AAA TripTiks

[Tachdriver]

I have a membership with AAA that goes back generations with my family. I am used to getting TripTiks and construction information before any of my lengthy trips.

Last week I went in to get a TripTik from KY to FL that I will be leaving in two weeks (yay, I cannot wait, Ft. Desoto here I come). The person working with me showed me that the TripTiks come in booklets vs the older-style narrow flip charts. She entered my information in and printed it out and made a booklet for me.

I am disappointed in AAA for going this route and here is why,
The booklet is much like Map Quest, complete instructions on where to turn. If the printer is having a bad day the map image will be smeared. Construction information is lacking.

1) My range is about 150 towing my TT so I like to have distance reference between major cities. The booklet has no distances between the major cities.

2) The off ramps on the map image are marked with numbers, however not every off ramp is notated.

3) The construction shown on the new booklet does not show which side of the highway, in the old days the AAA person would notate it on the map in ink.

4) in Metropolitan areas or areas that you are your final destination the map are too high level and not detailed.

Ok, I admit this is a rant, I am old school but I do use a GPS. I used to use a Tom Tom and ended up using my smart phone, the Tom Tom needed to have the maps updated. I like paper to write one, I guess I need to do the research for the construction myself.

Anyone here use TripTiks and will you continue to use the new format?

Sorry to post a cousin to another thread but he got me thinking.

[Tachdriver]

In a way I hope AAA does not come the way of Radio Shack, where they do not recalibrate or rebrand. Yes the towing and locksmith services are worth it, as I had to take advantage of it every now and then but the services on trip planning seem to be outdone.

If you look at the apps on smartphones you can get gas prices, locations of rest areas, campgrounds etc. Technology is outpacing the old services we used to get. Time to recalibrate!

[johnnyrv]

I prefer the old trip ticks also, but having a gps is so much better

[brunella]

I am also disappointed in the trip tips Miss the maps on the back of page that gave you an overview of where you were the are much harder to follow & will not use them again!

[Duck]

I still like the old fashion maps. I carry them for highways of the states and also city maps. guess I just like to fold things,
Don

[nbking]

I have also been a member of AAA(or CAA in Canada) and also have an issue with the new triptiks. They do not show rest areas and are very difficult to follow compared to the old ones. I know enough now to request the old style whenever I get one but don't know how long that will last.

They did say they were phasing out the old style triptiks. If they do, I would consider quitting and finding something else or doing without. I can get the same type of massive information(too much of what I don't want and not enough of what I need) from Mapquest.

[BubbaChris]

I'm a 25+ year member and mostly got my money's worth from the maps and discounts.

I'm disappointed they stopped printing the maps for my new hometown because the local Chamber of Commerce produces one. The CofC version sucks compared to the AAA version, filled with ads and loses about 20% of the extra details I'd prefer to see.

[Bob_Vaughn]

No way in hell would I ever pay for AAA ......we had a friend who worked in the British Embassy in DC and when in England she had British Motor club and she towed a small caravan with her car. So when she got posted to the US she bought AAA ......on a trip with here 13' tt behind her car she had a flat on the tt on I-95 in Va. she called the number and after an hour waiting on the shoulder of the highway in the sweltering heat a truck finally showed up. The guy told her they did not do trailer tires. Now this lady was in her 60's it would have been an easy task for this punk to change out the tire. He got back into his truck and left. He just left her standing by the road. Shortly there after a good samaritan stopped and changed her tire and got her back on the road. When she relayed the story to the other members of our camping club they too had equally as horrifying stories about AAA. Some years later Good Sam came out with there road service....

[Duck]

I have been a member since 1975. Technology change has made them change the way the operate. I keep them for the road service and homeowners insurance. Used the road service for a tire change on my truck last week, Don

[CavemanCharlie]

I also have AAA going back generations. I have used the Trip Ticks but, I don't travel far from home much so I would probably be happy with the new method should I ever travel far again.

I used my AAA card twice in the last 2 years. Once when my car broke down. A second time when I locked my keys in the car and found the key holder I had hidden under the car years ago had fallen off so I then had no extra keys.

Those 2 times easily saved me hundreds of dollars. I will not be without it. But, that being said. I have heard that there are newer versions that might be better , though I can't see how. There are so many AAA tow trucks around. One of them is 25 miles from me and is a friend of mine. Plus, if there is not local AAA truck they will pay for. at least part, of a local tow.

Tow trucks can be major rip offs. (The local one a few miles away is just plain a um,, jerk.) It's a good idea to have an alternative plan.

[darsben]

Get Street Atlas from Delorme it allows you to print strip maps very similar to AAA triptik. At least my 2009 edition does

[unionman]

If you ask for the old one they will do it for you. I felt the same way you did & they did it for me. But I cancelled anyway. Too much $ for what you got.