In a previous blog I may have suggested that being a Starwood Preferred Guest member pales in comparison to being a Hilton Hhonors member. That’s simply not the case. I merely mentioned that unlike my Hilton HHonors friend, I have not made the most of being a member of a hotel rewards program.
Being a Starwood Preferred Guest member certainly has its privileges; however, you can’t take advantage of the perks unless you know what they are and how many points you need to accrue in order to score them.
You earn points by staying at any of the 1,000 participating Starwood properties. For every dollar you spend you earn two Starpoints. You can then redeem Starpoints for a free night at select Starwood hotels and resorts. In addition, Starpoints can be redeemed for Amtrak train tickets, airline tickets, and gift cards at various retailers like Bliss spa and and Williams-Sonoma.
When redeeming points for hotel stays, you must follow a chart that places Starwood properties into different categories. For example, free nights at Category 1 hotels can be had for 2,000 points. However, if you are looking to spend the night for free at upscale Category 7 hotels, such as the W Retreat and Spa Maldives, you will need to fork over 30,000 points. Of course, 30,000 points is peanuts compared to the 140,000 points you’ll need to redeem to spend the night for free at ultra-luxe properties in Bora Bora where meals are included.
Some other perks of being a Starwood Preferred Guest includes not having to pay membership fees or transfer fees. In addition, Starwood’s website offers numerous members-only promotions, which may include room discounts and opportunities to earn triple Starpoints.
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