AARP Rewards Travel Contest 2022 - 5/9-5/27/22

[AARPTeri]

Welcome to the AARP Rewards Travel Contest 2022.  This contest will run from Monday, May 9, 2022 until Friday, May 27, 2022. 

Where is the first place you plan to travel now that Covid restrictions are lessening and why? How are you using AARP Rewards to save money on your trip?

Tell us what you are planning to do with travel opening up more after the pandemic!  Answer these two questions for a chance to win one of five (5) $100 AARP Rewards Travel gifts.  All participants will receive 50 AARP Reward Points for posting their response.

To enter, reply to this post with your travel plans and how you use AARP Rewards to save.  

Sharing your travel plans enters you for a chance to win one of five $100 AARP Rewards travel related cards along with 50 AARP Rewards Points just for posting!  A panel of judges appointed by AARP will select the top posts.

Rules for the contest are posted here -   https://community.aarp.org/t5/AARP-Rewards-Connect/AARP-Rewards-Online-Community-Travel-Contest-202...

[KimberlyD666673]

We are taking a roadtrip to the Grand Canyon and Sedona this summer.  We plan to use the AARP discount on Hilton hotels 

[m317677b]

The past few years were really rough

and, COVID, I have had enough

I have not been able to travel very far

but now its time to dust off my car.

Central Oklahoma is rife with history

and many an unsolved mystery

I will use my AARP Discounts to see

many of the museums of what used to be

and enjoy the discounted dinner.

AARP makes me a winner!!

[CarynwithaWhy]

2020 was supposed to be our year for travel. I was turning 50 (and warmly welcomed into the AARP community 😊), and it was my husband and my 25th anniversary. We planned our first cruise--with friends, of course--planned a whitewater rafting trip, and planned a trip to Disneyworld with family. I had left a long-term career for a job more local and then I was fired (which was a first-time thing for me!!) when I entered my vacation time on the calendar, which I had told them about during the interview! I was left reeling but hopeful for another job and looked forward to our year of vacations. Fast forward a few weeks to March 2020 and the world shut down. All vacation plans ended. Job prospects screeched to a halt. We did everything we could to avoid COVID. My husband eventually contracted it just before the vaccine became available and it was rough but he survived and I successfully avoided it. We spent the next 2 years keeping ourselves and others safe by staying home and staying healthy as much as possible.

Now that the pandemic is slowing a bit, we are thinking about travel again, but it will be much different. We will be scouting for our future retirement community, somewhere on the east coast instead of cruising, instead of Disney. We would like to still plan a whitewater rafting trip with family, but other than that, we will continue to keep ourselves and others safe by avoiding crowds when possible and enjoying outdoor, open space venues when we finally attend some concerts at our local Jones Beach amphitheater this summer. By Fall, we hope to travel the east coast to find our future home where we'll live a vacation lifestyle forever.

Maybe one day we'll go on our cruise and maybe someday we'll re-plan a trip to Disney, but it won't be anytime soon. 

[BenitaH879378]

After surviving a long battle with Covid19, I just want to enjoy life and am so grateful to be alive. My children is taking me on a seven day cruise to Puerto Rico, Grand Turke, and Amber Cove  this summer.  I am so excited that I am able to see another part of the world. 

[BonnieG157780]

1. We have wanted to travel to Vermont for our 50th wedding anniversary and will be going this summer. Our anniversary is June 10
2. we will contact AAA to help us plan our trip and we will use all available AARP discounts for hotels and events we will be visiting on our anniversary trip. 

[d136877g]

My youngest son is getting married in October in VEGAS!!!! Never been and I am looking forward to getting away!

[Dtraup]

We plan on going to at Lucia….just returned from Antigua, but anywhere with sun and sand!   Rewards help me save on clothes/travel necessities by using different stores to save me money.

[HeidiS288358]

I retired this year after 30 years of nursing. The last two year proved to be a challenge for me and everyone else. I kept on knowing would travel when I retired. Living in Alaska my plan is to tour the state starting with all the hot springs. I want to relax enjoy the natural beauty. 

[jm85072351]

My husband and I purchased a travel trailer and will be traveling this year to various places beginning with Cooperstown, NY, Lake George NY, Ausable NY, and Turningstone in Verona, NY. We will be safer this way from Pandemic, as we will be in our own space. We will see wonderful, historic places and those with beautiful scenic places. We will have side trips from Verona to the NYS Fair and 1,000 Islands and Hart Castle. We are looking forward to a wonderful summer. Joyce Morier. 

[ElizabethF316616]

I want to travel to Scotland and Ireland. myself and 3 others were in the planning stage just before the pandemic shut down travel. I have never been oversees and would love to see this part of the world. I picture it to be green and wet and cheerful. With the luck of the Irish, I hope I can make this trip a reality!  Erin go brah!

[plloyd47]

 Our grandchildren are in Arkansas (1500 miles away). We would love to visit as it’s been a long 2 years and I was busy giving vaccinations. 
  Any prize money would be used to make the trip with gifts and love.

[JoyceB275546]

Our 2020 land/cruise trip to Alaska with friends was canceled due to Covid.  We are planning to take this trip very soon to make up for the trip covid denied us.  We plan to use the AARP discount for restaurant meals and lodging--Thank you AARP!

[CindyP909421]

I had moved from Wisconsin.  I moved into my new home in Arizona December 2019 just before the COVID pandemic.  I am wanting to go back to visit friends & family that are in Wisconsin.  Moving across the country is hard enough, but then a pandemic made it harder to meet new friends.  I thought I had planned well by selecting my community that has so many activities.  But COVID took care of those plans.  

[GeraldA362642]

We didn’t wait until everything started opening up.  We have already returned from traveling to Texas to see our new grandson.  We were not allowed to travel and be close to him until the COVID spread reduced and we were fully vaccinated.  We have a wonderful trip!

As for how I plan to use my rewards points, you guessed it, I will be using them for gifts and travel to see my other 11 grandkids.

[d875643h]

As a former educator, I’d like to pass on a writing tip…

Whenever you are writing to a prompt, you must address all aspects of the prompt. This contest ask two questions- where you plan to go? How will you use your AARP rewards? 

I’m just trying to help everyone with their entry. I hope this is helpful. Good luck everyone!

[d875643h]

Btw- I won the AARP Road Trip contest in 2020. (Not bragging, just letting you know) That contest prompt had 4 items you needed to address. Good luck everyone!!!

[dawn506]

I am planning a trip to Miami very soon. I have not seen my son and daughter-in-law in almost 2-1/2 years, and plan to give them each an hour long hug!

[gmdgibbons]

We plan to visit our friends in the Fingerlakes area over the Independence Day weekend.  We use AARP Rewards for our hotel reserveration. 

[AnneC647580]

During covid shut down, my husband and I drive the Lake Michigan shoreline and stopped at every park from South Haven to Ludington.  We are ready to join the general population so we are taking another road trip to the UP but we are actually staying at a casino using our AARP discount on the room.  Thanks AARP!

[ColleenB462810]

I travel extensively through my timeshare. For covid safety, I drive instead of fly and visit “countryside “ instead of city. I look for AARP discounts on medicine and travel. 

[RichardrV248036]

I am planning to travel to The Bay Area in California this August to visit my high school sweetheart who I got back in touch with online nearly a year ago today!!! He is now my fiance (though I'm still waiting for my ring!!)!! I cannot wait to see him, it's been 37 years since we have seen each other!!! I plan to use AARP Travel discounts along the way and once there!!!

I have been single far too many years and now I have someone to grow old with while sitting in our rocking chairs on his front porch!!!

I currently take care of my father, who has dementia, fulltime. I've done this for the past 8 years and I plan to do this until either he enters a home or his demise, which ever comes first. After that occurs, I will move for good to spend the rest of my life to San Jose, CA (where I was originally raised)

It's a very difficult situation to be in. While I truly love taking care of my father and learning so much about him, I miss my fiance very much and also cannot wait to begin the rest of my life with him!!!

My fiance is a very kind, patient and loving man! He is nearly perfect and I cannot wait to visit him in August!!

Thank you for taking the time to read my "reply" and for considering me for one of your gifts!!! I truly truly appreciate this!!!

Sincerely,

Gretchen Quinones-Vieweg

[WallyE]

Later this month we are driving (not yet ready to get on a plane) to the Boothbay Harbor area in Maine just to get away for a few days and listen to the waves along the coast. We are using AARP help plan the trip and seek available discounts..

[DavidM266837]

We want to travel to Italy to the Puglia region to meet up with Alba, the owner of an olive grove and olive oil manufacturer whom we have become friends with on line. She presses the best olive oil we've ever had. Food is a huge part of our life,  especially Italian food. 

[jbobrussell]

my wife and I have been waiting to get back to washington d.c. and are hoping aarp can help us out with hotel accomodations. air fare assistance seems hopeless

[neldat357771]

I am looking forward to visiting my mother this summer. I have no concrete plans so far but I hope the trip can be in the next few months. My mother is 94 years old and I feel horrible that I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving last year. Due to covid, I have severely restricted my travel and in person socialization with friends and family. My eyesight is also failing and I no longer feel confident driving, so my daughter has to be my chauffeur. I plan to use the gift cards I have either purchased or redeemed for points for meals and shopping.

[js9437]

In June, I am headed to Denver to celebrate my sister's 70th Birthday with her & my other siblings.  I am flying to Denver, & plan to buy an Uber gift card on AARP with my Member Benefits, & will use that for a ride from the airport to my hotel.

[JeannieD962069]

Traveling east from Nevada visiting family along the way and in Florida.

[PatriciaT343315]

I am planning a trip to New York to visit our best friends, who are both in nursing homes - we have not seen them in over 2 years.  AARP has the best driving tips and we are Ready to Roll!

[t001638]

I used AARP Travel to organize a trip to Raleigh-Durham, NC to visit my Dad for his 89th Birthday; (3-31-22) The correspondence for my travel was amazing (safety, changes in flight, requirements, etc.  They kept me apprised of all the changes up till the time of travel.  I felt very confident in going.  This trip was amazing.

[Orlo2]

I'm ready for a driving adventure along the Pacific Coast highway, from San Diego north to the top of Highway 1 - and AARP will help with hotel selection (and cost discounts) along with helping find sights and events along the way.