My Newest (and Best?) Giveaway Yet? Actual Money Courtesy of Bing Travel!

by Gary Leff

Bing travel wants to get your (and my) attention.

I’ll admit, I hadn’t paid them much mind before, I’m used to searching with ITA Software and with Kayak, booking directly through an airline site or with Expedia or Orbitz if need be. I often find that Orbitz is good for putting together complex multi-carrier itienraries, and depending on the carrier they may be updating inventory at a lag from other sites, so Expedia or Orbitz might be cheaper on any given itinerary on occasion.

So I was surprised to find that Bing seemed very much in the tradition of Kayak, the site I’ve recommended most often to non-experts for search for travel. Very good to know!

So how did they get my attention and now yours?

They’ve laid out their summer travel forecast and have quite an offer to promote it.

Here’s what they say about overall air and hotel pricing:

The average airfare to domestic destinations is up 22% from 2009 and 4% higher than 2008 fares, averaging $303 per ticket. But don’t kill the messenger – you can still save big with your hotel stay!

On average, premium hotel rates in domestic destinations are down 10% over 2009, averaging $166 per night. Choosing the right destination this summer could allow you to make up for higher airfares. Some destinations we recommend considering are Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, Honolulu, San Diego, and New York City, where hotel rates are down considerably and can help reduce your overall trip cost.

And they actually provide some reasonable advice on booking summer travel, not the fanciful made up stuff that you get out of most commentators but advice on using alternate airports (and an implication would be add a train or European discounter segment if you need it) and to book the best deal you can now rather than waiting. Nothing new for the expert, but sound nonetheless for general guidance.

So what are they offering exactly? Money. Serioously. Bing-branded prepaid Mastercards. They’ve sent me 100 $15 cards. I’m going to package them as (20) prizes of 5 cards apiece. Which means there will be (20) winners receiving $75 each.

These prepaid Mastercards say “15 Dollars / Bag Fee on Bing.com” but I know many of my readers are elites whose baggage fees are waived. Use the cash for whatever you’d like.

Personally, I love keeping low-dollar prepaid cards around, for (1) free trial signup offers that require a credit card and (2) for testing out bidding on Priceline when I don’t want to play the incorrect security code trick. And I’ve also been known link debit cards to my Paypal account and shoot the balance over to my wife. Or just load up my Starbucks card.

There are (2) ways to enter:

  • Visit Bing’s summer travel forecast and post a comment here on this blog post answering the question where will you go this summer?. 15 winners will be chosen at random from these entries. Only one entry per person.

  • Follow @garyleff and @Fareologist on twitter and tweet
      RT this and follow @garyleff and @fareologist to win actual CA$H http://tinyurl.com/vftw-bing

    5 winners will be chosen at random from these entries. Only one entry per person.

Enter once using either or both methods no later than Tuesday, May 11 at noon Eastern time.

Very generous of the folks at Bing Travel, and as always I pass the goodies on to you!

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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  4. I plan to go to Fayetteville, NC and Long Beach, CA. At the end of Summer I’ll be going to Guam, USA too!

  6. I’m going to Rehoboth Beach in June (no volcanoes between here and the Delaware beaches!) and Boston in August. Thanks, Gary.

  9. I am going to Edinburgh as well. Not really cheap but will be a lot of fun.

  11. May: Casablanca, Morocco
    June: Paris, France
    July: London, United Kingdom

  13. LAS & PHX – but it’s a dry heat…
    MSP – it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity…

  15. I’m planning a trip to Colorado with the family in August! I’m sure there’ll be another trip or two thrown in there somewhere!

  19. Awesome! I’m going to New Hampshire in June, Seattle in July, and Massachusetts in August. Have a good summer!

  22. I’m going to NYC and Germany!

    Nice, is bing travel FARECAST or EXPEDIA? I have used farecast for about four years now, LOVED it, noticed the past tense. After being purchased by MSFT I think it has gone downhill and doesn’t work too well too often. bummer it was a GREAT product

  24. I will go to Portland Oregon, and maybe Seattle and Vancouver too! 🙂

  25. Thanks for the tip on keeping small gift cards around. It’s always nice to learn a new Priceline trick, even though I rarely use it these days.

    In addition to frequent trips to Atlanta, we’ll be going to Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Boston, New York, Rio, Buenos Aires, Tampa, Stockholm, and Singapore.

  30. Tolpuddle, Dorset (UK) for the Martyrs’ Festival
    Cambridge (MA) & Montreal (CA) for conferences
    New Jersey (hi, Mom!)

  33. madrid and tuscany in june for a wedding, immediately followed by qingdao, china for work thru mid-july. diving in jamaica in august. steamboat for labor day wknd.

  35. Travelling to Prague w/ Mrs. Andyandy in BE courtesty of Delta Skypesos! Astounding!

  49. I am having a mellow travel year, with London and Nice being my only destinations.

  51. I’m going to Whistler, BC to enjoy the Olympic aftermath and the amazing scenery.

  57. Charleston, SC for Memorial Day & 4th of July.

    A week in the San Francisco/North Bay/Wine Country.

    Still haven’t figured out Labor Day weekend yet.

  58. Thanks Gary! I’m trying to plan a trip to San Francisco or the East Coast for our one year anniversary! We want to go somewhere neither of us have been in the States.

  60. Too hot for Madrid. I’d go to San Francisco for the cold weather. Guess I agree with WHG, but, who doesn’t like San Francisco.

  63. DC in June, Connecticut in Aug., but hoping for something abroad in the fall!

    Thanks for the chance!

  64. Going to Orlando to see the Mouse in June, then DC for the fireworks and concert on July 4.

  66. I’m going to the Colorado Rockies in July, and Hawaii in November (is that still summer)?

    Thanks!

  69. I’m going to Europe in July! First Paris, then London, then Rome. Can’t wait!

  74. I sometimes check bing fare forecast…
    Going to Portugal in June and August.

  77. Cool site. May supplement ITA with this one. We’re going to Denver for a wedding in July, possibly bringing my wife (and kids?) along on a business trip to Korea in July.

  80. Going to Greece…twice! Lets hope the mess has cleared a bit by the summer 😉

  83. I plan to visit Hawaii this summer with my parents. We have never been before.

  84. I’m heading to Indonesia with the girlfriend!

    Thanks for the giveaway Gary and Bing!

  87. I’m going to Chicago this summer to visit a good friend from college whom I haven’t seen in years! It’ll be my first time ever in the Windy City

  93. I’m doing the California coast, from SF down to Santa Barbara, with stops in Monterey, Hearst Castle and SLO. Can’t forget some wine-tasting visits along the way, of cours! 😉

  95. Going to LA and Grand Canyon. Hope to get a good deal.
    Thank you Gary and Bing.

  104. I’m going to New York City for the Travel Blog Exchange conference in June (but have yet to buy a ticket).

  105. I’ll be heading to Washington DC for a conference and the Fourth of July, and then to Reston VA the following month for a meeting.

    Thanks, and hope that I get chosen!

    Mike

  109. I will be honymooning in so cal and going to a wedding in northern cal I will probably have to make a pit stop in sfo if hotels are a good value. Thanks Gary!

  124. This summer I’m flying to (1) Republic of Georgia, (2) Portland & Seattle, (3) Berlin, (4) Nassau, (5) Burlington, VT.

  126. Hi Gary, this summer we’re off to London, Scotland and Barbados! Thanks!

  139. 2 weeks in China! Beijing, Xi’an, then Shanghai, with an overnight stop in Tokyo on the way home. KU School of business!

  141. We’re going to England in July – I hope the pounds stay down until then!

  147. Our family will be going to Hilton Head Island in June and to Washington D.C. in August.

  150. Greece in May for 10th anniversary, Rwanda in June, Maine in July/August — gotta love summers in Maine!

  153. I’m going to Hawaii in June and Barcelona (as you know, but in ooach!) in July.

  160. I’m going to YXE to visit my family & enjoy the beautiful summer weather, as well as attend the Craven Country Music Jamboree near YQR!

  165. Thanks!
    Late May: San Diego
    June – July: Hong Kong, Singapore, and maybe Macau
    🙂

  166. Going to LA and then WA this summer. It’s my first trip away with my friends, and it’ll be awesome!

  196. Seattle, NYC, Ohio, plus somewhere I can get to with an expiring USAir bump certificate…maybe Japan in late summer/early fall

  199. I’m headed to Ljubljana Slovenia, and Vancouver for sure, plus at least one West Coast visit.

  201. Husband and I are going on the Rideau Canal with the cool new boat he built.

  202. Not going too far as I live on ACK and have everything I need nearby. Now in the winter it’s a different story…BA miles and all…

  204. I’m headed to Honolulu far too many times.
    San Antonio
    Branson, MO
    and Nashville if it dries out.

  206. I’m going to Lexington, KY for some barbecued mutton this summer. $75 whould probably buy a whole sheep’s worth of barbecue!

  211. Prague in May, Albuquerque/Santa Fe for 4th of July Weekend, and New Zealand in late August.

  213. We are traveling to China and Japan this summer. It will be fun.
    Thanks, Gary!

  220. I’m hoping to use my Hyatt “Big Welcome Back” nights for several trips to Asia and Europe. Very cool promo, Gary!

  221. Going 2 Chicago n August 4 the United DO. Trying 2 sneak Jamaica n b4 that.

  238. Traveling through Europe this Summer on a # of carriers…Visiting FRA, FCO, VCE, Athens, & LON.
    Any help with the devalued dollar will help! 🙂

  244. Long weekend in Seattle and LA are confirmed, but I am hoping for a few other small trips as well!

    Thank you! 🙂

  247. I want to go visit my boyfriend in South Carolina. I live in California. I miss him sooooo much! Hopefully I can go in July. I think I’m going to tie him up and take him home with meeeee! 😉

  253. i’d love to go to japan or greece. (and die of heat in either location?)

  258. Where will you go this summer?
    I’m heading to Europe! 18 day trip starting with a flight into Dublin. From there a discount provider over to Budapest, then going to make a big loop through Hungary, Ukraine, Poland and the Czech Republic before flying out of Nuremberg!

    BTW – might consider changing your comment box to display above comments. Makes it easier to track down on popular threads and encourages commenting!

    Great contest! Thanks guys!

  259. Italy and/or Scotland.

    Question: the bing site has no way of providing contact information for the person who might win from there… how does that work?

  261. Going to Orlando for the opening of the new Harry Potter section at Universal. Then driving back instead of flying 🙂

  262. For work, Columbus (CMH) in June, then for pleasure to the Florida Keys in August. Thanks for the opportunity!

  265. Rather than buy a packaged “around the world” trip, I’m planning my own, with stops in Paris, Casablanca, Dubai, Bangkok and Seoul. Wish me luck.

  267. Pretty flexible but planning for Toronto, London, Cardiff and Paris. It all depends on pricing/awards

  268. I would love to go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic or Cabo San Lucas in Mexico this summer 🙂

  273. Lima twice, La Paz AND if the flights to China come down in price Beijing in June!

  277. This summer my boyfriend and I are going to rent a convertible and drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, from San Franciso to San Diego. I can’t wait!

  278. I’m going back to Bonaire and also to Delaware. Delaware for a family get-together (even though we’re from the midwest, how odd, and Bonaire for awesome diving with my wife and some friends.

  286. Bermuda and Miami so far! I’d love to convince my family to go back to Iceland….

  288. I am going to San Francisco. My #1 daughter is going to school there and my other two daughters and I are visiting her. #1 daughter just scored a job with Nordstrom’s and we are so excited to celebrate with her.

  290. Motorcycling from DC to VT, then to Quebec, coming home via Nova Scotia and the ferry to Maine. My wife will fly to a half-way point and meet me!

  291. I’m going to New York and DC this summer. But Farecast is telling me there’s an 80% chance fares will drop, so I’m waiting it out a bit.

  294. We’ll go to a beach somewhere so that we can spend some time away from the extreme summer heat

  302. This summer I’m going to Montreal to speak about youth volunteerism at a conference and Shanghai to visit my family and the World Expo! 🙂

  304. I’m going to Pittsburgh & Washington DC this summer…and Boston for July 4th! 🙂

  305. Lancaster, PA to see my grandmother who is 94
    but wait, there’s more
    then on to New Mexico by train
    to my parents till they drive me insane
    then to Dublin via Chicago.
    Yes, it’s a long way to go
    with 3 children in tow!

  306. I’m going to Vegas as soon as I get out of work in June…this old lady is going to have fun trying to win a big one so I can retire!

  314. SFO-JFK/EWR-(SFO-)HNL-SFO-JFK! I’m from San Francisco, have to find an apartment on Manhattan, am in a buddy’s wedding in Hawaii and am moving to New York!

  316. I still use Kayak just like you told me to back when we worked together. 🙂

    This summer I’m going to Glacier National Park/Waterton International Peace Park! So excited.

  328. I am going to Milwaukee, Vegas, and hope to sneak in a trip to Maui.

    Thanks!

  330. Some European travel: southern Italy in late spring, then Paris/Rome/Barcelona later

  331. Not too exotic this year – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho followed by Lake Tahoe. (Just wait till next year – we’ll show ’em.)

  333. We plan to go up the coast of BC all the way to Alaska this summer. We are really looking forward to it.

  335. I’m going to Jamaica to celebrate my 1 year anniversary with my wife!

  338. Thanks Gary! i’m going to wilmington nc, key west, and asheville, nc – so far!

  343. I am going to Tokyo, Hong Kong and mainland China for the summer. I am still expecting more places to go in the US.

  348. Heading to Vegas, LA, San Francisco and lovely Birmingham, AL this summer. And of course the beach!

  357. I usually like exploring other countries, but this summer will be rediscovering the beauty of the US of A. Hawaii, Georgia, and roadtrips in California!

  359. Starting in New Orleans, then to Malta, followed by Sorrento, then on to the French Riviera, finally ending up in Tours for a month.

  373. Using orphan miles and hotel points to travel to Ireland for 7 days of nonstop golfing at Tralee.

  375. San Francisco in July and the UK in August, with a possible long weekend in the greek islands

  380. I will be going to my 10 year high school reunion with my wife and 4 month old. It will be his second round trip already so we are working on making him a good flyertalker!

  385. Taking ouir first vacation as a new family out to Las Vegas. And going to celebrate our anniversary

  388. I’ll be headed to Washington DC in August to see a Tom Petty concert with three of my best friends.

  398. This summer, my girlfriend and I will be heading to Mauritius for a week at the Four Seasons resort. Looking forward to a nice break, and to seeing if Air Mauritius business class is worth the money.

  402. I plan to head out to Hawaii in the first week of July splitting my time between Waikiki and Kauai.

  411. My family will be going to Disney World and then the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas.

  415. Just took our summer trip, though it wasn’t in the summer. We went to Bhutan. Thank you!

  416. Going to Vegas with friends from work for UFC 114 and Rehab party. Might go visit friends in California or meet them in Hawaii. Will head to New Orleans starting in September for some Saints games. I need to plan an international trip again sometime but I am single so it is more complicated to coordinate with a bunch of friends.

  418. Going to the UK in 3 weeks. Starting the trip with my Stag Do (Batchelor Party), then lunch at the Fat Duck and then getting married!

  421. Going to Phoenix to visit a long lost high school friend then heading to Milwaukee to visit dear ol mom.

  424. In Honolulu right now for pleasure, Raleigh NC, D.C, San Diego and Nashville in the fall; all for work.

  427. Summer? I have many trips planned.
    Mid-May: Seoul and Ulan Bataar
    Early-June: Iqaluit
    Late June/Early July: RTW, Zurich, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Seoul, Jeju, New York
    Late July/Early August: Tokyo, Sapporo
    Late August/Early September: Hong Kong, Vietnam, Hokkaido, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai
    All pleasure trips. May plan more!

  428. Off to California at the end of the month, to the UK in September and then (as I will be unemployed by then and looking to work) off to Asia to try and find some!

  429. I am planning on trying to go out to LAS to get my teeth cleaned. I lived there for 7 years and have a good dentisit out there!! 🙂

    Would also like to make a trip to Europe at some point!!

  435. Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and San Diego so far. I’m still waiting for some good fares to Europe!

  436. I’m off to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego during the first part of the summer. Then I’m off to the great Pacific Northwest for time in Seattle and Vancouver, BC just before summer turns to autumn.

  443. Hong Kong: 18-24MAY
    Shanghai: 24-31MAY
    Orlando: 3-8JUN
    New York: 24-29JUN
    Toronto: 1-6JUL
    San Diego: 15-20JUL
    Madrid: 24-28JUL
    Seville: 28-31JUL
    Barcelona: 1-6AUG
    Amsterdam: 6-10AUG

  448. I will be going to Virginia, Maine, California, Chicago, and hopefully someplace exotic!

  452. A relaxing trip to Mara Lake in the interior of British Columbia – staying at a cabin right on the lake!

  456. I am going to SOUTH AFRICA to watch the World Cup! I have a couple matches! USA vs England, Last 16, Korea vs Japan, Argentina vs Korea and Brazil vs Portugal!

    In Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban!

    Can any other holiday beat those destinations? 🙂
    What a gorgeous country!

  460. I’m thinking a trip to Europe is in store. The Euro should be on par with the Dollar by summer if things keep up like this.

  461. I am going to Glacier National Park in Montana for it’s 100th anniversary as a national park. There is so much railroad history from the Great Northern there and the Glacier’s are melting, down from 150 at the start to 25 today, maybe there is global warming.

  462. As of now I’m traveling to NYC, Savannah, Nashville, Minneapolis and San Juan. Hopefully, more destinations TBD!

  464. Going to the Miami area in early June and trying to get out to do some hiking around Phoenix this summer.

  468. My parents live in Russia and I haven’t seen them for a very long time. I had a baby last year and my parents never met her. I really want to go to Russia this summer with my baby and visit my parents and show them their granddaughter. The tickets are very pricey for me so it would be so awesome to win this gift card. Thank you so much for this contest and for the opportunity.

  470. Oklahoma City in June, followed by San Francisco in July. And if I had things my way, Asheville, N.C. in August, but that’s doubtful to happen.

  476. I’m off to the Outer Banks, New Orleans and a probable Eastern Caribbean cruise !!

  483. Heading to LAX via ZRH this summer, with a possible stopover somewhere in Switzerland

  484. I’m planning on taking a trip to Sunny Arizona and visit my family. It’s been almost a year and we all miss each other!!

  487. I’ve got 3 trips planned this summer. Orlando is already booked. Still need to book Providence, RI and Niagara Falls via Buffalo NY.

  500. Paris. Our honeymoon there 2 years ago was during the national transit strike and very cold weather. We want to give it another shot.

  507. traveling to Tokyo to climb mt fuji! …vancouver and mexico after that… 🙂

  514. We will attend a graduation in CA in early June. Then two weeks in HI. We will return to CA for 4 days before leaving for a family reunion in PA. Eventually we will make it home to MA. Could use the $ so we don’t have to carry-on!

  517. graduating law school..taking the bar…going to Thailand….want to see elephants badly.

  520. planning to travel all around Northeastern US including, NYC, Philly for the cheesesteak sandwiches, Hershey for the chocolate and Maine for the lobster and Boston for the chowder. A foodie adventure!!

  527. Wedding in Northern California, maybe a wedding in Thailand. Either China or Costa Rica. And wherever work takes me.

  529. Not much planned for this summer so far – Jersey Shore and a trip to Tennsessee.

  533. I’m headed to new york city this summer for a reunion with friends from high school whom i haven’t seen in years! We’re flying from all over the world to meet in New York city, can’t wait!

  534. Making three trips to Asia this summer. India, Shanghai (World-Expo) & Philippines for some diving.

  541. I am going to Croatia for a wedding – some expert on award tickets was able to get me 4 seats in business class over 4th of July weekend – maybe you know him???

  543. Have booked a trip to Destin, Florida but could use the money to pay change fees given the oil spill. Thanks.

  544. I’m making three trips to small airports in the southeastern US – ROA, EWN, HHH. Wedding season!

  546. I’m heading to Central PA in July and Tampa/St. Petersburg in August. I’d like to travel abroad somewhere, but I don’t think my work schedule will allow it.

  547. Although summer is the best time to be in the Puget Sound region, I have three quick trips planned: Malibu, Philadelphia, and Chicago for friends, family, and fun. Cheers!

  552. I’m heading to VA and MD for lacrosse tournaments in June, and then to Cape Cod in July

  554. Looking forward to a big summer of travel! Mount Rushmore, Puerto Rico, Mexico, plus all the business trips!

  556. Atlanta for a concert, Charleston for long weekends. Big trip is in the fall to Spain.

  557. I am off to Prague (priority club points 5K per night), Budapest (Cash), and ending up in the Paris Hyatt (Free Nights) for three weeks. Great fun.

  560. No plans yet, but thinking of some combination of Hawaii, wine country in California, France, or Belgium in August.

  561. Nothing booked yet, but eyeing Asia, Vegas, Portland, Orlando, and San Francisco as non MR destinations.

  566. I’m visiting Amsterdam and Paris this summer, Dublin over labor day and hopefully will be adding something in between 🙂

  570. Will be visiting Washington DC, San Francisco, and Minneapolis in June. Hope to get up to Lake Winnepesaukee in NH in July before heading to Edinburgh.

  576. I’m headed to El Salvador and Panama in late May, Kenya and Rwanda in June and July and then Utah in August.

  579. A big travel summer planned! First to Manchester, UK, for a wedding then on to Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, and a week in Ireland – concentrating on the west coast. Local coastal area in July and Chicago in August; back to Manchester in early September.

  581. Heading to SA for the world cup and then Turkey later in the summer. Thanks, Gary!

  590. I’m going to France in June, then the USA in July until September. I’m not sure where in the US yet, but I’m looking forward to it!

  594. Hi, I will be going to Las Vegas, PDX, YVR, and maybe an Alaskan cruise this summer. Yippee!!

  595. Apart from work travel I plan to go to Denmark, Spain, Serbia, Switzerland and Germany! Thanks Gary

  597. I’m going on a 10th anniversary trip to Austria and Germany. By the way, Gary, your tip on United suddenly having partner awards really helped me. I was finally able to score a LH flight with my miles!

  600. I’m doing a quick trip to Hong Kong in June and then spending my birthday in Paris in September.

  609. I’m headed to Nuremberg, Germany for a wedding. Been there before, but most places are best when you can travel to see good friends.

  610. The beaches along the east coast, mostly the Carolinas. Some themed parks as well!

  621. I’ll be in San Diego, Vermont, NYC, and the Cape this summer. I’m already tired.

  622. I’ll be heading out to CA.. for a little fun and a little (hopefully very little) work.

  638. I’m going to the midwest! Detroit and Chicago. If I win, I can buy a new bulletproof vest. (Just kidding Detroit, seriously…you’re awesome)

  639. Taking the family to Isla Mujeres for the 2nd annual Whaleshark festival. Viva Mexico!

  640. I’m going to Paris, Nairobi, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Rio, Sao Paulo, Alaska, Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Cape Town

  641. I’m going to Shanghai, Beijing and Korea. Thanks for the promotion, I’m a loyal reader.

  643. Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Busan, Korea; Elmira, New York; San Francisco, California. Whew! Makes me tired just thinking about it!

  653. Going to an undisclosed small town on the west coast of Florida in June (my wife hasnt told me where yet), then to the river house on the Hudson River in Upstate NY in July. Hope to squeeze a run down to CUR before the kiddos get back to school.

  657. Going to the mountains for fishing and roasting marshmallows with the kids.

  659. Florida…family vacation. Hopefully no oil on the beaches. That would be bad!

  664. Will be in Brazil in july, hopefully the samba boys will still be in the World Cup at that point!

  668. I will go to New York, DC, Niagara Fall， Boston， Vegas this summer. May also go to California and Florida for a while.

  669. I will be going to Sano, Japan, which is in Tochigi prefecture and about 75 miles north of tokyo. My wife will be there for a year teaching english and I would be in BIG trouble if I didn’t go to visit. 🙂

Comments are closed.