A look at a calendar revealed those restrictions prevented use of the voucher in about 26 of the 52 weeks in the upcoming year. Beyond that, it said travel also may not be available during major conventions or major events at the cities listed.

The trip wasn't exactly free, either. It did not include airfare. It said the user would be responsible for government-imposed taxes (and a $50 deposit to cover them must be paid by cashier's check or money order upon confirmation of an arrival date). Accommodations would be in "economy class" properties, and vouchers do not cover incidental costs such as phone calls, gratuities or entertainment.

The competing Westgate timeshare company attracted attention with a booth at the Utah State Fair by offering freebies. "Do you like Park City? Would you like to stay at a resort there for just $20 a night? It would be great for your anniversary," a salesman said to a passing reporter.

To sweeten the deal, he said it would include either a $75 spa treatment or $75 towards a meal at a fancy restaurant. The reporter was asked to sign a paper that made clear that attending a 90-minute sales presentation was required.

The salesman then tried to collect $40 for a two-night stay, and the reporter asked him to change it back to the offered $20 one-night stay. Another salesman, helping to fill out forms, said he was about to put in writing the promised "$50 dinner," but the reporter reminded them he had been promised a $75 dinner.

Westgate provided the promised gifts after the sales presentation. The only surprise was that the Westgate Grill restaurant charged an unadvertised automatic 18 percent gratuity, which could make some/ diners trying to use up their entire allotment go over it easily.

In an Internet ad for sales presentations for the new Henley Manor in Cedar City, it promised that every couple who listened would win prizes valued between $25 and $125 by playing "Pillow of Fortune."

But after the presentation where a reporter declined to buy a timeshare, the saleswoman simply thanked him and his wife for coming. The reporter had to ask about the "Pillow of Fortune" game, which had not been offered.

"I almost forgot, I'm glad you asked," she said. The reporter's wife picked a list of numbered potential prizes out of a stack of similar lists, then picked a pillow on a wall to reveal a number behind it to match a number on the list. She won a $35 voucher for a local restaurant, which was immediately provided.

Others also reported some surprises with freebies offered, although most say they did receive essentially what was promised.

One who did not, for example, was Rick Johnson of Sandy. After he had bought another timeshare elsewhere, he attended a sales pitch at Westgate Park City Resort just to obtain the promised free night's stay at the upscale resort.

"We were really honest and said we were just there for the room," he said. After the presentation, "They said they were out of rooms. I couldn't believe it. They said they would give us some overflow space elsewhere in town and would give us a coupon. Here we had packed to stay overnight and had sitters for the kids, and we wanted to do the resort thing. We ended up just going home."

Of note, a few companies apparently do not need to offer much in freebies. Disney Vacation Club, for example, offered a reporter only a $15 coupon for merchandise at Disney World if he would take time away from his vacation there to listen to a sales presentation.