FYI

AAA Travel Guides at Your Fingertips

AAA produces more than 140 publications each year-most of them travel guide-books. Our popular TourBook® guides make trip planning easy and fun. We offer an extensive list of AAA travel guides and videos online at our e-store: Books & More! Simply log on to www.aaa.com, and click on "Online Travel Store" under Top Links on AAA Colorado's home page. Ordering online is easy, but members can also order via phone, by calling toll-free, 877-AAA-BOOK. Many travel store items are also available at our 14 offices around the state.

In addition to destination guides, AAA publishes several volumes that focus on interesting travel-related topics, such as Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook. AAA also publishes travel guidebooks for a variety of cities and countries throughout the world, and, of course, AAA's well-known TourBook® guides are still available at no charge to members. Whether you order online, by phone or in person, you're sure to find the help you need to plan a great summer getaway.

The Joys of Life Beyond 50

There's a lot to look forward to after age 50, including more free time, financial freedom and the benefits of experience. While you're savoring your freedom, take advantage of a special, limited-time-only offer: From now until July 31, purchase $1,000 or more in American Express® Travelers Cheques at your local AAA office and receive a free copy of Beyond 50: The Road Ahead-1,001 Tips for Living Longer, Healthier, Wiser, and Wealthier.

This indispensable guide to modern life covers a variety of topics ranging from travel and health tips to investments and money-saving deals. The book offers ideas for home improvement, and options for volunteer efforts or for finding a new career.

To receive your free copy, visit your nearest AAA office, complete the response form in-store and present it at the time you purchase your travelers cheques. Remember, travelers cheques are safer than cash because they are fully refundable if lost or stolen, usually within 24 hours. Also, AAA members pay no fee when purchasing American Express Travelers Cheques at any local AAA office. Hurry-free copies of Beyond 50 are available only until July 31, or while supplies last.

Moving Tips for the College-Bound

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 15 million students will enter classes at colleges and universities across the country this fall. Many will be moving their possessions into dormitories or off-campus apartments, often at a considerable distance from their hometowns.

While moving is often stressful, there are ways to make it smoother and hassle-free.

• Assess your moving needs and select the right size truck. Don't forget to allow space for large and cumbersome items, such as bicycles and TVs.
• Reserve your truck and moving supplies as soon as possible.
• Share costs with fellow students and take turns driving on long trips.
• Pack stereo equipment, TVs and computers in original cartons, or use strong packing cartons and secure the items with packing paper or bubble wrap.
• Save your back. Bend your knees and lift with your legs when you load items.
• Pick up your rental truck the day or evening before moving day so you can take some time to familiarize yourself with its operation and handling and get an early start the next morning.

AAA members receive a 10 to 12 percent savings on local and one-way Penske truck rentals and moving accessories. Members also get free unlimited mileage on one-way Penske rentals.

For a free moving guide, visit your local Penske Truck Rental location or call the exclusive AAA Penske desk at 888-222-4600.

The Hidden Costs of In-Room Phone Calls

The next time you're on vacation and making a phone call from your hotel room, think about this: there are no state or federal guidelines governing how much hotels can charge for long-distance phone calls. Rates are based on what the market will tolerate.

It's a good idea to decide how to pay for telephone calls before leaving home. First, be aware that not all lodgings post their telephone rates. Many hotels post phone rates on or near the phone in the guest's room. If rates are not posted, contact the front desk for rate information. If the rates provided are not acceptable, consider using one of these options:

• A cellular telephone. These are readily available and often inexpensive to use.
• A pay phone in the hotel lobby. While this option is less convenient, if you have several calls to make, you may be able to get more accomplished with less distraction and at a much cheaper rate. As with a cell phone, no access charges apply.
• A calling card that charges calls to your home telephone. These are available from your local or long-distance phone company. But if you use it from the phone in your room, you may still be charged an access fee for placing a long-distance call. Call the front desk to verify whether or not your hotel charges this fee.
• A prepaid phone card. These are easy to get and are available at many locations-even after you're on vacation. And the per-minute charges can be very affordable. However, access fees may apply if you use the phone in your room.

With Colorado's intense sunshine, using a high-quality pair of sunglasses is just as important as wearing the right sunscreen. According to the American Optometric Association, people need sunglass lenses that block 99-100 percent of UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays, and screen up to 70 percent of visible light (glare).

Well-fitting sunglasses can reduce UV-ray exposure up to 80 percent. If your glasses aren't custom-fitted, harmful UV-rays can seep around the lenses. Your eyes are too valuable to risk UV-ray exposure. The next time you head for outdoor fun in the sun, bring along a proper pair of sunshades.

Your local LensCrafters® can help you find the sun protec-tion you need. As a proud partner in AAA's Show Your Card & Save® program, they offer AAA members great savings on eyewear and eye care. For the location nearest you, call 800-522-5367 (LENS) or visit www.lenscrafters.com.

What does it take to earn AAA Colorado's Top Shop Award? It's a combination of high standards of excellence, superior customer service and positive customer feedback.

Customers play a key role in determining award recipients. AAA provides a Facility Service Evaluation card to all its Approved Auto Repair facilities. Each time members receive service at one of these businesses, they have the opportunity to fill out an evaluation card and mail it in. The greater the number of evaluation cards received from each business, the greater its chances of earning the coveted award. Winners are determined by customer responses to key categories, including "Facility Overall" and "Satisfaction Rating" (based on four individual rating categories, including quality of work, knowledge, efficiency, etc.).

To ensure that your favorite Approved Auto Repair facility is included in the list of top achievers, fill out a Facilities Evaluation Card at your next visit. You will help AAA measure customer satisfaction and give superior service the recognition it deserves.

Congratulations to the Following 2000 Top Shop Award winners:

First Place (tie)
Jeno's Auto Service, Littleton
Aurora Amoco, Aurora

Runner-Up
Precision Automotive, Gunnison

Honorable Mention
Stan's Tire & Auto Service, Lafayette
Auto Service House, Denver
Autohouse, Colorado Springs

Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites and Doubletree Hotels (all members of the Hilton family) have joined AAA's Show Your Card & Save® program. Now members can receive specially negotiated rates at more than 7,400 hotel properties nationwide. The arrangement between AAA and these nationally known hotel chains extends the total number of rooms available under the Show Your Card & Save® program to more than 800,000.

Embassy Suites, with more than 150 AAA-approved properties, offers spacious one- and two-bedroom suites in an upscale facility with complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfasts.

Homewood Suites has more than 70 AAA-approved properties, offering two-room suites with separate living and sleeping areas, complimentary grocery shopping service if requested, and complimentary breakfast daily.

With more than 150 AAA-approved properties, Doubletree Hotels are full-service, upscale hotels renowned for their chocolate-chip cookies provided at check-in. Make reservations for any Show Your Card & Save® partner through any AAA office or AAA's new toll-free reservation line, 866-AAA-SAVE. Each participating chain offers the lowest rate available for dates of stay, or 10 percent minimum savings, plus a satisfaction guarantee.

The Colorado Guide, Fifth Edition, by Bruce Caughey and Dean Winstanley (Fulcrum Publishing), is now available at AAA offices throughout Colorado. This best-selling guide is a reliable source for discovering and rediscovering Colorado, and makes a nice companion to the AAA Colorado TourBook®. The latest edition of The Colorado Guide offers 13 new full-color maps and photographs as well as current Web sites and completely revised and updated content.

It contains useful information on regional history, attractions, local events and cultural highlights. You'll also find suggestions for outdoor activities, scenic drives, nightlife, shopping, restaurants and accommodations (not all properties in the book are AAA-rated).

The guide retails for $24.95, but it is available to AAA Colorado members for a special price of only $20.75 plus tax. To purchase a copy, visit your local AAA office today.

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