MARCH DEADLINE MADNESS

Out like a lamb: As promised, here is the list of travel sweepstakes that close next week.

When I embarked on this luck lark two-and-a-half weeks ago, I had no idea there were so many click-and-enter travel sweepstakes on the Internet. It’s an absolute hoot, the postmodern woman's version of green stamps. So far, I’ve entered close to three dozen travel contests, and have more on my "To Enter" list. Several friends have asked if I actually expect to win a vacation. Truth told, I do not, but you never know. At the risk of sounding cornier than Kansas in August, I feel as though I’ve won already, in that I've discovered a vehicle around which to blog.

Reminder: Don’t wait until the last minute to enter these. While most close at 11:59 P.M. on the close date, at least one – sorry, but I can’t remember which – closes at 3 P.M P.S.T. on the close date.

* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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SOUTH BEACH: SPA STAY AT RITZ CARLTON SOUTH BEACH WITH $250 IN SPA TREATMENTS

DEADLINE: March 30, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.cookinglight.com/cooking/web/ad/pur/
SPONSOR: Cooking Light and PUR water filtration systems
THE DIGS: www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/south_beach/default.html
THE INELIGIBLES: N/A
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $3,300
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 13, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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ROMAN HOLIDAY THREE NIGHTS AND AIRFARE

DEADLINE: March 30
TO ENTER, CLICK: http://newsletter.frommers.com/contest.asp?sid=7NQJMN6AMC&id=33 [NOTE: If this link has "timed out," click on the contest icon to the left.)
SPONSOR: Frommer’s Monthly Hot Spot Contest
THE DIGS: Three nights in premier hotel
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of Puerto Rico
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $3,400
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 20, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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LAS VEGAS: 2 NIGHTS AT PARIS LAS VEGAS WITH AIRFARE

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.GQConnects.com (Go to Sweepstakes column on the right, it’s the Cinco de Mayo one)SPONSOR: GQ Magazine and Rémy Martin
THE DIGS: www.caesars.com/paris/lasvegas
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. possessions (e.g., Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands)
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $4,500
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 15, 2006
THE FINE PRINT: This includes tickets for the Oscar de Hoya fight. My sense is that attendance is not required.
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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SAN ANTONIO: 3 NIGHTS AT WATERMARK HOTEL & SPA

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.concierge.com/destination/austin
(Click on the Texas It’s a Whole Other Country ad to the right.)
SPONSOR: concierge.com and Texas Tourism
THE DIGS: www.watermarkhotel.com/
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of Texas
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $4,950
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 15, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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DATE A HOT SCOT: THREE NIGHTS IN EDINBURGH AND AIRFARE

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.dateahotscot.com
SPONSOR: Visit Scotland
THE DIGS: TBD by sponsor
THE INELIGIBLES: N/A
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): Not specified.
THE FINE PRINT: Winner must have travel insurance.
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 7, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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WEEK IN MEXICO FOR DAY OF THE DEAD

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.cinearts.com
SPONSOR: Sony and Cine Arts Theatres
THE DIGS: Not specified.
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of Florida, New York, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions, overseas military installations.
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $7,600
THE FINE PRINT: Travel dates 10-30-06 through 11-7-06
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 9, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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MALAYSIA: SIX NIGHTS (KUALA LUMPUR, KUCHING) AND AIRFARE

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/en/sweepstakes/default.asp?content=terms
SPONSOR: Tourism Malaysia
THE DIGS: www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/hd/kulcp (and others)
THE INELIGIBLES: N/A
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $4,598
THE FINE PRINT: Winner must have passport valid for at least one year.
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 12, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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JAMAICA: 3 NIGHTS IN JAMAICA

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CUT AND PASTE: http://www.nbc4.tv/travelgetaways/6656066/detail.html
SPONSOR: Northwest Airlines Vacations, NBC4TV, various
THE DIGS: Not disclosed.
THE INELIGIBLES: Florida, New York and Rhode Island
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $2,600
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 22, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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ANDALUCIA: SEVEN NIGHTS WITH RENTAL CAR PLUS AIRFARE FROM NEW YORK

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.andalucianaffair.com/cgi-bin/sweeps.cgi
SPONSOR: Andalucia Tourism Board
THE DIGS: Various 4/5-star hotels
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of Florida and Puerto Rico
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $4,900
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 20, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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SOUTH AFRICAN WINE COUNTRY/SAFARI TOUR: 8 NIGHTS, INCLUDES 3 NIGHTS AT MAKALALI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE PLUS AIRFARE

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: www.kumalausa.com/sweepstakes
SPONSOR: KUMALI WINES
THE DIGS: www.makalali.co.za (among others)
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of Hawaii, Alaska, California
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $10,000
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 20, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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15 DAYS IN AUSTRALIA WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILDLIFE SCIENTIST (Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory Outback, Tasmania)

DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
TO ENTER, CLICK: http://efxmedia.net/ngaustralia0510/sweepstakes.html
SPONSOR: Tourism Australia
THE DIGS: Various
THE INELIGIBLES: Residents of Florida and Puerto Rico
ARV (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): $20,000
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: March 8, 2006
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* TRAVEL CONTEST *
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WINNER SELECTS ONE OF FIVE LUXURY PACKAGES TO ST. LUCIA, CRETE, RIMINI, SEYCHELLES, MAYA RIVIERA

DEADLINE: MARCH 31
TO ENTER: www.luxurylink.com/LL/home_win_trip.php?save=1&suppress_email=all&WT.mc_id=TLEmail
SPONSOR: Luxury Link
THE DIGS: Winner selects from five. My choice: www.thejalousieplantation.com in St. Lucia
THE INELIGIBLES: N/A
AVR (APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE): TBD
MY PERSONAL ENTRY: Multiple, starting March 8, 2006.
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