Primary Benefits:
- Earn up to 25,000 Starpoints® — enough for up to 6 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel.
- Use Starpoints® for free nights and upgrades at participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries including Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin and more with no blackout dates
- Transfer Starpoints® — almost always on a 1:1 basis — to the frequent flyer programs of over 30 major airlines
- Earn one Starpoint® for every dollar you spend and double Starpoints® at participating Starwood properties and retail partners
- No annual fee for the first year and $45 thereafter
Please refer to Terms and Conditions on the American Express website for details on the above statements.
Our Review
You also receive Preferred Plus status in the Starwood Preferred Guest program -- good for small upgrades (when available) and 4pm late checkout (of course, subject to availability). The 4pm checkout is one of the best benefits of the program and we've used it often.
It's probably helpful to list the Starwood brands, as you might not recognize them as SPG, but you know the brands: Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Four Points by Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, and aLoft.
The Starwood Preferred Guest AMEX card is our current running favorite travel rewards credit card for two reasons:
- There are no blackout dates on redemption. If a standard room is available, it's yours for points. This editor has personally redeemed points for valuations as high as 8 cents per point -- giving an effective 8% cash back yield. Of course you won't always find such great redemption opportunities but they are out there. Given the no black out rule, some of the best uses are on holidays. New Years Eve hotel rates might be through the roof but, for example, if you want to stay at the Westin Times Square in New York City on NYE and the rates are giving you a nosebleed, know that it's the same amount of points as any other day and if there's a room available, it's yours. Priceless.
- You can transfer Starpoints out of the SPG program into most major airlines at a rate of 1.25 to 1 when you transfer a block of 20,000 points (20,000 Starpoints = 25,000 airline miles (click here for current list of partners).
Also note these other "secret" card benefit:
Earn Gold Preferred Guest status (good for one year) in Starwood Preferred Guest when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year
And this card was voted a winner Winner -- "Best Affinity Credit Card" at the 19th Annual Freddie Awards-- voted on by frequent travelers
Get up to 25,000 Starpoints® from American Express – enough for up to six free nights!
