Starwood Preferred Guest Card: Lower Spending Requirement, Same Bonus
May 20, 2015
The Starwood Preferred Guest personal credit card has lowered its minimum spending requirement. Now to get the 25,000 bonus Starpoints, you need only spend $3,000 in the first three months after opening the account.
Previously the spending requirement was $5,000 in six months. American Express tested out this new, lower requirement last August on both the personal and business SPG cards, and was apparently satisfied with the results for the personal card.
Buy Starpoints with up to a 25% Discount. Good deal?
May 11, 2015
Until May 31, 2015, you can up to 20,000 Starpoints with up to a 25% discount on the normal purchase price.
Starpoints are normally sold in increments of 500 points for 3.5 cents per point.
25% Discount on Purchasing Starpoints. Good deal?
December 18, 2014
I just got an email today from Starwood Preferred Guest announcing up to a 25% discount on the purchase of Starpoints.
Around the World in Cathay, Singapore, and Lufthansa First: Le Meridien Angkor Review
May 15, 2014
This is the seventh installment of a round-the-world trip report that started here. We pick up in Cambodia.
I landed at Siem Reap International Airport and got my Cambodia visa on arrival. (Make sure to have $20 in cash and a passport-sized photo.
Ultimate Rewards,IHG Rewards Club,Club Carlson,Hilton,Hyatt,US Airways,SPG,United,MileValue,AAdvantage,Avios,Delta
Predictions for Major Changes to Loyalty Programs in 2014
December 30, 2013
2013 was a year of several major devaluation announcements including:
United (kicks in February 1, 2014)
Southwest (kicks in March 31, 2014)
Delta (already kicked in on current award bookings for travel that starts February 1, 2014 or later)
Hyatt (kicks in January 7, 2014)
Ultimate Rewards (with three major transfer partners devaluing--United, Southwest, and Hyatt--the program took a major hit through no fault of its own)
But the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Current Offer on SPG Cards: 25k Starpoints
September 3, 2013
If you apply for both the personal and business card today, you'll have 60k Starpoints after meeting the minimum spending requirement after meeting the minimum spending requirement of $5k per card in the first six months.
Deal,Best Of,SPG,Citi,Explorer Award,American Express,AAdvantage
Limited Time: 50k AA Card Offer Plus Expiring SPG Cards’ Offer Means Round-the-World Business Class Award
September 1, 2013
Update: American Airlines got rid of its RTW awards, so the best way to book RTW awards now is elucidated here.
Key Links:
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard®
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
Explorer Award chart (eliminated April 2014)
Explorer Awards: The Rules (eliminated April 2014)
Combined, the cards offer enough American Airlines miles for a round-the-world business class award with up to 15 stopovers.
You could take this trip in business
I Assume the Bride and Groom Aren’t Reading on their Wedding Day
September 2, 2012
How lucky are they?
For the wedding, I'm staying with some friends at the Westin Pittsburgh. There is something in the room that we hung on the door knob that declined housekeeping during the stay in exchange for a $5 coupon per day or 500 SPG points per day.
Since 500 SPG points are worth more than $10, I told my friend to take that option.
Don’t Get the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express without Reading This Post
August 8, 2012
This offer has expired. Click here for the current Starwood Preferred Guest American Express offer.
The Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Card temporarily increased its sign up bonus from 25,000 SPG points to 30,000 SPG points after $5,000 in spending within six months of getting the card. Here are the stats:
Issuing Bank: American Express
Absolute Value of the Sign Up Bonus: $732+
Rebate Percentage of the Sign Up Bonus: 14.6%+
This card's sign up bonus is denominated in SPG points (Starpoints), the proprietary points of the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program.
SPG,Priority Club,Club Carlson
Review: Krakow, Poland Hotel Guide
July 15, 2012
Recently I spent three nights in Krakow, Poland at two hotels. I'll be reviewing four hotels in Krakow, based on my stays and their location relative to where you want to spend time in the city.
Before I get to that, let me say that I highly recommend a trip to Krakow. First of all, it's in Poland which I found to be inexpensive, full of delicious food, and brimming with attractive people who spoke some English.
Of course, the English is not as strong as in western or northern Europe.