Is $4-a-gallon gas killing your summer family vacation plans? Wouldn't it be great if someone else paid for your trip to the pump? As luck would have it, more hotels than ever are luring guests with the promise of free gas. Gas rebates have been a summer fixture in the hotel biz for years, often hovering between $10 and $25. But this summer is different. In response to our pain at the pump, many hotels and booking engines are upping the ante with gas credits of $50, $100, or even $200 per trip. Here's a round-up of some of the best gas rebates for families this summer:
Book a hotel stay of three or more nights through Expedia, and you can get a free $50 prepaid gas card. To take advantage of this offer, you must book your trip on any weekday in May or June (the offer expires each Friday and reappears on Monday) and redeem your gas card by August 31. More good news: If you book in June, you can also save up to 30% on your vacation with Expedia's big Summer of Adventure blowout.
Not to be outdone, Hotels.com is also giving away $50 gas cards to folks who book a hotel stay for three nights or more. The Summer Drive & Save program is available for bookings at many Hotels.com properties, including vacation rentals and all-inclusive resorts and hotels. To take advantage of this deal, book before July 6 for travel through September 1. Your gas card will be mailed to you after your stay.
At San Diego's posh Loews Coronado Bay Resort, the Money for Miles package, available through September 1, includes a one-night stay, a gas credit of up to $50, and free self-parking (normally $19 a night). Submit your gas receipts to the front desk when you check out. Gas receipts must be dated one day prior to arrival or sometime during your stay.
As if chocolate wasn't reason enough to visit Hershey, the Pennsylvania town is also home to the wildly fun Hersheypark, which offers thrilling rides for kids of all ages, live shows, a gigantic outdoor waterpark, and even a zoo. Book a stay at the historic Hotel Hershey on select dates in June or July and you'll get a complimentary breakfast and a $50 gas card. (The same deal is also offered at the less expensive Hershey Lodge, but only until June 12.)
Dream of kicking back in the Colorado Rockies? Aspen's got free gas, too. Book any of 10 participating condo-style properties and you'll receive a $50 gas card plus two free bike rentals for a day and a "canary tag" certificate confirming that $20 has been invested in local carbon offset.
Book a vacation rental in any of six Florida destinations with ResortQuest in June, July, or August, and you'll get a gas card worth $50, $75, or $100. The rebates start at $50 for three- or four-night stays and slide up to $100 if you stay for a week. The best part? No rebate paperwork to fill out. Your gas card will be waiting for you when you check in. As an added perk, you can also take advantage of ResortQuest's Passport to Fun and get free tickets to some of the area's attractions, including deep-sea fishing excursions, dolphin cruises, water parks, go-kart racing, mini golf, and more.
Do you live within a day's drive of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? You can save as much as $160 when you book a three-night stay at the Marina Inn at Grand Dunes, with its Summer Fun Per Mile package. Arrive by car, and the hotel will give you 10 cents for every mile you travel, up to a roundtrip of 1,600 miles.
Sterling Resorts, which operates more than 20 Gulf Coast vacation home resorts in Northwest Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, is giving $200 fuel credits for week-long stays. If you stay three days, you'll receive a $100 credit. To claim your gas credit, just present a gas receipt upon check-in showing a fill-up during your trip to the beach. Book by June 8 for travel before August 31.
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