2021: The Best Travel Year of Our Lives
When people look back on 2021, they often remember tentative steps toward normalcy, shifting regulations, and lingering restrictions. But for Maureen and me, 2021 went down in our family logbook as definitively the best travel year we have ever had.
After cancelling nearly all of our leisure plans in 2020 due to the pandemic, we were determined to make up for lost ground. Thanks to the intense pace of my datacenter and IT infrastructure deployment work, combined with steadfast loyalty to the Marriott Bonvoy, Delta SkyMiles, and National Car Rental programs, we logged an astounding volume of high-quality travel.
Over the course of 365 days, we recorded:
- 25 Unique Hotel Properties
- 32 Total Hotel Stays
- 103 Nights Slept Away from Home (74 paid cash nights and 29 points nights within the Marriott portfolio)
- 3 Non-Marriott Stays spanning an additional 20 days
- 27 Races Attended Across 9 Racetracks
- 30 Reward Nights powered by 962,500 Bonvoy Points, yielding $14,709.43 in audited cash value
Beyond hotel stays and commercial flights, we also hooked up our 32-foot RV and spent weeks camping along the East Coast, chasing NASCAR weekends from New England short tracks down to Florida superspeedways.
A white phalaenopsis orchid in bloom on our 17th-floor suite window ledge at The St. Regis San Francisco, framing the downtown skyline during our pinnacle points redemption of 2021.
The 2021 Motorsports Tour: 27 Races Across 9 Tracks
If you know me, you know that motorsports is in my blood. Ever since my early days following modified racing throughout the Northeast, hearing the roar of an engine on race weekend has been my therapy. In 2021, Maureen and I attended 27 races at 9 different racetracks, making it our most ambitious race season ever.
We had the privilege of checking off five “new-to-us” venues that had long been on our bucket list:
- Daytona Road Course (Daytona Beach, FL) — New to Us: Experiencing NASCAR stock cars navigating the infield chicanes and banking of Daytona’s world-famous sports car layout.
- Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, FL) — New to Us: High-line progressive banking under the South Florida sunshine.
- Darlington Raceway (Darlington, SC) — New to Us: Throwback weekend at the “Lady in Black” / “Too Tough to Tame.” There is nothing on earth like watching cars brush the outside wall inches from the stripe.
- Circuit of the Americas (Austin, TX) — New to Us: A treacherous wet-weather inaugural NASCAR Cup weekend that coincided perfectly with Gene and Maureen’s 27th wedding anniversary!
- Stafford Motor Speedway (Stafford Springs, CT): Our beloved home asphalt modified bullring where grassroots racing is at its finest.
- Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, PA): The “Tricky Triangle” nestled in the Pocono Mountains with its three distinct turns.
- New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, NH): The “Magic Mile” flat track in the granite hills.
- Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval (Charlotte, NC) — New to Us: Playoff elimination drama combining high-speed oval banking with the tight infield road course.
- Martinsville Speedway (Martinsville, VA): The historic paperclip short track where curb-hopping and bumper-to-bumper racing reign supreme.
Combining race weekends with top-tier hotel accommodations allowed us to enjoy the track by day and relax in luxury by night.
Anniversary in Austin: Circuit of the Americas & The Otis Hotel
Our inaugural trip to Austin, Texas for NASCAR at COTA was extra special because it coincided with our 27th wedding anniversary. After enduring a rain-drenched weekend of intense road-course action at COTA, we checked into The Otis Hotel Austin, Autograph Collection.
The custom in-room Crosley turntable console at The Otis Hotel Austin, complete with branded slipmat and stereo speaker shelf.
As a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite member, the hotel pulled out all the stops for our anniversary, upgrading us into an expansive two-room suite. The Otis leans deep into Austin’s music history, outfitting each guest suite with a dedicated Crosley turntable, high-fidelity stereo speakers, and curated vinyl records.
Dropping the needle on Janis Joplin’s Pearl in our suite, surrounded by Austin-inspired retro album art and mid-century modern furnishings.
The suite’s geometric wood-paneled headboard framed by playful Austin wall art, including “Hook ‘em Horns” and iconic local landmarks.
Sitting back on the living room couch with a cold drink, spinning Janis Joplin and Leon Bridges on vinyl while reminiscing about 27 wonderful years of marriage with Maureen, was an absolute highlight of the year.
The 27-Day October Milestone: 55th Birthday California Road Trip
October 2021 was a banner month. Maureen and I spent 27 consecutive days on the road staying in Marriott properties across California, celebrating my 55th trip around the sun while weaving in roughly two weeks of datacenter engineering and client deployments.
We kicked off our California coastal run at Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, Autograph Collection. Using 60,000 points and a single Suite Night Award, we secured a direct oceanfront room commanding over $1,348 in retail cash value.
Looking out from our private balcony at Vespera Resort toward the pool cabana, boardwalk promenade, and the illuminated Pismo Beach Pier extending into the Pacific surf.
The glowing ocean lawn terrace at Vespera Resort with string festoon lighting, fire pits, and bistro umbrellas right alongside the sandy beach.
After soaking up the ocean breeze in Pismo Beach and making stops down through Orange County and Los Angeles, we checked into the Anaheim Marriott. We were upgraded to an upper-floor executive room featuring a private curved balcony with panoramic vistas across the Orange County basin toward the southern California mountain foothills.
Panoramic daytime view from our high-floor private balcony at the Anaheim Marriott, looking out over the Orange County palm groves and distant mountain ranges.
Coast-to-Coast Work Travel: From St. John’s, NL to Kamloops, BC
While leisure travel made 2021 unforgettable, enterprise consulting and client datacenter deployments took me to incredible corners of North America. Two Canadian properties stood out as exceptional surprises this year:
On the far Atlantic edge of North America, I spent a week based at the Delta Hotels St. John’s Conference Centre in Newfoundland. My corner room offered breathtaking panoramic views across the historic harbor, colorful row houses, church spires, and the rugged, rock-ribbed hills surrounding Signal Hill.
Looking out over the historic shipping port, church spires, container docks, and rugged Atlantic hillsides from Delta Hotels St. John’s Conference Centre in Newfoundland, Canada.
On the Pacific side, consulting assignments brought me to the interior of British Columbia. Flying into Kamloops Airport (YKA) over the arid canyon of Kamloops Lake and stepping onto the tarmac with snow-capped mountain peaks on all sides set the tone for an incredible stay at Delta Hotels Kamloops.
Walking the tarmac at Kamloops Airport (YKA) upon arrival for client work, framed by the dramatic, rolling mountain ranges of the British Columbia interior.
Both properties delivered stellar elite recognition, prompt service, and unbeatable locations for conducting serious enterprise business.
The Ultimate Luxury Stay: The St. Regis San Francisco
Without question, the pinnacle stay of 2021 was our 3-night redemption at The St. Regis San Francisco. We redeemed 255,000 Bonvoy points for a stay that retailed for $4,292.00, delivering a stellar 1.7 cents per point return.
Applying 3 Suite Night Awards five days ahead of check-in, our upgrade cleared into a palatial 17th-Floor Metropolitan Suite overlooking SFMOMA.
Looking across our 17th-floor Metropolitan Suite at The St. Regis San Francisco from behind the executive glass work desk, highlighting the wood-paneled media wall and living salon.
The elegant dressing hallway leading from the master foyer to the bedroom, featuring built-in oak wardrobes, an illuminated vanity desk, and generous luggage staging.
The attention to detail throughout the suite was unmatched. The master bathroom was clad floor-to-ceiling in Italian marble, featuring a deep soaking tub outfitted with a bath caddy, plush St. Regis bathrobes, and an oversized rain shower.
The deep marble soaking tub in the master bath suite, complete with luxury bath salts, chrome tray, and embroidered St. Regis terry robe.
Each morning, our St. Regis butler arranged full in-suite dining. We sat at our private round dining table, savoring stuffed French toast, fresh berries, three-egg omelets, and freshly brewed coffee from heavy silver carafes while watching the morning sun illuminate downtown San Francisco.
Our suite dining table set for breakfast: stuffed French toast, custom omelet, sliced fruit plate, and carafes of hot coffee.
2021 Property Stays Ledger
Where did our travels take us across the United States and Canada in 2021? Here is the full roster of 24 distinct properties:
- Vancouver Airport Marriott, Richmond, BC
- Delta Hotels Kamloops, Kamloops, BC
- Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, Autograph Collection, Kansas City, MO
- Courtyard Greensboro Airport, Greensboro, NC
- Los Angeles Airport Marriott, Los Angeles, CA
- Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, CA
- Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, Long Beach, CA
- Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, Autograph Collection, Pismo Beach, CA
- The St. Regis San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte, Autograph Collection, Charlotte, NC
- The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center, Kansas City, MO
- Kansas City Airport Marriott, Kansas City, MO
- Miami Airport Marriott, Miami, FL
- The Otis Hotel Austin, Autograph Collection, Austin, TX
- Residence Inn Austin Downtown, Austin, TX
- Delta Hotels Detroit Metro Airport, Romulus, MI
- Four Points by Sheraton Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
- Delta Hotels St. John’s Conference Centre, St. John’s, NL, Canada
- Residence Inn Stamford Downtown, Stamford, CT
- The Celeste Hotel, Orlando, Autograph Collection, Orlando, FL
- Royal Palm South Beach Miami, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, South Beach, Miami, FL
- Courtyard Miami Coconut Grove, Coconut Grove, Miami, FL
- Bohemian Hotel Celebration, Autograph Collection, Celebration, FL
- The Daytona, Autograph Collection, Daytona Beach, FL
2021 Brand Distribution
| Brand | Stays Logged | Brand Portfolio Share |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Hotels | 10 Stays | Premium Full-Service Flagships |
| Autograph Collection | 6 Stays | Distinct Independent Boutique Luxury |
| Delta Hotels | 4 Stays | Streamlined Business Focus across US & Canada |
| Tribute Portfolio | 3 Stays | Indie Boutique Resorts (Royal Palm South Beach) |
| Courtyard by Marriott | 2 Stays | Classic Road Warrior Reliability |
| The Westin | 2 Stays | Wellness & Heavy Crown Center Stays |
| Residence Inn | 2 Stays | Extended Stay Suites (Austin & Stamford) |
| The St. Regis | 1 Stay | Ultra-Luxury Flagship San Francisco |
| Renaissance Hotels | 1 Stay | Design-Led Discovery in Long Beach |
| Four Points by Sheraton | 1 Stay | Select Service in Michigan |
Top 5 Favorite Stays of 2021
Looking back across all 32 stays, five properties delivered experiences that truly stood head and shoulders above the rest:
- The Daytona, Autograph Collection (Daytona Beach, FL): As lifelong motorsports fanatics, this hotel hits every single chord. Situated directly across from Daytona International Speedway in One Daytona, it breathes racing culture. We booked a last-minute 5-night award redemption, applied 5 SNAs, and received an upgrade to a top-floor balcony room with unobstructed views of the speedway. Drinking coffee on the balcony while watching track activity is an experience every race fan deserves.
- Royal Palm South Beach Miami, a Tribute Portfolio Resort (Miami Beach, FL): Our ultimate go-to property in South Beach. With direct access to the beach boardwalk, exceptional pool service, art-deco heritage, and phenomenal Ambassador recognition, it feels like our home away from home in South Florida.
- The Otis Hotel Austin, Autograph Collection (Austin, TX): Celebrating our 27th anniversary right after the COTA NASCAR race weekend made this stay unforgettable. The two-room corner suite upgrade, vintage Crosley vinyl player, and vibrant campus-edge location captured everything we love about Austin.
- Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte, Autograph Collection (Charlotte, NC): A 5-night points redemption during Charlotte Roval race week that yielded 2.2 cents per point in value. The hotel cleared our SNAs into an extraordinary multi-room executive suite featuring rich velvet furnishings, Argentine-inspired decor, and an exceptional rooftop lounge.
- The St. Regis San Francisco (San Francisco, CA): The undisputed heavyweight champion of our 2021 travel calendar. From the 17th-floor Metropolitan Suite upgrade to the chilled champagne welcome, marble soaking tub, and five-star room-service breakfast salon, this stay redefined luxury hospitality for us.
The Philosophy: “Earn ‘Em and Burn ‘Em”
As a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite traveler, 2021 proved without a shadow of a doubt that #AmbassadorStatusMatters. Looking back at every single stay across our logbook, we were upgraded on 100% of our check-ins.
People frequently ask me why I don’t hoard millions of loyalty points in my account to boast about a massive balance. My philosophy is straightforward: Earn ‘em and Burn ‘em.
Points currencies do not appreciate over time; hotel loyalty programs devalue reward charts, introduce dynamic pricing, and erode purchasing power. The greatest return on loyalty investment is using those points to create life-defining memories with the people you love. Spending 30 nights in five-star suites across the country with Maureen—without spending a penny on room rates—was the best investment I ever made.
For our detailed property-by-property ledger and points math, read our full Marriott Bonvoy Reward Travel Summary – 2021.