Roadside assistance

[didcotnumber1]

I need to sign up for Roadside assistancefor my upcoming trip...which is the best ? bearing in mind I will have three kids in the van, so I'll need help fast when I call them

[AZBuck]

There are contributers to this forum who work for AAA, so before they pop on let me say that without prejudice and without question AAA is the best. I have used them for many, many years and they have never let me down. They are truly nationwide, and almost everywhere operate 24/7. They cannot be beat for service, attitude, or value. And their Triptiks are the driver-friendliest maps available.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

I need to sign up for Roadside assistancefor my upcoming trip...which is the best ?

I agree with AzBuck as long as you are speaking about passenger cars and trucks -- Emergency Road Service provided by Good Sam is the clear superior provider for RVs. As far as TripTiks go -- I am not a fan, but for those who might be map-challenged they do provide some useful information.

Mark

[didcotnumber1]

thanks I was leaning towards AAA as it was, I take it the premier package is best as appossed to the basic...must say this site has been a great source of advice and tips for my trip..thanks....a scotsman far away from home

[Mark Sedenquist]

thanks I was leaning towards AAA as it was, I take it the premier package is best as appossed to the basic.

I have been a basic/standard member for about three decades (I didn't even know -- until I read your post -- that other membership options were available). In my view, the standard is just about all you will need. The one thing that you won't find out on the official AAA sites is that AAA doesn't pay their vendor members as fast as some of the smaller vendors would like. That being said, AAA tends to ensure that all AAA vendors are diligent about responding quickly as there is some sort of graduated payment schedule for quicker responses (all very hush-hush). The huge advantage of AAA is that the work represents a significant part of that towing/service vendor's revenue each month and so they tend to respond fast. In fact, I know for a fact, that in many areas of the country AAA tow drivers monitor the local state police radio bands and often get rolling before the dispatch order comes in... The other advantage, of course, is that you will be getting service from local vendors who also know the names and addresses of other local kinds of businesses and stores, should you need that kind of assistance.

Mark

[AZBuck]

To be honest, I have never needed more than the basic plan, which is pretty comprehensive. And to give Mark his due, I do not use TripTiks for planning or hard navigation purposes. But for one-handed operation while driving, to just quickly see how soon the next rest area or exit with services is coming up, they can't be beat. Note that I said they were driver-friendly. You really should know where you're going before you get behind the wheel.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

But for one-handed operation while driving, to just quickly see how soon the next rest area or exit with services is coming up, they can't be beat. Note that I said they were driver-friendly. You really should know where you're going before you get behind the wheel.

Therein lies the rub -- I am a firm believer in the mosey style of roadtripping -- whenever that is possible and I think TripTiks take away too much of the "not-knowing-up-lies-ahead" aspect of roadtripping. The only reason I make reservations these days is that I need broadband Internet access, but knowing where the next rest stop is... well, that is not something I spend much effort thinking about.. before I need one.

The other problem with TripTiks is they will never route folks down the dangerous, or at least interesting back road byways that I find appealing.

I do have to relate on recent road trip experience straight out the comic books --- on a back road lane -- someone had changed the angle of a sign so that we followed the sign instead of common sense (the road was heading away from where we thought it should be going) and it was only when I stopped to look at the map, that I realized we had been had -- The up side: it is unlikely that I would ever have found that road without the gremlin-like behavior of the local citizenry. It was a very pretty country lane in western Colorado....

Mark

[Robert Schaller]

Mark,

So, did they sell you anything?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Mark, So, did they sell you anything?

Nah, it was storming and rainy and wet and they were probably at home being dry. The river in the area was attempting to jump out of its banks.... Megan was not overly amused by the extra detour. But we both loved the sign-switching routine!

[amukia]

We jusst got AAA and are using it for our first trip. We used to bother other people for the maps and region books. Now how it helped us out was with all the books of every region they gave us when ever we drive.
The reason it helped is because the books told us every hotel there was along the way. This was useful to us because the kids always want a pool and not all hotels have one. Plus they gie discounts. Fortunately I have never used the roadside assistance so I can't say much about that. Good luck with your choice.