We had hoped to see the Sequoias in September, but they days just don’t work out. Katy wants to be in Columbia S. Carolina on the second of October to spend a day or two with her daughter while I drive the car down from Michigan. Going to California the 24th of September made no sense as we’d be there too long if that makes any sense. Our freebie reservations near the Sequoias was from the 24th to 27th and we had tacked on two free nights in San Diego the 28th and 29th, but then what?

So it looks now like Seattle and Olympic National Park and then up to Vancouver and Whistler a week later. We’ll leave the Great Northwest on the 1st or 2nd with her flying to Columbia and me going to our car location, be it Detroit, Traverse City, Cleveland where ver the fare is best.

And to top it all off when I went on Travelocity to cancel my reservation they had no record of it. Come on now that was $6.40 per night for three nights in a row. How could you lose such a big deal? Can you imagine if we had showed up like the country bumpkins and the hotel has no record of us? Cancelled San Diego too which doesn’t bother me that much as I was getting reports that the hotel was being funny about charging taxes and some goofy fees for the free night stays.

Off to Ann Arbor for the Flyertalk DO

I learn a ton at these gatherings of fellow travel wackos like me. We all have some little trick or scam that helps us travel on the frugal, and it is amazing to listen to the stories of some of these travel bonuses. And this one will be especially nice as I finally get to meet the guy that taught me the Continental Low Fare Guarantee and Gleff from the View from the Wing Blog. Plus, I’ll put some pressure on Marty to help out with the fledgling Rental Car page, and see Derek again since he has gone from scammer to company man now with Northwest Airlines.

I promise, you will learn something new by this Sunday evening that will save you money for the rest of your travel life.

Paying for a Hotel Room

I know, I cringe when I think about it. Paying for a hotel room to get points for a promotion. The idea just seems foreign to me to spend money I didn’t need to, to get a bigger benefit down the road. Here is how it happened.

About two months ago I got a new Hilton Gold Card as a premium for being a Gold member of the American Airlines program. Cross marketing I think they call it. I’m given Gold status, which I already have, and the opportunity to earn 50K Hilton Honors points with 4 paid stays by September 30th. That is a nice bonus when you are planning a trip to Europe next Spring and those huge hotel rates.

So now I’m scrapping together four cheap Hilton stays and one will be this weekend. Katy got us one night two weeks ago on her trip downstate for about $90 and mine is $90 with tax this time.

It will mean putting out about $360 for the four stays but the 50K bonus points will get us a couple nights on our round the world trip for free. Not the best, but better than nothing. Six night for the price of four. Respectable I guess. I just hate reaching into this wallet of mine.

Southwest’s Cheaper to Fly Than Drive Sale

The marketing department here has hit on a dandy this time. Some of their short haul routes are being priced at $29 one way. Example Seattle to Spokane for $29 plus tax. With gas over $4 a gallon, can you drive 282 miles for $35? At 20 miles per gallon that would take 14 gallons or 14 x $4 = $56. Looks like they are correct. You can’t afford to drive. Here is the link to the Promotion on fares good through January 2009.