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Vacation Surrogate Will Vacation for You!
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Always wanted to visit San Francisco, but never had the time or money?
Let me be your vacation surrogate! I'll go to the places that you want to see. Take all of the pictures you would take. Send postcards to tell your friends and family all about the beautiful city by the bay.
And so goes the pitch by Sara Thacher, a self-proclaimed vacation surrogate whose Web site promises to provide all the details of a vacation to San Francisco without actually going yourself. Simply fill out a questionnaire detailing the typical activities you'd do if you were to actually visit San Francisco and Thacher will customize the pseudo-vacation experience to reflect your tastes and lifestyle. This ensures that your friends won't receive a postcard from the Castro, for example, if that's not your thing.
I'm not sure what the appeal is about staging fake vacations, but apparently there is a market for it. As reported on Gadling a year ago, a company in Russia will do the same thing for famous destinations all over the globe. They will even Photoshop your smiling mug into all sorts of photographs proving that you did indeed make it all the way to ... ____________ (fill in the blank).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Willy Volk Jul 18th 2007 1:17PM
This is the dumbest thing I have EVER heard of.
Donna Jul 21st 2007 8:10PM
Where can I get this job??? I would love to travel and take photos on someone elses dime.
Mary Jul 21st 2007 8:28PM
Where do I sign up for this job!!?? I would love to go on a vacation with someone else paying for it!
Stephanie Jul 21st 2007 8:30PM
I weep for humanity. What kind of crackhead would actually shell out for this?
Eileen Jul 21st 2007 8:30PM
A few years ago someone placed an ad in a NY newspaper. The ad read "This is your last chance to send your dollar to blank blank post office box."
Apparently there were many, many people perfectly eager to put a dollar in an envelope and mail it to him, even though he offered nothing in return. :-)
I always thought that was funny. And enterprising. This story reminded me of the same kind of thing.
veil Jul 21st 2007 8:48PM
reminds me of when I got the "Blue Skies on Mars" ego trip from Rekall....
Moses Jul 21st 2007 9:05PM
Where do I apply for this ultimate sham form of employment?
Tawfika Jul 21st 2007 10:33PM
How can I apply for this job?
JennyLinskyB Jul 21st 2007 9:05PM
If you are tempted to buy this, you need help! Talk about stupid human tricks!
JaCee Jul 21st 2007 9:25PM
OK...did you actually read the website? She didn't offer to travel outside of San Francisco. She lives there. She states that she is a local, and would make some reccomendations on places to visit.
No where did it say that she would travel anywhere else.
V Jul 21st 2007 9:40PM
Aww comon' folks. Don't be bitter just because you didn't think of it first.
By the way, I am available to take your vacation on Clearwater Beach, Tarpon Springs, or Tampa, Florida.
Sara Thacher Jul 21st 2007 9:52PM
Thank you for you interest in my project,'Surrogate Vacations.' As an earlier commenter noted, I live in San Francisco and see this as an opportunity to experience my hometown in a new way. Just to clarify, the is no fee. I offer this service for free because I feel that I get a benefit equal to the time and energy I put in to the project.
mnsduds Jul 21st 2007 10:01PM
I think you might have misunderstood her website. This girl is smarter than she seems. She does not in fact claim this as her employment... nor does she offer to travel using anyone else's money. She is a local who claims she will visit the places you specify and send pics and details and such... ALL FREE OF CHARGE!!! Why would someone so generously donate their time this way? It is a scam, to be sure. It seems to me the real benefit to her is that she then has your name address and phone number (along with those of family you ask her to write letters to) to sell to advertisers!
Ivon Jul 21st 2007 10:32PM
Think about what is being offered here, and for FREE.
I don't think so....everything cost. For example,
transportation, be it by car, train, bus, or skateboard for that matter...it cost to get to the different places to take pictures. The going cost for gasoline is no joke. Not to mention the cost of film, processing the film, postage, etc, etc, etc.
Everything cost. Beware, this person has a hidden agenda.
getflawlesshealth.com Jul 21st 2007 10:38PM
Actually this is a marketable idea. Lets say you tell your boss you need 3 days in San Fran for a dead relative... have her send in stuff, maybe find a funeral of someone old and get the handout and meanwhile you get three free days wherever!
Also good for naughty hubby's on "biz trips" or college kids or precollege kids visiting a school on mom/dads dime... say hey I visited Uc San fran hve her send brochures and pix .. meanwhile you are partying with the Dave M Band elsewhere... someone can make money off of it
D L Jul 21st 2007 11:05PM
Are you serious???? We, as a country, work more hours than most other countries. I think that everyone needs to make the time to take a vacation, even if it's just hanging out at home and not working! Vacations are a sanity saver! By the way, if anyone's looking to visit the Phoenix, AZ area.... :)
Tina Jul 21st 2007 11:29PM
I can show you how you can have more time and money to go on more of your own vacations. Email to find out how to avoid being in the situation of not having enought time or money to travel for yourself.
Tina Jul 21st 2007 11:35PM
If you really want to lean more on how to take more of your own vacations see Tina at all4metravel.com
Angel Jul 22nd 2007 12:06AM
I can't believe how worked up you people are getting over this...if you're so "put off" by the idea, why'd you read the article. Move on and get over it.
Peace Jul 22nd 2007 12:13AM
Only thng new about getting paid to take a vaction for somene is the indivual is directly footing the bill.
People have been paid to take vacations for centuries. travel agecies, cruise lines, travel magazines, and hotels are just few places that pay people to take vacation and write up reveiw for them.