Chalk one up for the travel media. Chan Hoe Yip, a Singapore resident, tried to book rooms in Bakersfield CA and Williams AZ through the Days Inn website. And instead endedup with 2 reservations for Bakersfield. And then Days Inn refused to cancel one reservation and refund him.

So he washes Days Inn’s dirty laundry in public and puts the question to Christopher Elliott, Tribune Media Services. After Elliot contacted Days Inn, they agreed to make the refund. Course its not as simple as that, but that’s the big picture. You can read the details and fine print here.

I have only one question - What the heck is a tourist (if he is indeed a tourist) doing booking a room in Bakersfield?

Equally wacky news from Washington, where the 61 year old Governor Christine Gregoire was refused entry into a bar because she didn’t have any I.D., and thus was unable to prove that she was of legal drinking age.

The Gov. was there with her husband, and it was pointed out to the doorman at the downtown Olympia bar that he was refusing entry to the Governor of Washington, but the 23 year old bouncer, unlike Washington politicos, wasn’t about to bend the rules and cut an under-handed deal, and Gregoire was left stranded outside the bar.

The Governor think its a compliment that someone thinks she could be less than 21. You think?

And lastly, Orbitz is giving away free vacations - 301 vacations, to be specific. And its a pretty innovative contest - Orbitz fill the Plane - where you pick a destination (choice between Las Vegas vacations, or one in Orlando or Aruba) and fill up a virtual plane with your friends (who also want to take a vacation to the same destination you chose).

You need to fill up the plane with 300 friends. You can call 2 friends per day, and each of your friends can then call in 2 more people and so on. First team to go viral and fill up the plane wins the contest - round-trip, first-class airfare, 3-nights hotel accommodations at a premier hotel or resort property selected by Orbitz, ground transfers and a $250 Visa card. Contest ends August 20th 2008 (or earlier if someone fills up a plane).

Posted on August 1st, 2008 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News