NEAR: Save In The City. A Video Entry!

The Ginger Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich. This photo does not do it justice but I can't embed the video for some reason!

So…there’s this amazing website in Toronto called “My City Lives” and what makes it different from other sites is that it’s a hyper local travel site that’s dedicated to video blogs.  Not only can find out about specific categories (shopping, food and drink, etc.) you can look for videos based on location via the map of Toronto. Pretty nifty! So these geniuses teamed up with financial jaggernaut ING to launch a video contest called “My City Saves.” Anything goes but you have to show your best saving tip in Toronto.

Contest Time: Win a Travelocity Roaming Gnome!

My homie, Gnomie.

Let’s tell a story, shall we?

So. Exactly a year ago, I was in San Francisco (an amazing trip that I won). From there, through the powers of Twitter I was able to go to a Travelocity tweetup and sip gnome-tinis and get my very own Travelocity Roaming Gnome.

Their marketing is quite genius and let me tell you, that roaming gnome was the perfect travel companion and ice breaker. It made for so many great travel photos and memories and put my creativity to the test on the road. Love!

CONTEST # TWO! My “AFAR” Prize with Passports With Purpose

The Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver. You can win a 2 night stay here!

If you know me, you know I love a good contest. I do have a lucky streak and I’ve won a lot of contests: a bike, a trip to San Francisco, two nights at the Montelucia in Arizona (that I never got to use…), $1,000 certificate with Intrepid, etc. So when I heard about the travel blogger fundraiser Passports with Purpose to give away a prize of my choice to help build two libraries in Zambia with Room to Read, I jumped at the chance! I’ve won enough things. Now it’s my time to help you win something and give back to an amazing cause that’s close to all the things I value: education, children and travel.  I am so overwhelmed by the support I’ve gotten from my sponsors and cannot thank them enough. And kids, they are top notch!

So what do you have the chance to win?! Well, I’m giving away two prizes: A “NEAR” Prize and an “AFAR” prize. Woot Woot!  This post is dedicated to my afar prize. *You have to enter on the Passports with Purpose website! 

My AFAR Prize is a Two Night Stay at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia and the Tasting Menu for Two at the hotel restaurant, Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver, BC.

Dear Luxe City Guides…

Bali Rock Bar via Duncan's Daily Dispatch

I so very much want to win your World Grand Tour Box. Chic et Cheap, it’s the only way to travel non?  The five city tour in 100 words  goes a little bit like this:

Currywurst in Berlin with a friend, then off to Bangkok-the one that started it all-winding my way through the urban sprawl on a tuk tuk. I bow at the temple of Wat Pho and then jet for some R & R at the Khayangan Estate  in Bali. Bottoms up at The Rock Bar - a stunner! The grandslam tour continues with a Tim Tam slam in Sydney. I’ll surf  away the calories on Bondi Beach before stopping in Chicago. I ooh, ahh and twitpic Cloud Gate, and chow through Grant Achatz’s menu at Alinea . Hello Gorgeous, indeed.

PS A shout-out to Luxe and Grantourismo for partnering on such a great contest! This was fun to write.

PPS I won second place in this contest and will be receiving TWO LUXE guidebooks. Paris and New York were my picks. Excited to get them in the mail!