Starwood Preferred Guest Cash and Points Redemption

August 8, 2012 - Andy

Starwood Preferred Guest Program Overview
Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel Picks
Starwood Preferred Guest Cash and Points Redemption

Today we look further into the SPG program at a hybrid way of redeeming your Starpoints. Namely “Cash and Points” where you use and fraction of the normal points and top up with cash. This is hands down the best consistent value available across any hotel program. Rick has touted this as his favorite redemption for any point out there and when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck this is a great one.

This can be an excellent value redemption, depending on where you want to go and also helps those with a lower balance of points, or those who want to make their points last longer or go further. Without further ado, let’s get going guys!

SHERATON FIJI

Courtesy Sheraton Fiji.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of Fiji hidden in the South Pacific, with exotic islanders, colorful reefs, green mountains, and powder sound beaches makes my head spin. I need to go;nNow.

At Fiji’s only five-star resort complex, you’ll enjoy access to facilities at three Sheraton and Westin Resorts. Relax by the pools, rejuvenate at the spa, or revitalise with a game of golf. This is a superb redemption at 4000 points and $60. Personally I would use my SPG Amex to book for the cash portion but my Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay for incidentals if they were in Fiji dollars as it has no foreign transaction fee, and you get double points for travel!

LE MERIDIEN MONACO

Courtesy Le Meridien Monte Carlo.

Harking back to our first Diamond Destination of Monaco, you may remember the glitz and glamor of this destination. With summer rates well over $500 or 25,000 points per night, 8000 points and $150 can be a much better option. It boasts the only private beach in the tiny principality and I’m guessing a private tour of the Formula One track in a Ferrari listed as an activity here at the Meridien won’t be cheap; but if you do go, would you please ask the concierge the price for me? Really.

LE MERIDIEN KOH SAMUI

Courtesy Le Méridien Koh Samui

Head just a few thousand miles east from Monaco to the shining Andaman sea of Thailand, and you will find another Le Meridien on the touristy but still gorgeous island of Koh Samui. The warmth of the Thai people will touch your soul and the food will excite and liven even the most jaded palate. Only 4,000 points and $60. Avios points can be used on Cathay Pacific to get here via the equally exotic Hong Kong. I highly recommend Hong Kong and Thailand as a combo trip.

Nick

Sheesh, these trips make me drool! I have roughly 230k AVIOS, 32k SPG, and should have ~300k Hhonors points by November. Now I just need the TIME to be able to go to some of these destinations!

Andyyac

I agree Nick, I wish you the best in your quest for TIME ! 300k Hilton is a decent stash….nice job sir. Have you considered the Conrad Maldives? It’s amazing (caveat… very expensive while your there, but the best value redemption otherwise, in my opinion)

Guest

“Exotic islanders”? Hard to imagine you could be more offensive if you tried.
Charlie Clarke

exotic: strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual
islander: native or inhabitant of an island

I don’t see anything offensive. The statement doesn’t even imply that all the islanders on Fiji are exotic, just that at least some of the islanders are exotic, and it is an attraction of going to Fiji.

I’m really against just calling someone offensive for no stated reason. There’s no desire for an open dialogue or learning to take place; it’s really just name calling.
Andyyac

Well, thank you Charlie for coming to my defense. Of course I meant no offense to Fijians, in fact I am doing my best to promote their wonderful country, to which I would hope they would gain from. It is and never will be my intention to cause offense. Once again thank you, and I salute your positivity!
Guest

Since you asked…

Do you think Fijians seem “exotic” to themselves or to other Fijians?

The “exotic” label is used in a way that appears to describe an attribute of the people being so characterized, but it’s actually a subjectivity belonging to the author (and his presumed audience).

There are power dynamics at work in the assumed elevation of the author’s (privileged) perspective to this faux-objective narrative status, not to mention the assumptions being made about the audience. It’s exploitative: the “exoticism” is presented as an example of what is enjoyable about traveling to Fiji, as though people who seem exotic to the author were put on earth for his enjoyment.

That it’s well intentioned is beside the point. Sorry, encouraging an audience of people with the privilege to be able to travel the world to go check out some exotic islanders is grossly uncritical and, yes, offensive.
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Starwood Preferred Guest Cash and Points Redemption

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