TheMommyBlog

Monday, March 15, 2010 Family, Travel

For eight or nine years, my family had a gathering place in Lake Tahoe. For all those years, our family would come together from Sacramento, Los Gatos, San Jose, Chicago, and Tokyo to be together for the holidays and for some great skiing in the winter or hiking and biking in the summer. I found out I was pregnant for the first time in that house, and two of my children took their first steps right in the living room. My folks have since traded that place in for another on the beach—which, don’t get me wrong, is AWESOME—so although we have a very different kind of gathering place for our family now, I miss that place like crazy. It’s so hard to gather a big family when you don’t have room to expand as the family grows. Now we sometimes have to take turns or find additional accommodations.

All of which is to say… I don’t normally do promotions or contests, but this one, sponsored by SuiteTrip.com, was too much fun to pass up. I TOTALLY want to be responsible for someone winning an awesome, free vacation.

1. Each week for four weeks, I will post a trivia question here on The Mommy Blog. The first question will be posted on Wednesday, March 17.
2. You can enter either by sending me an email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or via tweet and re-tweeting using the hash tag #sweetsuitegiveaway.
3. Answers will be posted on the SuiteTrip.com web site.You can enter the “Sweet Suite Giveaway” by sending me the answer in an email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
4. Three winners will receive a free two-night stay at any Homewood Suites property in the U.S.

Homewood Suites by Hilton developed SuiteTrip.com specifically for leisure and family travelers to help enhance their vacation experience.  The site serves as the go-to site for family travel planning by tapping the expertise of today’s most trusted names in family and leisure travel who provide trip advice directly from their own vacations and adventures.

Launched in 1989, the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand today has nearly 300 hotels in North America and Mexico and approximately 120 properties in the development pipeline. The brand offers complimentary high-speed internet access, daily hot breakfast, and an evening reception featuring a light meal and beverages, Monday through Thursday.  Beyond its spacious suites and home-like amenities, Homewood Suites guests can find at each hotel an on-site Suite Shop convenience store, exercise facility and guest laundry at most locations. Additional guest services offered at most locations include a complimentary grocery shopping service* and a complete business center. 

Dude, I want to go RIGHT NOW. Actually, I’m a little frosted that I can’t enter. Fortunately, I am being paid for this promotion, so it’s all good (disclosure pursuant to my Blog with Integrity pledge).

I’m not the only fab online personality involved (my fab factor is going up by association). Contributors to SuiteTrip.com include:

• Beth Blair of TheVacationGals.com - freelance writer and travel-planning mastermind
• Catherine Boley of Trekaroo.com - education advocate and destination devotee
• Scott Carmichael of Gadling.com - frequent flyer and leisure trip consultant
• Esther Lee of Trekaroo.com - travel hot spot enthusiast
• Grant Martin of Gadling.com - adventure traveler and sightseeing aficionado
• Lisa McElroy of SuiteLiving.com - hotel and lifestyle expert
• Jennifer Miner of TheVacationGals.com - conservationist and travel-tip whiz
• Jamie Pearson of TravelSavvyMom.com - budget travel genius
• Kara Williams of TheVacationGals.com - backpacker and vacation advice guru