10 Reasons to Trust AAA Diamond Ratings

Travel information is everywhere — travel guides and magazines, Web sites and blogs, expert opinions and consumer reviews. Information overload? Lack of time? Who and what can you trust?

Trust AAA. AAA Diamond Ratings provide travelers with a reliable way to compare hotels and restaurants so you can choose an option that fits your needs. The ratings are the result of a unique combination of objective guidelines, inspector expertise, travel industry familiarity, and experience.

1. We’ve been there, eaten there. AAA’s hotel and restaurant inspectors conduct on-site evaluations so they can have the same experience you would as a guest.
2. We share our guidelines with properties. AAA’s extensive Approval Requirements & Diamond Rating Guidelines are published. Hotels and restaurants know exactly what they need to do, and they receive detailed feedback from the inspector after the evaluation is completed. The ratings are rarely a surprise to the operators or guests.
3. We put on our guest hat to experience properties. Evaluations are not announced in advance but, at the appropriate time, the inspectors identify themselves in order to gain full access to the property. Anonymity is maintained during overnight stays. AAA does not accept any perks or discounts not extended to all guests.
4. We keep pace with the times. All establishments undergo an established process that is reviewed and refined periodically to ensure a fair, complete assessment in line with member expectations and industry trends. Assessments of unique elements are enhanced by the inspectors’ broad-based experience in the hospitality industry. The inspectors are full-time AAA employees, not freelancers.
5. We’re as picky as you are. Not every interested establishment is evaluated or rated — they must first meet a set of requirements to become AAA Inspected & Approved. AAA’s yearly inspections necessitate that they maintain the appropriate level of facilities and service to keep their approval status and rating. Ratings do not reflect better or poorer levels of attention to housekeeping or maintenance. AAA's quality initiative is to list properties that are clean and well-maintained. Inspectors do not approve establishments that fall below established standards.
6. We’ve got more than a century of experience. AAA began field inspections of hotels in 1937 and adopted a formal rating system in 1963 using Outstanding, Excellent, Very Good, and Good. The proprietary AAA Diamond Rating system has been recognized and trusted by travelers since its inception for hotels in 1977 and for restaurants in 1988.
7. We make it easy for members. A Diamond Rating gives a consumer an at-a-glance basis for making a hotel or restaurant choice, versus reading long or inconsistent reviews. The symbol has not been diluted by use in multiple contexts and industries.
8. We cover North America. AAA evaluates more than 60,000 hotels and restaurants each year. It is the only rating system that covers all of North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
9. We’re accessible 24/7. AAA Diamond Ratings are available through a variety of AAA travel information and trip planning products for AAA members. Ratings are often prominently displayed in hotels and restaurants, reinforcing the widespread recognition factor.
10. We’re here to serve members. The AAA Diamond Rating system is first and foremost a service to nearly 60 million members, and we respond to all comments received from our members.

AAA Diamond Ratings are presented in tandem with a wide scope of travel information and inspections content. The result is ratings members can trust. For more information, visit AAA.com/Diamonds.