Starwood American Express – best for hotel guests

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Max

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Now, many travel cards promote airfare rewards above all others. But hotels can be an immense expense as well – especially if you’d rather not brave the paper walls and peculiar scents of discount motels. The Starwood American Express credit card allows you to accrue some serious savings without cramping your style.

Right now, best for hotel guests credit card – the Starwood.  It offering a 25,000-point signing bonus, enough for 6 free nights in a category 1 or 2 hotel. You receive 10,000 points after your first purchase and another 15,000 when you spend $5,000 in the first 6 months. The rewards rate is 2 points per dollar spent at Starwood and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. This may initially seem underwhelming, but based on our analysis of hotel point programs, we value Starpoints at about 2.3 cents apiece. Taking the unusually high value of Starpoints into consideration, the rewards base rate becomes 2.3%, and the signing bonus is worth about $575.

The Starwood card is geared toward travelers who like to indulge in a bit of luxury. It delivers a means of lessening the cost of high-end hotel stays. The Starwood’s annual fee is $65 (waived the first year) and is offset by an assortment of benefits in addition to the high-yield rewards. Every third night spent at a Sheraton is free, you receive a 5-night elite status credit and, if you spend $30,000 in a year, you’re eligible for a gold-status upgrade. With its high rewards rate and array of perks, the Starwood is the most advantageous hotel credit card we’ve come across.

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