Recap of the AAA Travel Expo and the Value of a AAA Membership

I was super excited to attend my second AAA Travel Expo last week, and the event did not disappoint!

Held on a cold, snowy day in Indianapolis, the AAA Hoosier Motor Club welcomed hundreds of travel enthusiasts for a day packed with travel inspiration, vacation deals, and plenty of reminders about the value of AAA membership.

I left with a bag full of travel guides and goodies and a head full of travel wisdom and resources I’m excited to pass along to you!

The Value of a AAA Membership

AAA membership was not a requirement to attend the expo, but there are so many reasons to become a AAA member! I couldn’t pass up the chance to learn from the many AAA representatives at the expo who were ready and willing to help attendees with all their travel-related needs.

Watch this video for a glimpse inside the AAA Travel Expo and a great overview of the many services AAA offers for travelers of all ages and stages!

Don’t worry if you missed the AAA Travel Expo as the benefits of a AAA membership are available all year long!

Now here’s a recap of those valuable services:

Roadside Assistance

Probably the most well-known service available to AAA members is their roadside assistance.

Stuck with a flat tire? Locked your keys in your car? Slid off the road on a patch of ice?

AAA to the rescue when you need a jump start or a tow!

Good to Know: AAA members are covered as both a driver and a passenger in any vehicle.

Travel Planning and Packages

Sit down with a AAA travel agent to discuss your next big adventure. Get travel tips, explore vacation packages, and pick up travel brochures from the experts in the industry.

Good to Know: You actually don’t have to be a AAA member to take advantage of AAA’s Travel Planning Services, but you will be so impressed with their assistance that you’ll want to become a member to take advantage of all the other benefits and discounts!

Travel Discounts

You may be aware that AAA membership can get you discounts at several well-known hotels and car rental companies. But did you know that AAA discounts extend to gas stations, museums, restaurants, a variety of stores and much more? You can even use your AAA membership to get a discount on travel items sold in the AAA Travel Store at your local membership office.

Go to AAA.com and enter your zip code to find the local deals available to you!

Good to Know: The travel discounts available through AAA membership easily outweigh the cost of membership, making this a wise and financially smart travel decision.  Membership pays for itself after accessing just a few of AAA’s amazing discounts!

Insurance

Don’t overlook the many insurance options available through AAA. Whether you need a new home, car, or life insurance policy or just want to compare rates to see how your current policy holds up, AAA can assist.

AAA also provides just about any kind of travel-related insurance you may need, such as trip cancelation coverage, insurance for your boat or RV, and international medical insurance coverage.

Good to Know: You can get a free insurance quote online at AAA.com, by calling 1-866-209-8442, or by visiting your local AAA branch.

AAA Membership Details

Questions about AAA membership and access to all the services AAA provides?

Visit AAA.com or call Call 1-800-874-7317.

Good to Know: As part of my partnership with AAA Hoosier Motor Club I am able to offer a special deal to Traveling Tanya’s followers in Indiana! Purchase a new AAA membership and waive the $15 enrollment fee by using this code*: TETT20

*Offer available until 3-30-20 and is only for Indiana residents through AAA Hoosier Motor Club

Highlights of the AAA Travel Expo

Now here’s what you missed if you didn’t make it to this year’s AAA Travel Expo!

Outside in Indianapolis, it may have been cold, but inside the JW Marriott at the AAA Travel Expo, it was warm and inviting. It was the perfect atmosphere to start picturing myself in an exciting new destination!

Exhibitor Booths

More than 30 travel vendors packed the ballroom and shared their passion for their particular destination or mode of travel.

Roadtrips in the Midwest

I spent a decent amount of my time chatting with a variety of vendors highlighting Midwest destinations that would be perfect for my next road trip.

I’m always impressed with the variety of sights to visit in Ohio, so I definitely see another road trip to the Buckeye State in my near future.

Between the booths for Ohio’s Appalachian Country and Northeast Ohio, I loaded up on ideas and literature about unique BnBs, a Christmas museum, and several wineries that were all calling my name.

I also picked up info about the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton that I know my husband would love. The friendly rep shared an array of additional activities in the area that would help me build a fun-filled weekend getaway. I was sold as soon as he started talking about the local wineries!

Since we make frequent trips down to Kentucky, I also paid a visit to the Louisville Tourism booth and let them know about my recent article on their awesome city!

Right next door (at the Expo and on the map) was the Southern Indiana Tourism booth. I had to snap this photo of the Abbey Road on the River info as I fondly recalled attending this awesome Beatles Tribute festival several years ago.

That’s definitely a festival I need to revisit in the near future!

Tropical Getaways

With an array of booths focused on tropical destinations, it was easy to mentally transport myself out of winter and onto a sandy beach!

For those planning a destination wedding or just looking for some fun in the sun, the AAA Travel Expo offered a variety of vendors that were ready to get you beachfront.

I haven’t made it to Jamaica…yet. But I had to stop by and see the representative for the Jamaica Tourist Board. Last year he piqued my interest in Jamaica with his evident love for this tropical destination, and his passion has only increased.

Check out this impromptu video I took of the charismatic Sean-Pierre!

Travel Presentations

With all the great presentations being offered, deciding which ones to attend was no easy decision! I only had time for 2, and they both turned out to be time very well spent.

Secrets of Packing Light & Smart with Anne McAlpin

The headliner for this year’s AAA Travel Expo was travel guru and packing expert, Anne McAlpin.

“If you want to get away from it all, don’t take it all with you!”
Anne McAlpin

While most travelers agree it is smart to pack light, many of us lack the skills or dedication to ditch the oversized suitcase for fear of not having all the “essentials” during our trip.

I’m a work in progress when it comes to packing light! While I have written my own post about packing and even made a video to show my process, I learned several new tips from Anne that I can’t wait to try out!

Here are just a few of the travel tips and packing nuggets I gleaned from Anne’s presentation:

• Take a photo of your suitcase before each trip…just in case it gets lost so you can help the airline find it faster!
• Also take a photo of where you parked your car so you can easily find it when you return in a fog of jet lag.
• Use hotel shower caps as shoe covers to keep the dirt and grime from your shoes away from your clothes.
• Bring 3 pairs of shoes, max. Wear 1 and pack 2. Women’s shoes can fit inside men’s shoes to save space!
• Anne’s recommended clothes ratio is 3 tops for every 1 bottom. For a week away, bring 9 tops and 3 bottoms.
• Thread necklaces through a drinking straw to keep them from tangling.
• Use compression bags to pack coats and other bulky items to save space. No equipment needed as you simply squeeze the air out by hand. These bags can also be used to keep your dirty clothes separate and will keep your clean clothes from smelling bad! I picked up a 2-pack at the expo!

I’ll be leaving for Las Vegas in less than 2 weeks, and I can’t wait to get packing and try out several of Anne’s tips!

For even more packing hacks, follow Anne on Facebook @packitupwithanne or at packitup.com.

Italy with Trafalgar/CostSaver

I also attended Trafalgar’s presentation. Trafalgar has been helping travelers explore the world in style for more than 7 decades.

For those who want the experts to take care of all the travel logistics so they can sit back and enjoy the journey, Trafalgar is the perfect option.

After the presentation, I had to catch up with Matt to find out a bit more about Trafalgar and the special CostSaver trip AAA Hoosier Motor Club is offering this year to my favorite destination…Italy!

As the name infers, CostSaver provides a less expensive option. Trafalgar still provides a Travel Director and coordinates all the critical travel details, but travelers have more flexibility to structure each day to meet their unique interests and budgets.

In September a group of Hoosiers will be venturing to beautiful Italy with Trafalgar on this CostSaver trip. To find out more and reserve your spot, reach out to AAA Hoosier Motor Club.

Travel Store

The AAA Travel Expo also included an opportunity to do some shopping!

The onsite Travel Store included luggage, toiletry kits, neck pillows, packing cubes, gadgets galore and so much more.

No worries if you missed out on this shopping opportunity as you can find many of these travel items available for purchase at most local AAA offices.

Bonus: Get an extra discount with your AAA Membership!

What I Missed

With more than 30 exhibitors, 13 travel presentations, and numerous AAA travel agents standing by there was so much to see and do at the AAA Travel Expo this year.

I couldn’t possibly do it all! This year I didn’t get a chance to visit the many cruise line booths or those specializing in train travel.  The Allianz Travel Insurance representative was in high demand so I never got to talk to him. And there were several intriguing presentations that I just couldn’t fit in.

All of this just makes me excited to return for the 2021 AAA Travel Expo!

I hope to see you there!

Are you a AAA member? Which AAA services do you find most valuable?

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

A huge thank you to AAA Hoosier Motor Club for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

P.S. Subscribe to my email list here and never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips…plus I’ll send you my free Packing List!

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