Starwood Preferred Guest Redeem & Reward Promotion
I love my Starwood Preferrred Guest points because of the phenomenal value I can get out of redemption options like Cash & Points. But redeeming for top-tier properties - like two of my hometown favorites, the W South Beach and the St. Regis Bal Harbour (review here) - can be expensive at 15,000 points + $275 per night for C&P, or 30,000 points outright for a free night redemption. However, there's a new SPG promo called Redeem & Reward, where you can save between 30-50% of the Starpoints you redeem for award nights at a group of 21 different resorts in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean between now and December 21.
So instead of spending 30,000 points for a free night at a top-tier property where room rates are regularly above $500, you're spending just 15,000 points - a value of at least 3 cents per point.
To take a quick example that packs even more value: I love the W South Beach (read my review here), one of the properties where you get a 50% rebate on your points. A quick search for room rates the first week in December shows that I could get a Wonderful Studio for 30,000 points per night or $1,366 for the room plus taxes. So with this promo, I would only be spending 15,000 points per night instead of $1,366, a value of 9.1 cents per point.
However, I also checked on the nights from December 1-6. For that redemption, the cost per night in terms of points goes down to 26,000 thanks to SPG's fifth night free, so I'd actually need 130,000 points total (instead of 150,000 points - the rate does up towards the end of that week to 35,000 points per night). Then with my rebate, I'd only be spending a total of 65,000 points for 5 nights - a rate of only 13,000 points per night. If I paid for the same stay, I'd have to spend $6,830. So I'd be getting a value of 10.5 cents per point!
How it Works
In order to participate you must register by November 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST. When redeeming your Starpoints for a stay at one of the participating resorts, you must book a free night award anytime between October 21 and December 21, 2012. Once your stay is completed, you will receive 30%, 40%, or 50% of the points you redeemed back in your account. The percentage of points that you will receive back depends on where you stay. Here's a list of the participating resorts and the discount percentage you earn at each.
50% savings:
The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Colorado, USA
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico, USA
The St. Regis Bal Harbor Resort, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
The St. Regis Monarch Beach, Dana Point, California, USA
The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA (although this hotel's web site says it has no SPG participation)
W South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, USA
40% savings:
W Retreat & Spa — Vieques, Puerto Rico, USA
The Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain, Ontario, Canada
The Westin St. John Resort & Villas, Virgin Islands, USA
The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage, California, USA
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa, Cayman Islands
The Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba
Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort & Casino, Bahamas
30% savings:
Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, Chandler, Arizona, USA
The St. Regis Deer Valley, Park City, Utah, USA
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort, San Antonio, Texas, USA
The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, Georgia, USA
The Westin Whistler Resort & Spa, British Columbia, Canada
The Terms & Conditions
Only standard rooms booked as Free Night Award redemptions are eligible for this promotion. So no Cash & Points awards! Any rooms which are booked using Cash and Points, Nights & Flights and 50% off Awards, are not eligible. If you booked an Award Night at a participating resort prior to the promotion and the stay falls within the promotion period, that stay will be eligible. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and is only applicable to single members, not groups. The Starpoints that you receive back through Redeem & Reward will post within 4-6 weeks.
Although you have to have the total amount of points necessary for a regular redemption and then are refunded a percentage of them later, this promotion could add up to some huge savings and amazing point values if you redeem wisely, and at least at the properties I checked including the W South Beach, the St. Regis Bal Harbour and the St. Regis Aspen, there seems to be tons of award night availability for the promo period, so start making your reservations!
[card card-name='Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card – Bonus Point Offer' card-id='22145660' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.