Did you know you can get longer award stays at Starwood hotels with Starwood Cash & Points? It’s an excellent way to save a LOT of money at some of the best hotels in the world!
The current sign-up bonus on the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express personal and small business cards is 35,000 Starwood points after completing the minimum spending requirements – the highest offer there’s ever been!
That’s enough for a 6-night Cash & Points stay at Starwood’s beautiful Category 5 hotels!
Get a 6-Night Stay at Starwood Category 5 Hotels With 36,000 Starwood Points and a Cash & Points Rate, Including The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali!
I’ll share my top picks for hotels in beach destinations, US cities, and Europe!
About the AMEX Starwood Cards
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
Link: How to Fill Out an American Express Business Card Application
Link: How to Use Starwood Points
Apply before March 30, 2016, to earn the increased bonus on both cards. You’ll get:
- 35,000 Starwood points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account (personal card), OR
- 35,000 Starwood points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account (small business card)
- 2 points per $1 you spend at Starwood hotels (includes Aloft, Design Hotels, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Westin and W brand hotels)
- 1 Starwood point per $1 you spend on everything else
- Unlimited use of Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots (excluding in-flight)
- For small business cardholders, access to Sheraton Club lounges (free breakfast and hors d’oeuvres) for cardholder and 1 guest staying in the same room (3rd party bookings are excluded).
- 2 stay credits or 5 night credits toward Starwood Elite Status
- $95 annual fee, waived for the 1st year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Terms & limitations apply
Note: American Express only allows folks to get the sign-up bonus ONCE per person, per lifetime on ALL their cards.
6 Hotels Where You Can Get a 6-Night Stay With 36,000 Starwood Points and Cash & Points
With the sign-up bonus of 35,000 Starwood points on the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards, you can get Starwood hotel stays or transfer them to ~30 airline partners. (And I’ll show you how you’ll wind up with more than the necessary 36,000 points!)
And if you want to stretch your stays at Starwood hotels, Cash & Points is a terrific way to use your Starwood points.
Starwood hotels include Aloft, Design Hotels, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Westin and W brand hotels.
With 35,000 Starwood points for Cash & Points stays, you can get:
- 23 nights at a Starwood Category 1 hotel (plus $690)
- 17 nights at a Starwood Category 2 hotel (plus $595)
- 10 nights at a Starwood Category 3 hotel (plus $550)
- 7 nights at a Starwood Category 4 hotel (plus $525)
- 5 nights at a Starwood Category 5 hotel (plus $550)
- 3 nights at a Starwood Category 6 hotel (plus $540)
- 2 nights at a Starwood Category 7 hotel (plus $550)
36,000 Starwood Points Get You 6 Nights at Starwood Category 5 Hotels With Cash & Points
The Cash & Points rate for 6 nights at Starwood Category 5 hotels is 36,000 Starwood points plus $660. Your 36,000 Starwood points goes toward the balance after you pay $660 (your room rate – $660 cash co-pay).
You’ll have at least 38,000 OR 40,000 Starwood points after completing the minimum spending requirements, depending on which version of the card you get. Because you’ll earn at least 1 Starwood point per $1 spent.
Let’s look at where you can enjoy 6 nights in a fantastic hotel while saving Big Money with Starwood points!
Note: Some Starwood hotels (especially resorts) add pricey resort fees to paid and award nights. Before you book, check the hotel policy to decide if it’s worth it for you. And here are my tips on how to avoid them! I’ve noted in my examples which hotels add resort fees.
Note: Starwood updated their hotel categories on March 1, 2016. But some hotels have not been changed on their website yet. So be sure to double-check!
1. The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Make your way to South Carolina to experience Southern hospitality, delicious fresh-caught seafood, and plenty of sun and sand. The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is located on Hilton Head Island, with access to 12 miles of beachfront!
There are also 3 swimming pools, and grounds for golf and tennis. So there’s plenty of room to relax or enjoy fun activities!
Spot Dolphins and Watch Shrimping Boats Catch Fresh Seafood Along the Atlantic Coast at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
A 6-night stay here in May costs ~$1,892 including a $20 per night resort fee ($120 total). Or, you can pay 36,000 Starwood points and $660.
That makes your points worth ~$1,112 ($1,892 – $660 cash co-pay – $120 resort fee) – over 3 cents each. That’s a great deal!
Treat your partner or spouse to a relaxing beach vacation, Southern-style!
2. Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
New York is a city you can easily spend 6 days exploring. And you can stay at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel with Starwood points. It’s near several popular tourist destinations, like shows on Broadway, shopping on 5th Avenue, and beautiful Central Park.
Get Big Travel With Small Money in New York! With the Money You Save Using Starwood Points, You’ll Have More to Spend on Broadway Shows or Trying New Restaurants
I found a Cash & Points rate over the July 4th holiday weekend! So you’d get to visit New York in the summer and watch the river fireworks displays.
The paid cost of the stay is ~$2,064. You can use 36,000 Starwood points to offset over $1,400 on your stay (~$2,064 – $660 cash co-pay), which makes each point worth ~4 cents.
Check out my other tips on how to save money in New York during the summer!
3. Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort, Los Cabos
The Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort, Los Cabos is a beachside resort at the tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. It has 5 pools and several bars and restaurants. So you can spend your time relaxing. Or explore the gorgeous local area.
Take the Family to Cabo! There’s Plenty to Do for Adults and the Little Ones. Your Starwood Points Are Worth Over $1,500 Here!
A week in May costs ~$2,170.
So your 36,000 Starwood points are worth ~$1,510 ($2,170 – $660) or over 4 cents each. Use the sign-up bonus you earn from the AMEX Starwood personal or small business card to splurge on a family vacation south of the border!
4. The Westin Dublin
Six days is plenty of time to explore the pubs of Dublin and find the perfect pint of Guinness. The Westin Dublin is centrally located downtown, easy walking distance to the pubs of Temple Bar or the shopping on Grafton Street.
Folks on TripAdvisor gave this hotel almost all 5-star reviews!
The Westin Dublin Has a Fantastic Location for Getting to Know the City and Learning About Irish History
A 6-night stay here costs ~$2,225. But when you choose Cash & Points, you’ll pay 36,000 Starwood points and a $660 cash co-pay. Your Starwood points cover more than $1,500 toward your visit ($2,225 – $660 co-pay).
So each Starwood point is worth over 4 cents apiece!
While you’re there, be sure to have traditional afternoon tea in the hotel lounge!
5. Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague
The Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague, is housed in a 13th century monastery in beautiful and historic Prague. It’s well-located to explore nearby attractions, like Prague Castle. And the hotel bar brews and serves its own brand of beer!
Enjoy Your Time in Prague and Stay in a Hotel Converted From an Ancient Monastery!
You’d pay ~$2,549 for 6 nights here. But with Cash & Points, your 36,000 Starwood points are worth nearly $1,900 for your stay ($2,549 – $660 cash co-pay).
Again, this is a fantastic deal because your points are worth over 5 cents each. And you get to experience a unique hotel in a beautiful new city!
6. Sheraton Kauai Resort
Hawaii is always a good choice! The Sheraton Kauai Resort is located on Kauai, near where Emily and I stayed when we visited. Here’s what we found to do and eat in the local area.
This hotel has 2 restaurants, pools, golf courses nearby, and activities like scuba diving lessons and snorkeling, so you’ll have plenty to keep you busy there, too!
Have an Extended Relaxing Stay in Paradise at the Sheraton Kauai Resort
Six nights here cost ~$2,086, including ~$188 in resort fees. Or you could pay 36,000 Starwood points and $660 with the Cash & Points rate. You’ll still be responsible for the resort fees, even with an award booking.
Emily and I Loved Exploring (and Eating) in Kauai!
In this case, your 36,000 Starwood points are worth over 3 cents each ($2,086 – $188 resort fees – $660 cash co-pay)!
For your stay in Hawaii, or any of the other hotels on this list, you’re only paying $110 per night (plus 6,000 Starwood points) with the Cash & Points option.
Check out other Starwood Category 5 hotels to see where else you can spend 6 nights with 36,000 Starwood points on the Cash & Points rate!
Bottom Line
The sign-up bonus of 35,000 Starwood points on the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards is enough for 6 nights at Starwood Category 5 hotels all over the world with the Cash & Points option!
You’ll pay $660 cash co-pay ($110 a night) plus 36,000 Starwood points (6,000 Starwood points per night) for 6 nights at beautiful hotels like the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel or the unique Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague.
Cash & Points is an excellent way to stretch your Starwood points for 6-night stays, AND get an amazing vacation at Starwood hotels!
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