HotelCoupons.com has offered Loyalty Traveler two $150 MasterCard gift cards to give away to readers. This post shares a little insight I have about HotelCoupons.com after looking over their website.
Note: I am not receiving any compensation for writing this post. A representative for HotelCoupons.com happened to contact me last week out of the blue only a day or two after I was checking out one of their coupon magazines here in Monterey. I accepted their invitation to share some information with my readers and they will provide a $150 gift card for two Loyalty Traveler giveaway winners.
December 12 Update: Giveaway Winners
The two winners have been selected.
From the comments on this post the winner is #48 – Kaye.
From Twitter the winner is Eric Seeholzer @1ericsee.
Congratulations. I am sure those gift cards will come in handy for trips to New Orleans and Yellowstone.
$150 MasterCard Gift Card Giveaway details:
One $150 gift card winner will be randomly selected from reader comments on this blog post. The second $150 gift card winner will be randomly selected from Twitter entries.
Promotion Duration: Giveaway entries will be accepted from 12 noon Pacific time (San Francisco) for 24 hours from Tuesday, December 10 to 12 noon PT Wednesday, December 11. Please limit your entries to one entry on my blog and one entry on Twitter to give everyone an equitable opportunity.
Loyalty Traveler blog comment requirement: Share your travel destination for holiday/winter travel.
Twitter entry requirements: Share your travel destination for holiday/winter travel and include both @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons and #RicLT in your tweet. For example:
I am going to San Diego for my winter holiday. @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons and #RicLT
[Note: All three @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons #RicLT need to be included for tracking purposes.]
Winners will be chosen from eligible entries using random.org and posted on Loyalty Traveler blog tomorrow after the close of the giveaway.
About HotelCoupons.com
I have road tripped over 10,000 miles in my car this year. There have been many times I entered a fast food place or rest area where I found a HotelCoupons magazine offering discount hotel rates.
HotelCoupons partners with more than 8,000 hotels in 1,634 markets around the U.S. and Canada. Many hotel partners are highway roadside locations and many are city centers.
I have used HotelCoupons before to get a last minute discount rate in northern California, probably when the magazine was under another brand name like RoomSaver. The hotel magazine has been around for 31 years.
These days last minute room rates are a growing trend in the hotel industry. HotelCoupons.com has a website and mobile apps you can download for last minute hotel rates easily accessible from your mobile device.
You can print coupons from their website or download coupons onto your mobile device.
HotelCoupons rates are valuable for those last minute bookings when you need to get off the road after driving a long time or when weather sucks. These hotel discount rate offers are useful when your flight is cancelled.
There are HotelCoupons mobile apps for Android, iPhone and iPad.
One of the features I like is hotelcoupons.com shows nearby hotels using GPS.
Now it may seem odd that I am writing about an online travel agency this week after writing this post last week: OTAs gain hotel booking market share in 2013. Why?
The reason I see value in a site like HotelCoupons.com is last minute bookings are a specific type of hotel booking where hotel brand websites do not always compete with the lowest rates.
Most hotel brand sites offering Best Rate Guarantee do not allow claims within 24 hours of hotel check-in. Choice Hotels is 72 hours before 6pm check-in to submit a Best Rate Guarantee claim. For this reason, flash booking sites and walk-in rates like those offered by HotelCoupons.com can be the best solution for lower hotel rates on last minute hotel reservations.
Being Loyalty Traveler, there are several times I have spent an hour sitting in a restaurant or rest area searching for a last minute rate good deal with a brand hotel. I usually find them. Not everyone has the practice, will power or time to search for last minute deals with a brand hotel.
HotelCoupons.com offers discounts at many brand and independent hotels that may be lower than the published rate for the hotel on its website.
Check out HotelCoupons.com and you just might find a hotel nearby where you can check in with a last minute booking at a lower rate.
*****
Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.
Loyalty Traveler shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests.
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I am headed to New Zealand and Fiji for my winter holiday. @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons and #RicLT
Guess I’ll break the ice. I’m going to the Galapagos!
My winter travel will be limited to daily trips to a rehab facility since I had both knees replaced in October. I will be working especially hard this winter to get my body ready for a trip to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in May.
Oddly enough, I am going to San Diego for my winter holidays
I hope to finally get to New Orleans. There’s a giant bowl of gumbo with my name on it! @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons #RicLT
I would like to go Orlando to escape winter in North east
Family and I will be going to Los Cabos for the first time!
Heading for Tahoe to spend holidays with family… Great place to feel good about snow!
Destination still TBD. I have 2 weeks off and I’ll be looking for last minute availability. Mystery trip!
I will be traveling to Hawaii this winter…Also many weekend ski trips planned to Breckenridge and Vail!
I will be traveling to Portland, Oregon for my lone three day weekend during tax season! Not exciting, but there isn’t lengthy travel involved and it should be relaxing!
Houston, somewhere warmer than up north!
just local day trips this holiday season, but a road trip to Seattle in the summer is on the books
I will be visiting Utah during the Holidays to visit the In-laws and family.
Caribbean cruise with the family!
We will be heading to Vegas (for a conference) but turning it into a winter holiday by staying a few extra days…!
I will be visiting friends in Los Angeles.
Western Caribbean cruise with my family. First time for most of them!
Heading down south to drive around Georgia!
Heading north to Edmonton, AB to visit family this holiday season.
I am going to Portland, OR for my winter holiday. @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons and #RicLT
We are headed over to Kona on the Big Island for a winter getaway.
I’m headed to Chicago to visit the in-laws…not nearly as exotic as most of the rest of you.
sunny DETROIT for the holidays!!
Cruise in the Caribbean.
Headed to Orlando, warm for winter!
Washington DC
I am heading to Maui with family.
Heading to NYC with my family 🙂
I’m headed to Nashville this winter.
I´m headed to New Orleans to visit my sister!
I am heading over to Honolulu this weekend! 🙂 My first Hawaii trip!
Going to Michigan
Traveling to Cabo over the Christmas holiday for a family trip!
heading to key west and vermont
I will be heading to Las Vegas for the New Years!!
I’m heading to Miami this winter for some warm weather!
I am going to SEDONA, ARIZONA!! Yippi!! $$ would go a long way on this trip!!
I am going to Siem Reap for my winter holidays! 🙂
New York City.
We are heading to Puerto Rico and taking a southern Caribbean cruise with the kids.
Taking a trip to AZ in January to get out of the snow.
I’m going to Milan
Taking a cruise and spending time in Florida.
I am headed to New Orleans to visit family.
Headed to the Colorado Springs area to be with my wife’s family over the holidays…
I am hoping to visit my cousin in London!
I am going to New Orleans for winter vacation.
Headed to upstate NY to spend time with the fam
First to Las Vegas, then Seattle / Tacoma and I still have one night that will be a last minute booking!
Happy holidays!
Leaving the east coast for fun times out west.
Road trip… Las Vegas to Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Arizona is my winter vacation choice
back home again to Indiana…
I’m heading to New Orleans for Christmas. Nom. Nom. Nom.
I am going to Paris for my holidays.
Maui is where I am going
Traveling to Florida!
I am going to Scottsdale for the holidays!!!
I can’t wait for my Christmas vacation in St. Martin
I am looking forward to a family holiday in North Carolina
I am going to Mexico with my family!
I am headed for Toronto for the holidays
My family and I are fortunate to be visiting Sherman Oaks, where there is a fabulous cinema complex with current films for all ages, and where one can not only select and purchase the tickets online (nothing unusual about that), but can also select the exact seats! This eliminates the need to arrive too early and experiencing the anxiety that you might have to sit way in the side! What a concept. Consider Sherman Oaks for a holiday trip!
Going to New York to see the Christmas Tree!!
I’m heading down to Miami to escape the cold
Salt Lake City to visit friends and family
I will be at home for the holidays but my heart will be in Paris.
Going to Dallas, Texas. Hope the weather gets better fast!
Going to Houston to visit my family and to hit up a Rockets game!
I plan on traveling to Ft Myers to visit my Dad.
I have to get away from the frozen tundra of Minnesota. I have flights booked for Scottsdale Arizona!
Headed up to Vermont to Ski
Heading to warm south Florida for the holidays!
My holiday and winter destination is home sweet home right now but I may reconsider if I win the gift card!
Give me Florida for the holidays!
Nothing anywhere near exotic; just “over the river and through the woods” to visit our kids and grandkids in Lexington, SC and Raleigh, NC.
I’m staying in TX for the holidays!
Yellowstone National Park
Just one destination? I’ll be in Cancun in a week diving the nearby cenotes. Thanks for this promo.
We’re going to Maui
I am going to St. John USVI for my winter holiday.
On a Hilton Devalu-palooza trip to Koh Samui, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.
I’m traveling to Snowbird, UT for a week os skiing this holiday season!
Looks like I’ll be going to Las Vegas this winter for a mini-reunion with family friends.
to Philadelphia, PA for the NCAA Frozen Four hockey
I’ll be in Colorado! Thanks for the contest.
Going to be local for the holiday but I will probably head to the slopes in NH for some skiing fun!
I’ii be going to australia this feb.
I need to get to Las Vegas, or PHX, or whereever the sun is shining and I can thaw out…
I’m going to visit family in Los Angeles!
For me it’s NYC!
Heading to Long Island, NY to visit the in-laws
Heading off to our normal southern Florida week right after the first of the year.
Wow. Please count me in to support skiing trip.
Florida in January!
I will actually be making a trip to Seoul this winter to check it out.
I am heading to Houston for the winter holidays. @LoyaltyTraveler @HotelCoupons and #RicLT
Heading to Savannah, GA for this winter!
Who needs a white Christmas? Santa Barbara CA
I’m going to Guadalajara, Mexico to spend the holidays with my wife’s family.
I am going to Maui this winter.
I am going to New Orleans.
I will be traveling to New Orleans this winter.
I am going to Israel
Christmas in Germany to see my girlfriend!
Heading to San Cabo just after Christmas!
i’m going to seasia this winter!
I am going to Phoenix
I’m going to Edisto Island.
Las Vegas
I will be heading to San Diego.
Maui!
I am heading for a ski site in Virginia to do tubing with my kids
We plan to stay home for the holidays. We went to Paris last year 🙂
Palm Springs (PSP) Baby!
Visiting relatives in NYC for the holidays.
Off to Maine to experience Ogunquit
Muskegon, Michigan
Brrr………….
I want to go to NYC this winter. I also got an invite to Disney, but am going to pass.
I am going to the Galapagos in January.
I want to visit Chicago and stuff my face with some good chicago style pizza!
I am visiting family in Pella and spending New Year’s in San Francisco. Time to see the U.S. while I am back for a while from those exotic places overseas.
I want to go to Cabo San Lucas in January.
I want a coupon!
Jamaica for the winter!
I am going to Las Vegas and Napa!
Skiing Vail!
I am going to San Francisco this winter
I am going to Nice, France!!!! So excited.
Atlantic City. Even with online gambling in NJ now, face-to-face is more fun.
I am going to Salt Lake City for some skiing!
I’m going to be in Atlanta over the holidays.
I would like to go to Key West, FL this winter!!
Definitely Goa for new year bash!
We are leaving for Bostn on Christmas Day and then on to Nashua, N.H.
I’m going to Dallas over the holidays!
I am going to Austin for the holidays!
i am staying home with my dogs and sending my wife to visit her sister in Colorado Springs.
Thanks for the contest
Winter travel would be to New York (for theater) and would love to make it to the Sochi Winter Olympics (if I can find the hotel accomodations).
Chicago, so I can freeze some more!!!
I’m staying home and going to daydream since I’m broke.
Bali.
Going to NYC!
I’m going to the CA Central Coast (near you, Ric!), San Diego, and New York – Times Square!
Going to Maui this Winter.
Will go to Warsaw (Poland) with my friends for Christmas holidays:)
I’m going to sydney for my winter holidays
i’m going to bucharest , romania for Christmas
going to seattle to see family
I m heading home to Europe
Maui
headed to see my wife’s family in rural Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Heading out next week for a couple weeks in Hawaii
Maui
I’m heading home for the holidays – Erie, PA.
Somewhere warm to escape from the cold, usually Florida
Chicago; home for the holidays 🙂
We live in St Augustine FL and always head down to Orlando to see the Mouse for a few days during the Holidays.
My family and I are heading to Miami for 3 days and then on a 7 day Celebrity Cruise. Can’t wait!
Bryan
I’m going to St. George Utah
I’m getting some sun in Buenos Aires
Taking a week in Mexico in February, then in March, 2 weeks in Australia and 2 weeks scuba diving in Palau and Chuuk. Planning this for a year.
Boston 😀
Planning to visit Paris 🙂
I’m going home to Portugal for the holidays 🙂
We’re headed to New England, but I wish we were going to Edinburgh to visit close friends and celebrate Hogmanay. Maybe next year!
Going to St. John for a winter break
Eugene, OR
Heading somewhere warm… Carolinas, Scottsdale or Tampa… or maybe all three!
I am going to Nicaragua!
We’re going to NYC for a theater weekend!
I’m going the the tropical paradise of Pawtucket, RI to visit my Mom.
I’m hoping to avoid a snow storm when visting my husband’s Mom in RI.
Going to SLC.
I am going to Iceland for my winter holiday.
Southern Thailand yo!
I am ditching the frozen northwest for sunny California this winter holiday.
I’m going to Las Vegas
I am going to Washington DC for my winter holiday!
I’m going to big island Hawaii for this winter holiday!!
I’m headed to Austin TX for some warmth and sun!
Entries for this giveaway are now closed.
I’ll post winners later today after I get back from a hike in the 62 F. sunshine.
We’re traveling to Dallas to enjoy the holidays with friends.
I have had much success with this approach, and would use it again in my holiday road trip to Harrisonburg, VA.
The two winners have been selected.
From the comments on this post the winner is #48 – Kaye.
From Twitter the winner is Eric Seeholzer @1ericsee.
Congratulations. I am sure those gift cards will come in handy for trips to New Orleans and Yellowstone.
I am looking to escape to Hawaii. I always turn to website to find coupons and discounts before I plan any trip, near or far.
My travel destination is the Poconos PA, where my family lives.