Giveaway: $100 Marriott eTravelCard (and my experience)

***** This giveaway has ended. *****

Welcome to my very first giveaway!!!

Did you know that at any given time, there’s up to $10 billion worth of coins out of circulation in the United States?  Money that is just sitting there collecting dust when it could be used to see the world, help pay for holiday travel...or at least fund a weekend get-away, spa retreat or a round of golf!  

Coinstar and Marriott have recently partnered to give consumers a way to turn that change into a Marriott eTravelCard.

Coinstar and Marriott provided me with a $75 Marriott eTravelCard to use as I saw fit, AND included a $100 Marriott eTravelCard for me to give a reader!

My first job was to cash in coins at a Coinstar Kiosk for a Marriott eTravelCard.  Kiosks offering Marriott eTravelCards can be found here:  https://www.coinstar.com/CoinMachine/Marriott.

Cashing in the coins was easy!  I simply followed the touch screen instructions,

poured in my coins,

and collected my eCard!

Because I chose a gift card (of which Marriott is one of MANY options), there was no fee to use Coinstar!  I LOVE that!

Next I had a big decision.  Did I want to use my $75 in Marriott eTravel Card for a spa treament?  Brunch?  A round of golf?  I decided to head to the Marriott Resort in Lincolnshire, IL for Sunday Brunch at the King's Wharf Restaurant with my boyfriend.

King's Wharf Restaurant: Marriott Resort; Lincolnshire, IL

Brunch was amazing!  We were immediately greeted by our waiter and served orange juice and champagne.  From the jumbo shrimp to the Eggs Benedict, everything was delicious.

But, my absolute favorite part was the desserts.  Don't they look amazing?!

The only hiccup was in redeeming my Marriott eTravel Card.  Our waiter had never seen them before, as they are printed on a receipt, rather than a plastic gift card.  He had to go to the front desk to enter the gift card, but in the end all worked out well.  The employees at Marriott were beyond kind and professional!  They truly know how to treat their guests.

Now, for what you've all been waiting for!  To enter for your chance to win a $100 Marriott eTravelCard, simply comment below (in either comment box), telling me how you would use your $100 Marriott eTravelCard.  Entries will be accepted through Friday, 10/19/12 at 11:59PM.  One entry per person.  Winner will randomly be chosen from all valid entries.  Good luck!

Coinstar and Marriott have paid me to blog about their products/services.  All opinions are my own.