June 30, 2008

AAA Announces New Features for Summer Travelers on the TripTik Travel Planner

Enhancements to popular online mapping tool provide direct access to travel content

Source: AAA

Just in time to plan summer road trips, AAA has launched enhancements to the TripTik(R) Travel Planner, available at AAA.com. Features that have been added to the popular online mapping tool include the capability to create custom maps, a new travel guide section, easier navigation and an improved route modification tool. The TripTik Travel Planner provides travelers 24/7 access to AAA's proprietary travel information, premier mapping information and booking capabilities -- everything needed to plan an entire trip.

Travelers will find the new TripTik Travel Planner preferable to other travel Web sites whether they need quick maps and local driving directions or complete planning tools and destination information for cross-country road trips and fly/drive vacations. Users can also access the latest fuel prices at more than 100,000 U.S. gas stations. Enhancements details include:

• My Places spotting map capability offers the user the ability to create a custom map that includes their specified locations, including hotels, restaurants and points of interest. Map printouts also contain TourBook(R) information about each location.

• The TripTik Travel Planner is even easier to use, with simplified ways to take advantage of all its features and access to information. From AAA Scenic Byways, construction information and gas prices along the way, to hotel ratings (with great rates) and recommendations on where to dine and what to see.

• A new travel guide section contains information on North America's popular destinations including "Don't Miss Picks," travel tips and insider information provided by AAA travel experts.

• The route modification tool helps you to customize trips to fit specific preferences and now has a new drag-and-drop feature to reroute directions. One click can select a scenic route or a different way home.

"Every day, thousands of members turn to their local AAA office for trip planning expertise including reliable maps, driving directions, travel information and hotel reservations," said Jan Coyne, director, AAA Geographic Information Systems. "The new version of the TripTik Travel Planner offers the best of both worlds, 24/7 access from a personal computer, coupled with the availability of AAA expert knowledge and support."

AAA is continually updating and expanding its travel information, adding new lodging, restaurant, attraction and destination information. One click on the handy map icons opens AAA listings, many with photos, from AAA's database of 58,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants, 17,000 attractions, 22,000 events and 8,000 destinations. Travelers can also display locations for 160,000 Show Your Card & Save(R) member discount locations, 7,800 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and 1,100 AAA/CAA club offices.

Users can also access time-saving construction and historic traffic congestion information on AAA.com, as well as the latest fuel prices at more than 100,000 U.S. gas stations, including E-85 fuel availability.

AAA members who visit AAA.com to book a hotel room are more likely to find a better rate there than on other leading Web sites, according to a recent survey. In a review of several online travel booking sites, AAA.com offered AAA members the best publicly available rate on partner hotels 69 percent of the time.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.