Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is SmarTravel?

SmarTravel is a travel company offering great vacations at wholesale prices. Ohio business man and community leader David Wise began the business in 2000 with the goal of providing families with affordable quality vacations. SmarTravel offers their clients the opportunity to vacation in many popular resort areas, where the company and its partners own, lease, or otherwise have access to resort accommodations.

2. Is SmarTravel a legitimate company?

Please rest assured that SmarTravel is a legitimate company. What people would really like to know is if the gifts or the sweepstakes are legitimate. We understand the skepticism, so we have gathered answers to the most frequently asked questions about SmarTravel. Understanding these basic facts will positively impact your experience with SmarTravel.  

3. Does anyone really win the sweepstakes?

Absolutely! You can check out our previous winners here! SmarTravel collects entries submitted by people who want to learn more about us until the end of the calendar year in December. The drawing is held on or before February 1. The winner will receive their choice of $50,000 in cash, any car up to $70,000 MSRP, or the Ultimate Sports Getaway which includes 6 tickets to the sporting event of your choice (Daytona 500, Super Bowl, etc) private jet transportation, premium hotel accommodations and limousine transportation. Read the legal documents.

2009 sweepstakes winner Sandy Yenyo had the following to say after being presented with the winning check, "Its funny because when I talk to my sister in Florida or my other sister in California, they all said 'wow sweepstakes do come true.' Thank you for letting me believe and I really appreciate it. Its the first time I ever won anything like this. I'm really grateful, my family is grateful and there are some people I can help with this."

4. What's the office visit like?

SmarTravel has found that our guests like the casual atmosphere that we create while we introduce our company. One of our staff members will conduct a brief 45 minute presentation to highlight the benefits of traveling with SmarTravel. The last 15 minutes are reserved for individual questions about the company. 

5. Why are there qualifications?

While we welcome anyone to come to one of our offices or attend one of our presentations to learn about the company, our travel program is really designed for people who are over 21 years of age and have a combined annual household income of $35,000 per year. If you are married or have a significant other, your spouse is required to attend with you. These qualifications are in place to ensure that, like all businesses, SmarTravel focuses our marketing and promotional programs on the demographic group that is most likely to travel and take advantage of the full benefits of our program.

6. What do I have to buy?

You are under no obligation to purchase anything. All of our qualified guests receive the promotional gifts as a thank you just for letting us introduce SmarTravel. Our job is to outline our SmarTravel travel program and show you the benefits of traveling with SmarTravel. Whether or not you see the value is for each person to decide.

7. What's the deal with these free gifts I won?

You did not win the gifts. SmarTravel offers these incentives to guests who meet certain marketing demographics and who have first requested information about us. All qualifying guests receive the incentives just for letting us introduce ourselves. Also, the gifts are not free because some of the items do have fees and conditions of use. Click here to read all of the terms and conditions.

8. Are there fees associated with the gift?

Our promotional gifts change rapidly and frequently and sometimes vary by geographic area. The terms and conditions vary for each offer. Our current promotions include:

• 3 Night Cruise on Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Lines plus round trip airfare for two passengers (approximate value $1000): Depart from Port Canaveral or Miami, Florida to the Bahamas aboard a luxury cruise ship. You will be asked to pay a security deposit of $99 per person when you request a reservation. You do not need to pay this deposit on the night of your visit to our office, only when you request a reservation. The deposit is applied to taxes, port charges and other government fees which range from $189-$225 per person. The cruise requires advance reservations and is subject to availability. There are no blackout dates however some sailings may have limited availability.
• Marriott Package: Each guest will receive a travel voucher for 2 nights hotel accommodations at the guests’ choice of 600 select Marriott brand properties nationwide. Not every Marriott property is available. Advance reservations are required and reservations are subject to availability. You will be asked to pay a refundable security deposit of $50 when you request a reservation. You do not need to pay this deposit on the night of your visit to SmarTravel, only when you request a reservation.
• Las Vegas/Orlando Package: Includes a vacation getaway that is valid for two (2) hotel nights at your choice of Las Vegas or Orlando plus round trip airfare for two (2) departing from most major US cities. This getaway requires advance reservations and is subject to availability. You will be asked to pay a refundable security deposit of $99 per person to the getaway provider when you request reservations. You do not pay this deposit on the night of your visit to our office, only upon making the reservation. 
• Coco Key Water Resort or Great Wolf Lodge Resort (approximate value $558): Prepaid accommodations for one weekend night or two midweek nights at a Great Wolf Lodge or Coco Key Water Resort location including waterpark passes. The traveler is responsible for hotel taxes and a refundable deposit of $100.00. Great Wolf Lodge is a premier brand and leader among water park resorts with locations in the Pocono Mountains, Pa; Mason, OH; Sandusky, OH; Sheboygan, WI; Williamsburg, VA, Wisconsin Dells, WI and others. Coco Key Water Resorts offer a tropical paradise for family getaways. Coco Key locations are among the newest water resort developments in the US; with operations in Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Mount Laurel, NJ; Orlando, Fl and more. The choice is yours. Please click here to view all the terms and conditions.

9. Where can I go on vacation?

Clients can choose some of the most popular vacation destinations or even some lesser-known destinations. The program is destination-based and not resort or location based; however, a sample list of the company’s available property can be found here. Our vacation inventory is client-driven, which means that we actively seek to procure and maintain accommodations in the areas most desired by SmarTravel’s clients.

10. What are the age requirements for the cruise?

Travelers must be 21 years old to travel. Travelers under the age of 21 must be accompanied in the same sate room by a parent, relative, or guardian 25 years of age or older.  

11. Is the cruise certificate transferable?

The cruise certificate is transferable as long as it has not been registered.

12. Was your question not answered?

Submit a question and we will personally get back to you with a response! PLEASE DO NOT INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT ON THIS FORM. Account Specific questions will not be answered. Please call Customer Service at 1-888-257-8400 for Account questions. This form is also not meant for appointment questions. Please call 1-800-220-9400 for appointment questions or concerns. This form is strictly for questions about the company. Thank you.