A Quick Guide to the American Express Starwood Card
by JSteeleJust about any discussion of the premier non-cash reward cards has to include American Express’s Starwood Preferred Guest’s reward card. So comprehensive are it’s benefits, it will help to just touch upon each one of them.
American Express has teamed up with the Starwood chain of hotels and resorts which represents 850 hotels around the world including Westin, Sheraton, and a variety of smaller, boutique hotels. With each dollar you spend, you receive one point in Starwood’s Preferred Guest program. It turns out that these points are far more valuable than those in most other hotel programs for several reasons:
Starwood points can be redeemed for points at many airlines worldwide
This list, buried in their website, shows you the exchange rates for Starwood points when they are converted to Airline program miles or points. In fact, if you read the small print, you will realize that for every 20,000 points that you redeem, you get an additional 5000 point bonus, allowing holders of this card to often earn airline points more efficiently than if they had been using an airline specific reward card!
Starwood has the best hotel redemption rates and availability of any card.
With awards starting at an almost trivial 3,000 points, and no blackout dates, I have had virtually %100 success in redeeming awards for hotel stays around the world. Starwood has posted this chart on their website to boast about their program. It’s only downside is that with only 850 hotels scattered about the globe, there may not always be a member hotel at every destination.
Other Bonuses
New members 10,000 points upon signing up, enough for up to three reward nights at various Sheratons. Double points are earned when using the card for purchases at member hotels, and finally, the $45 annual fee is waived the first year. There are even several other types of travel and merchandise awards Starwood points can be redeemed for, however, if you do the math, you will realize that their value per point ratios are not as advantageous as their hotel stay and airline point transfer options.