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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I will use the money to book a hotel in Istanbul. The flight I got with miles. I learned here about reconsideration tips and how to maximize miles.
I’ll use it when I’ll visit Turkey this May. $100 will go a long way since Europe is so expensive!
I would buy my kids some new toys
Dude, am I late?
What you will do with a $100 gift card? I’ll probably go buy some craft beer 🙂
What I’ve learned is too vast to mention. Seeing the eyes of other travelers light up when They start reading your blog for the first time, after I suggest they check it out.
The most valuable lesson learned is to check Gary’s site daily!
Spending money for my first trip to San Francisco!
@Alcwj – not too late
I’d use it to pay for taxes/fees on an upcoming award trip. Thanks!
The most valuable thing I’ve learned from this blog is the importance of reading to keep my knowledge current!
I’d use it to but a toy workbench for my son
Hi Gary- Thanks for the chance to win. I’d use the gift card for our next family trip this summer to the southwest!
The most valuable thing I’ve learned from this blog is that no matter how much I think I know about travel, there is always more to learn!
Buy swimsuit for my trip to Brazil
About 3 or 4 years ago, I was clueless about credit card bonuses. About a million miles later, I stop in to read your suggestions on a daily basis! Thanks!
I would use the $100 GC to buy supplies to donate to a favela in Brazil.
I’d use the $100 on a purchase for which I don’t get bonus points or miles with any of my existing credit cards
You can book many awards even if you don’t have the points.
I’d use the $100 gc to take my wife out to dinner.
Thank you.
I’d use the $100 to offset some costs on my upcoming trip to Belgium and the Netherlands. And the most important thing I’ve learned from you? You can never stop learning new things in the world of miles and points – it’s a constantly evolving landscape.
1) Pay Bills
2) HUCA
3) HUCA!
$100 off a new tablet to take view from the wing with me on the go!
$100! It’s money!!! It will be a difficult task, but I know that somehow I could figure out how to use it!
I love your postings. You constantly alert me to deals, offers, insider information. I’m not a pro, I’m just an occasional traveler who learns a lot from you. Thanks.
I’d use it for dinner with the wife…and earplugs for the grandparents left to watch our son
2 Margaritas on South Beach
I’ve learned to hang up and call again and not have any bad feelings about it.
Once when trying to get to JFK (I was stuck in traffic on the expressway) I called UA and told them I was going to SMF but would take SFO from LGA or JFK. I think I broke the agent. A redial and I was off to LGA on a flight to SFO.
Learned how to put airline miles/ hotel points into good use.
Always keep an international plug converter in your hand luggage.
Put it towards our upcoming Disneyland trip!
I will put it to good use in my travels.
I always check for alternative parking in big cities where parking at hotels is outrageous.
Have learned lots of neat tricks here over the years.
i would take my wife out to dinner.
I’d use that $100 toward a good dinner.
Most valuable thing I’ve learned…keep reading this blog because it’s giving me some really great pointers on how to gain more miles and how to save miles!
Use it to fly to visit my best friend at LAX
Use SW Points to book trips you aren’t 100% about, since they are fully refundable.
Avios are great for no close in booking fees for emergencies.
There is a small, struggling zoo about an hour from Las Vegas that just finished doing a fundraiser. I’d use the gift card to add to that total raised, to donate food for the various critters.
The most valuable thing that I learned was the Capital One would also do a buisness card. During the 100k promotion that was a great thing to know!
I’d use the cash to take the wife out on a nice date.
Most valuable thing I have learned is the “Hang up, call back” method for dealing with airlines over the phone.
Best tip: if you don’t like the answer, hang up and call back
We always treat ourselves to nice dinners when we get gift cards!
I’d buy some gifts for my nearly 3 year old.
I will use the $ to buy VRs. During IRROPS take advantage of 24 hour holds/fee-free refunds. Save miles for C/F redemptions.
Take my wife out to dinner, what else?
Cash out $100 gift are on amazon payments and pay your rent
We’re going to Europe in July so we could really use the gift! Thanks!
buy more VR’s!!!
Earn and burn! Because you never know when your points will be worth less than they are right then.
Best Gary tip – for domestic travel forget using points- don’t. Use a cash rebate card like the Barclay Priceline Visa with a 2% cash rebate. $15000 in spend gives you enough to buy a $300 ticket.
100 bucks is good for groceries.