Vacationing in America

Veterans, Christmas, Israel, Jesus, and Jews

A few weeks ago, I got a call from a hotel chain. I try to let marketing calls go to voicemail, but I had recently stayed at this hotel and signed up for their rewards program, so I thought there might have been a problem with the bill or something. I immediately regretted answering the call. It turned out to be a timeshare/vacation club sales call. I don’t like to be rude, so I tried to politely decline, but each time, the person sweetened the deal. “How about extra rewards points toward a future stay?”

“No thanks.”

“Plus a $100 credit.”

“Really, no.”

“And a free hotel room for the stay.”

“I don’t know.”

“And tickets to a show.”

I’d been working pretty hard, but work was finally slowing down, and I started thinking that I could put up with a two-hour presentation in return for a free hotel room and a free show in some exotic place plus $100 to cover expenses. I had earned enough frequent flyer miles to pay for most round-trip flights in the U.S. And anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection would allow me to work as well as if I were home. My wife Carrie was up for the trip, too. And I knew the salesperson would get a commission. It seemed to be a win-win-win situation for everyone, so I relented and said yes.