Friday, April 30, 2010

Royal Romance In London

Spring is one of the best times to visit Europe. Flowers are blooming, the air still has a hint of crispness, and tourists have yet to descend. Given the dearth of contests with French destinations, today's Royal Romance Sweepstakes features a trip to London from VisitBritain. The Grand Prize? Airline tickets to London for two and 4 fabulous nights at the Athenaeum Hotel, where Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas, and Sandra Bullock have stayed. Also included are entrance passes for two to Kensington Palace, Princess Diana's former home, and Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth's current abode. After you've worked up an appetite gawking at these historic sites, you'll be treated to afternoon tea for two, which is a meal in itself. Get royally romantic by watching The Young Victoria and Mrs. Brown. More of a realist? Track down Charles & Diana: Unhappily Ever After, or The Other Boleyn Girl. Use your imperial power and enter.


Voilà - the link to the Royal Romance Sweepstakes:

http://www.visitbritain.us/campaigns/film/win/form.aspx

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Wonka's Golden Ticket - Win a Trip Around The World

To introduce the new Wonka Exceptionals chocolates, Wonka is giving away "Golden Tickets" in specially marked packages, which are good for a slew of prizes, including $500 airline vouchers. The best? 10 Grand Prizes consisting of a trip around the world for the winner and up to three guests. Sweet! Each Grand Prize winner will work with a designated travel planner to design an adventure with a maximum of 4 consecutive destinations. Since my idea of eye candy is Paris, you know where I'm going! Air transportation, hotel accommodations in each location, and ground transportation to/from airports and hotel are covered. Plus, the winner will receive a check for $12,500, which ought to cover some exceptional experiences on the road! Get in gear by watching both Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Afraid you'll blow up like Violet Beauregarde if you consume too much chocolate in your quest for an elusive Golden Ticket? There's always the 2nd Chance Drawing. Watch your calories and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Wonka Golden Ticket Instant Win Game Second Chance Sweepstakes:

http://www.wonka.com/GoldenTicket.aspx/Validate

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Can You Afford To Win A Trip to Paris? The Real Story

If you've been entering contests with huge prizes, winning them could leave you poorer. Using the Wall Street Journal Travel contest I mentioned in an earlier post as an example, which by the way, I am no longer able to locate on the web since WSJ travel has suspended operations, Financially Fit points out "the trip includes airfare from New York to Paris, hotel and ground transportation and half a day of sightseeing. But don't assume you could afford this trip; if you don't live in New York, you will be responsible for travel expenses to get there, all your food costs (which will be sizeable in this city of gourmands!), sightseeing, tips and all other spending money. Needless to say, these expenses could easily add up to the $4,200 the contest provider is shelling out... When the prize isn't cash, the tax burden and additional expenses associated with your winnings can really add up. Before you accept any prize, find out what it's worth -- and what it will cost you."

Granted, this is all accurate, but forewarned is forewarned. Besides, you must know someone you can stay with for a night in Manhattan. It also depends on what your priorities are. No matter which city you're in, you still have to eat. How much you want to spend doing so is another matter. Do your homework, and make sure you have the real story before deciding if you're going to take that trip.

Now you understand why I often highlight contests with cash prizes, like today's The Real Story Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize is $5,000. After taxes, you will still have enough for a historic trip to Paris. Forget about this taxing situation and enter.

Voilà - the link to The Real Story Sweepstakes on Charter.net:

http://www.charter.net/therealstory?sc_cid=charter_homepage_homedcc_smithsonian_therealstory

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Crème de la Crème - Les Sables D'Olonne's Slick Job

According to the lyrics in Baz Luhrmann's song, Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen), "The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists." The publicity hungry French resort town of Les Sables d'Olonne may agree since they are recruiting "creamers" to apply SPF lotion to tourists this summer. The job description? Slather tanning lotion on the shoulders and back (only) of anyone who wants it, hand out samples, and share safety tips. For 6 weeks of hard labor in July and August, you will be compensated for approximately $1,160 a week. Bien sûr, you'll have to be fluent in French for le meilleur job d'été. A working knowledge of German and English is also desirable, along with medical know-how and beauty. After you submit a sexy photo and a short video explaining why you deserve this dubious day job, the public votes via an online poll to select the hottest guy and gal for the gig. Curious about the competition? Morgan is currently in the lead with 2,248 points (and climbing). You can view the rest of your fellow job seekers here. Afraid you're not up to snuff? Suze Ormon is giving away an Instant $10,000 Emergency Fund, which ought to cover a summer in France. Brush off the sand and enter.


Voilà - the link to Suze's Instant $10,000 Emergency Fund Sweepstakes:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36463812/

Monday, April 26, 2010

Paris Strolls - Walks Through The City of Light

The best way to get to know a city is to walk. Paris Walks conducts a variety of affordable (usually 12 euro), 2-hour guided tours with enticing topics such as "Hemingway’s Paris," "The Chocolate Tour" (Paris is the capital of dark chocolate!), "Edith Piaf's Paris," "Writers of the Left Bank," and "Chanel and the rue St Honoré: Paris Fashion Walk." More serious subjects - "The French Revolution," "Paris During the Occupation and Liberation" - are also tackled. Prefer to discover the city on your own? Consult a few books: Paris Movie Walks: Ten Guided Tours Through the City of Lights! Camera! Action! by Michael Schürmann; Walking Paris: Thirty Original Walks In and Around Paris by Gilles Desmons; or The Impressionists' Paris: Walking Tours of the Artists' Studios, Homes, and the Sites They Painted by Ellen Williams. Of course, you better wear comfortable shoes! Easy Spirit is giving away $1,500 and a pair of Traveltimes to make your journey possible. Walk on over and enter.


Voilà - the link to Easy Spirit's It's Travel Time!Sweepstakes:

http://www.easyspirit.com/SWEEPSTAKES/SWEEPSTAKES,default,pg.html?ep_tag=featureE

Sunday, April 25, 2010

La Société - See And Be Scene

Fashion and style go hand-in-hand. Mix in food, and you have La Société, a trendy restaurant tucked inside a 19th-century building across from the historic Saint Germain church. Lobster and herb salad sounds divine, while Le Club Saint Germain sandwich gives a shout out to the once artsy neighborhood. Naturally, fresh and organic is the foundation for most dishes, but this celeb haven is more about the scene than the food. Catherine Deneuve, Stefano Gabbana (the other half of Dolce), French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy (He's married to singer/actress Arielle Dombasle), and François Pinault (Salma Hayek's baby daddy) have all dined here. Want to get stylish and go? Inspire Your Style is running a sweepstakes for a chance to win $10,000. Why the Official Rules claim the prize is $2,500 is a mystery, but whatever the number is, it ought to be enough to fly to Paris. Steal the scene and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Inspire Your Style Sweepstakes:

http://www.inspireyourstyle.com/enter.aspx

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Pompeo's Paris Canteen

The Grey in Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo, tells Elle Decor she always orders the mash potatoes at Hôtel Costes whenever she visits Paris. This stunning, Italian Baroque style hotel, located in my favorite arrondissement, the Marais, is a people-watching paradise, but it's going to cost you. Even a club sandwich at the bar can set you back about $31. Prefer to see for yourself? Acuvue is giving away $10,000 (awarded as a Visa gift card) in their See Spring Shopping Spree. Change your view and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Acuvue $10,000 See Spring Shopping Spree Sweepstakes:

http://www.acuvue.com/thinking-why-ask-comfort-convenience.htm

Friday, April 23, 2010

Romantically Challenged

Woody Allen is slated to start shooting Midnight in Paris this summer in - you guessed it - Paris. First French Lady, Carla Bruni, reportedly has a supporting role. Can you imagine our First Lady, Michelle Obama, releasing a CD of original songs or shooting a romantic comedy while the Prez saves the world?

And speaking of romantic films, in Letters to Juliet, two women embark on an adventure to Verona, Italy (you know, Romeo & Juliet territory) that will change their lives. Want to do the same? MovieTickets.com is running a Letters to Juliet Italy Sweepstakes to kick off the film's release this May. The Grand Prize is round trip airfare for two to Verona, Italy and 4 nights at a hotel. It's not Paris, but hey, it's the same continent. Tap out some letters on the keyboard to enter.

Voilà - the link to the Letters to Juliet Italy Sweepstakes:

http://www.movietickets.com/contests/contest_default.asp?cid=10013&cxr=0

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Catalog Queen

Catalogue means the same thing in French and English - a list or record, as of items for sale or courses at a university. Catalogue queen, Spiegel, is giving away a Dream Getaway with a choice of six different destinations, including one week in Paris. The winner receives round trip air transportation for two to Paris, 7 nights at the Hotel Concorde de Lafayette or similar, a daily buffet breakfast, a 2-day Paris Museum pass, two 2-day France first class rail unlimited tour passes, and a Parisians Dinner Cruise on the Seine. Use your rail pass to check out Versailles, a decadent palace erected by the powerful "Sun King" Louis XIV. The famous Hall of Mirrors and glorious gardens are must sees, especially in the spring. Want a preview? Ogle Sofia Coppola's lavish film, Marie Antoinette, about the ill-fated cake queen who called Versailles home until she was executed. While many films are "set" at Versailles, Coppola is one of a handful of filmmakers ever allowed to actually shoot on the historic grounds. Catalogue your royal desires and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Spiegel Dream Getaway Sweepstakes:

http://www.spiegelsignaturestyle.dja.com/