aa vacation travel agent

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

The Ultimate Guide To Booking with American Airlines Vacations

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

343 Published Articles 50 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article 1171 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10 U.S. States Visited: 20

Book Together and Save

Earn bonus aa miles, book now, pay monthly, use miles to book, american airlines vacations customer service, how to search for a vacation package, destinations, bonus miles, hotel specials, vacation types, purchase a waiver, cancellation and change waiver, pre-departure protection waiver, price comparisons, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

So you are ready to book your next vacation. You might be wondering what website to use to get the best deal. Of course you will probably check popular online travel agencies like Expedia, Hotwire, or Orbitz. But did you know you can book an entire vacation package through American Airlines ?

I’ll take you through the process here to show you the benefits and drawbacks of booking a vacation through American Airlines Vacations.

Why Book With American Airlines?

There are so many places to book vacation packages these days; you might be wondering what makes American Airlines Vacations different. Let’s go over some of the key benefits that AAVacations offers.

Booking a vacation package is a pretty good way to save money. I have compared prices of lots of packages on many websites, and more often than not they do save a good chunk of cash.

American Airlines claims you will save money by gaining access to unpublished fares when booking a flight, hotel, and/or car together. (If you can’t wait, scroll down to Price Comparisons to see how the numbers really stack up!)

We love earning miles here at Upgraded Points, and you will definitely earn AA miles when you book an AAVacations package.

• You will earn 1,000 AAdvantage award miles each time you book a vacation package
• Earn up to 30,000 bonus AAdvantage miles when you book a featured American Airlines hotel
• You will also earn miles for the flight portion of any package as you normally would

Bonus miles will be awarded to the first traveler’s AAdvantage account. Be sure to include your AAdvantage member number at the time of booking.

Bottom Line: Every booking through American Airlines Vacations earns 1,000 bonus AAdvantage miles. Some packages include hotels that offer up to 30,000 bonus miles. However, you won’t earn miles on any package that is fully or partially paid for using AAdvantage miles.

Don’t forget to use an American Airlines credit card when making the booking, or a rewarding travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  to earn even more miles for each $1 that you spend on an AA vacation!

American Airlines Vacations offers payment through Uplift, a monthly payment plan service. Uplift breaks your payments into 12 increments.

Don’t get too excited here. While it might be nice to pay for your trip over time, Uplift charges interest, so you end up paying more than you have to .

It’s best to save up ahead of time and book your trip when you can afford to pay for it upfront (then put it on a great travel rewards credit card to get the maximum benefit!)

You can pay for any portion of your vacation package using AAdvantage miles ! Every mile equals 1 cent when booking a vacation package.

All miles must come from 1 account, so unfortunately you can’t pool your points with your travel companions . You also will not earn AAdvantage miles on bookings you pay for with miles.

Once you are logged in to your AAdvantage account, you will see the option to pay for all or part of your vacation package using miles (however, taxes and carrier-imposed fees always have to be paid in cash.)

Use the slider to determine how many miles you want to use. If you choose to pay for part of your package with miles, you must use a minimum of 1,000 miles.

Bottom Line: When redeeming AAdvantage miles for a vacation package, you will get 1 cent per mile in value.

American Airlines Vacations offers support while you are booking and during your trip.

For general customer service , try these AA Vacations phone numbers:

U.S and Canada: 800-321-2121

Outside the U.S. and Canada: 918-669-8977

Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. (CT)

Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (CT)

For emergencies while traveling:

U.S./Canada/Caribbean: 800-901-9150

Mexico: 1-877-809-2766 or 1-800-891-3818

Other: 918-669-8977

American Airlines Vacations

Now that you know some of the benefits of booking a vacation through American Airlines, you need to know where to find them .

From the American Airlines homepage, click on Plan Travel in the main search bar. Then click on Vacations in the drop-down menu. Or you can go directly to aavacations.com .

Vacation packages can be booked over the phone, but they could include a fee of $35 per person.

From the American Airlines Vacations homepage, you will notice a search box in the middle of the page. Here you can search for a vacation package using any combination of flight, hotel, and/or car rental.

After you input your destination and dates of travel, click on Search . Your search results will be front and center with basic filtering options to the left.

The first thing you might notice is that there are a few different prices listed.

• The first price is the price per person
• The second price is the total for everyone in your party, including taxes and fees but excluding any resort charges
• The third price is the monthly payment if you choose to finance your purchase with Uplift (scroll down for more information on this)
• The last price is the amount you are saving by booking a package (This number never seems to quite match up to the actual savings — I would ignore this and calculate the savings yourself)

Under the hotel information, you will be able to see additional information like any resort fees or extra discounts being offered.

The price you see is for a base level package. If you choose a different room, flight, or car type your price could increase .

Each time you have multiple options, you will be able to see if the price is higher for each selection. If a price says +$0.00, then that option is included in your quote.

Once you choose the first part of your package (hotel, flight, or car), you will be guided through to select the other parts.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the price. See how these 2 flights have different package prices: the first flight is included in the base package price, but the second flight increases the cost of the package .

Right before completing your purchase, you will have the opportunity to add something you missed, like a car rental or activities for your trip.

If you scroll down just a bit when you get to your trip summary page, you will see a list of available activities for your destination. Scroll through the activities or use the filter options on the left side of the screen.

Most activities are priced per person , and some will have a minimum number of people required to book.

Once you have all portions of your vacation package to your liking, click on the blue Continue button to proceed to the payment section.

The price you are paying will include taxes and fees, but will not include things like resort fees, checked baggage fees , or hotel parking fees .

If you have an American Airlines Vacations   promo code , enter it on this payment page.

You will also be asked if you would like to add insurance to your package cost.

If you are using a credit card that has an insurance benefit, there might not be any need for extra insurance. I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve card  for all of my travel purchases for its great points-earning potential, plus the insurance that comes with the card.

Hot Tip: Purchasing extra vacation insurance might not be necessary if you are using a good travel rewards credit card. Look for one that offers various kinds of insurance, such as trip delay, lost baggage, and travel accident . Check out our guide to credit card insurance to find the card that works best for you.

You can purchase an American Airlines Vacation package using any of the following payment methods :

• Credit card
• American Airlines travel voucher — can be used toward the flight portion of your trip only. To redeem a travel voucher, call 1-800-489-4810 (be sure to request that the phone booking fee be waived)
• American Airlines gift certificate
• AAdvantage miles (must be logged in to see this option)
• Uplift (monthly payment plan)

Do you want to get away but aren’t sure where to go? Then head to the Destinations section of aavacations.com for some inspiration.

You will see some featured locations, as well as a clickable list of all regions toward the bottom of the page.

Click on any destination to see some sample prices as well as prices from your home airport. Just input your origin city in the search box.

Remember that the prices you see will be per person . You will then be able to continue through your search as you normally would.

American Airlines Vacations Deals and Promo Codes

If you are looking for a great deal, check out the Deals tab in the main menu. This is where you will find packages offering lots of extra miles or discounts, and sometimes even promo codes. There are also other sites that publish promo codes.

If you scroll down a little bit on the Deals page, you will see a section titled Bonus Miles . This is where you want to look for those amazing deals offering lots and lots of bonus American Airlines miles!

Of course, it helps to have some flexibility since these deals have specific terms — but if one of these deals works for you, jump on it. Who wouldn’t love earning an extra 10,000 or more bonus miles just for going on vacation!

Here are a few important things to remember when booking a package offering bonus miles:

• If you want to earn these bonus miles, do not use any AAdvantage miles to pay for your trip. Bonus miles will NOT be awarded on any package where miles were used toward the purchase of the trip.
• Bonus miles are awarded to the account of the first traveler on the reservation.
• Pay attention to the offer’s dates and details. You will have to book and complete your trip by a specified date to earn bonus miles.

Hot Tip: If your package comes with a significant amount of bonus miles, do not pay for any portion of the package with miles. You must pay for the entire amount of your package using cash/credit card in order to earn bonus miles.

Right under the Bonus Miles section you will find some additional hotel specials being offered. These offers can be anything from a free round of golf, a free night, or an extra percentage off the price.

If you click on the “Book By” link, you will be able to see all the terms of the offer.

Once you are on the offer details page, be sure to pay attention to the terms and booking requirements. There will also be a link to book your reservation. Be careful though, because there might be links to book other hotels as well .

For example, this offer is for up to 57% off at the Iberostar Cancun Star Prestige. However, when you scroll down to book, ALL of the Iberostar hotels are listed — not just the one offering the discount.

If you click on Hotels in the main menu, you’ll be taken to a page that lets you search by hotel brand.

There are some featured brands at the top of the page, but if you scroll down you can see all the brands (plus a few individual hotels you can search for).

You will find popular hotels and brands like:

• Beaches Resorts
• Hard Rock Hotels
• Hyatt Zilara
• MGM Resorts
• RIU Hotels and Resorts
• Sandals Resorts
• Walt Disney World

You can click on any of the hotel links, then search for availability on your travel dates. Continue to book as you normally would.

Hot Tip: If you are booking a chain hotel that offers a loyalty program like Hyatt, Marriott, or Hilton, keep in mind that you might not earn loyalty points when booking through American Airlines. Also, any elite status you have might not be recognized. If you are loyal to a brand and concerned about your hotel loyalty points and status, it’s usually best to book directly.

The Vacation Types section of the website is designed to help you choose a vacation based on the type of trip you are looking for:

• All-inclusive
• Adults only
• Elevated amenities

This can be a helpful section when you know what kind of trip you’re interested in but aren’t sure about a location or specific hotel.

After selecting a vacation type, you will have a short list of results. Once you have made your choice, you can click on the hotel link for more information and to check availability for your travel dates. You only need to input your departure city and dates, and the correct airport will be automatically added.

How to Change or Cancel an American Airlines Vacation

If you need to cancel your American Airlines vacation package, call 1-800-489-4810. Unfortunately, there will be fees associated with this, and some or all of your trip costs may be nonrefundable .

If you are in a situation where there is a greater chance you would need to cancel your trip, you might consider purchasing a waiver to help out with the fees.

Here’s where it gets complicated. I found 2 types of waivers on the AAVacations site: Cancellation and Change Waiver and the Pre-Departure Protection Waiver. However, you only have the opportunity to purchase the Pre-Departure waiver.

I called American Airlines Vacations to clarify, and they couldn’t. The representative I spoke to told me they were the same thing, even though they differ online.

The Cancellation and Change Waiver is an insurance policy you can purchase to cover your trip in the following situations:

• Cancellation for any reason up until your scheduled departure time
• Revision fees associated with changing your itinerary

Unfortunately, some hotels and airfares remain non-refundable even when this waiver has been purchased . Any activities you have booked with your package are also nonrefundable.

Another thing to note is that if 1 person buys a Cancellation and Change Waiver policy, every traveler on the same reference number will need to purchase one as well.

This type of insurance offers fee waivers if your trip is changed prior to departure, or if name changes are made to a package at least 15 days prior to departure.

However, there could still be other fees associated with changing your package — and again, some portions will remain non-changeable even if this waiver is purchased.

The Pre-Departure and Protection Waiver cost varies, but most plans I saw were  $69-$89 per person .

Bottom Line: Overall I am unimpressed with the insurance options offered by American Airlines Vacations. The policies don’t offer much protection and come with lots of limitations. While some situations might make extra insurance a good option, most travelers will be just fine with the insurance that comes with their credit card .

So, let’s get to the good stuff — can American Airlines Vacation packages save you money ?

For my first example, I priced out a week-long stay at The Buccaneer in St. Croix and round-trip airfare from Atlanta for 2 people. All prices are for the same room category, flights, and dates.

As you can see, booking the package from American Airlines saves $168.14 over booking the flight and hotel separately , and even more over booking the same package through the hotel or Expedia.

Expedia did offer a package that included the same hotel with a different flight for $4,185.98. However, the flights were terrible with multiple stops.

Any packages from Expedia with flights that were comparable were more expensive. So, I would consider this a win for American Airlines Vacations .

Here’s another one. For this example I priced out a week-long stay at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Hawaii and round-trip airfare from Seattle for 2 people. Again, the prices are for the same room category, flights, and dates.

American Airlines Vacations is the winner again in this example. Booking through American saves $386.82 over booking the hotel and flights separately . It even saves money over booking a similar itinerary via Expedia with cheaper flights.

I always suggest pricing out a vacation package to make sure you are actually saving money. However, it appears to be a good bet that you will get a deal with an American Airlines vacation package.

In addition to flights, you can book an entire vacation package through American Airlines consisting of flights, hotel, rental car and even activities.

American Airlines Vacations offers an easy-to-use website and low prices on packages. In everything I priced out, the package deal always saved money over booking a flight and hotel separately.

So the next time you are ready to book a vacation, consider checking out American Airlines Vacations — you might be able to get a great deal!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of packages does american airlines vacations offer.

You can book a package consisting of any combination of flight, hotel, and rental car. You can also add activities to your vacation package. You will find hotels ranging from budget accommodations to luxury resorts.

Where can I find American Airlines Vacations promo codes or special deals?

On aavacations.com, go to the Deals tab to search for the current offers. You will find deals consisting of added amenities like free golf, bonus AAdvantage miles, free hotel nights, or a discount on specific hotels. Sometimes you will be able to find promo codes right on the website’s home page.

What is the American Airlines Vacations phone number?

You can contact American Airlines Vacations by phone at 800-321-2121 in the U.S. and Canada, and at 918-669-8977 outside the U.S and Canada. If you experience an emergency while traveling on an American Airlines package, call 800-901-9150 in the U.S, Canada, and the Caribbean, 1-877-809-2766 or 1-800-891-3818 in Mexico, and 918-669-8977 everywhere else.

Can I use American Airlines miles to purchase a vacation package?

Yes, you can use AAdvantage miles to purchase all or part of an American Airlines vacation package. However, you will not earn any bonus miles on a package if you use miles to pay for any portion of it.

Do I need a travel agent to book an American Airlines Vacation package?

No, you don’t need a travel agent to book an American Airlines Vacation package. Just go to www.aavacations.com to book your trip.

Was this page helpful?

About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

SalesLink® notifications

I’m a Travel Agent: 6 Popular Vacations the Middle Class Can Still Afford

W ith rising costs, vacations are becoming more difficult for middle-class families to justify taking. Thankfully, there are a few popular vacation spots that a middle-class family can still afford . 

Find Out: 9 American Travel Brands to Stay Away From

Read Next: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

Of course, estimated costs may vary depending on accommodations, transportation, food, entertainment, etc. However, the costs are estimated based on the average spending for a middle-class family on a budget .

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

National Parks

National parks can provide beautiful yet affordable vacations for middle-class families who enjoy the outdoors. Some more affordable national parks include Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Many national parks are free to enter, but some larger locations have entrance fees. However, you can usually find affordable lodging or camping accommodations nearby. Plus, you won’t need to spend much on entertainment since the great outdoors provides plenty of free or inexpensive things to do, like hiking, fishing and biking. 

Unless you’re flying to a national park, meaning you’ll have airfare and rental car costs, your biggest national park vacation expense will be gas. Most national parks cover a lot of ground, so you could be driving a lot while you’re there.

If you must fly to reach your destination, try traveling during the slow season (usually late fall to early spring). This will allow you to get a cheaper flight and rental car. 

You can also save money by booking your lodging in advance, renting an RV or staying at a campground. Camping costs around $20 per night, and budget-friendly hotels in nearby towns start around $50 a night. For a national park vacation, you could get away with under $100 a night, including camping, parking and gas.

Try This: Dave Ramsey: 7 Vacation Splurges That Are a Waste of Money

Destin, Florida

Destin is located in the Florida panhandle and has miles of white sandy beaches with many public access points. Beaches are popular family vacation destinations because the sand and water provide free entertainment for the family. You can access the beach for free at the Shores at Crystal Beach Park. 

After a day at the beach, your family can walk along the Destin Harbor Boardwalk as cheap nightly entertainment. If you own beach equipment, like chairs, towels, umbrellas, etc., your primary expenses will be your hotel, gas, travel and food. 

If you avoid visiting during the busy summer season, there are plenty of inexpensive hotels. Look for one that has a refrigerator or small kitchen. This would allow you to have breakfast before you leave for the day and pack sandwiches for the beach, reducing your food costs.

“A U.S. city I recommend visiting that could easily compare to Malibu or Miami while being a lot cheaper is Destin in northwest Florida,” says Mercedes Zach, a travel agent at ASAP Tickets . “It’s known for its Emerald Coast beaches, many golf courses and the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. Many say Destin gives out Caribbean vibes without having to fly there. Plus, there are plenty of great beach rentals to choose from for as little as $100 per night.”

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville has a lot to offer for families looking for a non-beach but budget-friendly vacation. Located in western North Carolina, Asheville appeals to music lovers, nature lovers and adventure travelers. 

To stick to your budget while on vacation in Asheville, find free entertainment, like festivals, concerts and hiking. There are plenty of free or affordable activities, like hiking to waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest, driving along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and attending free music festivals during the summer. 

Staying in a hostel, vacation rental or campground can save you money on accommodations. Depending on the option and timing, these can cost under $200 a night.

Surfside Beach, Texas

Texas might not be what many people think of when it comes to beach vacations, but the state has plenty of shoreline to offer. Over the years, places like South Padre Island and Galveston Island have been the “it” places to go. However, with increasing costs, the appeal is moving further down the coast to Surfside Beach.

“In Surfside, we can book a beautiful home with a 180-degree oceanfront view with enough bedrooms/bathrooms for everyone in our large family for $600-900/night for a 5BR/4BA (nearly half the price of staying in South Padre Island),” says Kourtney Shepard, beach house vacation rental host at Lone Star Casitas . “A savings of about $600/night really adds up over the course of a week — it means we can stay and play twice as long with the same budget.”

Shepard went on to discuss Surfside Beach’s great restaurants, splash pad, Jet Ski dolphin tours, horseback riding, golf carts and fishing charters. Because it is less developed, Surfside Beach feels closer to nature and offers a more authentic, noncommercialized beach experience. 

Nags Head, North Carolina

Nags Head, North Carolina, is a budget-friendly family vacation destination with beaches, fishing, lighthouses, wildlife and more. Many birds, sea turtles and more are at the nearby Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island. 

To stay within budget, visit during spring or fall to enjoy fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices. You can find budget-friendly hotels for under $150 a night during these times. Eating at affordable restaurants and enjoying the many free activities that Nags Head has to offer can also help you stick to your budget.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg is located outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. You can book a vacation to see the leaves change color during the fall — a prime time to enjoy the outdoors in Gatlinburg. The city also offers many free activities, like bird-watching, hiking, fishing and biking. 

There are also many delicious, affordable restaurants in Gatlinburg. During the fall, you can find budget-friendly hotels for under $200 a night. Stick to free activities and budget-friendly hotels and restaurants, and you can have an enjoyable family vacation within your budget. 

More From GOBankingRates

• 6 Expensive Costco Items That Are Definitely Worth the Cost
• How Much Does the Average Middle-Class Person Have in Savings?
• 5 Reasons You Should Consider an Annuity For Your Retirement Savings
• 10 New Cars to Avoid Buying in 2024

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : I’m a Travel Agent: 6 Popular Vacations the Middle Class Can Still Afford

American Airlines Cuts Travel Agencies Slack: Extends Deadline For Loyalty Points

Dennis Schaal , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 4:52 PM EDT

Who's in and who's out of American Airlines' new preferred agency program to date? The deadline extension seems to indicate their are some hiccups along the way.

Dennis Schaal

American Airlines was poised to stop enabling customers of certain travel agencies to earn loyalty points on the airline’s bookings starting May 1, but said Tuesday it is extending that deadline until July 11.

The issue relates to American’s preferred agency program , and the requirement that a minimum of 30% of a travel agency’s bookings come from American’s New Distribution Capability fares.

These fares largely bypass global distribution systems, and is a cheaper and more efficient way for the airline to make its content available to travel agencies.

Many Travel Agencies Have Qualified

The airline said a large number of agencies have already qualified. So if you are a customer of that travel agency and you book an American Airlines flight, you would still be able to earn AAdvantage points. If your travel agency doesn’t make the list, then you’d have to book the flight directly on AA.com or use a one of the preferred agencies to earn the airline’s loyalty points.

“The majority of our indirect bookings are now made via an agency with NDC capabilities, and the current list of agencies beyond 30% NDC bookings is already impressive,” said an American Airlines spokesperson in a statement. “We anticipate even more who are on the cusp of meeting the threshold to do so very soon, which will provide customers with excellent preferred agency options to go along with our offerings on aa.com. As such, we’ve decided to extend the update to the way customers earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights to July 11.”

The airline declined to specify which travel agencies have already qualified to be preferred agencies.

An Expedia Group spokesperson, however said: “We have an agreement with AA and have absolutely no reason to think we won’t be preferred.”

In a statement Wednesday, American Society of Travel Advisors President and CEO Zane Kerby welcomed the delay, but took some shots at American Airlines.

“While the fundamentals of American’s preferred travel agency program appear not to have changed, its postponement of the program is welcome news for the travel industry,” Kerby said. “Agencies and advisors most affected by this oncoming change have a couple more months to prepare. It seems that American may now admit to what we’ve expressed for months: its NDC technology was underdeveloped, and its implementation deadlines were both arbitrary and unrealistic.” 

Some agencies told the airline that they needed more time between learning that they qualified to be a preferred agency and the implementation deadline, and that was part of the thinking behind the extension.

Travelers booking American Airlines basic economy fares will still only be able to earn loyalty points when they book directly on AA.com or partner airlines.

Note: This story has been updated to added a statement from ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby.

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: aadvantage , american airlines , basic economy , loyalty , ndc , online travel newsletter , travel agencies

Photo credit: An American Airlines Boeing 737 taxis with the San Francisco skyline in the background. (Luke Lai/Flickr) Luke Lai / Flickr

Moscow is the biggest city in Russia as well as the Capital, and has over ten million people living here. Moscow sits right on the banks of the Moskva River. The weather here is kind of warm and a bit humid in the summers, but in the long winters it can get bitter cold because of its northern location.

This huge city has an incredibly rich cultural history, a multitude of attractions, historical buildings and interesting landmarks. The renowned onion domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral are the most recognized, however, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Seven Sisters are also magnificent. Here’s some of the most important attractions: Red Square, There are four wonderful Botanical Gardens, the Central Park of Culture and Rest, the Neskuchniy Garden, the Izmaylovsky Park, the Sokolnik Park, the Elk Park, and many, many more wonderful places to rest and relax.

We’ve been orchestrating Russia dream vacations for discriminating travelers for more than 20 years. It helps us help you, if you begin with our  vacation planner  we’ll make sure you have a lot of fun in Moscow, do everything for you; air, car, hotels and transfers; get you the best airfare rates, enjoy privileged access plus luxury amenities and special touches. You’ll travel confidently, save time and prevent costly mistakes.

Other must see attractions are: The Triumphal arch on Kutuzov Avenue, The Shukhov Tower, the Patriarshiye Ponds, Novodevichy Convent is one of the World Heritage Sites, the Tsaritsyno Park and palace, Ascension church in Kolomenskoye, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ostankino Palace, “Friendship of Nations” fountain in All-Russia Exhibition Center, Moscow International House of Music, The Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow State Historical Museum, The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Tretyakov Gallery, The Red Army theatre, the Central Moscow Hippodrome and that’s just a few exciting things to see.

Photo Gallery

Testimonials.

Make sure to scan your passport, visa, insurance and documents. Then email them to yourself so you always have a copy in case you lose them while abroad.

Your personal connection to the priceless experiences in every corner of the globe!

• Moscow Tourism
• Moscow Hotels
• Moscow Bed and Breakfast
• Moscow Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Moscow
• Moscow Restaurants
• Things to Do in Moscow
• Moscow Travel Forum
• Moscow Photos
• All Moscow Hotels
• Moscow Hotel Deals
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

DIY or travel agency visa application? - Moscow Forum

• Europe    
• Russia    
• Central Russia    
• Moscow    

DIY or travel agency visa application?

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Central Russia forums
• Moscow forum

I know this is an exhaustive topic, but I can't seem to find the answer in a forum search. I apologize if this has ben previously covered and I missed it.

It depends on you, not on your itinerary. Anyone able to search, read and understand written text, fill a form can DIY. If the mere idea of searching, reading and filling makes you shudder, hire a helper by all means.

Of all the things you mention, the only thing you may well need some “extra help” with is getting a reasonable set of invite docs (as you correctly state, if you are not staying at a larger, regular hotel, you will be charged maybe $20), you can do this for maybe $20 on ANY reputable site...e-mailed in PDF form back within 24 hours. no need to pay a visa agency likely at least $100 extra per visa. Once you go on the site you are directed to, you will be given all details, and then a link to a web based app completion...one you can save, come back to...if you hit questions, often we can answer here...more often, the answer is here already, just need to do a quick query in the box above...

I'm in the current visa black hole that others are in after doing it myself with ILS which suddenly ceased operations, turning them over to VFS. Read some of the threads like "Another Russia Visa via Washington DC question " below in the forum. I'd pay the extra $100 in a heartbeat for the peace of mind and speed compared to what's going on (or rather NOT going on) with our applications and passports. But that's just my humble opinion.

i believe at this point both DC and NY are fully moved over to being submitted thru VFS...I would agree that indeed back when you did this, had you used an agency, they - with the fact that the larger ones are handling maybe 10s- 100 at any point in time - might have been able to intercede. BUT, if the site now points folks to VFS, less to be gained...

As always, IMHO of course

I ended up speaking to a man with ILS today, who recommended I call World Visit Center in DC to have them handle everything. Now I'm really confused, because if ILS closed, whom did I speak with???

*Edited to say I now see the disclosure on the website about VFS. Yet, the website is the same name. It's confusing!

I spent 2 hours today just trying to get an answer to the question "Do I file for a tourist or a private visa" and even the gentleman on the phone had a few questions before he could give me a final answer. The government consulate websites are incorrect, saying that the Seattle Visa Support office is still open, despite the closure of the consulate....I think I just might spring for the extra $ to save the time and headache.

I am confused...did you end up here? https://www.vfsglobal.com/Russia/USA/

IF you did, then you can simply follow the info as to which type of visa, etc.

I got there by going to the OFFICIAL site...

https://washington.mid.ru/en/consular-services/

https://washington.mid.ru/en/consular-services/citizens-usa/

https://washington.mid.ru/en/consular-services/citizens-usa/visa-to-russia/

After this last one, I chose the FIRST option...”About Russian Visa Center” (this gets you to the first link I posted above...

As for them saying Seattle and San Fran offices are open, I did not fully check, but while the CONSULATES are closed, VFS may still have local presence and office to accept apps...

Also, as to whether tourist or private, unless you have REALLY good friends or close relatives there, you should choose tourist as, which you will find by reading further on the first site, the PRIVATE route involves quite a bit more hassle, not the least of which being you will need to get a PHYSICAL copy of the invitation documents required...what BTW is the main purpose for visiting?

Your links are so much better than what I found today! Google led me on a wild goose chase, and I ended up here, https://seattle.mid.ru/web/seattle-en/russian-visa-centers and https://ils-usa.com/news/175?domain=5&language=10 telling me that Seattle is still open, but then not being able to get through on the phone or via email. I don't even know where else I looked! Like I said, it was a 2 hour affair that just left me frustrated.

I admit it can be confusing especially with a TON of sites saying they are “Russian Consulate”. I have found as the links show IF you get to the real one, you are in pretty good shape. So, in summary, ILS is no longer in play, when in doubt, call or e-mail VFS...and, also, is Bellingham in Washington (state]...if so, then as I wrote, THEY have a physical presence, office...and presumably if you submit app and paperwork thru them (in person or via mail), then they, as the fully authorized AGENT (not simply a “visa agency”) for pretty much all Russian Consulates in the US, will handle the rest!

• Train Booking Moscow to St. Peter Apr 24, 2024
• Planning trip to Russia Apr 09, 2024
• SIM card. Russian SIM cards, do they still work in the UK? Apr 09, 2024
• Union Pay debit card Mar 27, 2024
• Russian trying to book a hotel in Jerusalem Mar 14, 2024
• Dual Citizen Arrested in Russia Mar 12, 2024
• about clothes Feb 27, 2024
• NOTE - border crossing from Finland into Russia closed Feb 09, 2024
• Snow boots in Red Square Feb 04, 2024
• Travelling to Moscow & Murmansk with toddle in winter Feb 02, 2024
• Anyone traveling from London to Moscow this week ? Jan 27, 2024
• Booking accommodation Jan 11, 2024
• Traveling friends (Designers preferred) :) Jan 05, 2024
• Are shops and things closed during Christmas and New Week ? Dec 15, 2023
• Moscow to St Petersburg train or air?? 32 replies
• New Sapsan Express Train from Moscow to St Petersburg 18 replies
• New year's in moscow 8 replies
• Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour 5 replies
• How do you purchase Bolshoi Ballet tickets at a great price? 2 replies
• Select-a-room.com Are they legitimate? 3 replies
• Weather Moscow and St. petersburg in May 8 replies
• Night train to St Petersburg 3 replies
• ATM Access 12 replies
• Visa needed if on layover at Moscow Airport??????? 15 replies

Moscow Hotels and Places to Stay

• Where can I get initial answers to ANY question?

Update your browser

Be sure you have the most current version of your browser for the best experience on AAVacations.com. Browser requirements  Opens in a new window

• Skip to global navigation
• Skip to content
• Skip to footer
• Sign up for email offers Opens in a new window
• aa.com Opens in a new window

• Destinations
• AAdvantage®

AAdvantage login

Exclusive AAdvantage® experiences Verify AAdvantage® Number(s)

Airport lookup

Our system is having trouble.

Please try again or come back later.

Please tell us where the airport is located.

Your session expired

Any confirmed reservations have been saved, but you'll need to restart any searches in progress

AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services

Hours updated 3 weeks ago

Services Offered

Verified by Business

Car and truck insurance

Travel services

Life insurance

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

5867 N Mesa St

El Paso, TX 79912

Upcoming Special Hours

You might also consider.

Farmers Insurance - Yvonne Ruiz

1.1 miles away from this business

COVID-19 Update: We are still open, but for the safety of our customers, agents, and employees, Farmers agents are available online or via phone. read more

in Home & Rental Insurance, Life Insurance, Insurance

Palms Mexico Insurance

5.7 miles away from this business

Specializing in: - Insurance Consultants & Analysts - Auto Insurance - Insurance read more

in Auto Insurance

Amys Travel Agency

Make Your Travel Dreams Come True with Amys Travel! Discover the world through unique experiences that awaken emotions, create unforgettable memories, and connect you with the wonders of the planet. At Amys Travel, we dedicate… read more

in Travel Agents, Resorts, Airport Shuttles

About the Business

Speak with an agent today! How well do you really understand your auto insurance policy? The truth is...many insurance companies may quote you a low price, but they may not tell you the whole story. Do you have high deductibles, or coverage limits that can lead to a low quote? Our network of dedicated, licensed insurance agents will help you determine the right amount of coverage and protection available to suit you and your family's budget and needs. Give us a call today to compare your current insurance coverage options to those offered through AAA Texas*. Take advantage of your FREE AAA Full Picture Quote™† so you can see how much you could SAVE on your auto insurance! †The AAA Full Picture Quote™ provides driver and vehicle information, coverage limits, applicable discounts and premium for the specific quote. While the AAA Full Picture QuoteTM may present options, the insured is responsible for selecting the proper coverage and deductible to fit the insured's circumstances. *Auto Club County Mutual Insurance Company (auto) and Auto Club Indemnity Company (home/watercraft and umbrella) provide AAA insurance coverage as AAA Texas affiliate insurers. Each listed insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

I went in to process my international driving permit this morning. This is the only AAA location in El Paso according to Yelp listing, and the next one over is in Las Cruces. There was no line when I entered the office, and I was in and out of the place in less than five minutes. It was amazingly smooth. I was greeted by a nice lady, and I gave her all of my necessary items to process for a permit, i.e. application already filled out and signed, two copies of passport photos with signature on the back, my current Texas driver license and $20.00 processing fee. I think she only asked me one question as to where I was going. Then she got an International Driving Permit booklet and started to fill it out, affixed my passport photo and stamped around it. She asked me to sign the booklet, and gave me a receipt for my payment. That's all. It was too easy. She told me it was good for one year from the date of issue (it is the same date I arrive in the country of my destination). Very good service! It was fast. Thanks, AAA!

Car insurance, home insurance, vacation insurance, ... do they have all that stuff? I'm pretty sure they do. Plus, you can apply for and receive international drivers licenses here for your trip across the border, or to Canada, or Germany, or the 150 some odd countries that accept and acknowledge the International Drivers license. Cost is $20. Lasts for 1 year at a time. Also, they are kind of like a travel agency I think? Like when I have been in there, they have all kinds of vacation destinations and packages and stuff. Maps and brochures and you name it. I'm pretty sure they deal mostly with automotive insurance and stuff, but I also am fairly certain they do travel things as well. Worst case, stop in and just ask! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. The parking lot is shared though, so it's a tight fit, and they close at 1700 SHARP! And by 1700 I mean if you walk in at 1655 they'll probably toss you out on your butt lol Das It Mayne

Erik an expert at his job who got me lower apartment and auto insurance than even USAA. He was recommended to me by my parents who are also ex military and love doing business with him.

If I could leave a negative star count I would. I started this auto insurance nightmare on 8/27. Cesar, an agent in desperate need of more training, failed too mention changing my requested policy limits (and why) til he put the paperwork in front of me. The limits was only the first red flag I should have been weary of. I mentioned that I would be willing to have payments come rt out of my checking account and he stated that was the only way monthly options were done. I guess he assumed I knew that, red flag number two. He then mentioned the AAA app which would help get me that discount and since he didn't bother getting any of my checking account info I assumed (my fault) that with the app is where I would set up payment options. I signed the paperwork and went home. I found out the next day that the app is a driving habits tracking system. NEVER EXPLAINED TOO ME. I don't want or need that but if I choose not to accept that then my monthlies rise $45 per. I finally spoke to his manager, Christina, on 9/2 and she assured me that I would hear from her either later that day or the morning of the next. WAITED & NOTHING!!! I called her on 9/8 pretty upset because she hadn't responded and further troubled because I found out that Cesar had set my payments to be taken out of a credit card provided. He assumed this is what I wanted but failed to mention it too me even after I had mentioned getting him my account info. I asked Christina when my initial payment would run out and when I would owe nothing to wit she replied 9/28. AAA normally charges a cancel fee if you don't take the policy to term. Given all the misinfo I was given I wanted that waived. She promised me she would phone me later that day or the morning of 9/9. NOTHING!!! I called her this morning (9/11) and she basically called me a liar. This is BY FAR the worst insurance office I have EVER, EVER encountered. If you choose to shop here, which I'm wholeheartedly warning against, have a laundry list of questions because otherwise they will assume and not explain a damn thing. BUYER BEWARE....... no better still just stay completely away from and take your hard earned dollars elsewhere.

I worked with Cesar and Yissel to assist me with an auto policy. Cesar was out of the office so Yisell assisted me. She was professional. She saved me money. She explained all the discounts to me. We spoke on the phone and when I went to the AAA office she had all the paperwork ready. I had my new policy with about a 30% savings in premium in less than ten minutes. If you are looking for five star service while saving money I suggest you call AAA and ask for Yisell

I tried to ask a few questions about the international driving permit... Awful customer service, lady on the phone wouldn't even want to hear my questions, she was thinking only what she knows is the truth and that's it, it didn't even matter that I tried (unsucessfully) to explain about my situation in this country, I am a foreign diplomat (with mexican citizenship) and have a Driver's License issued by the United States Department of State, but, apparently, as the lady said "we only work with valid driver's license, it needs to say texas or california in it". Again I tried to explain that my license IT IS VALID throughout all of the states because it is issued by the Department of state. No, she went on and said, "we only work with valid driver's license that, in all the years I have been working here, that's what we have done, ok?" And tried to hang up on me. I tried once again to explain and asked if a letter from the department of state saying it is valid would help, but she interrupted me and said "it doesn't matter if it's issued by the department of justice". I think I might call back to try and have luck with some other representative, because this is my only shot to get an international driving permit, the other nearest office is in Dallas... AWFUL!

Today I blew my right passenger side tire out and was stranded with no money. My called AAA and although she did not renew her membership in August due to lack of funds customer service agreed to do an exception since in the two years that she was a member she did not use the services at all. She called me and told me that they were on their way However, when they arrived they refused to help! I tried to explain that my wife had called and that they were going to give her an exception since she she did not use her membership benefits in the two years that she was a member. All the AAA representative did was call his supervisor and of course he was told no. No additional flow up was done. When I eventually got home I called AAA and put in a compliant. I was told that I would receive a phone call from a supervisor but of course I received none. Please think twice about using this overrated organization.

Unprofessional staff with little knowledge of car insurance, I talked to the guy that works there and it was a very stressful call due to his lack of customer service. He disconnected the phone once we requested to talk to a manager. He stopped answering phone calls and we were only able to get someone on the phone again after we called from a different number. I do not recommend this place to anyone, if you don't go in person and call all they do is give you the run around.

I am from San Diego and locked my keys in my car just about an hour ago. Logged in on the app and requested help. I was right outside my anytime fitness gym, so figured I was lucky and could work out the hour or so it would probably take. Nope! Within 10 minutes a guy called and said he was on way. Again, figured I had at least 30 minutes. Again wrong. Within 5 minutes he was here. Had me in my car 5 minutes later. Amazing service! He was in a black looked like Chevy avalanche truck, give the man a raise!

AAA road side assistance, 5 stars. AAA car insurance side if the business, 2 stars. Rates are competitive, but customer service was subpar. I actually switched to another company for a little more money, but the service is better.

TitleMax Title Loans

2.4 miles away from this business

in Installment Loans, Title Loans, Debt Relief Services

Navy Federal Credit Union

5.1 miles away from this business

Marie G. said "Ok so I moved allllll the way up on the west side. Great for living. Easy access to l-10 and Transmountain Drive. But here I am needing cash to tip the guys delivering my patio furniture later today and I am scrambling to find an…" read more

in Mortgage Lenders, Banks & Credit Unions, Auto Loan Providers

Collections Including AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services

People Also Viewed

John Choi - Allstate Insurance

Fred Loya Insurance

Farmers Insurance - Mercedes Ruiz

Flor Insurance Group

Lone Star Insurance

Miguel Chavez - State Farm Insurance Agent

Wells Fargo Bank

Yvonne Curtis

Arleen Beard - State Farm Insurance Agent

Margarita Nunez - State Farm Insurance Agent

Best of El Paso

Things to do in El Paso

Other Places Nearby

Find more Auto Insurance near AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services

Find more Life Insurance near AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services

Find more Travel Services near AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services

People found AAA El Paso Insurance and Member Services by searching for…

Aaa Office El Paso

Car Registration Renewal El Paso

Passport Photos El Paso

Travel Agency El Paso

Vehicle Registration El Paso

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Auto Insurance Cost Guide

AAA Near Me

Harbor Freight Locations Near Me

Tour Agencies Near Me

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

Auto Insurance

Currency Exchange

Financial Advising

Home and Rental Insurance

Life Insurance

Tax Services

• 6 More Cost Guides