Dreaming of a beach vacation to California, Florida, or Hawaii? When you collect Starwood points, you’ll have lots of terrific hotels to choose from when it comes time to book award nights in these wonderful beach destinations.
And if you don’t collect Starwood points, it’s a great time to start! Because until November 1, 2017, you can earn the highest sign-up bonus ever offered on the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express.
The best beach hotel to book depends on your travel plans and expectations. Some folks might want to splurge at luxury hotels for an unforgettable experience.
Others prefer using fewer points at more moderate hotels, so they can make their points go further. You can also stretch your Starwood points with Cash + Points or by using the 5th night free perk at Starwood Category 3 to 7 hotels.
Save on Fabulous Hotel Stays Near the Beach Using Starwood Points!
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
Link: My Review of the Best-Ever 35,000-Point AMEX Starwood Sign-Up Bonus
The best-ever AMEX Starwood small business card sign-up bonus ends on November 1, 2017.
You’ll earn 25,000 Starwood points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. And 10,000 more Starwood points for spending another $4,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.
So you’ll earn a total of 45,000 Starwood points (35,000 point sign-up bonus + at least 10,000 points from minimum spending) after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements. You must have a small business to qualify for this card, but AMEX doesn’t have any strict business income requirements!
Or you can earn points with the personal Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. Be sure to check if you’re targeted for the 35,000-point sign-up bonus on this version of the card.
And remember, you can transfer points instantly between your Starwood and Marriott or Ritz-Carlton loyalty accounts at a 1:3 ratio. This means 45,000 Starwood points are worth 135,000 Marriott or Ritz-Carlton points (45,000 X 3).
So Starwood points are valuable if you’re booking stays at Starwood brand hotels (includes Aloft, Design Hotels, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Westin and W brand hotels).
Or if you want to book award nights at these Marriott hotel brands:
- AC Hotels by Marriott
- Autograph Collection Hotels
- Bulgari
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Delta
- EDITION
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
- Gaylord Hotels
- JW Marriott
- Marriott Hotels
- Moxy Hotels
- Protea Hotels
- Renaissance Hotels
- Residence Inn by Marriott
- Ritz-Carlton
- Ritz-Carlton Reserve
- Springhill Suites by Marriott
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott
Here are 5 excellent beach hotels in the US you can book!
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
If you’re planning a trip to Maui, you can transfer Starwood points to Marriott and book a stay at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.
You can check out our post from our 7-day trip to Maui, which included a neat stargazing tour.
At this hotel, you’ll enjoy a secluded stay and have access to the beach, which is just a ~3 minute walk from the hotel. You can relax at the hotel, hike through the nearby rainforest, or play golf!
This hotel has lots of excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. Folks really enjoy the spacious hotel rooms and terrific dining options at the 6 restaurants, like Kai Sushi.
Free nights at the hotel cost 60,000 Ritz-Carlton points. So you can convert 20,000 Starwood points at a 1:3 ratio for a free night.
So the sign-up bonus and minimum spending points from the AMEX Starwood small business card can get you 2 free nights and you’ll still have points left over. Paying cash for 2 nights can easily cost $1,300, which makes using points at this hotel a great deal!
2. Sheraton La Jolla
La Jolla is Million Mile Secrets team member Keith’s favorite beach destination in the San Diego area. And it’s a great option if you’re looking to redeem Starwood points.
You can stay at the Sheraton La Jolla. The hotel is a ~10 minute drive from the beach and popular La Jolla Cove area and offers spectacular views and fun activities, like kayaking or snorkeling.
Team member Keith recommends grabbing lunch or dinner at Puesto Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar, which has tasty margaritas and is just a ~10 minute drive from the hotel.
Folks with the AMEX Starwood small business card are especially fond of this hotel on TripAdvisor. Because the hotel has a Sheraton Club Lounge, which cardholders get into for free! So you can enjoy snacks and drinks before or after spending time at the beach!
Free nights at this hotel cost 10,000 Starwood points. So taking advantage of the limited-time AMEX Starwood offer will earn you enough points for 4 free nights. Paying cash for a 4-night stay in March 2018 would cost nearly $1,200, so using points can save you a lot of money!
3. Four Points by Sheraton Destin
Destin, Florida is a very popular US beach destination. And it’s driving distance for folks living in nearby states, like Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
There’s plenty to do in the area, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and sea fishing! Folks on TripAdvisor recommend taking a stroll down the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.
To make use of Starwood points to save money on a hotels in the area, you can book an award stay at the beachfront Four Points by Sheraton Destin – Fort Walton Beach.
Award nights at the hotel cost 10,000 Starwood points. So you could earn enough points to get 4 free nights if you take advantage of limited-time AMEX Starwood offer.
A sample 4-night stay in May 2018 costs ~$1,100. So earning just 1 card sign-up bonus can get you excellent savings!
4. Le Meridien Santa Monica
If you’re planning a beach vacation to the West Coast, you can redeem Starwood points for a stay at the Le Delfina Santa Monica. The hotel is located just a few blocks (~10 minute walk) to the beach and famous Santa Monica Pier.
Folks on TripAdvisor rate this hotel highly because it’s walking distance to Venice Beach and Santa Monica tourist attractions like the 3rd Street Promenade.
You’ll pay 12,000 to 16,000 Starwood points for a free night depending on your travel dates. So the AMEX Starwood small business card sign-up bonus and minimum spending points can get you 2 to 3 nights.
If you use points during popular travel times, you can save ~$450+ per night!
5. AC Hotel Miami Beach
Folks on TripAdvisor love the AC Hotel Miami Beach for a weekend getaway. It’s just a short walk from the beach and there’s a great rooftop pool with beautiful views.
And the hotel is just a ~5 minute drive from popular nightclubs and restaurants located in South Beach.
An award night at this hotel costs 35,000 Marriott points. Or you can convert ~12,000 Starwood points at a 1:3 ratio.
Earning 45,000 Starwood points means you’ll have more than enough points for 3 award nights (and 3,000 points shy of a 4th award night). Nightly rates at this hotel can easily cost $300+, so using points is a terrific way to save!
Bottom Line
If you’re looking to save money on a beach vacation, you can do well with the limited-time AMEX Starwood small business card offer.
After meeting tiered minimum spending requirements, you’ll have a total of 45,000 Starwood points (35,000-point sign-up bonus + at least 10,000 points from minimum spending). To take advantage of this increased offer, you must apply by November 1, 2017.
You can use these points to book award stays at Starwood, Marriott, or Ritz-Carlton hotels. Because you can instantly transfer Starwood points back and forth between your loyalty accounts.
For example, you can book free stays at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Or enjoy the West Coast by booking an award stay at the Sheraton La Jolla.
I’d love to hear which beach hotel you would book using Starwood points!