How the Club Works
In order to become a member, you must be at least 40 years of age,
have a permanent residence, and be able to provide clean, comfortable,
and private sleeping quarters and either full or continental
breakfast for two or more guests. 

As a Host Member, you offer that extra bedroom, breakfast (continental or full), and an hour of your time to acquaint the fellow member with your area.  The orientation can be done upon arrival or at breakfast.  Your guests give you a gratuity to help you defray your costs.  When you travel, you do the same.  If you travel as many times as you host, you are traveling free!   The number of times per year a host member has guests is at the host's discretion.  Most hosts do not get more than 3 requests a year.  This is a private club.  You are not running  a "Bed and Breakfast."   You are offering your hospitality to other Club members. 

As a guest or host, you will be sharing experiences with people like yourself who have a diversity of interests and are well-traveled.  These interchanges make your future travels more exciting and rewarding!  You will belong to an extended family of travelers. 

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS FOR YOU

  1. Join the Club and receive your Directory Software (printed Directory also available) and Host Membership Card.
  2. From the Directory, determine in which city you wish to visit.
  3. Within that locality, select a member who offers what you want.
  4. Contact the member to arrange a stay.
  5. If you require any special needs be sure to cover these in advance with your host.
  6. Upon arrival, present your membership card and gratuity to your host.
  7. Discuss "house rules" and make arrangements for breakfast.
  8. Enjoy your stay!
CLUB EXTRAS

     In addition to the yearly Directory, you will receive:

  1. Two Directory Supplements (April and August) listing new members.
  2. Newsletters with the Directory and Supplements, featuring tourist areas, travel tips, member comments, "On the Road" articles by members, recipes, and other helpful information.
  3. Listings for house-sitting, pet-sitting, and home exchanges.
  4. Group cruise or tour information.
WHAT DOES IT COST?

     The yearly household membership dues are:
  

U.S., Canada, & Mexico Host
 
 

Overseas Host

 $65 - Computer Download Version
$75 - Printed Directory
$80 - Printed and Download

Free - Computer Download Version
$20 - Printed Directory (Printing and Postage) 


     Lodging gratuity per night is: 

  • Club Members..................$15 single, $20 double 
  • Each Additional Person...$10
  • Overseas hosts may add an additional $10 to the above gratuity
(All amounts are in US dollars)

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ATC MEMBER OBLIGATIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

The Traveling $20 Bill

We have some members who feel that the gratuity that they paid to the host was too small for what they got in return.  Remember the gratuity is given to help defray the costs of the hosts - we are basically a travel club offering traveling members hospitality.  If we begin to charge more that basic costs, we would be running a "bed and breakfast" for profit and must have a license in most states.  As you hand the $20 (the most common gratuity) to your host, think of it as a "Traveling 20" for hopefully they will take it on their next trip and feel just as guilty as they hand it to their host.  Wouldn't it be fun to follow one $20 bill around the world.  Hopefully it will never stop being passed on!  Never has "feeling guilty" been so pleasurable!

If you are new to home hospitality accommodations, you may not feel entirely comfortable when you first arrive at a host's home whom you do not know or they arrive at yours, but we are sure that within minutes that feeling will evaporate leaving only a feeling of good will.  You will become another avid fan of home hospitality accommodations.
 

Membership is based on a calendar year (January--December) basis.  This means that all memberships come due at the same time at the end of a year.  If one initially joins in the middle of a year, the second year's membership will be pro-rated to compensate for the first year's partial membership. 

    Membership fees are soon offset by the 
    low cost of your accommodations and 
    the reward of many new friendships. 



Sample Directory Listings

UNITED STATES

Touristville, CA  (30 miles S. of Los Angeles)
Doe, John & Jane, 110 Main St., Touristville, CA 99999.   (310) 555-9999 or FAX (310) 555-8888.   E-mail:  johnjanedoe@aol.com Retired Executive & Teacher.  Interests:  Sports,  crafts,   reading, boating, gardening, bridge.  Home with an ocean view.   Accommodate 2, full breakfast, queen-size bed, private bath. Short notice--yes, smoking permitted outside.  Guide & dine out. Summer Art Festival, sandy beach. (June94)

AUSTRIA

Feldkirch-Tosters (On Austria/Liechtenstein border)
Mueller, Dieter & Hildegard.  Boeschstr. 456, A-6800 Feldkirch-Tosters, AUSTRIA.  Ph: 43  1234 5678, Fx: same, dhmueller@vol.at - Archivist & Headmaster Sec.  Int: music, photography, history, hiking.  House, acc: 2, double bed, private bath, smoking outside.  Guide & dine out. Guest apt. with kitchen.  Historical town on doorstep of the Alps, near Germany, the Tyrol, Lake Constance & Zurich. 1000 year old fortress - Middle Age Ambience.  Scenic drives, hiking/skiing.  2 nt. min stay/5 nt. max.  ATC Gratuity +$10. (Jul96*)


HOW DO I JOIN?

 To join the Affordable Travel Club: membership application. 

 E-mail us