Between high gas prices and extra charges from the nation’s airlines, what’s a penny-pinching family to do this summer?
The answers are starting to include taking advantage of more and more promotions from businesses looking to attract cash-strapped vacationers.
Kimpton Hotels’ We’ve got your Bag promotion will issue a room credit of up to $25 for guests who have paid to check luggage. Through Sept. 9, guests need simply to show proof of an additional airline baggage charge upon check-in at any one of Kimpton’s 43 hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
And Loews Hotels is offering a Baggage Buy Back through September 1, 2008. Bring your “first checked bag ” airline receipt to the front desk when you check in and you’ll receive up to $30 in food and beverage credit at any of their properties.
And other chains from Hilton to Holiday Inns are offering gas cards at individual properties.
But it doesn’t stop with hotels. This week, the hit musical Wicked in Chicago gave away a $50 gas card with a pair of tickets for performances from July 1-6.
And in the San Francisco area, the two area rival major league baseball teams offer dueling promotions. The San Francisco Giants and Chevron have a deal where fans can buy 4 game tickets on the team’s site for $75 and receive a $25 Chevron gas card.
Across the bay, the first Oakland Athletics fan to purchase select seats in the field level outfield for Friday home games will receive a free $10 Chevron gift card. The lucky fan will also be entered to win a new GM vehicle. (No word on its gas mileage.)
Of course all these promotions have restrictions and are subject to change, but in this economy and with so many businesses fighting for your dollars, it doesn’t hurt to look around, or to simply ask. Even some brothels in Nevada are handing out gas cards.
And if you have heard of an even more unusual or interesting promotion, add your comment to this post. We’ll print the best in a future story.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
