$250 gift card for travel to Florida's Gulf coast

What's the deal? Beaches of South Walton in northwest Florida has launched a $250 incentive to attract visitors to an area that has been only minimally affected by the recent oil spill. The incentive is in the form of a gift card that is good for outlet shopping or the purchase of an airline ticket. The resort area of about 15 communities is hoping to recoup losses from a drop in tourism.

What are the savings? Visitors can use the gift cards to shop at Silver Sands Factory Stores in Destin. The gift cards can also be used to purchase future travel on Southwest Airlines, which earlier this year launched service from Baltimore to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Savings should be $250, and the offer is available through Sept. 30.

What's the catch? A three-night stay is required, and the gift cards are first come, first served. Visitors must book accommodations at official lodging partners of the Beaches of South Walton. They then must present a printed and dated deposit receipt or the paid three-night receipt from their stay, showing the promo code BSW250, at the Beaches of South Walton Visitor Information Center in Santa Rosa Beach. One gift card per reservation and one redemption per family.

Information: Beaches of South Walton has a website with details of the offer at 250reasons.com or call 800-822-6877.

—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, The Baltimore Sun