Travel giveaways

A trip giveaway is often run by a hotel group, an airline, a tourism board or a brand using travel as the prize. A free vacation sweepstakes usually takes one entry per person or one per day, and paid entries are less common than in vehicle giveaways. If you hope to win a trip, check whether a companion is included, because a guest may have to sign the same release as the winner.

Travel prizes have fine print of their own. Look for blackout dates and a window in which the trip must be taken, and see whether airfare covers your home airport. The winner usually owes income tax on the stated value, and meals and transfers may be extra. Be careful with any vacation giveaway that says you've won and then invites you to a sales presentation or asks for a fee, since that's a common warning sign.