Points = Free Hotel or Travel
Written: Jan 21 '00 (Updated Jan 21 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: no fee, dollar for point on purchase, more points for stays, and easy to redeem
Cons: not accepted at all locations
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| pweisenberg's Full Review: Sheraton Starpoints (American Express) |
I have had my Sheraton American Express for about 6 years now. It used to be the ITT Sheraton Optima rewards program but Starwoods bought Sheraton and it was merged with the Starpoints program.
I would recommend that anyone that gets this card should also join the Starwood preferred guest program. If you sign up now, you will get a few years' worth of membership. Included in the program is Free room upgrades, Free continental breakfast (some places) a morning newspaper and late checkouts. Plus you get an extra 3 bonus points for the first year, because they will automatically upgrade you to a gold member, where you get 4 point per dollars spent.
Now when you charge with your American Express card, you always get 1 point for every dollar spent. To accumulate ever more points, AT+T has a dollar for points program with AMEX that gets credited to your Starwood points.
The Amex card is free, and if you pay your bills in time (like I do) you don't have to worry about those nasty fees (8.9% into going to 17%). With this card, you will get all the other benefits that go along with a American Express card:
24-Hour Customer Service
Ability to check and pay your bill online
24 hours a day Global Assist Hotline offers toll-free emergency medical and legal referrals worldwide
Emergency Card replacement, usually within 24 hours
FREE Additional Cards for people close to you
Extra protection for most of your Card purchases—free with our Buyer's Assurance Plan and Purchase Protection Plan
Up to $100,000 Travel Accident Insurance FREE
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Worldwide cash access at more than 190,000 ATM locations
Personal assistance at over 1,700 Travel Service locations worldwide
I have also had pleasant conversation with the good folks at Starwood when I was making travel arrangement and cashing in my points for a night’s stay.
Starwood properties are broken into 5 categories. A category 1 hotel can be cashed in for 2,000 points a night, while a category 5 will run you 10,000 points a night. (The categories will change at some properties, depending if it’s a weekend or weekday.)
Some very nice hotels are rated lower for some reason, I stayed at the Sheraton Plaza hotel in Montreal for only 3,000 points (category 2).
Conclusion: If you already have a frequent flyer program, then you also need a frequent hotel program too. Get the American Express Startpoints Card today.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pweisenberg
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Peter Weisenberg
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Reviews written: 261
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
Enjoying the ride, only 19 more years til I retire!
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