(LOS ANGELES – July 25, 2011) – The Automobile Club of Southern California’s AAA Travel Agency has won the Los Angeles Times Readers’ Choice Award for the best travel agency in Southern California, the newspaper announced on Sunday.
“We are pleased and honored to be included among the winners in the first annual LA Times Readers’ Choice Awards,” said Filomena Andre, the Auto Club’s vice president for travel products and services. “With more than six million members in Southern California, the Auto Club is able to negotiate terrific deals with top-quality travel providers so that we can offer great value to vacationers.”
The Auto Club’s 79 Southern California branches offer convenient locations to plan and book tours, cruises and vacations for any budget. Both members and non-members can book trips through AAA Travel agents, but members receive exclusive benefits, upgrades and discounts on many travel packages, cruises, hotels and rental cars.
In addition to booking their vacations, travelers can also complete many related errands at the Auto Club, including taking passport photos, getting International Driving Permits required for driving in many countries, selecting travel insurance, obtaining foreign currency, buying travel books and guides (discounted for members), and purchasing Mexico car insurance.
Members also can obtain free maps, TourBooks and TripTiks to assist them before and during their vacations, and they can also purchase discount tickets in Auto Club branches to many popular Southland attractions. And while on their trip, they can use their membership card to save at thousands of travel, entertainment and other retail outlets.
“A key to the Auto Club’s popularity with travelers is our ability to take care of all their vacation needs in one location and the peace of mind that comes with dealing with an organization that is there for them before, during and after their trip,” said Pamela Shepherd, the Auto Club’s vice president for branch operations. “Auto Club travel agents get to know our members and their vacation preferences so we anticipate their needs and help ensure that each trip they take exceeds their expectations.”
Auto Club members can also book vacations online at AAA.com/travel or by phone at (888) TRIP-AAA or (888) 874-7222.