How a travel nightmare can become your meal ticket- Resort Maps holds 'Best Worst Trip' contest 2
WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…
Resort Maps, creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced the launch of its “Best Worst Trip” contest.
Starting March 15, members of the general public can submit their worst travel story in 200 words or less to Resort Maps, with entries being accepted up until May 1. Then, a team of judges, comprised of Resort Maps staff and travel journalists, will select the best “worst vacation story”. The grand prize is a $100 American Express gift certificate.
“When reflecting on vacations both as kids and as adults, it’s human nature that the ones that come to mind first aren’t the ones that went off without a hitch, but the one where the car broke or somebody got sick, or some other calamity,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc. “With this contest, we’re looking to see who out there has the worst story and to see if by our small gesture of an American Express gift certificate can take the sting out of that memory.”
Anybody 18 years of age or older is eligible to participate. Entries can be submitted online by visiting Resort Maps’ Web site at www.resortmaps.com or by e-mailing info@resortmaps.com. You can also send your entry to Worst Trip, c/o Resort Maps Franchise, Inc., 5197 Main Street, Suite 8, Waitsfield, VT 05673. All entries must be 200 words or less to be considered and must include your name, address, phone number and e-mail. You can submit your story with photo to improve your case.
“At Resort Maps, we have a philosophy that the journey can be every bit as memorable as the end destination,” said Hans. “Unexpected delays along the way or ‘bumps’ along the road may leave an everlasting imprint on a traveler’s memory. Even though this contest is about people’s worst trips, I’m sure when most people look back on their worst trips it’s with a smile—mainly because they survived and it’s over—but with a smile nonetheless.”
Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. With landmarks prominently displayed, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what’s happening around your town.
For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.
The Worst vacation ever? Hands down my 1 first wedding anniversary! My husband booked us a “suite” at the Comfort Inn in Haverhill, MA. Upon arriving we got lost and called the hotel for directions. Those directions were wrong! When we finally reached the location of the hotel, it was dark, and we could see the hotel up on the hill but had no idea how to get from where we were to the hotel entrance. After several moments of frustration we spotted a small sign, about 12 inches of the ground, indicating the entrance. The lobby elevator was decorated with graffiti; ink and etchings were faded but you could tell it was a penis. The luggage cart got stuck in the carpet! In the first room the remote had a huge bite out of it, the phones did not work, there was hair in the tub and there was graffiti on the room divider. The second room still did not have working phones. Finally on the third try we managed a clean, operable room. Woke up at 4 am with a massive migraine from the hard as a rock bed. Left early without eating in the messy breakfast room.
Best Worst Trip…not many people can top this for a really bad experience: my husband and I were traveling by car in Yucatan and Quintana Roo, Mexico. After 2 horrible days on Isla Mujeres (where there were no restaurants and everywhere you looked were starving cats), we headed toward Tulum to visit the ancient ruins on the beach. As this was 1974, the area was completely undeveloped. Our car started acting making terrible noises, and since we knew there would be miles and miles of nothingness, we headed back toward the closest town, Valladolid. We found a mechanic, left our car with him for diagnosis and found a hotel. Within a half hour of going to bed, we were covered with bug bites. We tried putting the mattress on the floor, but it didn’t help. Later we found out they were bed bugs. But we had to endure them for 3 nights as there were no other rooms in town. Our car required parts that were only available in Merida several hours away…one of the mechanics took the bus to get them! We would have taken teh bus there too, but the owner of the repair shop told us that our car would be done “soon.,” then “manana,” then another “manana.” So we had 3 awful days and nights in an awful town with nothing to do, no where to eat, and bedbugs at night. I still have nightmares!