7 Munich Points-Hotels With Award Availability During Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest runs from September 16 to October 3 this year and while that might seem like it's still a ways off, booking a hotel in Munich early is seriously important — many are already completely sold out or have no award availability to speak of. Luckily, there are a handful of points-hotels that do still have rooms available for at least some dates during Oktoberfest. Here's a look at seven of our favorites.
1. Le Méridien Munich
Le Méridien Munich is one of the nicest hotels still available for points redemptions during Oktoberfest. With cash rates soaring to 436 euros (~$508) per night, the value you'll get from booking with SPG points is pretty decent. Award availability at this Category 5 property starts at 16,000 Starpoints per night and can even be as low as 12,800 Starpoints per night if you take advantage of SPG's 5th night free on award redemptions, essentially bringing the value you'll get between 3.18 and 3.97 cents per point. That's considerably more than TPG's recent valuation, which puts the value of SPG points at 2.7 cents per point. Le Méridien Munich is also one of the most centrally located options, putting you right next to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) and just an eight-minute walk from the Oktoberfest grounds at Theresienwiese.
2. Aloft Munich
The Aloft Munich also has a very central location next to the Hauptbahnhof, making it especially convenient for Oktoberfest attendees. Award nights here will run you 10,000 Starpoints per night or 8,000 Starpoints per night with the 5th night free perk, while cash rates at this Category 4 property during Oktoberfest start at 364 euros (~$424) per night. Translation: you're getting a redemption value between 4.24 and 5.30 cents per point.
3. The Westin Grand Munich
The Westin Grand Munich is another good option, with redemption rates starting at 10,000 Starpoints per night or 8,000 Starpoints per night with SPG's 5th night free rate. Cash rates start at 290 euros (~$338), giving your SPG points a value between 3.38 and 4.22 cents each. Best of all, the Category 4 hotel has a swimming pool, sauna, spa and executive lounge and is only about a 25-minute drive — or 19-minute ride by U-bahn — from the Oktoberfest grounds.
4. Sheraton Munich Arabellapark Hotel
Cash rates at the Sheraton Munich Arabellapark Hotel during Oktoberfest start at 281 euros (~$327) or 10,000 Starpoints per night; the 5th night free option has them from 8,000 Starpoints per night. Even though this hotel costs less than other SPG properties, it still offers a points-value between 3.27 and 4.08 cents per point. The SPG Category 4 property is located next to The Westin Grand Munich and features a swimming pool, sauna and spa, as well as an executive lounge.
5. Munich Marriott Hotel
The Munich Marriott Hotel is also offering award availability during Oktoberfest and is a great redemption option. Rooms normally cost 40,000 points per night and Marriott offers the 5th night free for award redemptions, so if you redeem for five nights, you'll pay only 32,000 points per night. Considering cash rates start at 352 euros (~$410), this gives you a value between 1.02 and 1.28 cents per point, which TPG currently values at 0.9 cents each. The Marriott Category 8 property is located near Englisher Garten and has a swimming pool, sauna and spa onsite. Plus, it's located about 25 minutes away from the Oktoberfest grounds by car — or 20 minutes by the U-bahn — giving you plenty of room to relax after a long day of celebrating.
6. Hilton Munich City
The cash rate for the Hilton Munich City during Oktoberfest starts at 349 euros (~$406) per night. Hilton points were valued at 0.6 cents each in TPG's current valuation, so if you're paying 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night, you'll get 0.58 cents per point in value — at 56,000 Hilton Honors points per night with a Hilton award 5th night free booking you'll end up with 0.73 cents per point in value. This property is the closest to the Old City and about a 20-minute drive or U-bahn ride from the Oktoberfest grounds.
7. Hilton Munich Park
The Hilton Munich Park will cost you the same amount of Hilton Honors points as the Hilton Munich City — either 70,000 or 56,000 Honors points per night with Hilton's 5th night free award rate. Cash rates, however, are somewhat lower but significantly more variable than at the Hilton Munich City. Rates start at 263 euros (~$306) per night, meaning redemptions are generally going to be a slightly lower value at between 0.44 and 0.55 cents per point. For any specific date, rates could be higher, so it is still worth checking out. The property is located near Englischer Garten, so it could be a great choice if you want an escape from the busy city. You'll still be a 20-minute taxi ride from the Oktoberfest grounds — getting there by public transit is also an option but will involve both a bus and the U-bahn from here.
Where To Stay?
The best place to stay depends mainly on how close to the action you want to be. If you plan to go to the Oktoberfest grounds a few days in a row, it might make sense to choose a spot that's not too far away, but if you're planning on just going for one day, it might make more sense to pick a property that's a bit further out. As far as best value goes, any of the SPG properties are great choices, especially if you can take advantage of the 5th night free discount. Additionally, there may be other points-hotels that just have a day or two of availability that aren't included on this list but would end up working best for you, or there could be cancellations between now and the start of the season, since most hotels don't have a special cancellation policy that applies only to Oktoberfest.
Where are your favorite places to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest? Let us know in the comments, below.
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- 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.
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| 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. |
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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.