The Starwood Credit Card is one of the most popular cards among travel rewards card sharks, and gets a lot of press as one of the best rewards cards available.  What’s the big deal?

Value of Starwood Points:

The biggest buzz factor comes from the point’s value.  While the average reward point out there is worth about 1 cent, Starwood points shine first and foremost because they are worth on average 2.25 cents when redeemed for hotel rooms, and when redeemed for lower tier hotel rooms (Category 1, 2 or 3) they can be worth as much as 5.5 cents!

No Annual Fee First Year

No annual fee, and if you’re not satisfied you can always cancel your card before the annual fee hits your statement in a year.  (I’ve even called threatening to cancel after the fee hits and had the annual fee waived a second year)

25,000 – 30,000 Starwood Point Bonus

Right now you can use this link to get 30,000 points (For a limited time 5,000 points above the more widely available current offer):

 Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card  

10,000 bonus Starpoints are yours after your first purchase, with the other 20,000 earned after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months.

Exchange Points for Airline Miles – 25% bonus

Exchange your points for miles from most frequent flyer programs (30 participating airlines).  Convert 20,000 miles and you’ll get an additional 5,000 miles deposited in the airline mile account of your choice.

Given peoples worries about what might happen to their American Airlines miles given their bankruptcy announcement, you can rest assured that you’ll always be able to convert your Starwood points to a viable airline program when you’re ready to cash them in.

Free Third Night

Use the SPG Promotion code ZHA or ZRA with your card and you’ll get your third night free as long as you check-in on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

Swanky Hotels

I love a free or cheap bed as much as anyone, but redeeming your Starwood points for a chic room with high-thread count sheets, views and resort amenities are sounds like bliss and best of all it doesn’t cost anything!

Here are some favorite Starwood Hotels:

St. Regis: Florence Italy 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convento do Espinheiro, Portugal (A former convent recommended by Darius)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W Hotel San Francisco:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Have you used your SPG points for hotel stays? 
• What has been  your experience transferring points from one program to the other?