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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Gary your bog has taught me how to maximize my points I earn from my business travel… Case in point, off to Europe and was able to book a nice LAX-CDG-HKG-FRA-LAX for 180K for two people, with a stop over and destination. Thank you
Wow lots of comments, you’ve got a lot of readers these days. Probably get an appetizer on Bora Bora if I win a GC.
I’d use the $100 GC to give my wife something unexpected since I’m not expecting to win the GC.
1. Take my fiance out on a long over due date.
2. It never hurts to ask for anything. (Advice/upgrades)
3. How to meet minimum spending on credit cards through manufactured spending.
Will book a MR with the GC 🙂
Best travel trip? two: 1) keep your phone charged 2) before you pay for anything, see if you can get miles–or preferably double or triple miles–for it.
What is the best travel tip you know: Keep a toothbrush handy!
The most useful tip for me has been learning how to meet minimum spending requirements through Vanilla Reloads.
$100? A mileage run of course… 🙂
All those rules made it sound like the fine print of a loyalty program. Thanks Gary 🙂
I’d use the $100 GC on an upcoming trip to Disney World.
would use it for a nice night out
Use it for a trip to Spring Training.
Best thing I learned is that there is no scale of travel that is not achievable if you have good credit and avidly follow the advice given in this column.
I’d use it to go out to a nice dinner with my husband, something we’ve somehow managed to go without doing for the last 3 months (new baby, sickness, busy job, etc. We need a date night!)
I will use the card on Evolve to make a car payment.
The best thing I have learned from this blog is that if you are willing to put the time in in terms of research, frequent flyer miles can help you take trips you never thought possible!
With $100 I’ll pay fees/surcharges on all these amazing First Class award redemptions I book using tips from your blog!
I’d put it towards dinner at the French Laundry.
I would use it to a trip to Turks and Caicos!
I’d use it to buy my ticket back from a free one way I already booked.
What you will do with a $100 gift card? Take my Mom to dinner. AND thank you for doing something MORE than reasonably nice. 😉
My birthday present. I am 55 years young today.
So many valuable things I’ve learned from your blog! If I have to pick one – Hang Up Call Again. 🙂
I learned never to use United miles for anything but flying
Going to Greece with my family on points, thanks to your blog advice and tips. Best travel advice: be flexible and stay away from the tourist herds, do something different.
$100 for taxi’s on my trip to russia! 🙂
$100 gift card? Using on a trip to HI!!
1) I will use $100 to pay for the air-fare, because
2) I learned that one of the best travel tip is usually to book open-jaws (or even double open-jaws) to travel cheap and earn miles
3) I learned from Gary that following his blog on a day-to-day basis may stretch not only your points and miles, but as well the Franklin dollar bill, from question # 1)).
And lastly, Happy President’s Day Gary and all followers of this awesome blog!
If I got $100 I’d probably save it.
I would spend it on a new suitcase!
Kogiya! As a student in DC, it’s the best place to go with friends
I’ll use the $100 to gift my Mom!
I’d use the gift card at home depot
Best travel tip? Status is a must 🙂
100$ gift card for car rental in HI!!!
Best thing I’ve learned: The power of credit card sign-up bonuses and the use of Avios for short-haul flights, particularly in the U.S. (In four short months of reading this blog, I’ve been able to accrue enough miles to take my wife on her first international flight in anything other than coach (and our first trip since having a baby)!)
Use of $100: Gelato for two near the Trevi fountain (and the rest for pesky fuel surcharges on BA).
* Use the GC to buy a ticket to BWI to surprise my wife whose there for work.
* Always keep your toes in your socks.
* Hang up and call again.
Thanks Gary!!
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from this blog?
I am much more smarter and wiser than ever before. Without your and a few other blogs, I am not sure if I could ever make so many trips abroad with my family.
I will bestow it entirely on a needy family at the hospital.
I would use the $100 on my next vacation to Florida
Best thing I’ve learned on this site: using Bluebird and Vanilla reload to earn miles. Last year I effectively bought 20,000 UA miles for $79.
use it for my honeymoon trip! We are planning to Sri Lanka
A $100 gift card would certainly come in handy the next time I’m out to dinner with the wife.
When I first started looking at frequent flier and stayer programs yours was one of the very first I learned of. From you I learned how to transfer enough points etc. to American Airlines that I made lifetime platinum (I was already gold). And I made it under the AA deadline. I have been a fan (and loyal reader ) ever since.
Luckily, I have enough for my needs so I would give it to a charitable organization.
Best travel tip: You need to be informed and you need to be ready to take advantage of deals which you really need and want.
What is the best travel tip you know?
Be flexible. The more flexible you are in terms of dates, location, etc., the more you can make your travel affordable (or cheap!) and consequently be able to travel even more.
Tip: book your hotel early and then check for price drops as you can usually rebook at the lower price.
I would put the $100 towards my plane ticket to FTU in April!
I would buy some baby stuff for my son!