Why you need this card:
- 2x Starwood points per $1 you spend directly with Starwood Preferred Guest Program (includes aloft, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Méridien, Sheraton, St. Regis, Westin and W hotels etc.)
- Earn 1 Starpoint® per $1 spent on everything else
- Ability to redeem Starpoints® on hotel stays and flights. Use your Starpoints® at more than 1,300 participating hotels & resorts in over 100 countries and for flights on more than 150 airlines with SPG flights. Best of all: no blackout dates.
- Unlimited use of Boingo® Wi-Fi hotspots (excluding in-flight)
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 each year the card is active.
Whether you’re using points for hotel stays or for airline tickets, Starpoints® are easily the most valuable loyalty currency. Not only that, this card could be one of the best options for non-bonus spending. After meeting the required minimum spend, you’ll earn 35,000 Starpoints®, a value of more than $840!
The brass tacks: how to use your points
Redeem for Hotel Stays:
- You can redeem Starpoints® at over 1,300 participating hotels and resorts worldwide with no blackout dates.
- Some nights at select hotels only require 2,000 Starpoints® per night. Your 35,000 Starpoints® could get you up to 17 free nights!
- You can also transfer Starpoints® in your account to Marriott Rewards® at a rate of 1:3. This means if you earn the 35,000 Starpoints® you would have 105,000 Marriott points total. By transferring Starpoints® to Marriott Points, you can book Hotel+Air packages, the most valuable way to use Marriott Points.
Splurge or Savor: your options for redeeming at SPG hotels
SPG hotels are divided into categories. If you want your points to last, choose to savor the experience at Category 1 & 2 hotels. These hotels only require 2,000 to 4,000 points per night. This is your best option for making the 35,000 Starpoints® you earned after hitting the minimum spend requirement. On the other hand, you could choose a Category 7 and spend almost all your points in one night. Now consider our top SPG hotel picks and
check out the card here!
Aloft Cancun, Mexico
Category 2, located on the main Cancun Strip and it ONLY takes you 4,000 Starpoint®/nights to soak in the sun and beach.
Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, Tucson, AZ
Category 2, a 1.7-mile drive from Tucson Botanical Gardens, this urban hotel only cost 4,000 Starpoint®/nights, which cost $166/night.
Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort, Orlando, FL
Category 2, an 8-minute walk from Walt Disney World Resort, this hotel costs $150/night, which only takes 4,000 Starpoint®/night!
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Category 2, this chic resort hotel in Thailand only cost 4,000 Starpoint®/night, which is a great option for vacation!
Aloft Beijing, Haidian, China
Category 2, this new stylish, contemporary hotel in Beijing, China only cost 2,000 Starpoint®/night on weekend!
The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York, New York
Category 7, set 2 blocks from Times Square and Bryant Park, and within walking distance of Broadway theaters, this high-end hotel would be a solid option if you want to splurge!
Get away! Redeeming on Flights
- Starpoints are also transferable to more than 30 airline partners, and you’ll earn a 5,000-mile bonus for every 20,000 Starpoint® you transfer.
- The most popular way is transfer to Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines, or American Airlines miles at a rate of 1:1. With the extra 5,000 bonus, you could easily end up with 50,000 miles.
Overall, this Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is worth having in your pocket, due to the valuable points they earn you and 17 free nights at select Starwood Hotels. Remember: the first-year annual fee is waived! Make sure to apply by April 5 if you are interested.
Check out the full terms and conditions here!