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Use The Combined Power of Your Marriott Rewards and Starpoints to Get to Antarctica
Nick Ellis
Contributor
Oct. 04, 2016
•
2 min read
Use The Combined Power of Your Marriott Rewards and Starpoints to Get to Antarctica
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Antarctica is often the 'final frontier' for world travelers longing to experience a continent that is relatively untouched by tourists. Historically, it's been next to impossible to use points to reach the ice-covered continent — but not anymore. Starwood is offering an incredible opportunity through its SPG Moments program to get to Antarctica.
You can now bid Starpoints to purchase a trip for two as part of "Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent" from National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. Your 14-day trip to Antarctica will begin November 6 from Santiago, Chile and will end November 19. You'll spend two weeks aboard the comfortable, ice-class National Geographic Orion ship that has a capacity of just 102 guests. During your time in Antarctica, you'll have the opportunities to make memories that will last a lifetime by seeing magnificent mountains, icebergs and glaciers. You'll explore in Zodiacs and kayaks, by foot and even cross-country skis on a frozen sea, and spend time making friends with gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins.
As of the time of this posting, the high bid for the expedition is approaching 250,000 Starpoints, with almost a week left to place bids. TPG values Starpoints at 2.5 cents each, which means that the high bid of 250,000 translates into a cash value of approximately $6,250 — a tremendous deal considering the price of this trip ranges from $13,360 to $28,340. Surely, as the closing of the auction comes closer the bids will increase in price, but it would still represent one of the most unique ways to use your points, and a great way to get maximum value from transferring Marriott Rewards to your SPG account.
Is anyone planning on bidding for the "Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent"?
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- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
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- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Apply for Capital One Venture X Business
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for businesses with high spending
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended 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.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month