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Win a Staycation: Ride the Capital Wheel

The Capital Wheel at National Harbor
The Capital Wheel at National Harbor

Here’s a contest that caught my eye, mostly because of the chance to ride the brand new Capital Wheel.

The Maryland Office of Tourism is running a sweepstakes for a staycation at National Harbor, right on the Potomac River in Prince George’s County.

National Harbor is a multi-use riverfront development with outlet shopping, dining, entertainment and lodging.

I call this a staycation sweepstakes, because it includes hotel, meals, and entertainment, but not plane fare to Washington, DC.

Enter the National Harbor Summer Getaway sweepstakes by June 25, 2014, for a chance to win this prize package:

In addition, the grand prize includes four offers from the Potomac Riverboat Company:

  • Two VIP boarding passes (each pass admits two):  Alexandria – National Harbor Water Taxi;
  • Four VIP vouchers: National Mall Water Taxi;
  • Four VIP boarding passes:  George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens Cruise;
  • Four VIP vouchers:  Washington Monuments Cruise.

I entered this contest.  I think it would be a blast to stay on the other side of the Beltway and get around via water taxi for a couple of days.  Does it tempt you?

 

Win an Entire Year of Family Nights Out!

Fandango Family Movie Night Sweepstakes

Okay, here’s another sweepstakes offer I couldn’t help but share.

Fandango is offering a chance to win everything you  need to have the perfect family movie night every week, for a whole year!

The grand prize winner will receive:

  • Four Fandango movie tickets per week
  • Dinner out for four
  • Concessions
  • Gas money to cover your trips to the theater

Fandango is valuing this prize at $13,000 — it’s kind of astounding to think that that’s the cost of family entertainment these days.

They are also offering twenty weekly prices of $100 each in Fandango promo codes.

The sweepstakes runs from 5/28/14 to 6/27/14. 

You can enter online here.

Win a Year’s Worth of French Chocolate and a Trip to Paris!

Hipmunk Paris Sweepstakes Here’s a travel sweepstakes with a bonus:  it’s a contest for a trip to Paris and it comes with a year’s worth of chocolate!  Hard to pass on this one!

The Grand Prize includes:

  • Vosges Haut-Chocolat years worth of chocolate (value of $400)

    Hipmunk Paris Sweepstakes
    Vosges Haut Chocolat
  • 3 nights at Pavillon De La Reine on the Place des Voges, including breakfast (value of $1500)
  •  Curated weekend itinerary by Fathom (value of $100)
  • A private driver via Uber
  • $2500 for airfare for two roundtrip economy class tickets from anywhere in the continental U.S. to Paris,provided by HipMunk.

You can enter the contest here, by June 13, 2014.:  Travel the World Through Chocolate Paris Sweepstakes.

Remember to uncheck the tiny boxes on the bottom of the entry form if you do not want to receive adverts from the contest sponsors.

Hack My Wallet: Market Research Study

market researchThe other day, I was invited to participate in a market research study on credit cards.

In order to qualify, I had to answer some preliminary questions about which banks I used for my checking and savings accounts, and which banks had issued my credit cards.

After answering the pre-screening questions on the phone, I was selected to participate, and offered a fee for my time.

Upon arriving at the study site, I was ushered into a room to meet with two interviewers.  There were a couple of laptops, and I was told that my responses to questions would be captured by webcam so that the researchers could go back over the tapes to analyze my tone of voice and facial expressions.  There was also a one-way mirror in the room, from which additional people were observing the interview.

The interviewers began by asking me what credit cards I had, and why.

This was the warm-up question, and I think they were quite taken aback when I proceeded to describe the dozen or so credit cards I carry in my wallet, and my reasons for opening each card.

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Need a Baby Gift? Southwest Airline’s Onesies are Just Plane Cute!

Southwest Airlines Freedom Shop
Southwest Airlines Onesie $11

Southwest Airlines has an online “Freedom Shop” that sells all manner of tee shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, magnets, and other branded swag.

The onesies for future frequent flyers are just plane adorable!

Here’s a cutie that caught my eye!

The models are all children of Southwest Airlines employees.

I’m a sucker for puns, so I think these would make great baby gifts!

Southwest Airlines Onesie
Southwest Airlines Onesie $12

 

My Go To Women’s Travel Vest — $10 off @ Duluth Trading

Travel Vest from Duluth TradingI needed a lightweight travel vest with lots of pockets to hold my iPhone, tickets, passport, etc.

After surveying the options, I chose this utility vest from Duluth Trading.

It’s marketed as a gardening vest but I think it makes a great travel vest.

It would also work for bike riding, dog training, horseback riding, hiking, etc.

It’s not perfect, but it serves the purpose.

What I like:

Women's Travel Vest
Women’s Travel Vest from Duluth Trading
  • plenty of pockets, 12 to be exact:  2 zipped pockets on the inside (lower); inside slip pocket with velcro fastener for a cell phone; 2 zipped chest pockets on the outside; 2 deep front pockets with snaps, and a few smaller pockets
  • the large lower pockets are elasticized to keep items secure
  • you can unzip the vest from the top and the bottom
  • there is a bit of shape to the vest

What I don’t like:

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This Week Only: KIND Bars on Sale at Staples

KIND Bars on Sale at Staples
This Week: $13 for a Box of 12

I have some business travel to North Carolina scheduled later this month.

Whenever I travel, even on a short trip, I like to bring an assortment of KIND fruit and nut bars with me, just in case.

They have just the right combination of sweet and salty, and they are loaded with protein, fiber and antioxidants to get me through the day.

These snacks can be expensive, so I was happily surprised to find them on sale at Staples.com this week.

This Week Only:  KIND Bars on Sale at Staples

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Deal Alert: Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door 2014 Edition

Rick Steves Europe Through the Back DoorYesterday, after I featured two new Lonely Planet travel guides available for free from iTunes and Amazon, The Deal Mommy alerted me to an even better deal!
Amazon has discounted the 2014 Kindle edition of Rick Steve’s travel skills handbook:  Europe Through the Back Door.
The ebook retails for $24.99, but for the month of March, it is on sale for just $1.99.
I snapped up a “copy” right away!
Rick Steves, of public television fame, shares his favorite off-the-beaten-path towns, trails, and natural wonders.
The 856 page book tells everything you need to know when traveling through Europe, including how to:

  • Plan your itinerary
  • Pack light
  • Find value hotels and restaurants
  • Travel by train, bus, car, and plane
  • Avoid crowds and tourist scams
  • Hurdle the language barrier
  • Connect with locals
  • Save money

While you’re at it, you can pick up a Kindle today only for just $49!

This post contains affiliate links.  Thanks if you choose to use them!

2014 Vintage Travel Poster Calendars

Hawaii Bound 2014 CalendarIt seems as if wall calendars are the last vestige of paper stationery items still in widespread use.

Last year we had a cockapoo wall calendar in honor of our beloved dog Mitzy.

This year we have the retro This is Paris wall calendar and a vintage postcard calendar published by the Art Deco Society of Washington.

I love graphics from the art deco and mid-century modern eras, especially the travel posters from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

There are a number of 2014 travel calendars that caught my eye this year.

Cavellini Italia 2014 Calendar

They mostly feature vintage travel posters of various travel destinations on my bucket list.

There’s nothing like a different poster every month to provide some inspiration for travel!

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Unbelievable Deal: Get Ten Percent Bonus on Top of Your Tax Refund

Get extra 10 percent bonus on your federal refund in Amazon gift cards

It’s April, and that means tax time.  This year, we took advantage of an unbelievable, limited time offer from TurboTax.

If you purchase the tax preparation program from Amazon.com before January 25, 2014, you can get ten percent on top of your federal tax refund, when you file with TurboTax and use some (or all) of your federal refund to purchase an Amazon.com gift card from TurboTax.

Use some (or all) of your federal refund to purchase an Amazon.com Gift Card** and TurboTax will tack on up to an extra 10%—so $500 could become $550.

The Amazon.com gift card offer is for federal tax refunds only.

Limits apply:   $2000 per e-card, maximum $10,000 per customer.  

The offer available only for certain versions TurboTax Online or CD/download versions sold and shipped, or downloaded directly from Intuit or Amazon.

Here are the details:

  • Use some (or all) of your federal refund to purchase an Amazon.com Gift Card** and Turbo Tax will tack on a bonus
  • The remainder of your refund will be deposited to your bank account
  • As soon as your refund is received, TurboTax will email you your Amazon.com Gift Card claim code
  • Receive an extra 5% with TurboTax Basic – So $500 would become $525
  • Receive an extra 10% with TurboTax Deluxe, Premier, and Home & Business – So $500 would become $550
  • TurboTax Business is not eligible for this offer

Amazon Prime members get $10-15 off the purchase price of the Turbotax software.

What’s amazing about this offer is that the limits are so high — $2,000 per e-card, $10,000 per customer.  As the ad copy below says, 10 percent is more than your savings account pays in interest!

I and most people would prefer to receive their income tax refund in cash.  This year, I will have to give careful consideration to how much I am likely to spend at Amazon.com and whether the 10 percent bonus is worthwhile.

Here’s a screenshot explaining the offer:  

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