Has anyone been able to extend a winning trip?

H

hostaaddict

New member
I see so many trip sweeps that I would enter, but for me to travel for a 10 hr flight and then have 2 nights at the destination is tough. I see where there is one to Hawaii for 2 nights. You would just get there and spend the first night and have one full day and night and time to come home. Has anyone ever tried to extend by paying for several more days lodging? Just wondered if it is possible to take one of these little jaunts and make it into 5 or 6 days at least. Not sure if certain sweeps administrators would allow this.
 
:sunny: A lot of that would depend on the sweep and the sponsor. Regardless, it never hurts to ask,
 
Yeah, I suppose. It's just that I don't want to enter some of those if you can never ever extend them. I would just leave them for someone else to enter that wants to go for a weekend. Was just wondering if anyone ever tried to extend and what happened. Would love to go to Hawaii again but not for 2 nights when takes all day just to get there from the midwest.
 
hostaaddict - what I would do? I'd look in the rules to see if they would re-award the prize. If yes, then I'd enter, try to work with the sponsors to extend the trip, and feel NO guilt if they denied me.

If they will NOT re-award the prize? Then I'd leave it for others. :cheers:
 
When we won the trip to Paris (we leave Sept. 19!), it was for 6 nights/7 days. I sent emails to the nice woman at Marden-Kane, asking if we could extend it and leave out of London (three days in London would be on "our dime" of course). It turns out that the cost of the flight to Paris is exactly what the cost would be for the return flight from London would be! So, she said "yes."

So, it doesn't hurt to ask :sunny: My husband and I will have a wonderful trip, for 10 days - and the travel agent that Marden-Kane turned us over to that worked with us was wonderful (Dot Whitehead at Carlson Wagonlit).

And from Austin, Texas to Paris, France is about 10 1/2 hours (if we don't get "bumped" or left on the tarmac for 3 hours :cry:

Ask, ask, ask - if they say "no," at least you won a trip. :headbang:

Kate
 
Thanks so much for your replies! I really appreciate your help!! I think I will follow your advice. I even saw one awhile back for 2 nights in Paris and then back home. Wow! What a tiring trip that would be! I would want a bare minimum of 5 or 6. So, if one can extend on their own dollar, it would be so much nicer, since the bulk of the cost is in getting there and returning.

Have fun Kate!!! Your trip sounds awesome and I am so glad you were able to work with them and extend it to ten days. Be sure and let us know how you enjoyed it.
 
hostaaddict:

After putting together the trip I won to Australia, I feel like I can say some on this! :laughing: It took me over 40 days and 40 nights to put it together!! I was notified of my win on June 25th and finally got the last piece put together just last week! :cheers:

Basically trip wins fall into several general categories:


  • [li] 1. Multiple Sponsors: This is like mine was: Airline, hotel, tour, restaurant, Etc.[/li]
    [li] 2. Single Sponsor: Hotel OR Airline OR Tour OR Restaurant.[/li]
    [li] 3. Travel Agency Sponsor: Complete Package set by an Agency[/li]
    [li] 4. Resort Sponsor: Complete Package set by a specific Resort[/li]

Now to the crux of the matter: extentions. First off, always read the rules...because that is where you will ALWAYS find the exclusions, restrictions, and other 'goofy-stuff-to-screw-up-your-plans' junk you will NEVER find on the entry page! Black-out dates are the favorite. They can sometimes be extremely restrictive, even to the point of where travel extentions are not possible. :cry:

But, on to address the various types listed above:

1. The Multiple Sponsor: (Here I can speak with authority) Each sponsor is totally separate from the others. Of course, for any of the sponsors: as long as it in the date restrictions set forth in the rules. The airline (ie: qantas) doesn't care when you fly or how long you stay. The Hotel (ie: Coral Tree Inn) doesn't care how long or when you stay as long as you pay for extra days!. A tour (ie: Spirit of Freedom Dive Yacht) will, of course, be restricted to a certain time frame. But, after they dump you off on the beach they don't care whether you ever leave or not! In putting my trip together I was asked several times if I wanted to extend.

2. Single Sponsor: Basically the same as above, but it is all co-ordinated through one sponsor (ie: Mastercard). If it is the hotel...they are not going to complain if you stay longer! (But trust me...they will soak you for full rates!) And once again it really doesn't matter to the airline whether you stay 2 days or 2 months.

3. Travel Agencies: Most of the time this is a "time/place" dependant item they have purchased at a very reduced rate way prior to you winning. Most of the time there is NO wiggle room to be had, but every so often (as mentioned previously) they can make exceptions.

4. Resorts: Now this is a different "ball of wax" altogether! Since most of the time they are slotting you into "slack dates" and are often providers of the airfare via their own "contracted sources" (ie: 'Bahama Momma Island Fantasy Nude Beach Resort' - airfare from Miami only!) the likelihood of changing iternarary plans is VERY remote. "Move 'em in, Move 'em out, cowboy" is the motto there! (ie: Vegas).

Did any of that make any sense????

:cheers:

Loren :crazytongue:
 
Hey, Loren -- when do you leave on your trip to Australia? And, where do you fly from and how long does it take? :sunny:

Kate
 
ktshome said:
Hey, Loren -- when do you leave on your trip to Australia? And, where do you fly from and how long does it take? :sunny:

Kate
Click to expand...

Not wanting to steal this thread....

....fly SEA (Seattle) to SFO (San Fran) on 07SEP07 via Alaska Airlines 2 hrs 10 min (5 hr 30 min layover in SF)
....SFO to SYD (Sydney) on 07SEP07 via Qantas Airlines QF74 14 hrs 40 min.
....encounter amazing disappearing day! Arrive in Sydney on the 9th! (1 hr 45 min layover in SYD)
....SYD to Cairns on 09SEP07 via Qantas Airlines QF167 3 hrs 05 min.

....fly Cairns to SYD on 19SEP07 via Qantas Airlines QF 60 2hr 50 min (4 hr 50 min layover in SYD)
....SYD to SFO on 19SEP07 via QF73 13hr 20 min. (4hr 55min Layover in SFO)
....encounter amazing reappearing day!!!!!!! Arrive in SFO 2 hrs 40min BEFORE we take off from Sydney!
....SFO to SEA on 19SEP07 via Alaska Airlines 2 hrs 02 min.

Question??

Why did I give myself 5 hours layover on the return trip in SFO??? Customs! Of course!!! They have to run them darn dogs over me at least 3 times! (Must be the beard and the shaved head!!!!!) So if you're in SFO stop by and say howdy, cuz I'll be really bored!

When I went SEA - SHI (Schipole Amsterdam) - CDG (Charles DeGaulle Paris), and return, last Turkey Day you actually have to pass through security 10 times .... and guess what .... I got pulled and patted 10 times!!!

But I think the little black gay guy in Amsterdam just thought I was awfully cute...he was WAY TOO thorough!!! I told him that and he had a great laugh! But, at least, he quit patting down my crotch and sent me on through!! (NO! I'm NOT!!!)

:love: :love: :love: :love: :love:

:crazytongue:
Loren
 
:headbang: Well done, Loren! So exciting that so many Sa members are able to win such great vacations. Just finished up this week fianalizing our trip at the end of October to Puerto Vallarta. Some of our friends are booking the same trip so that we can all have a great time together. I won 4 nights but extended to 7 nights.
 
pmeek said:
:headbang: Well done, Loren! So exciting that so many Sa members are able to win such great vacations. Just finished up this week fianalizing our trip at the end of October to Puerto Vallarta. Some of our friends are booking the same trip so that we can all have a great time together. I won 4 nights but extended to 7 nights.
Click to expand...

Pmeek..... is that a good time to go to Mexico? I was just wondering because I was hoping to book a Mexico trip in late Oct. early NOv.

Thanks... oh and btw, what sweep did you win? was it a daily or 1 time entry? what did this cost YOU, if anything?
 
Wow! Thanks so much Loren, pmeek, kate and and any others. It is nice to finally get such complete answer to a question that has been puzzling me about the trips. I am so happy to read that most of them can be extended and no, Loren, you didn't steal the thread. Just gave me all the info I was wanting. In fact I am going to print this all off and save it for just the right time. I am still hoping for a nice trip!!!! Have been to quite a few places in this world but always had to pay myself, but now that retired for so many years, it is harder to afford the trips. I will keep on entering and hoping. Congratulations to you folks that have won these nice trips and please let us know how much fun you all had!! Your trips all sound wonderful!
 
hostaaddict said:
Wow! ... Congratulations to you folks that have won these nice trips and please let us know how much fun you all had!! Your trips all sound wonderful!
Click to expand...

I will be starting a 'blow by blow' thread of my trip starting next Thursday in the "Trip Win" Section! I haven't seen anybody do that yet, so I thought it might be a little fun! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

I will post at least twice/three times a day...if I can! Internet access on the boat will cost me $5.00/min so ... since I am a slow typist, it will probably be short and sweet. But you will all be the first to know! It is toooo bad I can't host any pictures here, so you will probably will have to wait for those until I get back and post them on my site ....

.....THEN watch out! If ya want pics, you will surely get them! Oofdah!!!

Got an underwater camera so I can take pics of all the pretty fishies ... or of the Great White Shark munching down on Judy! (Told her not to buy that black one-piece swimsuit: makes her look like a nice plump seal!

:nono: :nono: :nono:

Ooooops. Did I say that????

I AM SOOOOOO B. A. D. !!!!


Loves, :cheers:

Loren :laughing: :crazytongue:
 
Loren..... WHat sweep was this that you won the Aust. Trip? Was it a SA sweep? How many entries was it? One time or daily? Thank yaazzz... Just curious and congrats on your win... That is sooo awesome
 
To answer the OP, yes. I was able to extend a trip win to California's wine country by four days. It was originally intended as a wine country visit, but I asked the sponsor for more time to see San Francisco, and they complied. The extra hotel days were on my dime, and I had to turn in the car rental, but the outgoing flight from SFO was extended by the sponsor.
 
That's great you were able to do that and spend more time in SF. And Loren, I will be eagerly awaiting your posts. Sounds like fun! We can travel along with you!
 
I won a 6 night trip to the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas and the people booking the trip for me and 4 guests allowed me to extend for 4 extra nights (at my expense) and allowed the guests to depart from other airports. They were very nice in accommodating some requested changes.
 
That was great that they were so accommodating, and specially about letting them fly out of other airports. That was wonderful and I am glad you had such a nice trip.
 
hostaaddict said:
I see so many trip sweeps that I would enter, but for me to travel for a 10 hr flight and then have 2 nights at the destination is tough. I see where there is one to Hawaii for 2 nights. You would just get there and spend the first night and have one full day and night and time to come home. Has anyone ever tried to extend by paying for several more days lodging? Just wondered if it is possible to take one of these little jaunts and make it into 5 or 6 days at least. Not sure if certain sweeps administrators would allow this.
Click to expand...

Hi My name is Michele and I just recently posted a winning that I had a couple of years ago in the winners circle. I won a trip to LA to audition for the Wheel Of Fortune if you'd like to read it. They did allow me to extend my trip. I had to pay for my additional hotel of course but, they booked the airfare on the dates that I gave them and at no additional charge. Hope this helps
 
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