Don't Leave Home Without This Credit Card!
Written: Apr 11 '01
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Pros: You must have this card if you adore travel
Cons: nothing
The Bottom Line: You must have this card-it is a wonderful plus to free hotel nights and sweet benefits!
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| bwyckoff1's Full Review: Sheraton Starpoints (American Express) |
I am going to tell you one of the best travel cards on this planet. Are you buying big-ticket items and not cashing them in for points towards free certificates, airline awards or hotel nights? Why? My sweet buttercup? In this day and age if you are not cashing in your dollars for possible travel options, you are back in the dark ages.
American Express has a terrific plan that merged with Sheraton Starpoints. I belonged to the starpoint system before American Express came along. The plan was terrific on its own. The points accumulated each time you visit certain hotels in the Starwood network. It encompasses the Caesars Pocono Resort Hotels, which I adore. They also have in their illustrious family the Westin, The Sheraton, Four Points Hotels, St.Regis, the Luxury Collection and W Hotels. Not a shabby list. Since I visited Caesars Hotel at Cove Haven two times per year I had lots of Starpoints, which were one point per dollar spent on the hotel room. The more you stay the more benefits you could accumulate within the Starwood resort system. The benefits can be a late morning check out or perhaps a two-category upgrade in room. I have taken advantage of this benefit and it is wonderful. The more visits to these hotels obtain a gold or platinum membership status, which allows 2 points per dollar spent.
Now, the American Express Corporation has tied together with Starwood Corporation to make the awards so much easier to obtain. There is the specific American Express Sheraton card, which with no annual fee is attached. On top of this, as long as you pay off your entire balance monthly there are no finance charges attached to this particular card. This is a dynamite bargain onto itself. With any purchase on American Express you accumulate points quickly. The awards are for an accumulation of 2,00 to 16,000 points for which you get a free night depending on the category of the hotel. What is super is there are no blackout dates. As you increase the points they give you up to 5 nights free at these hotels. There are also discounted hotel specials that come through the mail. I have received special member offers in Orlando and Hawaii that look great and the price is discounted at some very luxurious hotels and spas. There are Avis discounts, phone card discounts, and airline points can be applied too. The airline awards range from a 2,000 point 1 to 1 conversion to frequent flier miles of 125,00 points obtaining you a Concorde flight to London. Cheerio old chap!
I have found the customer service excellent and easy to deal with. I recently needed to make hotel arrangements and worked through their customer service. They were patient and helpful in making all travel arrangements through their system.
To determine if you would like to join the Starwood system, all information can be found at their web site. It can be accessed at www.preferredguest.com. On the site is a wonderful summary of all their benefits, the hotels in their system and their amenities. The site is easy to get around. Once you become a member you also can check your point summary here. To get information on the American Express card itself you can log on to www.americanexpress.com.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bwyckoff1
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Member: Barb wyckoff
Location: New York
Reviews written: 337
Trusted by: 259 members
About Me:
Film Critic-Painter-Writer- Professional Artist
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