Related:
Coming next: Starwood’s 2009 hotel category shuffle.
The US Mint should be able to help you there…
Many people use their Starpoints just to transfer into miles, which is a fine usage considering that 20,000 Starpoints will transfer into 25,000-100,000 miles.
Those that use their Starpoints for hotel stays (which is great because they have no blackout dates or capacity restrictions) will be thrilled to know that Starwood has done away with peak season award “upcharges” that applied to their best hotels in categories 5-7. All days, even peak days, will be able to be booked at the regular non-peak rates!
The chart below summarizes the uses of Starpoints for hotel stays. The points that I have bolded below are the ones being reduced to the regular, non-peak rates. For example a peak stay at an upscale category 5 hotel will only cost 12,000 Starpoints, or 48,000 Starpoints for 5 nights using the 5th night free award.
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Starpoints Needed, by Hotel/Resort Category |
|||||||
|
3,000 |
4,000 |
7,000 |
10,000 |
12,000 – 16,000 |
20,000 – 25,000 |
30,000 – 35,000 |
|
|
just 2,000! |
just 3,000! |
7,000 |
10,000 |
12,000 – 16,000 |
20,000 – 25,000 |
30,000 – 35,000 |
|
|
1,200 Starpoints +$25 |
1,600 Starpoints + $30 |
2,800 Starpoints + $45 |
4,000 Starpoints + $60 |
4,800 Starpoints + $90 |
8,000 Starpoints + $150 |
n/a |
|
|
n/a |
n/a |
28,000 |
40,000 |
48,000 – 64,000 |
80,000 – 100,000 |
120,000 –140,000 |
|
|
1,000 – 1,500 |
1,000 – 1,500 |
1,000 – 1,500 |
1,000 – 1,500 |
1,500 – 2,750 |
1,500 – 2,750 |
1,500 – 2,750 |
|
|
3,000 |
4,000 |
7,000 |
10,000 |
12,000 – 16,000 |
20,000 – 25,000 |
30,000 – 35,000 |
|
|
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
|
|
n/a |
n/a |
60,000 |
70,000 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
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23 Comments On "Starwood Eliminates All Peak Season Award Upcharges!"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
Great Job Dan!!
Hi Dan,
Can you please elaborate on the major advantage of the Starwood amex card (which you always rave about, and I happen to have)over the Hilton Amex card which has NO ANNUAL fee, and they give you 20,000 points for signing up, plus they offered me 30,000 more points for spending on it $1,500 in the first 6 months,(plus a bonus 2,500 points for my first 4 stays.) =60,000 points,which is almost 2 free nights in the HIGH RANKING Queen of SHEBA hotel in Eilat,(35,000 HILTON points a night), while with Starwoods I barely get 1 free night,[PLUS THEY RAISED SOME VERY IMPORTANT CATAGORIES IN ISRAEL], and the LE MERIDIAN in Eilat does not compare to the Queen of Sheba. (Unfortunately , the beatiful Herods hotel in Eilat is no longer afffiliated with Starwoods.) AND of course the Hilton amex has no annual fee!
I know that everyone, including myself, has the Starwood card, but can you clearly define what negatives, I don’t know about Hilton’s card, and how the Starwood Amex,beats it by a mile.
I WOULD STRONGLY APPRECIATE ANYONE’S TAKE AND INSIGHT ON THIS MATTER!
THANKS!!
we use starwood points for hotel stays all the time. it is a great deal. we just booked rooms at the Jerusalem sheraton for succot. last year we stayed in Maui at the sheraton during the end of year vacation. we could never have afforded it had we had to use real money. love those starwood points!
Can I transfer regular AMEX rewards points to a starwoods account?
cHECK IT OUT
http://www.flyingbluenews.com/promotions/spendingmiles/promoawards.html
Business class to Europe for under 50,000 flying blue miles or coach for 25,000. (If you don’t have them you can transfer AMEX to them)
yes. but at a 3:1 ratio, which means for evert 1000 amex you get 333 starpoints. not realy worth it.
@moshe:
I’ll address your question in a future post, but the Hilton program overall doesnt come close to the Starwood program.
@ggcheckpointline53:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/4569
@moe:
They occasionally run a 2:1 ratio special which makes it a somewhat more palatable conversion.
why not stay in the Sheraton Eilat . Catagory 2 only 3000 for weekend 4000 regular night ?? I know its not the Queen of Sheba but it aint bad…
@Dan
Do you know when they will run the 2:1 promo?
I’d probably transfer them at that rate.
regular amex reward points to spg=3:1…not worth it
@moe:
There’s no way to know, but like last time, I will be sure to post it!
I have tried several dates for the sheraton in Jerusalem (now owned by boymelgreen). No dates came up as available for cash and points! I called spg and they said this property never has cash and points. disappointing.
Thanks Dan.
When should I look out for your future post about the Hilton Amex versus the Starwood?
Also is my personal offer that I got for the free 50,000-60,000 Hilton points worth signing up to,or not?
You can answer here, or at my email. THANKS!!
@loyal reader:
Are you serious? There are tons of dates with cash and points for the Sheraton Jerusalem (Which incidentally is reportedly being vastly improved under boymelgreen)
A quick search showed C&P rooms for 2,800 points+$45 for all of the following upcoming dates!
02/23-02/27
03/01-03/06
03/08-03/13
03/24-03/27
03/29-04/01
04/05-04/08
loyal reader – just checked on spg you can still get cash and points. play with the dates or try one night at a time
they never offer c+p on weekends only on certain weekdays
a message from US Airways
We’re bringing back free drinks!
(Beginning March 1st)
If you use cash and points, can you still get the 5th night free or is that only when you use only points?
Molly: thats only when you use points only
Right now Amex/Starwood is offering 10,000 points at signup (and 15,000 for $15,000 spent in first 6 months.) Anyone know if there is a specific/ better promotion? meaning: get it now, or wait for a promo to get more points at signup?
Thanks.
@gitty
There is no better promo. than that one IT IS THE BEST ONE, GRAB IT!
You don’t have to wait for Dan to answer the same, he’s been “teaching” us that that’s the best one for the last couple of years!! (and links)
Read all about the great Starwood rewards before booking 14 nights for myself and partner at Le Meridien but because it was part of a package deal they will not credit any starpoints. Whats that all about?
The Sheraton PLaza Jeruslam just had their Sheraon status taken away foro non complaince of Sheraton standards and payment of franchise and managmenet fees. I have stayed at the hotel several times. The lcoation is great, but it is one of the most overrated hotels I have ever been at. Rooms are old, elevators are cramped and move slowly, no workout room, etc. Furthermore this is one of the most crooked operating hotels. Nothing moves in the hotel without a tip or bribe. All the workers are on the take. Te hotel is known not to honor reservations, room type or whatver was booked. Always an excuse. A bribe at the front desk helps get you what you should have had.