AAA Travel's tour operator division has launched an adventure
travel brand called Club Adventures, a portfolio of small-group international
trips with a focus on off-the-beaten path destinations and experiences.
Club Adventures has itineraries in Africa, the Middle East,
Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. The product is being billed as
trips "that follow uncommon routes, [with stays] in locally owned
accommodations ... with more authentic immersion, more activity and a sense of
what it means to live in the places we visit," according to AAA.
Group sizes are limited to 16 or fewer and are led by local
guides. Example itineraries: the nine-day Expressions of Portugal is $2,599, the
14-day East African Adventure is $5,499 and the nine-day Colorful Costa Rica is
$1,999.
"Club Adventures allows AAA to manage the complete
traveler experience from shopping, to booking to delivery. This is an
opportunity for us to create a relationship continuum that we have never really
had before. And we believe it will signify a new level of innovation for AAA
Travel as well as a new level of member engagement," AAA said in a
statement.
As for why AAA Travel decided to develop its own
adventure-focused trips rather than rely on its hundreds of preferred travel
suppliers, John Galvin, CEO of AAA Northeast, said, "Through our existing
partnerships, we have a great blend of trips that are very appealing to a large
section of our members. However, none of our current suppliers had exactly what
we were looking for in the adventure and active travel space. So, together with
other AAA clubs from around the U.S., we innovated and built a club-owned
adventure travel company with customized programs for the American traveler."
Club Adventures offers 100% guaranteed departure dates.
Club Adventures is part of AAA Exclusive Vacations, a tour
operator that AAA launched in 2015. Tours are booked through AAA branches.
AAA Exclusive Vacations' other products are typically
customized programs designed for AAA members.