Home 2009 Trip Giveaway (1 of 3 choices)
Since I accrue a lot of free flights and such, from traveling with my job, for the second year in a row I am giving away a free trip to the Maya World, and this time to ANYONE. This is simply my way of giving to someone the chance to experience what I have in the past, out of kindness. I don't expect anything in return. The winner will receive one free roundtrip flight(s) and five nights hotel. Also, I will give the winner of the drawing $500 before arriving to our destination, for their personal use as needed while there. These personally selected and carefully planned trips, are worth between $1,500 and $2,000 each, after adding in the $500 for personal use. You have three months to take the trip: June, July, or August of 2009. To be eligible for my drawings, you must have a valid passport.
#1 Guatemala - One free roundtrip airline ticket from anywhere in the continental United States to Guatemala City on U.S. Airways, then one free roundtrip flight from Guatemala City to Flores on TACA Airlines, and five free nights hotel in Flores and Guatemala City. We will stay in Flores at Hotel Sabana for four nights and in Guatemala City at the Holiday Inn for one night. We will visit the Maya Ruins of Tikal, Yaxha, Nakum, and El Mirador. We will take the trip to El Mirador by helicopter (you will buy your flight there and back = $284.00).
Or
#2 Belize - One free roundtrip airline ticket from anywhere in the continental United States to Belize City on U.S. Airways, then one free roundtrip flight from Belize City to Caye Caulker on Tropic Air, and five free nights hotel in Belize City and Caye Caulker. We will stay in Belize City for two nights and at the island of Caye Caulker for three nights. We will visit the Maya Ruins of Altun Ha and Lamanai, go snorkeling at Shark-Ray Alley and swim with nurse sharks (harmless), scuba dive at Turneffe Atoll (if you are a certified diver), go to the beach, and go fly-fishing for tarpon, permit, and bonefish on "the flats", etc.. The hotels will be my choice.
Or
#3 Honduras - (Greg's favorite) One free roundtrip airline ticket from anywhere in the continental United States to San Pedro Sula on Delta Airlines and five free nights hotel in San Pedro Sula and Copan Ruinas. We will stay in San Pedro Sula at the Holiday Inn for two nights and in Copan Ruinas at Hacienda San Lucas for three nights. We will visit the Maya Ruins of Copan and Las Sepulturas in Honduras, then cross over the border to visit the Maya Ruins of Quirigua in Guatemala. We will also visit the Chorti Maya Village of La Pintada by horseback, go tubing on the Copan River, and maybe tour San Rafael coffee plantation.
I will be accompanying the winner on either trip, to be their personal guide, since I know the areas well. Also, I will plan the winner's trip in detail, once they choose the specific dates for their trip, such as flight schedules, bus schedules, etc.. You can bring along your spouse too, as long as you purchase their flight. I have decided to hold the drawing after I return from my scuba diving trip to Puerto Rico in September. I have chosen October 1, 2008 to be the day of the drawing and there will be an alternate name drawn, in case the winner cannot go on the trip for some reason. Since the Government of Honduras requires a person to have a passport which is valid for at least 6 months, prior to entering their country, I thought it would be best to do the drawing sooner than originally, in case the winner chose to go there. This will give the winner time to get their passport, easily before January, if they do not have one already.
The limit of 50 names has been reached. I will not accept any more names for the drawing. If I allowed an unlimited amount of people to enter this drawing, I could receive an overwhelming amount of names, which I do not want to have to deal with. This trip cannot interfere with one I have already planned, and you will be able to take the trip in June, July, or August of 2009. One lucky person of the 50 people entered, will get to choose the country they want to visit, then we will simply go there when they choose to. We will leave on a Tuesday and return on Sunday.
The 2009 trip choices are set in stone. I do not plan on changing them any more unless the winner requests to change the itinerary slightly (such as what we do while there). Also, the winner will be selected randomly (drawn from a hat full of the names), by someone other than myself. This drawing will be fair and I have no idea who will win it. I will post the winning name of the drawing, October 1st 2008, on the front page of my website. The person who wins will need to contact me afterwards, for setting up the trip dates, flights, and hotels.
Good Luck!
Greg Vandiver