Update: This offer for the Starwood AMEX cards is no longer available but check Hot Deals for the latest offers!
With the current sign-up bonus on the Starwood card, you can get a 5-night award stay at top hotels in exciting locations like the Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach in the Canary Islands, the Sheraton Cocoa Beach in Florida, and more!
Until March 30, 2016, you’ll earn 35,000 Starwood points on both the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express personal and small business cards after completing the minimum spending requirements.
This is the biggest bonus EVER for these cards!
I’ll show you how you can do it!
Best Offer Ever on 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
If you apply before March 30, 2016, you can earn an increased sign-up bonus on both the personal and small business AMEX Starwood Preferred Guest 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.
Here’s my full review of the Starwood 35,000 point offer.
How You Can Use Your Starwood Card Bonus
Both the Starwood Preferred personal and small business cards come with great benefits. And 1 of the best parts of the Starwood Preferred Guest program is the 5th night free perk.
Starwood’s 5th night free benefit only applies to Starwood Category 3 to 7 hotels.
You’ll get the 5th night free when you book consecutive award nights.
And anyone can book their 5th night free. You do NOT need elite status with Starwood to take advantage of this perk!
6 Nights at Category 3 Hotels
With your 35,000 Starwood point bonus you can easily get 6 nights free at any Category 3 hotel. Those hotels cost 7,000 Starwood points per night.
And with the 5th night free benefit, 5 nights will cost you 28,000 points (7,000 points per night X 4 nights plus the 5th night free). You’ll have 7,000 bonus points to spare! Enough for another free night!
5 Nights at Category 4 Hotels
Category 4 hotels cost 10,000 points per night. So you’ll need 40,000 Starwood points for a 5 night stay using the 5th night free perk (10,000 points per night X 4 nights plus the 5th night free).
Remember, 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.
You Also Earn Points From the Minimum Spending Requirement!
For example, with the Starwood Preferred Guest small business card you’ll have to spend $5,000 to get the 35,000 Starwood point bonus. Because the Starwood card gives you at least 1 point per $1 you spend, you’ll earn another 5,000 Starwood points. For a total of 40,000 Starwood points to use!
With the Starwood Preferred Guest personal card you’ll only have to spend $3,000 to get the 35,000 Starwood point sign-up bonus. So you’ll earn another 3,000 Starwood points, for a total of 38,000 Starwood points.
But if you need 40,000 Starwood points for your stay, you’ll have to do an extra $2,000 in spending to earn another 2,000 Starwood points.
Where Can You Use Your Starwood Bonus?
Here are 5 fun Starwood hotels where you can use your Starwood bonus to get 5 free nights!
1. Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa in Mauritius
How about taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean?
You can stay 5 nights free at the Westin Turtle Bay & Spa with your Starwood card bonus!
Mauritius is a top diving destination and the hotel itself offers some great amenities. There’s a spa and a kids club. And a fully supervised indoor and outdoor playground!
This Category 4 hotel costs 10,000 Starwood points per night.
With the 35,000 point bonus from the Starwood small business card, the 5,000 points you’ll earn from meeting the minimum spending requirement, and the 5th night free benefit, you’ll have enough for 5 free nights at this outstanding hotel!
A 5-night stay in July 2016 would cost ~1,138 euros (~$1,275). So you’re saving lots of money by using your Starwood points here!
2. Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach
Many people love vacationing at the beach, and the Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach in Florida is just steps from the sand.
It gets 4 stars on TripAdvisor for its great location and friendly staff. It’s also close to popular attractions like the Kennedy Space Center.
This Category 3 hotel costs 7,000 Starwood points per night. So with either bonus from the Starwood personal or small business card, you’d have enough points for 5 to 6 free nights here!
I found rooms in July 2016 for ~$133 per night (~$665 for 5 nights). You could use the money you save with your Starwood points for surf lessons!
3. Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas, Scottsdale
How about a trip to the desert in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona? It’s a great spot for golfing, hiking, and shopping! The Old Town area is fun for families too, with its outdoor cafes, art galleries, and street performers.
The Sheraton Desert Oasis Villas gets outstanding reviews on TripAdvisor for its location, amenities, and staff.
Rooms have kitchenettes and there is a designated kids pool along with a children’s playground. It’s a great spot for families!
It is a Category 4 hotel and costs 10,000 Starwood points per night.
Using the 5th night free perk, this hotel will cost you 40,000 Starwood points (10,000 points per night X 4 nights plus the 5th night free).
Rooms here in July 2016 are ~$136 per night, or ~$680 for a 5-night stay.
So with the small business card bonus and the points you’ll earn meeting the minimum spending requirement, you’ll have just enough for 5 free nights! And you’ll save ~$680!
4. Four Points by Sheraton Munich Central
Munich is a wonderful city to experience architecture, art, and the Bavarian lifestyle. And the Four Points by Sheraton Munich Central is a great spot to use your Starwood points for free nights!
Folks on TripAdvisor give this hotel good reviews because of its cleanliness and convenient location. It’s within walking distance to the main train station, many restaurants, and museums. It is also near the Theresienwiese, where Munich’s famous Oktoberfest is held!
I found rooms for ~143 euros (~$160) in July 2016. So a 5-night stay would cost ~715 euros (~$801).
Using Starwood points at this Category 4 hotel will only cost 10,000 Starwood points per night.
So again, with the small business card bonus (35,000 points), the points you’ll earn meeting the minimum spending requirement (5,000 points), and the 5th night free perk, you’ll have just enough for 5 free nights!
5. Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort, Canary Islands
A Category 3 hotel, the Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort in the Canary Islands gets almost all 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. Spain’s Canary Islands are a very popular vacation spot for Europeans, and an excellent destination for an exotic getaway from the US!
This stunning Sheraton hotel only costs 7,000 Starwood points per night. The Starwood card’s bonus is plenty of points for 5 to 6 free nights.
With the 5th night free benefit, 5 nights will cost you 28,000 points (7,000 points per night X 4 nights plus the 5th night free). You’ll even have 7,000 bonus points left over, which is enough for a 6th free night!
A 5-night stay here in July 2016 would cost ~685 euros (~$768), so your Starwood card’s bonus is worth a lot if you use it here!
Bottom Line
Through March 30, 2016, you can earn 35,000 Starwood points on both the AMEX personal and small business cards when you sign-up and meet the minimum spending requirements.
And you can use the bonus along with Starwood’s 5th night free perk for some amazing and FREE 5-night hotel stays!
I’ve never seen the bonus this high. And it’s likely the last time it will ever be this much. So if you’ve never had either card, right now is a fantastic time to apply.
And it’s a great time to start planning your next getaway!
@Boonie – Great!
@Adam – There’s nothing in writing, but I’ve heard similar reports.
@Chris – Tough decision! 🙂 Let us know what you end up doing!
I like that Cocoa Beach idea! We were planning on blowing all the points on 1 night at a St Regis…maybe we will be more family friendly!
I got the AMEX Hilton card 3 weeks ago and the AMEX Starwood Business 1 week ago. I tried for the AMEX Starwood personal card and was turned down. I was told AMEX only allows 2 cards per 90 days. Any advice?
I just applied for this card never had it before and I was on the fence about it. I’ve stayed at the Desert Oasis in Scottsdale as part of a timeshare and have to agree it is very nice!
@K @ Jamie – Terrific! Thanks for sharing!
@L – The 35,000 Starwood points offer is a public offer, so I’m not sure what the representative is talking about, either. Perhaps try calling back and speaking with a different agent?