Know AAA

Diamond ratings

TRAVEL—AAA Diamond ratings are the only hotel and restaurant ratings that cover the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Diamond ratings assist travelers in selecting the level of amenities, style and sophistication that best suits their needs.

A common misperception is that because AAA's rating scale goes from one to five diamonds, the mid-scale Three Diamond rating indicates average quality and the One Diamond rating indicates poor quality. In fact, the Three Diamond rating is the highest rating most properties achieve. Fewer than 4% of AAA's 60,000 listings fall into the Four or Five Diamond categories, which offer luxury and world-class features.A One Diamond rating indicates clean, safe, comfortable, budget-oriented lodging.

For restaurants, a One Diamond rating indicates affordable, casual dining, and the rating increases to Two Diamonds for informal, family-style dining. Three Diamond restaurants offer creative, upscale adult dining. Four and Five Diamonds provide luxury and excellence, elegance and refined service.

For a quick on-the-road refresher, locate Diamond rating information in the front of every TourBook, in the section called "Using Your Guide." Members can obtain TourBooks free at any AAA office. On www.AAA.com, look for the descriptions that appear as you scroll over a property's Diamond rating in the online TourBook and TripTik Travel Planner.