AAA Diamonds — for Easy, Reliable Hotel Selection

The AAA Diamond Rating Process is North America’s premier hotel rating program. Whether you seek simple roadside accommodations or a destination resort experience, trust AAA’s reliable Diamond ratings to guide your decisions.

Approximately 32,000 hotels throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean are AAA Approved and Diamond rated.

What makes AAA’s two-part rating system so reliable? Full-time, professional evaluators … member feedback … clear quality standards … and thousands of up-to-date choices. And, unlike systems that rate properties from poor to excellent, AAA rates only those properties Approved for quality.

 
  Approved Lodging

AAA Approved: The Seal of Quality

  • To apply for evaluation, properties must first meet 27 essential requirements based on member expectations — cleanliness, comfort, security, and safety.

  • Properties selected for evaluation must demonstrate the strict quality guidelines required to be AAA Approved.

 
 

AAA Diamonds: The Key to Decisions

  • Properties that are AAA Approved are assigned a rating of one to five AAA Diamonds, ranging from simple to luxurious.

  • The Diamond ratings indicate the extensiveness of services, amenities, and décor provided.

 
 

What the Hotel Ratings Mean

One Diamond
These establishments typically appeal to the budget-minded traveler. They provide essential, no-frills accommodations. They meet the basic requirements pertaining to comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality.

Two Diamond
These establishments appeal to the traveler seeking more than the basic accommodations. There are modest enhancements to the overall physical attributes, design elements, and amenities of the facility typically at a moderate price.

Three Diamond
These establishments appeal to the traveler with comprehensive needs. Properties are multifaceted with a distinguished style, including marked upgrades in the quality of physical attributes, amenities, and level of comfort provided.

Four Diamond
These establishments are upscale in all areas. Accommodations are progressively more refined and stylish. The physical attributes reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout. The fundamental hallmarks at this level include an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail.

 

Five Diamond
These establishments reflect the characteristics of the ultimate in luxury and sophistication. Accommodations are first class. The physical attributes are extraordinary in every manner. The fundamental hallmarks at this level are to meticulously serve and exceed all guest expectations while maintaining an impeccable standard of excellence. Many personalized services and amenities enhance an unmatched level of comfort.

fyi
The lodging listings with fyi in place of diamonds are included as an information only service for members. The icon indicates that a property has not been rated for one or more of the following reasons: too new to rate, under construction, under major renovation, not evaluated, may not meet all AAA requirements.

AAA.com Hot Deals

AAA.com lodging listings that contain the Hot Deal icon have one or more limited-time savings or benefit offers exclusively for members on designated dates. If the Hot Deal icon does not appear in the property rate display, the offer is not available for the selected dates of stay.

AAA Diamonds — for Easy, Reliable Restaurant Selection

The AAA Diamond Rating Process is North America’s premier restaurant rating program. Whether you seek good, basic food or an extraordinary dining experience, trust AAA’s reliable Diamond ratings to guide your decisions.

Restaurants do not pay a fee to become AAA Approved and Diamond rated. Approximately 25,000 restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean are AAA Approved and Diamond rated.

What makes AAA’s two-part rating system so reliable? Full-time, professional evaluators … member feedback … clear quality standards … and thousands of up-to-date choices. And, unlike systems that rate restaurants from poor to excellent, AAA rates only those restaurants Approved for quality.

 

 

AAA Approved: The Seal of Quality

  • To apply for evaluation, restaurants must first meet 12 essential requirements based on member expectations — cleanliness, comfort, security, and safety.

  • Restaurants selected for evaluation must demonstrate the strict quality guidelines required to be AAA Approved.

 
 

AAA Diamonds: The Key to Decisions

  • Restaurants that are AAA Approved are assigned a rating of one to five AAA Diamonds, ranging from basic to world-class.

  • The Diamond ratings indicate the extensiveness of food, décor, and personal service.

 
 

What the Restaurant Ratings Mean

One Diamond
A one Diamond restaurant must meet basic requirements pertaining to management, cleanliness and overall quality. The primary focus is on providing wholesome, straightforward and familiar food at an economical price. Generally, the menu selection is limited to a restaurant’s specialty, such as hamburgers, fried chicken, pizza or tacos. Service is limited, in many instances self service, and the surroundings are often utilitarian.

Two Diamond
A two Diamond restaurant displays noticeable enhancements to food presentation, such as the use of common garnishes in combination with the dishware. Typically, the menu offers a wide selection featuring familiar favorites or home-style foods often cooked to order and reasonably priced. The service, while often limited, is plain-speaking and relaxed. The surroundings, while limited in scope, typically reflect a clear theme. All elements combine to provide a familiar, often family-oriented experience.

Three Diamond
A three Diamond restaurant often employs a professional chef and a supporting staff of highly-trained cooks. The menu is skillfully prepared and often reflects interpretations of the latest trends or a mastering of traditional cuisine. Typically, there are expanded offerings of beverages in complement to the menu, such as international/regional wines, specialty beers, cocktails and soft drinks. A professional dining room manager leads a complement of efficient service staff. The service reflects some degree of refinement, such as reservations accepted, personal assistance or the ability to adapt to the guest’s specific needs. The décor reflects the use of well-coordinated design mediums that provide a distinct theme and good comfort. Restaurants at this level convey an entry into fine dining and are often positioned as an adult-oriented experience.

Four Diamond
A four Diamond restaurant is geared to individuals in search of a distinctive fine-dining experience. Often orchestrated by an executive chef and an accomplished staff, menus reflect a high degree of creativity and complexity, using imaginative presentations to enhance high quality, market-fresh ingredients. The equally proficient service staff demonstrates a strong desire to meet or exceed guest expectations. A wine steward is typically available to provide menu-specific knowledge on wine selection. The ambiance is highly refined, comfortable and well-coordinated, incorporating quality materials and a variety of upscale design enhancements to give a first-class impression. The overall dining experience is typically expensive.

Five Diamond
A five Diamond restaurant is renowned and consistently provides a world-class experience. This is "haute cuisine" at its best. Menus are cutting edge, using only the finest ingredients available. Food is prepared in a manner that is highly imaginative and unique. The combination of technique and ingredients is extraordinary, reflecting the impeccable artistry and awareness of highly-acclaimed chefs. A maître d’ leads an expert service staff that exceeds guest expectations by attending to every detail in an effortless and unobtrusive manner.

fyi
The restaurants with fyi in place of diamonds are included as an information only service for members. These listings provide additional dining choices but have not yet been evaluated.

AAA Levels — for Easy, Reliable Campground Selection

The AAA rating levels for privately operated campgrounds help members identify camping facilities suited to their expectations. Whether you seek a rustic tent site or scenic, well groomed RV facilities, trust AAA’s reliable rating levels to guide your decisions.

Campgrounds do not pay a fee to become AAA Approved and rated. Nearly 5,000 privately operated campgrounds throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico are Approved and rated. As a service to members, AAA also lists, but does not rate, more than 6,000 public campgrounds available through national and state park departments.

What makes AAA’s campground rating system so reliable? Full-time, professional evaluators … member feedback … 24/7 access to information … and thousands of up-to-date choices.

 
  • To apply for evaluation, privately operated campgrounds must first meet 17 essential requirements that address management style, general facilities, and site specifications.

  • During an unannounced site visit, campgrounds are assigned a Level 1, 2, or 3 rating based on overall visual appeal, environmental quality, and the completeness, cleanliness, and condition of facilities.

 
 
 

What the Campground Rating Levels Mean

 

Modest natural appeal, rustic sites, limited facilities.

Suitable as a base for budget-minded travelers and campers seeking a simple, unadorned setting.

Enhanced natural setting, well defined sites, at least one general service facility.

Appropriate for campers who prefer modest social or recreational options and some access to conveniences and comforts.

Prominent natural elements, groomed sites, extensive recreational options, variety of general service facilities.

Ideal for campers seeking exciting visual elements, social programs, and comfortable amenities such as temperature controlled bathrooms and heated showers.

 

The GEM Designation — a Great Experience for Members®

Attractions and events distinguished with the GEM designation offer a Great Experience for Members®. Look for the GEM icon in the aaa.com “Attractions/Events” search results and select the “must see” sort button to move these listings at the top of your search results.

  • GEM attractions are also listed in the printed TourBook guide, by city and on designated pages at the front of each state and province Points of Interest section. These attractions are judged to be of exceptional interest and quality by AAA’s professional evaluators.

  • GEM events may be of exceptional interest or quality, highly profiled or widely publicized, nationally recognized, long-standing or heavily attended, or a one-time extravaganza, celebration, or centennial.

Distance Search

Search within a designated radius of your destination’s center point (generally a city hall or downtown area).

Near Point of Interest

Search the area surrounding a well-known attraction or landmark.

Credit Card Security Code

As part of our commitment to security, AAA requires security code verification with all credit card transactions to help safeguard members from unauthorized purchases. AAA will not process any transactions in which the security code entered does not match the security code assigned by the credit card company. In the space provided, enter the 3- or 4-digit code that appears on the front or back of your credit card, as shown below. (Optima Cards display these digits above the card number to the left.)