Are you America’s “most frustrated traveler”?

Does the saying, “if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all,” describe you perfectly?

Are you a traveler who can’t get his or her preferred flights booked because of all your credit card’s black-out dates?

Do you invariably wind up next to the guy on the airplane who talks non-stop and dribbles food on his shirt the entire flight?

Well, wipe that sad face off your sour mug, Faithful Traveler! Gadling and Capital One Venture are teaming up to make five lucky winners a lot less frustrated. If you’re America’s “most frustrated traveler,” you could win one of these great prizes:

  1. One Grand Prize Winner will receive a free 3 day/2 night trip to the destination of their choosing for two, including roundtrip airfare (within the continental United States) and hotel* – valued at $3,000.
  2. One Second Prize Winner will receive a hassle-free travel essentials pack consisting of items such as a Garmin GPS and Bose noise canceling headphones – valued at $1,500.
  3. Three Runner-up Winners will each receive a Marriott TravelCard – valued at $100 each.

Wow, that’s enough to make any frustrated traveler considerably more content.

What’s the catch? Well… you have to relive your experience one more time. To be eligible for the fantastic, frustration-reducing prizes in this contest, head to the comments and describe in 250 words or less your most frustrating travel moment, and why you deserve to win a free (and frustration- and hassle-free) trip courtesy of Gadling and Capital One Venture.Before we get to the legal bits, let us remind you of some of the travel-friendly features of Capital One’s Venture card:

  • You can earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, every day;
  • There are NO foreign transaction fees;
  • You can receive 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 in the first three months;
  • You can enjoy the freedom to redeem your miles on any airline, any time, with no blackout dates;
  • Your rewards don’t expire; plus there’s no limit on how many miles you can accumulate, no special spending categories and no separate rewards enrollment requirements;
  • You can have the flexibility to redeem for any travel purchase – air fare, hotel room, rental car, you name it!

And now, the legal bits…

  • To enter, describe in 250 words or less your most frustrating travel moment, and why you deserve to win a free (and frustration- and hassle-free) trip. Leave your story in the comments section below. Be creative and descriptive!
  • The comment must be left before Friday, November 5, 2010 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
  • You may enter only once. Winners will be selected at random.
  • One Grand Prize Winner will receive a free 3 day/2 night trip to the destination of their choosing for two, including roundtrip airfare (within the continental United States) and hotel* – valued at $3,000. One Second Prize Winner will receive a hassle-free travel essentials pack consisting of items such as a Garmin GPS and Bose noise canceling headphones – valued at $1,500. Three Runner-up Winners will each receive a Marriott TravelCard – valued at $100 each.
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
  • Click here for the complete official rules of this giveaway.

OK, O Frustrated Ones — get commenting! And start dreaming about what frustration-free location you’ll visit if you’re selected as the Grand Prize Winner.

Happy travels and good luck!
The Gadling Team

* The total cost of airfare and hotel can not exceed $3,000, but you can stay at a more expensive hotel, if you choose cheaper flight options. Alternatively, you can choose a more expensive flight, if you stay at a cheaper hotel.

[Photo: Flickr | rudlavibizon]

Hyatt Resorts director dishes on Hyatt’s new promotion

Last week we announced the launch of Hyatt’s new promotion on their Resorts Facebook page, the Best of All Worlds program. Hyatt has asked Gadling to pick two lucky winners for their own free night at any Hyatt resort. But we wondered … just why is Hyatt doing this? What’s the motivation behind the promotion? We caught up with Doug Sears, general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kauai, to get the dish on the free stays.

Q. Why did Hyatt decide to launch the Best of All Worlds program?

A. People travel to experience something different than their everyday life. Many travel to learn about different cultures and do activities that might not be readily available to them where they live. Hyatt Resorts are located in uniquely different locations that can provide visitors the opportunity to do just these things in a comfortable setting.

Q. What is new and exciting about your property?

A. We are currently renovating our guest rooms to bring the beauty of Kauai indoors. With clean and simple furniture, the 600 square foot rooms are maximized while creating a comfortable atmosphere for guests. Elements of Hawaii’s culture are ever present from the artwork which is based on petroglyphs found in nearby sandstone to the headboard carved with the shape of native Hapuu ferns. Our Hawaiian classic style melds a relaxed yet timeless elegance.

We also are very committed to reducing our environmental footprint and have an exciting new opportunity for guests where they can rent hybrid cars by the hour from Green Car Hawaii. We are the first resort in Hawaii to offer this. It is modeled on car sharing programs. Next year they will be adding full electric vehicles to their fleet and slowly weeding out the hybrids. We are hoping we will be able to power these cars directly from our photovoltaic system that currently creates clean power for the resort.Q. Your campaign is all about the best of all worlds, what are some of the best activities on and off that hotel goers could enjoy?

A. The resort’s water wonderland featuring a quiet adult pool, active river pool, 150-ft water slide and saltwater lagoon provides endless fun. In addition there’s:

  • The National Tropical Botanical Garden is nearby with lovely gardens to tour.
  • Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park make for great sightseeing and hiking.
  • If adventure is your style there are ATV rides, ziplining, kayaking, horseback riding, and more all available nearby.
  • Spend the day simply driving and enjoying the island’s beauty, stop at some beaches and waterfalls along the way.
  • Make your vacation more meaningful by volunteering at one of our ENRICH program partners – The Kauai Humane Society, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hui o Laka, or Surfrider Foundation.

Q. Since the recession, have you noticed any changes in the way people are vacationing? Do people spend more time relaxing or more time doing activities?

A. I think there is still a nice mix of active days and relaxing days. Most people do at least one or two activities while here, whether it is a sunset cruise or something more active like a bike or kayak tour, but everyone is looking for great value for their time and money spent.

Q. We’ve heard that some of the resorts are hosting special offers related to this program, if travelers come to your resort, will they be able to enjoy any complementary services or offers?

A. Free and nearly free things to do at the resort include:

  • Make a lei.
  • Learn traditional Hawaiian weaving.
  • Play, play, play in the water wonderland
  • Enjoy live Hawaiian music (and a spectacular view) each night from 6-8pm at Seaview Terrace.
  • Get your picture taken with the beautiful parrots and cockatoos in our lobby atrium at Parrot Talk
  • Learn to play the ukulele.
  • Talk story and learn some area history with local woodcarver, Jack Churchill.
  • Take a scenic hike along the Mahaulepu Historical Trail that begins across the beach to the east of the hotel. Ask the concierge for a map with information on native plants and history along the way.

Intrigued? Don’t forget to sign up for the Gadling Giveaway for a chance to win a free night at any Hyatt Resort!

Gadling Giveaway – Win a free night at any Hyatt Resort!

To celebrate the launch of their Resorts Facebook site, Hyatt has asked us to pick two lucky winners for their own free night at any Hyatt resort. Hyatt has 46 resorts worldwide, from luxury downtown properties like the Park Hyatt to beachside properties in Hawaii and Key West.

To enter the contest, head on over to the Hyatt Resorts Facebook site, click on “trip generator” and tell us what Hyatt considers to be your perfect resort. Leave your answer in the comments below.

  • To enter, simply leave a comment answering the question posted above.
  • The comment must be left before Thursday October 14 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
  • Two Prize Winners will be randomly selected to receive one free night at any Hyatt Resorts property. The included properties are listed here.
  • There is no requirement to sign up for a Gold Passport account for entering the contest unless you are selected as a winner. If you are selected as a winner, the free night will be credited to your Hyatt Gold Passport account and can be cashed in much like frequent flier miles. Winners can sign up for a Gold Passport account at no cost.
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
  • The total value of each prize is approximately $220
  • Click here for the complete official rules of this giveaway.

Sierra Designs Vapor 15 sleeping bag giveaway

We recently reviewed the Sierra Designs Vapor 15 sleeping bag. The superior warmth of this bag makes it a perfect choice for locales where temps can dip below freezing. We’re giving one Sierra Designs Vapor 15 away to a lucky Gadling reader!

The Sierra Designs Vapor 15’s construction is focused on weight savings, to keep the bag small and easily stowable. Smart features like a half zipper, jacket-style hood, and ultralight filling make it possible to stuff it down to the size of a football. The Vapor 15 can keep the average sleeper comfortable to temps as cold as 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

HOW TO WIN:

  • To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us where you would use this sleeping bag first.
  • The comment must be left before Thursday October 7, 2010 at 5pm Eastern time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  • The winner will receive one free Sierra Designs Vapor 15 sleeping bag.
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
  • The bag is valued at $419.95.
  • Click here for complete Official Rules.

Kelty Gunnison 2.1 tent giveaway

Last week we reviewed the Kelty Gunnison 2.1 tent. This versatile back woods shelter works equally well at a full-service campground as it does on a lightweight backpacking excursion. We’re hooking-up one lucky Gadling reader with a Gunnison 2.1 of their own. That’s right, it’s time for a tent upgrade.

The Gunnison 2.1 is a two-person shelter that sets up quickly, and keeps occupants dry in heavy downpours. With camping season in full swing, there’s no better time to win some new outdoor digs.

HOW TO WIN:

  • To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us your favorite camping spot.
  • The comment must be left before Friday September 3, 2010 at 5pm Eastern time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  • The winner will receive one free Kelty Gunnison 2.1 tent.
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
  • The tent is valued at $189.95
  • Click here for complete Official Rules.