Private jet, 4 weeks in hotel, starts at NZ$1

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The bidding starts at NZ$1, but it probably won’t stay there long! New Zealand Luxury is auctioning more than NZ$30,000 in luxury travel with a reserve that’s 0.033% of its value. The package includes four weeks worth of accommodations at an exclusive private villa, flights on a private jet and local trips by helicopter. Oh, and did I mention the yacht? And the chauffeur-driven private car?

Yeah, not bad for NZ$1. Hell, it’s not bad for NZ$30,000.

If you don’t win the big auction for a small price, don’t sweat it. Maybe you’ll be able to pick up some clothing from Untouched World – the proceeds of which to go Untouched World Charitable Trust.

Pink slip relief in Vermont

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, VT is willing to share your pain. If you or your spouse has been unemployed for more than six months, send your story to Leslie and Brian Mulcahy – the inn’s proprietors – and you could win a two night getaway, with everything from candlelight dinner to a rabbit’s foot and wishes for a return to gainful employment.

Every month from April through July and November through December, Leslie and Brian will award one of these trips, called “Pink Slip Getaways,” to the most deserving story. The total package doesn’t include liquor or transportation to the inn, but that’s a rounding error compared to two nights lodging (Sunday to Thursday, non-holiday only), a gourmet dinner for two, afternoon tea and pastry and a candlelit breakfast each morning. All gratuities, service charges and taxes are included, too.

In a page or less, lay out your tale of woe, and send it to info [at] rabbithillin.com. You may win some relief!

Travel gems and hidden secrets from Concierge.com

by Jamie Rhein on

The winners of Concierge.com’s Million Mile Contest have been announced and their essays are posted on the website. Some essays offer a unique angle about a place where people might miss certain details if they didn’t know where or how to look.

The winner, Elizabeth Dwoskin of Brooklyn, New York wrote about Parque Lage, a jungle park in the middle of Rio De Janeiro. Within the reserve is my kind of place–Saint Teresa, a neighborhood of artists who live in 19th century mansions. Not one artist per mansion, but up to twenty. For her essay, Dwoskin won one million OnePass miles from Continental Airlines.

Here are the runners-up essays about particular places. They are quick, interesting reads that stimulate ones own memories about what made a particular travel spot at a particular time special. I’m thinking about the day I spent riding a motorbike around Skopelos, Greece.

Along with each essay are links that lead to more details about each location.

Play this free, on-line, animated travel game to compete for prizes

by Jamie Rhein on

Never mind the prizes you might win by playing the interactive, animated game Race for the Sky at iloho.com, a travel Website. It’s a fun way to while away time, even if you don’t win.

Ever since Emma Torry, a blogger at iloho sent us the link to the game, I’ve played it six times, trying my darnedest to get Marcos to his flight on time.

See, he has slept through his alarm, and with a couple other mishaps, he’s hoofing it to the airport by running down the highway dodging cars, tire spikes and bananas peels. I think those are banana peels. Along the way, he can pick up a key which puts him on a motorcycle for a brief while, and pick up “S’s” which put in a cape so he can fly. Watch out for the cars, though. Hitting a car puts him in bandages, and on crutches.

I’m not very good at this game.The first attempt was pitiful. Marcos was in bandages in half a second. Other people playing are great, though. There’s a leader board that lists the top 10 scores. Currently, the highest is 16870 points.

When the competion ends January 31, 2009, the top winner will win two round-trip business class round-the-world tickets. The next top two winners will win a Canon camera. Other prizes include USB sticks and iPod speakers.

Win free tickets to the Chicago Legoland Discovery Center!

by Scott Carmichael on

Several days ago, I posted my review of the recently opened Legoland Discovery Center in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg. If you read my review and would like to spend a day surrounded by Lego with your family, then keep reading, as we have some free tickets to give away!

The Legoland Discovery Center is located about 20 miles from downtown Chicago. Parking is free, and in this indoor venue, you’ll find Lego themed attractions for the entire family.

Three lucky winners will receive 4 tickets each for free admission. All you have to do is leave a comment describing your favorite childhood memory involving Lego. This could be the time you managed to build a Lego tower that reached the ceiling, or simply the fond memories of opening your first Lego set purchased with your allowance.

  • To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us about your favorite childhood Lego experience
  • The comment must be left before Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 5PM Eastern Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • Three winners will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Three Grand Prize Winners will be randomly selected to receive 4 free tickets to the Chicago Legoland Discovery Center (travel to/from Legoland is not included).
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
  • The total value of each set of tickets is $76 (4 tickets at $19 each)
  • Click here for the complete official rules of this giveaway