Spending money on travel club memberships can save you money elsewhere but is it really worth it? Although sometimes you can land those deals on your own, what a travel club offers you is guidance is you are kind of lost when it comes to landing a bargain.
For instance, let's look at American Automobile Association. The deal is that you pay $38 for an annual AAA membership that gets you free roadside towing and lock-out services, discounts of 5 to 15 percent at thousands of hotels, and offers up to $30 off weekly rentals at Hertz - this offer tops Hertz's own membership deals. However, what you pay is for the service since you might get similar deals without being a member.
Another example is Spirit Airlines $9 Fare Club. An annual fee of $40 allows members to exclusive fares, sometimes for as low as a penny. This membership is worth it only if you are going to take more than one flight a year, which might be a challenge for many travellers. Deals are usually last-minute, off-peak, and they are only to 40 cities, particularly to the East Coast of the USA, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Another example is Tablet Hotels, a booking engine for boutique and luxury hotels which each week offers its members discounts of up to 70 percent at certain properties. They also include extra bonuses such as spa vouchers, upgrades, complimentary airport transfers and late checkout.
Even though the bonuses are exceptional, the annual fee is $195, which is very high. Another downside to this membership is that Plus members' “exclusive” deals are exclusive for only 24 hours.
Although sometimes travel clubs' perks are not as obvious once you check its downside, ultimately travel clubs take the planning out of holidays. If you have the money but you don't have time to plan or you'd rather have someone guide you through because you don't know where to start, travel clubs might be the answer. There are also travel clubs aimed at specific groups to attend to your needs.
For instance, 50+ Travel Club is directed at seniors or just everyone over 50. The company organises all from tours, to cruises and events. The company offers a 50+ Travel Club Advantage that offers exclusive savings, invitations to special events, complimentary return private Home-To-Airport transfers, complimentary overnight accommodation before or after you tour, on selected tours, priority on pre-release tours and cruises, discounts on travel insurance, 24-hour and 7-day assistance while you are away, discounted business airfare options, invitations to ship inspections, whey they become available, referral discounts - refer a new client and you will be rewarded -, a personalised itinerary with included luggage labels, ticket wallet and touring information, individualised travel programs (so they agency asks you questions and makes a customised plan, offering suggestions to best cater to your travel needs), and fortnightly to monthly e-newsletters.