Quick giveaway: $200 (2 prizes of $100 gift cards)
I received 5000 Starwood Starpoints from a complaint that I didn’t feel was a great idea for me to take. Rather than trying to get them to claw back the points, I feel better giving something away in its place. A few readers had proactively suggested (I didn’t ask for advice… 😛 ) that I give away Starpoints, but I can’t really transfer them and they’re expensive to buy. So a $100 gift card seems appropriate there.
And in addition I had an extra $100 card I had purchased to do a few experiments with, and that I don’t wind up needing. Obviously it’s money, and I could either use the card or manage to get the funds back into a bank account. But the card was purchased in the name of frequent flyer ‘science’ so I figure it’s worth giving away here as well.
So that’s two good reasons to give away $100, and I thought I’d give away 2 x $100 gift cards. It’s not a monster big prize, so we’re not going to do a multi-day multi-post extravaganza on it. Just a quick giveaway over the course of the next 24 hours. (I’m leaving it open that long to ensure everyone following by email subscription, or regardless of time zone, has a change to participate.)
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post that answers any of the following:
- What you will do with a $100 gift card?
- What is the best travel tip you know?
- What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from this blog?
Any of these work.
You may enter one time only. By entering you agree that I’m trying to do something reasonably nice and you won’t give me a hard time over the nuances of rules, complain in any way, and agree to be bound by any and all of my judgments are they relate to this offer (and agree that those judgments are final and are not appealable).
Fire away in the comments, I look forward to drawing winners and sending out the prizes.
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Use it for my next trip around the world.
Best thing I’ve learned is how to churn the cards for travel.
Knowledge and points save money, but always have local currency and amex platinum helipcopter service to get you out of a bind
I think contacting a hotel GM before arriving almost always guarantees better service of some kind and I’ve always had very favorable results doing so.
I will use it to pay for our mattress run on Friday!
Pack light and wear a money belt.
I would use them for trip to vegas
What you will do with a $100 gift card?
Take my 94 year old father out for a nice dinner!
What is the best travel tip you know?
Travel early in your life and not wait till you’re old!
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from this blog?
With your tips, each dollar you spend can equate to a free trip or hotel room!
My ravel tip:
If you are like me and buy a SIM card for your unlocked cellphone while traveling, find out the best place to buy it at your destination. For example, in Johannesburg, South Africa and Buenos Aires DO NOT buy it at the airport, but in San Jose, Costa Rica you should buy it at the airport.
I’ll get a nice dinner for my fiance and I with the giftcard.
Best travel tip ever: Don’t Panic. Oh-and always know where your towel is. Though that’s more of a life lesson I suppose….
The best travel tip I know is to think carefully about your personal situation and what you want, and not get caught up in the hype surrounding one particular credit card or another. For us, American Airlines miles, British Airways miles, and Hilton – yes, Hilton – points are the most valuable, simply because of the trips we want to take and the things we want to do. Recognizing that, I can form may credit card and spending strategies accordingly, even if it’s tempting to jump on every credit card bonus deal that comes along.
I would use the gift card towards some new luggage for an upcoming trip to France using bonus air miles I learned how to get from your blog.
I would go to my neighborhood diner and leave my favorite server a $100 tip.
With the gift card, I’d buy more diapers for my baby
I’d like to buy the FTU ticket in April!
I will use the $100 to buy some clothes for my soon-to-be-born first baby girl!
A public school teacher, just about to go on strike, I’m only dreaming of my next trip….I’d use the money to offset the income I’m going to lose during the strike.
What is the best travel tip you know? Build fluff time into your schedule incase things don’t go smoothly. If they do, then your trip will be more relaxed and you’ll be able to do more with the newfound “free time”.
Best tip I have is to subscribe and read the your blog daily.
What is the best travel tip you know:
Global Entry: don’t leave home without it…
Will give the $100 to my parents for house renovations.
$100 to treat my wife to a night out. Happy wife = happy life.
My tip is for those who are not preCheck with TSA. If you want to avoid taking long flights in dirty socks after going through TSA when you remove your shoes, just carry a pair of paper booties with you to put on. Any medical supply store sells them.
What is the best travel tip you know?
Stopovers and open jaws.
Gift card to pay for extra leg room
Wedding!
the $100 would be used to pay for my one-way car rental from BWI – PHL as part of my family’s summer trip to Italy and Greece, using United miles to fly on Lufthansa there, and back on Turkish Air into IAD.
I’m losing my job at the end of the month (thanks sequester) so $100 will go towards buying me groceries.
The gift card will buy a couple of admiral club day passes, since I downgraded from Platinum. Best tip: don’t risk loosing a very good fare while waiting for a truly great fare.
I would use the gift card on some nice presents for my friends and family while I’m traveling to China. Best advice: definitely the Global Entry fee credit!
$100 to share with kids
Best advice – hang up and call back
I’ll use the $100 to pay for my hair appointment. It’s one of the few places I don’t get bonus points due to the category! I’ll buy my groceries and travel on my points earning credit cards!
Donate the gift card to World Vision
I’d pay my student loan!
Best travel Advice! Always use a moneybelt!! Use shields on your chip credit cards. Thieves are everywhere, so don’t be a target. From a retired 30 year travel agent, who still loves to travel!
Take my wife to dinner – it’s been way too long and she deserves it.
This blog covers many aspects of traveling, esp. Deals from airlines. Thanks you !
I would take my wife out for dinner. Her birthday is coming up!
The best tip I’ve received has been about acquiring miles/points thru credit cards applications. Also have loved the Chase Ink Bold and getting gifting cards for 5X.
I’ll take my family out to dinner.
I will use the gift card towards purchases for my newborn daughter.
Most valuable thing learned was the Sw companion pass by opening 2 cards
Your trip reports have given us the courage to choose the best inspirational trip and follow through with selecting the best flights.
I’ve learned too many things from your blog to mention! One important thing I learned was to hang up and call again.
Will use to buy a pdx-sea ticket
Going to Indonesia in April and could really use $100 for the trip!
best trick i’ve learned is adding the free one ways on to international bookings with aa/ua!
1. I would use the gift card to offset the massive YQ we experience up in the Great White North
2. The best travel tip I know is to take your travel budget and add 50% to cover unexpected surprises (great future blog post on managing travel expenses vs points)
3. The most valuable thing I’ve learned on this blog are the different star alliance redemption routes (and probability of availability).