You know what they say: If it seems too good to be true, it just might be…
As a seasonedsolo travelerwho rarely gets to split the banker’s bill , hotel terms often make me crawl . So a free stay naturally piques my interest .
Last year , on my 30th birthday , I serve a inhuman call from an Orlando - base number . As with the bulk of phone call from number you do n’t recognize , this was a person trying to betray me something . I bought it .
The caller was a customer experience professional with IHG Resorts . After answer a brief sketch about my previous experience with this hotel group , I was offered “ an sole circumscribed fourth dimension offer . ” If I put $ 279 down , I would pick up a four - night stay at one of the hotel concatenation ’s most popular destinations , and get my full deposit back in the form of a cash gift .
Design by Manali Doshi for Thrillist
The haul ? I needed to attend a two - hour informational timeshare demonstration .
I ’ve always been an impulsive traveler , often pulling the gun trigger on last - hour trips , or buy a random flight at midnight after a few beers . I ’ve also long been a skeptic of these kinds of promotional offers . My unprompted side win out . I now had 365 days to pay off my stay in one of the hotel chemical chain ’s “ in requirement destination . ” There were some blackout dates , and my reservation was dependent to availability , but I could choose between 15 locations across beaches , plenty , lakes , or historic locations .
I twine up booking my accommodations in the resort town ofGalveston , Texas , a place I had never been and experience very little about . I had a trip to New Orleans plan forJazz Fest , and this was the close destination that had availability . The only item on my route were my two - hr demonstration , bugger off the hard cash , and a work - related Zoom call . I figured I would n’t need to spend much more than my $ 279 to entertain myself for four days . Here ’s how that flex out .
About the traveler
Job : Freelance writer , host / bartenderAnnual salary:$61,000-$80,000 per yearLocation of residence : ConnecticutAge:30
About the vacation
Where : Galveston , TexasHow long : Four daysPlanned budget:$600 ( inclusive of cash gift )
Upfront costs
Flights:$163.10 for a one way flight from New York to HoustonHotels / lodging:$279 down payment ( refunded with Johnny Cash gift )
Day by day
Day 1 - Sunday
full cost : $ 168.30I spent $ 2.90 on a subway ride to the JFK airtrain , then a devastating $ 19.03 for a tall preflight beer before occupy off for Houston .
The only research I typically do before a slip is to run down Google and Reddit for dive bar recommendations , plus information about local culinary art and public transportation admittance . I knew there would be very few public theodolite options on this tripper , and everything online recommended rent a elevator car for Galveston — but after living in East Coast cities for over a X , I perpetually think that destinations will have walkable choice . I decided to forgo the rental car , a mistake that would shape my vacation .
There are very low-cost shuttle charabanc options from Houston to Galveston , but they break run comparatively too soon . My only choice was to Uber . I feel direful for my number one wood because this trip wound up being nigh to an hr and one-half . The ride was supposed to be $ 78.34 , but this man had to force another hour back habitation , so I tipped an additional $ 30 . I had n’t even retard in , and had already spent intimately one-half of my cash gift .
Art Wager/iStock/Getty Images
The lights of business district Galveston promptly disappeared behind us as we neared the hotel . It was place almost 15 international nautical mile from the business district sphere , and certainly not walkable .
The hotel coordination compound comprise of 12 or so buildings , each with five storey of way . I was given a two - bedroom suite on the 5th floor of one of the buildings in the back end . The room was prissy enough , although the air was heavyset in general , leaving a slenderly salty musk in the livelihood area . I had barely eaten , so I was delirious to sample some local cuisine — but the stuffy eating place was three miles aside and closed at 8 pm . It was presently 7:50 . My only choice was to use UberEats .
I was front a bit of a enigma . I could really use a couple beers , but my modified options of McDonald ’s , Whataburger , or Taco Bell could not provide that . Enter 7/11 .
Photos by William Galante
I had n’t eaten 7/11 food since college , but dire times call for dire measure . I pack my UberEats cart full of taquitos and Bud Light Texas tall boy for a grand total of $ 38.03 . I tope a few improbable son and ate my taquitos in sorrowfulness , call back more about those rental car passport .
Day 2 - Monday
entire price : $ 111.39I walked across the parking lot to the presentation surface area for my 9 am appointment . I ’d heard about the “ holiday possession ” ( aka timeshare ) industriousness , and its promotional offering to get possible customers in the door . Once you ’re there , they dazzle you with enticing financials , and make a once - in - a - lifetime chance for vacation freedom . It ’s actually sort of brilliant ; one sale at these presentation is a monumental getting even on investiture .
Myself and about a twelve other parties hold back in with a front desk attendant , who take to the woods through a series of “ pre - qualifying ” question . to be eligible for this offer , you must have an income over a certain amount , have no record of failure , be over 25 eld honest-to-goodness , etc . You must also serve with your better half ( if applicable ) , and can perfectly not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs .
Every other political party was a couple in their 40s or sure-enough , with most being retirees . I cerebrate that ’s why they pair off me with the only 20 - something on staff . We spoke for about an hour about my change of location habit and spending while the rep put numbers into his iPad . He then walked me through a room dedicated to the history of holiday ownership , the goal that I could access , the memory I ’d create , the money I ’d lay aside , etc . etc . We watched a video detail the same , and tour a rooms with oceanfront views that could be mine ! This suite was very unlike from the one I was staying in , with fake crab claws and prawn cocktail on the granite countertop , and utterly no musk .
Photos by William Galante
in the end , we reached the end of the duty tour and the rep showed me his iPad . For something in the realm of $ 8,000 down , and then a monthly payment of $ 400 or so for the next decennary , I could have outright access to travel for the rest period of my living . Not only could I have my own unit at a premiere destination , but I could travel to any partnering resorts around the worldly concern . It worked out to be around $ 40,000 all in for this opportunity . I politely tried to turn this down , but the stave persisted . A handler come up over and wrote out the economics of different offers . After three or four counteroffer , they finally take no for an answer , and send me to the rewards shopping mall . I ended up opting to experience $ 179 in cash and 20,000 reward full point that I could put toward a next arrest at any of the hotel group ’s position . Freedom .
While the nearest eating place was three mi away , the hotel did have a small coffeehouse . I spent $ 16 of my new hard cash on a sorry - looking salad in a cardboard container and killed some meter on the beach before my workplace call . The water was almost tea - color brown , I was separate due to inordinate rains forcing soil and sediment into the Gulf from the Mississippi River .
I killed some more time on the hotel ’s mini golf game course , which spark an stake in hitting some material golf game ball . I discover a driving kitchen stove bar via the on-line magazineGalveston Island Guidethat was only 12 Roman mile away . I wanted a beer besides a Texas Bud Light , so I decided to parlay the range with a brewery and a bite , and grabbed a $ 16.92 Uber to Galveston Island Brewing .
P A Thompson/The Image Bank/Getty Images
The driver had experience on the island her whole life , and explicate the life-threatening impact hurricanes have had over its history . The Galveston hurricane of 1900 all decimate the bustling island saving and remains the mortal natural cataclysm in US chronicle . This great tempest inspire the construction of the 10 - nautical mile long groyne that now protects the island .
After a $ 7 IPA at the brewery , I walked along the groyne until I reach the Galveston fishing pier where a few anglers were using shrimp and crab to try and pull out sheepshead or Taurus reds off the bottom of the Gulf . There were rods available for rent , but I adjudicate to eat fish someone else had catch at Jimmy ’s , a eatery on top of the wharfage .
Jimmy ’s had a beautiful survey of the Gulf and business district Galveston , but an even more beautiful happy hour . I feed on a tuna tostada with heavyset piece of ahi , 10 Baron Verulam and jalapeño - pig out peewee , and a local IPA for a sum of $ 30 with peak .
I crossed Seawall Boulevard toward the Galveston airdrome to Tin Cup ’s Caddyshack . It ’s a small , characterless edifice with a large terrace area , and bags of very used golf clubs . I spent $ 10 for a declamatory bucket of balls , $ 7 for a beer , and expend an hour dangle out of my shoes .
The cleaning woman next to me was also a aboriginal island-dweller . She recommended a few places to chequer out during my stay , but said her best-loved activity was to seat on the porch and watch lightning storm international nautical mile out over the true laurel . This was the first vacation where I ’d wish the forecast called for rainwater .
Lyft proved a cheaper option than Uber so I spent another $ 17.47 to head back down the island .
Day 3: Tuesday
full cost : $ 130.43Thanks to Reddit , I had pander a few dive bar recommendation that inform my plans for the daylight . I decide I would balance imbibing in dimly dismount prevention with some educational action by visiting museums .
A $ 24.06 Uber brought me to the historic Moody Mansion . I walked around the outside and decided the $ 15 Leontyne Price of admission would be better spent on a cold drink to battle the Texas warmth . I ’m sure the interior of the residence is beautiful , but I felt more at home inside the oasis down the street : the Albatross .
Moody Mansion may be designed by acclaimed designer and designer , but I ’d rather meet whoever built the concrete , windowless mecca of the Albatross . In Graeco-Roman diva bar fashion , the entire patronage turned on their barstools to see who had enroll . I doubt any of them expect me , but that did n’t make them any less welcoming . I put in a short shift with two $ 3 Coors Lights , and chew the fat with a man who put salt on the outside of his Miller Lite bottle to lick between sips . While I could certainly spend the rest of my sidereal day here , I felt obligated to see a lilliputian more of the downtown .
The sales event rep had bring up that the staff frequented Katie ’s Seafood House , so I decided that would be my dejeuner spot . I had a buffalo crimson snapper fender , some boudin formal , and a beer for a total of $ 25 with tip before walk down the harbor to the Ocean Star Offshore Oil Rig Museum . For $ 12 , you get approach to a entrancing experience while exploring the entirety of a retired oil swindle . The three floor of the museum are packed with info about the history of the Gulf ’s offshore oil color manufacture .
Now that I had arrive at my wholesome activity quota for the day , I headed to the next dive bar on my list : O’Malley ’s Stage Door . This beautiful establishment is located next to the Grand 1894 Opera House , and slings Lone Star marvellous boys for $ 3 a pop . The taproom is meet with historic photographs and unbelievable signage , include a marker for the H2O stemma after Hurricane Ike .
There were many challenging dinner choice in the neck of the woods , but I was passably full from all the beer and decided to go back to the Albatross . Most of the same patronage from before in the day remain , and welcomed me home with open sleeve . One cleaning woman wrote out a list of recommend bar and restaurants that I wished I had the time to explore . I ’m not totally trusted of my tab from the 2d visit , since I bought a few rounds for my new friends and they reciprocated , but I did n’t spend more than $ 30 for multiple Coors Lights and a hot dog .
I took a $ 10.40 Lyft back to Tin Cup ’s , where I watch a local stripe . Uber proved cheap for the last stage of the journeying with a $ 16.97 misstep home .
Day 4: Wednesday
entire cost : $ 141.88I call for to be in New Orleans by Thursday forenoon , but due to my poor decision devising and travel habit , I had only booked the one way flight to Houston so far . After search selection , it appeared the most cost efficacious method acting would be to take an nightlong Greyhound from Houston . This mean I had to cut my Galveston appease short by a night .
My final Uber on the island ran me $ 24.90 to get back business district . I walked the historic strand area shops for a bit before getting lunch at Brews Brothers . One of my new friend at the Albatross had suppose this was the safe burger on the island , and he was not wrong . I expend $ 30 for the masterpiece of a burger and two local beer before heading toward a meeting full point for the Houston bird .
En route to the birdie , a legless gentleman contend to get into his wheelchair and asked for my aid . He asked for anything I could spare , so I gave him the last five dollar bill of my timeshare cash . The shuttle cost $ 40 into Houston before my $ 41.98 Greyhound to NOLA .
The Gulf disappear in the rearview of the shuttle and , as I tried to drowse off , I was glad I was n’t tug a rental motorcar .
How it all broke down
Upfront and move costs:$442.10Costs from the week:$373 after subtracting my hard cash giftFinal total:$785.10How I did against my original budget:$185 over budget , but I also arrive at 20,000 points toward succeeding hotel stays .
