American Express Starwood Credit Cards
One of the best known names in credit cards – American Express – is offering one of the best travel credit cards available. American Express protects its brand by being more selective in who it extends accounts to, so you will need a quality credit history to be able to open an account. However, once American Express accepts you, the perks and benefits begin to flow.
One of American Express' most popular travel rewards credit card lines is the Starwood Preferred Guest line. The credit card comes in both consumer and business editions with specific perks for each. The travel rewards come in the form of Starpoints that can be redeemed at Starwood Hotels and Resorts anywhere in the world. You could redeem points for hotels brands such as Westin, Aloft, Four Points by Sheraton, Stregis, and W.
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
If you want to earn travel rewards on your credit card spending rather than cash back, the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest credit card is a great option for you. You will be able to redeem your points for nights at luxurious Starwood hotels and resorts or flights to those destinations. The consumer version of the credit card generates 1 Starpoint for every eligible dollar spent, and your points will never expire. You will be created 10,000 points after your first purchase. That's enough points to have one free night at any category 4 hotel in the Starwood network. Your points can be redeemed at over 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide or on over 350 airline partners (with no blackout dates).
The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card comes without an annual fee for your first year. After the first year, you will pay a $65 annual fee. You also get the added benefit of a free third night at Sheraton locations with two consecutive nights prior. That makes enjoying a long weekend a little bit easier. You also get 4 to 5 Starpoints for every dollar spent at Starwood hotels and resorts. That helps you earn your next free stay even faster.
Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN
If you travel a lot for business and your company lets you expense your travel spending, the business edition of the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card is a great choice to rack up your spending on. You can open up the card today with no annual fee; every year after your first year you will pay only $65 for all the perks the card provides. Additionally when you sign up today you will receive 10,000 bonus points, plus an additional 15,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 in the first 6 months of being a card member. Those 25,000 points are enough for two absolutely free nights at a Category 5 hotel in the Starwood family. You will earn 1 Starpoint for every dollar spent on the card, and your points never expire. You can also transfer your points to Frequent Flier programs and earn a bonus. If you transfer 20,000 points to a frequent flier program, American Express will bonus you an additional 5,000 points. You will also receive every 3rd night free when you stay at Sheraton hotels. If you had a 6 night business trip, you would end up only paying for 4 nights.
Perks and Benefits of Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cards
On top of all the points, free nights, and free flights you can earn with your normal spending, there are several benefits to being a card member:
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
- Access to American Express' Ticket Savings Center
- Fraud Protection
- Receive credit for 5 nights toward Starwood Preferred Guest elite status every year.
- $100,000 in Travel Accident Insurance
- Access to Global Assist Hotline which provides 24/7 emergency assistance if you are more than 100 miles from home.
- Automatic warranty extension of manufacturer's warranty for an additional year.
- Refund Assistance. If you try to return an item within 90 days of purchasing it and the merchant won't take it back, American Express will cover the cost of the item up to $300 per item and $1,000 total per year.
