAA's travel discount program, particularly in regard to hotel stays. While you can often get a few bucks knocked off a hotel's per-night rate, be sure to shop around before choosing the AAA rate to ensure it's the lowest or best fit for you.

I tested AAA prices against other rate classes at several hotels in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. In two cases (New York and Chicago), I found the AAA rate was equal to the hotels' other promotional prices, and in San Francisco the AAA price was the lowest available. Additionally, I found that the AAA rate offered greater flexibility than some of the other sales, in that the only requirement was presenting the card at check-in. Some of the properties' other sale rates required payment in advance, no cancellations or refunds, and other restrictions.

In short, every property is different and may have a variety of pricing structures. Do a little legwork to see what else is on hand before booking. While you may find the AAA rate fits your budget, there may be other sales that offer lower prices—you'll only know if you do a bit of advance research.


AARP

AARP's "discounts" are the most disingenuous of the programs I researched. On the AARP travel website, you'll see an "AARP Travel Center" reservations area, affiliated with Expedia. I tested a variety of hotels to see if senior-only special offers or discounts were featured in the search results, and found in most cases they were not—the AARP results were nearly identical with Expedia.com's own sale offerings for almost every property I checked.

As with AAA, you'll have to do a bit of digging to determine if AARP's discounts offer a good value. Don't assume the first price you see is the lowest, whether you've found it on AARP or elsewhere. Compare prices among a variety of providers, and call companies directly to see if senior discounts or other sales (open to anyone) are available."


Keep in mind this is the author's opinion, not mine. To read about the other programs they reviewed:
Best (and Worst) Travel Discount Programs - SmarterTravel.com