I am absolutely blown away! A while back I entered a contest being hosted by Travel Wonders of the World, one of my all-time favorite travel blogs. Travel Wonders had partnered with IHG Rewards Club, the program that allows members to accrue award points for stays at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, IHG, or Intercontinental Hotels, offering readers an opportunity to win a night at one of 4,300 five star hotels located in more than 100 countries.
To be eligible to win, I needed to do the following:
- Open a free Priority Club account and begin earning reward points (easy, I was already a member)
Priority Club Rewards - Sign up to receive emails whenever a new post was available at Travel Wonders (piece of cake, IÂ had signed up for that long ago), and
- Leave a comment on the blog, stating which hotel in the world I would choose for a special stay and my reason why.
That last one took me all of two nanoseconds to decide. Here’s what I wrote: “What is it they say about never seeing the things closest to home? Strange as it may seem, although I am a travel writer who lives in Florida, I have never visited Miami. Maybe this is my opportunity – luscious sand, aquamarine water, art deco buildings and neon lights, here I come (I hope)! My choice would be the Holiday Inn Miami Beach Oceanfront, right on the beach.”
The contest closed on October 9th and I just learned that the folks at Priority Club Rewards chose my comment above all the others. And so, I am Miami bound. I’m thinking maybe Thanksgiving woud be a good time…..thank you Mark at Travel Wonders and Priority Club!
Well done & Congrats! I have not never been to Miami…neither to Florida…hope one day I can make it. Enjoy it !
Oh my gosh congratulations, that’s brilliant. Well done, I would love to see Miami aswel.
I’m conjuring up vacation ideas…I’ll be checking back…although you seem a bit intrepid for me
Mike: Thank you, I’ll take that as a compliment!
Wonderful! Enjoy yourself.
Awesome, Thanksgiving is a good time to go, you’ll probably avoid the crowds 🙂
You so deserve a getaway, even if it is close to home. I am extremely happy for you! Pamper yourself and order room service and just chill. Have fun on your discovery of Miami.
Lucky you, the nightlife and the beach is great there.
Sweeeet!!! Very exciting stuff.
Hi Barb, I’m excited to find your blog (thru divine caroline), but I would like to see a post on your top 5’s, top 5 US destinations, top 5 European, and top 5 other….something like that would be great for me. I have only been to 2 fabulous places…Morocco and Japan and I’m unsure where my next destination should be (although now I have 2 children, ages 3 and 1). Congrats on Miami!
Congratulations! Enjoy Miami and the Atlantic Ocean.
Hal
CONGRATULATIONS! I know of no more deserving person than you. I will be anxious to read your comments. I’m a Priority Member and I just may make it a destination too.
Barb, congrats!! On a side note, I LOVE that sunset photo! Did you take it? We’re looking for some art for the house… care to share? 🙂 Col
Que Bueno! I grew up in Miami, met my future husband there. It’s lush, exotic and more than a little crazy. Tenga un buen viaje! Abrazos. J
Barbara,
That is so awesome..Some of the best adventures are had close to home. Good for you. Enjoy your next adventure.
marleen
Well done, Barbara… while you are in Priority’s good books, would it be an idea to suggest running competitions on your blog? I would love to enter something similar.
I love your photographs and have great delight in pointing my potential guests towards your site.
Congratulations Barbara! Enjoy your home from home vacation!