And The Winner Is… (and Other Stuff)

Contest Winner

So, about two weeks ago, I launched the very first contest on A Dangerous Business. The prize? A $200 voucher to use to book accommodation using HotelsCombined.com.

Entering was ridiculously easy — all you had to do was become a fan of ADB on Facebook, and then leave a comment explaining how you would use the voucher if you won.

Well, the contest has come to a close.

I had dozens of awesome entries, so I’m sure it was tough for the Hotels Combined representative to choose the overall winner.

But choose he did.

And the winner is… (drumroll, please)…

Alouise of Traveler Ahoy!

Alouise’s answer to how she would use the voucher was:

As for the voucher, there are two choices come to mind right away. The final decision depends on which inner voice I listen to. My practical self picks Vancouver, as I’ve already bought my ticket for TBEX in June. I can save money on my hotel for this weekend trip. With school and working I probably won’t be going anywhere else after this, so this prize would be greatly utilized.

However, my impetuous self picks New Orleans, because life’s too damn short. Just say ‘fuck it’ to work for a few days, to school, to the money problems and get away. No months of planning and researching every minute of the day. Just book a flight and a hotel, and show up. Wander around, explore, learn, maybe find some excellent music or some fantastic food, perhaps stumble upon something I couldn’t possibly conceive of. Rebel from the practical side of me, even for just a few days. Practical me always wins, and it’s never fun when she’s around. Impetuous me needs to be free.

The Hotels Combined rep said he loved her creative answer, and felt like it was something we can all relate to.

I hope wherever you choose to use the voucher, Alouise, that you have a fantastic time!!

Recently Featured

I’ve been away for the past week or so, exploring Hawaii and taking somewhat of a break from my usual hectic blogging schedule. So you may have missed some of the guest posting and interviews I’ve been up to lately. Here’s a brief round-up:

Planning for Hawaii on a Budget — Oahu

This is a guest post over at Go Backpacking, where I highlight some of the ways you can plan to save money visiting Hawaii. I used a lot of these tips myself when I was there!

What to Do in New Zealand

I wrote this guest post for C’est Christine about my very favorite place — New Zealand! It’s a top 10 list of sorts, about all the things I personally suggest you do while in NZ, such as attending an All Blacks rugby match, learning about Maori culture, bungy jumping, cruising Milford Sound, and more!

Random Traveler #35

This interview with me over at No Place to Be was fun to do. I loved the question about Lonely Planet hiring me to write a guide book — but that it can’t be about NZ! That one made me think.

Coming Soon

Now that I’m back from Hawaii, I’ve got a TON new material coming your way!

Look out for posts on these topics within the next couple of weeks:

• Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay (with video)
• Tips on visiting Pearl Harbor (with video)
• How to get around Honolulu using the bus
• A round-up of Oahu’s beaches (with plenty of photos and video)
• A review of a circle island tour with Polynesian Adventure Tours
• A look at famous Waikiki Beach (with video)
• How I almost swam with sharks on the North Shore
• Visiting movie sites at Kualoa Ranch
• and much more!

Is there anything specific about my trip to Hawaii that you’re interested in hearing about? If so, please let me know and I’ll do my best to address it!

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