Happy Birthday Mexico!

Mexico is currently gearing up for the party of a century -- make that two centuries. Preparations are underway to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Mexican revolution (1910) and the 200-year anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain (1810). The Zocalo, Mexico City’s main plaza since pre-Columbian time, is the epicenter of this party, which will culminate on September 16, 2010.... Read More

 

We polled our professional inspectors for their favorite places to celebrate Valentine’s Day . . . here's the top 14 picks along with their onsite observations and insider tips:

The Boheme, Orlando, Florida, Four Diamond Restaurant
While downtown movers and shakers can be spotted here during... Read More

 
We polled our inspectors for their favorite places to enjoy holiday festivities and their top 12 picks are:

Blantyre, Lenox, Mass., AAA Four Diamond
This all-season resort in the Berkshires becomes a winter wonderland in cooler months. Plenty of skates and snow shoes are available to help guests enjoy the outdoor ice skating rink and snow trails. The adjacent warming ‘hut’ — actually a small rustic lodge — offers overstuffed chairs, a large screen... Read More

In anticipation of Halloween, AAA polled its professional inspectors for their favorite haunted hotels and restaurants, resulting in the following 13 top picks.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Legend has it that several ghosts reside within the walls of the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, often cited as one of the most haunted hotels in America.  During construction, a workman fell to his... Read More

These ghostly tales were written by anonymous AAA inspectors ....

Upon my arrival at the Mason House Inn in Bentonsport, Iowa, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.  As I put my car into park and exited, I saw a black cat trotting through a small opening in a screen door along the side of the house.  However, during my inspection I noticed nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, the Inn was exceptional, extremely clean and well-maintained.  The antique furniture was beautiful and the rest of the décor was very well coordinated.  It wasn’t... Read More

Every traveler collects them, their personal souvenirs. Those unique travel tales, perfect for an impromptu dinner party when one needs to be simultaneously charming and entertaining. As an inspector for AAA, I have had plenty of opportunities for that storied moment. And the anticipation for that moment, when you think to yourself ‘This is going to make a great story,’ is almost as fun as the experience itself.

So here is one of my favorite travel tales. I’ve shared it with family and friends, fellow inspectors and now with you:

After a 12-hour drive through the wilderness and a quick propeller... Read More

The following is a representation of a day in the life of one of AAA’s team of professional lodging and restaurant inspectors who, along with the establishments, remain anonymous.

When friends try to picture the life of a AAA inspector, most see the glory of afternoon tea on the terrace overlooking the ocean; dinner in the finest restaurants; sleeping in luxurious rooms on fine Egyptian cotton linens; travel to exotic locations; and mingling with the rich and famous.  But I assure you that the typical day is filled for the most part with the tedium of very ordinary tasks.

The... Read More

I was on travel assignment in Cancún for several days, checking out the Mexican tourist mecca and the rapidly developing Riviera Maya, the stretch of Caribbean coast between Cancún and Tulum. Also in town was Inspector 37, who was busy with his annual roundup of lodging and restaurant evaluations.

On my last day I met 37 for a late breakfast at Vips, a popular restaurant right in the middle of Cancún’s Hotel Zone. By the way, their huevos motuleños—two fried eggs, peas and diced ham atop a crispy tortilla covered in... Read More

I inspect and rate Mexican hotels and restaurants for a living, so here’s the inside scoop on Cancún and the Mexican Caribbean! If it’s your first or 50th visit, see more and enjoy more with these tips from your “Secret AAA Inspector”.

Cancún and the Riviera Maya, which extends along the coast south to Tulum, have been dramatically transformed in the last couple of years. Many hotels have been completely rebuilt or renovated while many new mega-resorts, offering new concepts have sprung up through out this large area, so the first step is deciding exactly where to stay? The... Read More

     In the spirit of Independence Day, AAA lodging inspectors were asked to name their favorite historic hotels. A list of 41 Diamond Rated properties was the result , with the Top 10 listed below:

Boston Omni Parker House Hotel, Boston, Mass., AAA Three Diamond Rated
Located on the Freedom Trail, this hotel claims to be the oldest of Boston’s elegant inns and the oldest... Read More