Win a $200 Accommodation Voucher From HotelsCombined.com

Posted on 24. May, 2010 by Steph in Featured, Housekeeping, Uncategorized

Even though I’m primarily a backpacker, there’s something so deliciously fun about staying in hotels every now and then. After all, even budget travelers need a bubble bath once in awhile to wash away all that grime, right?

Actually finding a good hotel deal can be a lot less fun. There are so many hotel booking sites, from Priceline to Travelocity to Agoda. They all have different niches, sales and prices at any given time. Finding the BEST deal can take some luck.

Fortunately the free accommodation search engine Hotels Combined makes this easier by allowing you to search all of the major hotel booking sites at once to find the best online deal at that exact period of time. It’s a good way to save both time and money when looking for a nice play to stay.

I haven’t had a chance to book accommodations with the site yet, but just by browsing I can tell it’s very thorough and informative. In addition to pulling up the cheapest hotel deals for you, they provide reader reviews, summaries and helpful maps. It’s free to use and can unearth some fantastic deals, like this four star hotel room with a double bed, that I found in Phuket for only $14 a night:

And here’s the kicker: This week Hotels Combined wants to give YOU a $200 (US) voucher from their website to use on accommodation anywhere in the world!

To enter the contest just follow these two steps:

Post a comment on this post answering “If you won $200 to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world, where would you stay and why?”
After you’ve commented, send me an email at Steph@twenty-somethingtravel.com with “Hotels Combined” in the subject line. Include your full name and a copy of your comment. *

Hotels Combined will pick the winning entry based on creativity, so go nuts. You can submit one entry per day as long as each answer is different.

You have until next Monday, May 31^st to do this. The Winner will be announced on Twenty-Something Travel on Wednesday the 2^nd of June.

*I won’t be using your emails for anything nefarious, I’ll delete them when the contest is over.

Tags: contest

29 Responses to “Win a $200 Accommodation Voucher From HotelsCombined.com”

Ramblingsaffie

24. May, 2010

I would totally splurge with a voucher like that. The voucher would go towards one night in a upmarket hotel overlooking Centra Park in New York. And I would so enjoy all the extra’s of the hotel before heading back to the more familiar world of hostels and couchsurfing.
Ramblingsaffie´s last blog ..Living vs travelling

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Kathy aka mytimetotravel

24. May, 2010

“If you won $200 to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world, where would you stay and why?” Money goes much further in Asia, so I’d use it in Asia. Probably one of the former palaces in Rajasthan, although it wouldn’t be enough to get me the Lake Palace in Udaipur.

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Meghyn

24. May, 2010

“If you won $200 to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world, where would you stay and why?”

I’m moving to South Korea to teach abroad in 6 weeks and would use the $200 voucher to slow down my “get to Korea” and fly to Japan to visit the Gion Matsuri Festival that ties in with my birthday. I’d also make a definite stop at the infamous fish market in Tokyo and would need a nice hotel room to scrub the fishy smell off!

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JoAnna

24. May, 2010

I’d stay somewhere memorable, like the ice hotel in Iceland or a treehouse in Costa Rica. Something more than just a fancy hotel. I’d stay for the experience.
JoAnna´s last blog ..Reading: Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009

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- JoAnna
  
  24. May, 2010
  
  Not Iceland … sorry. Sweden. Or Norway. Or somewhere colder than Iceland.
  JoAnna´s last blog ..Reading: Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009
  
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Lauren

25. May, 2010

The first place that came to mind was Thailand. Not only has it been on the top of my travel to-do list, but I know that $200 can go a long way there. I’ve checked out some of the accommodation there and it’s unbelievable how luxurious and inexpensive some of the hotels are there.

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Michael

25. May, 2010

I’m going to be teaching in Xi’an, China soon and would certainly use it there. $200 in China would go a very long way. My second option is using it for my planned Japan Christmas and NYE visit so would be nice.
Michael´s last blog ..Top Five Things To Do In Turkey – Away From The Beach

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Jeremy

25. May, 2010

My choice is not limited by destination but rather the reason. As you know, I’ll be leaving on my RTW trip in August and traveling while my girlfriend is at home. She’ll be coming to visit in late December and early January over her Christmas break period. I’d use the $200 to splurge on a nice hotel room for a couple nights (with the rest of the cost difference out of pocket) for a nicer stay outside of the budget accommodations that I would normally be staying at.

We were looking at Thailand, but due to the political unrest, we might have to change our plans to somewhere else nearby. If we go with our original goal, the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi sound like a great secluded spot that would normally be outside of my budget range. $130/night is more than double what I was looking at for potential accommodations when she comes to visit and would be quite luxurious for both of us.
Jeremy´s last blog ..Travelers Quest to Visit Every Country Begs the Question: Why?

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Chris

25. May, 2010

I would use the voucher for a hotel in Charlottesville, VA. It’s surely not the most exotic location, and only two hours from my home in DC, but for that reason, it always takes the backseat to other, “bigger” trips. After almost five years of wanting to visit, I still haven’t made it. This year I will finally get there!

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ChinaMatt

25. May, 2010

That’s a difficult one. I’m hoping to go to Guangzhou late this summer and I could use a hotel for the conference. But, I also promised my wife that we’d take a short trip to Boston since we’ve never been there. Of course, I’d also like to splurge sometime soon and return to Boulder/Denver to see my friends and those lovely mountains again.
ChinaMatt´s last blog ..Even the Losers

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thalia

25. May, 2010

i would use the voucher for places to stay in Ethiopia! elephants are my favorite animals, and I’d love for a chance to be able to see them! unfortunately, the $$ for a trip isn’t in the cards right now, but this would certainly help!

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Deidre

25. May, 2010

I have been eyeing this flight to the tiny little island of Dominica to visit my friend in the Peace Corps… But ALL of the flights have overnight 14 hour layovers…pleeeasseee don’t make me sleep in the airport…I’d give my firstborn (or perhaps my little brother if you need immediate payment) as long as I never have to sleep in an airport again…I have been trying to figure this out for weeks now! (i.e. a hotel during that layover (= )
Deidre´s last blog ..Travel Lit Review: Black Girl in Paris

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TravelholicA

25. May, 2010

If you won $200 from HotelsCombined to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world I would stay in a hotel close to the beach in Portugal and not at my friend’s house in Lisbone. It would be perfect timing to get selected and get on the place 5 days later (tickets are bought!). And of course I would share all the great views and details of this trip while having fun with my camera and my best Portuguese friend.
TravelholicA´s last blog ..The good things about a simple life in Brazil & China

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Sara

26. May, 2010

I’m going on a RTW-trip and man, who would’ve thought it’s nearly impossible finding a decent Hostel for a decent price in Sydney for New Year’s? So yeah, I’d probably use the 200 for New Year’s Eve as to not spend my holidays sleeping under the bridge.

On second thought though- maybe I should…
Sara´s last blog ..Bangkok Protests

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Wicher Visser

26. May, 2010

Traveling means self-enrichment. Discovering yourself and the world around you. Furthering your goals, your knowledge, and your experience. All these are very good reason to go out on the road. It is wonderful that we are in the position to do so. Unfortunately there are hundreds of millions, if not billions of people on this planet who don’t have the possibility to travel. Who don’t have this unique chance of self-(re)discovery. I am currently planning a to organize a culture and travel awareness program for people in Africa. Hopefully this takes off and the project would receive sufficient funds to stimulate active culture seeking and curiosity. If I would get the $200 that money would towards the travel expenses I have to make to support the program.

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Asa

26. May, 2010

Either Venice or Iceland. We’re on the tail end of our around-the-world trip and we would totally love to splurge for a night or two at a nice place. Hostels have been fine, but once in a while it’s nice to have a proper bed all to yourself…
Asa´s last blog ..From Rhodes to Crete

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George

26. May, 2010

I would spend 200 dollars on a great hotel in my hometown and enjoy the novelty of breakfast in bed and miniature toiletries!

George

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Jackie

28. May, 2010

With the $200 voucher from HotelsCombined, I’d like to stay in a hotel in Brighton, England or London later this summer. I have a trip planned with my boyfriend to visit my brother who will be studying abroad in Brighton, but we’re not sure if he will have extra room to accommodate us for a few nights. If not, we’re just planning on crashing on the floor, anyways, with some sleeping bags – but a hotel bed, city view and service is always much nicer and more pleasant…

BTW, awesome giveaway. And thanks for thinking of us worldly traveler who don’t get the benefits and perks like business travelers do… we travelers gotta work harder for our perks and have to do a lot of research for special offers and/or discounts to do what we want to do – travel where we want, when we want. Only the money doesn’t always come with our travels like businessmen. Oftentimes, we’re traveling without pay just to gain the experience – but it can take awhile to save up enough money to take that time off. Somehow the experience is always worth it, no matter how much it costs.

Hopefully, someone truly deserving will win this awesome giveaway as a thanks for their continued global support of travel.

Keep up the good work and best of luck to you.

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Orkun Kovanci

30. May, 2010

“If you won $200 to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world, where would you stay and why?” I would stay in Antalya region of Turkey, which offers great beaches, beautiful scenery and amazing historical features for an affordable price. I would love spending time at the Kemer beach, watching Turkish belly dance performances, trekking in the Taurus mountains, rafting on Manavgat river and having fun in the sun with many beautiful people from all over the world. That’s what I call a vacation!

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Gray

30. May, 2010

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to enter, huh? LOL.
I guess I’m a traditionalist, because I’d use it for a hotel in Europe, preferably Paris.
Gray´s last blog ..Montreal Markets

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- Gray
  
  30. May, 2010
  
  Just realized that wasn’t terribly creative. So…I would base myself in Paris, where I would photograph animals that can be found in the city, be it dogs, cats, birds or other. ESPECIALLY “other”. I’d see if they could only understand French, or if they were bilingual, to see how much exposure they’ve gotten to tourists passing through.
  Gray´s last blog ..Montreal Markets
  
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Jessica

30. May, 2010

I’m currently driving around the country with my husband in a minivan exploring the beauty of the lower 48 states. Where I’d use the $200 would depend on where we were… maybe Boston, Washington DC or Nashville. Sites like Hotelscombined.com take the headache out of trip planning for us as we’re on a tight budget but still want to stay in decent hotels.

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Alex

31. May, 2010

Me and my girlfriend are going on a mini Balkans adventure of our own this summer, and I will still have not organised somewhere to stay in Mostar, in Bosnia. We would love to stay in the hotel that also doubles as a National Museum. The rooms look lovely, decorated in an Ottoman style with huge 4 poster beds. Staying here would be a welcome treat after many nights in cheap hostels! We are also staying in Sarajevo, and travelling around Croatia and the coast of Montenegro.

Alex

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Courtney

31. May, 2010

I would spend the money on a posh hotel in Thailand, since Asia is the only continent I have not been to, and Thailand is in my top five of my wish list.

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Anna

31. May, 2010

I’d stay at the Serena Serengeti Lodge–After full days of safari driving and game viewing (my most favorite activity!), you NEED a pool, bathtub, aircon, etc to relax in, and the Serena hotels always provide top service class! Would love to go.

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Jake

31. May, 2010

“If you won $200 to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world, where would you stay and why?”

Hmm… that is a tough one indeed, if I won a $200 voucher to spend on accommodation, I would travel to Egypt, there I will use my new found luck to search for ancient Egyptian Pyramids. I will do this by riding one camel in an easterly direction for 22.2 miles, followed by 12 paces to the south and one to the north. I will then use a vacuum to remove all the sand and subsequently reveal the pyramids hidden beneath. I will name the first pyramid after myself and any subsequent pyramid shall be named in honour of Combined Hotels, thereby immortalising myself and of cause the hotel booking website forever.
Jake´s last blog ..Importance of Getting Travel Insurance Early

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Jason

06. Jul, 2010

“If you won $200 to spend on accommodation anywhere in the world, where would you stay and why?”
I would stay in a hotel in Machu Picchu Peru, sure this would certainly help with the a night in a hotel which would be great. There are also a bunch of tours and treks such as the Inca trail which leads to Machu Picchu as well as other places in Peru which are worth visiting. For all trips and treks as well as many destinations in Peru the best planners are CloserPeru. They did my entire vacation before and will do my next one in 2011 in time for Inti Raymi.

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- Steph
  
  06. Jul, 2010
  
  Thanks Jason! The contest has actually ended I’m afraid, but it’s nice to hear your ideas.
  
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