NYC staycation with Marriott Rewards and FlashPerks.

If you’ve been following GML you may remember that I had a fun staycation with Marriott Hotels a few months ago. It was an incredible experience, so I was so excited when they reached out for me to participate in another campaign!

 

 

 

What I’ve really grown to love about Marriott Hotels is how in tune they are with the millennial generation and how they’ve taken steps to make traveling easier, more convenient, and more FUN. And that’s where Marriott Rewards and FlashPerks come into play.

Last Wednesday I packed a bag and headed uptown to the Renaissance Times Square. It was a beautiful hotel! It felt like an oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Times Square.

view from my room:

I love having a big cozy hotel room all to myself!

complimentary cupcakes – yes please.

hotel lounge:

 

After getting settled in I headed to the hotel restaurant to meet with some of the Marriott representatives and a few other bloggers over appetizers and cocktails. I was really excited to learn more about Marriott Rewards and FlashPerks.

With Marriott Rewards, it’s all about modern loyalty. When using the rewards you can get immediate access to relevant, hand-picked deals, and it’s easy to earn and redeem points. For example, simply using the #MRPoints hash tag on social media will earn you points. How cool is that?!

And then there’s FlashPerks, which gives members the option to redeem points or use cash for limited-time, exclusive deals and experiences. I love the concept of FlashPerks because it makes experiencing a new city easier than ever – it’s a new way for travelers to enjoy instant gratification with time-sensitive offers. I was thrilled to be able to experience the New York City FlashPerks deal of a helicopter tour of the city, a visit to the MoMa, and a special discount for shopping at Bloomingdales (more on that in a bit).

Marriott was kind enough to give us AMEX gift cards to enjoy a night in the city, so after dinner I headed downtown to meet up with some friends. But – let’s be honest - first was a quick pit stop at the (biggest and best ever) Forever 21 in Times Square to grab a few new things 😉

…and take a (failed) Times Square selfie, of course. Gotta play tourist every once in a while!

 

The next day I woke up bright and early to catch up on some work before heading down for a quick breakfast.

And then – we were off to enjoy our FlashPerks! The first stop was a helicopter tour of the city, which I was REALLY excited (and mildly terrified) about.

But I’ve got to say – it was SO. MUCH. FUN. And not scary at all! It was absolutely breathtaking to see New York City from above.

Statue Of Liberty:

One World Trade Center:

Central Park:

Uptown Manhattan:

Me with the other bloggers – Justin of Scout Sixteen, Bonnie of Flashes of Style, and Dallas Shaw:

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it to the MoMa/Bloomingdale’s leg of the day, but I’m able to redeem those perks within the next 30 days (which I definitely will be doing).

Overall it was an amazing little NYC staycation. Thanks so much to Marriott for the opportunity – I can’t wait to stay in a Marriott hotel again soon!

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What’s the most important thing you look for in a hotel when traveling? Does something like Marriott Rewards/FlashPerks matter to you?