Road Tripping with AAA
Button Down || Sweater || Jeans || Flats || Sunglasses || Earrings || Bracelet || Watch
Wow! What a weekend! If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram, then I’m sure you’ve already seen a boat load of pictures from our trip to Newport, Rhode Island. A little background story… Back in July, the wonderful team at AAA Northeast invited me to take a road trip and the Newport International Boat Show was the destination. As a lover of travel, the ocean and all seaside towns, I couldn’t have been more honored for the invitation.
My earliest memories of AAA actually start with road trips too. My parents, who have been loyal members for ages, would always make AAA their first destination before a long drive. No trip to grandma’s house was complete without one of their TripTik Maps or Guide Books to help lead the way. As the self-appointed navigator, I would pore over the maps and give directions that I’m sure my dad didn’t need.
Jump back to the present day and it’s important to know that AAA is more than just maps. They can help you with every aspect of traveling, both large and small, domestic and abroad. Although roadside assistance is their bread and butter, the discounts they offer from their partners will pay for your membership.
Okay, let’s talk about the actual trip. David and I got up bright and early to get on the road. Since we’re based in NYC, we actually decided to take the train into Stamford, CT as the first leg of our journey. Something I’ve heard from lots of seasoned New Yorkers is that renting a car in Connecticut is much cheaper than in the city. 45 minutes later and we’re at the Stamford train station with the Hertz office right across the street. The timing couldn’t have been better. Since AAA and Hertz have a fantastic partnership, and members have exclusive discounts, getting the car and on the open road was a snap. Off we went!
Two and half hours later, we were in the picturesque town of Newport. I couldn’t wait to get checked into our hotel and start exploring the boat show! Our stay was at the Newport Beach Hotel and it made for the perfect location! About a 30 minute walk from Bannister’s Wharf, we were just far enough away from the action and could enjoy some quiet. Almost completely surrounded by water, we had completely unobstructed views of the sunrise on First Beach, but could also take in the sunset at the hotel’s private rooftop deck. It was the best of everything.
Back in town, we took in all that the Newport Boat Show had to offer! Living in the city, we don’t have a boat just yet, but it’s always fun to daydream. We don’t plan on living in the city forever and being by the water is always home. If you are in the market, it’s probably the best place to shop, or at least start your search. The boat show had a little something for everyone. If you are on a budget, they had small crafts that cost a few thousand dollars. For the shopper with deep pockets, there were options costing several millions. Obviously, David and I wanted to take a look at those, but it was all just part of the daydream. The people working were so friendly and were happy to answer all of our questions.
Our time in Newport simply flew by! On Monday, reluctant to go back to the city, we made a quick stop at the nearby Shell gas station before returning our rental car to Hertz and catching the train. AAA members, along with their many other discounts, can save 5 cents per gallon at any Shell gas station. Even though we became car free since moving to New York, that’s a perk to keep in mind when we travel or when we decide to add a car into our life again.
Once again, thank you so much to AAA Northeast, Hertz, Shell, Newport Beach Hotel, and the Newport International Boat Show for an absolutely amazing trip! This is only the beginning of my love for Newport and I have AAA to thank for that! Be sure to check back soon for a Newport City Guide and my Packing List.
Love from NYC,
Katie
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