Quick $200 Giveaway – Leave a Comment Here

by Gary Leff

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.

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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Comments

  1. I will use it for my upcoming 1st Weddng Anniversary trip to New Zealand. Thanks a ton for all the tips and tricks.

  2. Best travel tip: Keep your passport in a zip lock bag or some other waterproof device if there’s even the potential for a monsoon. Learned that one the hard way.

  6. First of all, thank you for the chance and for just being you.

    If I won the giftcard, I would take my mom out to dinner for her birthday and then also buy her groceries with the remainder.

    Best wishes everyone!

  10. The most valuable thing I have learned from this blog is to diversify your points portfolio. After all of the recent devaluations, it’s been very nice having other options to consider!

  15. With $100 I would treat the family to a dinner out to discuss upcoming travel(using points, of course).

  18. Most important thing I learned: where to eat in Singapore. What? It was a really important lesson.

  20. I’ve learned to pay attention to credit card promo offers I receive, sometimes it a great deal with better bennies that I already have.

  23. The big tip I learned from this blog is use points on domestic flights to Europe. It has saved me a whole lotta money. I would use the $100 in Italy when I go visit my daughter in march.

  29. Best travel advice: Plan ahead obsessively (eg, knowing multiple options for, say, train travel to airport on day of departure) & then go with the flow when the day arrives, knowing you don’t need to sweat the details if one plan falls through.

    Also, either buy a local SIM for your phone or just suck it up & pay for data roaming. Wifi isn’t ubiquitous.

  32. I could use the $100 for dinner for the parents on their trip to Hawaii from that Delta fare glitch back in Dec.

  34. TI would use the gift card for 2 of my passions: caffeine and electronics. I would shop at Staples to buy a $60 Starbucks gift card, which would give me 300 Chase Ultimate Rewards and 300 Plink Awards and then transfer the funds to my Starbucks Gold Card to feed my caffeine passion and earn additional free beverages after the requisite # of purchases. I would use the balance on the gift card toward a new laser printer cartridge under Staples rewards program and to earn an addition 200 Chase Ultimate Rewards.

  35. 1) I would use it to treat my wife a small dinner.
    2) Always first check your passport after stepping your feet outside your house/hotel room on travel trips.
    3) Best tip I learn from here is to be patient hangups & callback phone calls.

  38. I would take the $100 and buy my wife a gift… With the money leftover, probably go buy myself a sandwich.

  39. One of my favorite tips was looking for EVA air awards with our UA miles pre devaluation 🙂

  40. Ask until you like the answer like you say. Most recent example, We were cancelled in CLT due to snow last week. We were rebooked for the next day and we would miss one full day in Paris. They said it was because we were in business they did us that “favor” I asked twice more and we were rebooked in Lufthansa for the same day we were supposed to travel.

  42. What I have learned from VFtW is that being a informed traveller is the number one factor for enjoying the possibilities that exist for any trip!

  43. Best tip- If you want an upgrade, start by asking! I am 8 for 13 just by asking specifically for the room i want…thanks!!!!!

  44. I’ll use it to help with my last minute mileage run to HEL this coming weekend, my last as Executive Platinum before going to lowly Gold!

  45. I would use it to pay for those things you can’t earn points and get free (food, entertainment, etc) on our next trip to Aruba!

  46. The most valuable thing learned is to diversify those points and use those Skypesos when the opportunity arises. (If that happens!)

  47. Best travel tip: if you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you do ask, you may get a yes.

  48. I think I will donate the gift card to my son’s annual FFA Auction. It is a very good organization that helps children understand more about agriculture.

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