Ready for a long break? I’ll show you how to earn and use 40,000 Starwood points to get 11 award nights at Starwood Category 2 hotels worth well over $1,000!
The best part is you’ll pay nothing or very little out-of-pocket. This is an excellent way for folks to get Big Travel with Small Money in popular spots like Cancun and Las Vegas!
I’ll show you how it works so you can start planning your extended getaway!
Earn 35,000 Starwood Points With 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
How to Earn the 40,000 Starwood Points for 11 Nights
By spending $5,000 on purchases within the 1st 3 months with your new Starwood card, not only will you unlock the limited-time 35,000 point sign-up bonus, but you’ll also earn at least 1 Starwood point per $1 spent.
So your grand total will be at least 40,000 Starwood points (35,000 point bonus + 5,000 points for spending $5,000).
How to Book 11 Award Nights at Starwood Hotels
40,000 Starwood points is enough for 11 consecutive award nights at Starwood Category 2 hotels.That’s because when you book a Starwood Category 1 or 2 hotel, you’ll pay 1,000 fewer Starwood points for weekend award nights. So for Starwood Category 2 hotels, you’ll need:
- 4,000 Starwood points for weekday award stays
- 3,000 Starwood points for weekend award stays
When you check-in on a weekend night, and stay 2 consecutive weekends, you’ll have 4 weekend nights in total, which costs 12,000 Starwood points.
The remaining 7 nights are weekday award nights, so you’ll pay 28,000 Starwood points for those nights of your 11-night stay. That adds up to 11 nights altogether, at a cost of 40,000 Starwood points!
For example, you could stay:
- Saturday (3,000 points)
- Sunday (3,000 points)
- Monday (4,000 points)
- Tuesday (4,000 points)
- Wednesday (4,000 points)
- Thursday (4,000 points)
- Friday (4,000 points)
- Saturday (3,000 points)
- Sunday (3,000 points)
- Monday (4,000 points)
- Tuesday (4,000 points)
Total: 40,000 Starwood points
The key is to find a nice Category 2 hotel. I’ve researched the following 4 but you might also consider Starwood hotels in places such as Memphis, Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, Charlotte, Tucson, Kansas City, Niagara Falls, and more!
Four Starwood Hotels Where You Can Stay 11 Nights
An 11-night stay won’t work for everyone. But it’s a fun option for:
- Folks who can use 7 vacation days to wrap around weekends off
- Students who are out on summer break (after boosting their credit scores)
- Folks who can work remotely
- Retirees who want to spend time in a new destination
- Folks on sabbatical, conducting research for work, or who need time to find a new apartment or home
If you can make it work, the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards offer a tremendous savings.
1. Aloft Cancun
The Aloft Cancun is located at the end of the Hotel Zone in Cancun, Mexico – perfect for a long break along the Caribbean Sea! Eleven nights gives you plenty of time to work on your tan at the rooftop swimming pool or on the beach.
Plus, you’ll have time to visit the city away from the touristy areas. And plan activities like diving off the coast of Isla Mujeres. Or rent a car and visit ancient Mayan temples!
Eleven nights here cost ~$1,595. Or, you can pay 40,000 Starwood points instead. That makes your sign-up bonus worth well over $1,000 toward a relaxing getaway, which is an incredible deal!
In this case, each Starwood point is worth nearly 4 cents each. Not only can you treat yourself and your loved ones to a great vacation, but you also get a fantastic value when you use your points this way!
2. Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village
If you want time in the Caribbean, consider the Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village in the Dominican Republic.
It’s next to the airport, so you can arrive and start your vacation right away. If you rent a car, you can drive to nearby beaches, golf courses, or drive along the coastal highways. And the hotel is near lots of restaurants and shops.
Folks on TripAdvisor report great stays here and gave it lots of 5-star reviews!
Eleven nights cost ~$1,877. Or you can use 40,000 Starwood points!
In this example, each Starwood point is worth nearly 5 cents each. If you can find a cheap flight to the Caribbean or use your miles & points to get there, this would be a fantastic way to get Big Travel with Small Money for some time off!
Emily took a trip to the Dominican Republic and liked the Latin dancing and trying the local food!
3. Four Points by Sheraton Orlando Studio City
Located on International Drive, the Four Points by Sheraton Orlando Studio City is across from Universal Orlando and close to Disney parks in the area.
You could take your time at each theme park. And enjoy Orlando’s restaurants and shopping. There’s also an outdoor pool with a splash area for the kids.
If you stay 11 nights, you’d pay ~$1,798 including $165 for resort fees ($15 per day X 11 days). Even with the resort fee considered, your 40,000 Starwood points are worth ~$1,633 ($1,798 – $165). That’s only $15 per night for a hotel in Orlando – an amazing deal!
This would be a great way to save on a family vacation, or a fun trip to Orlando. Be sure to check out my other tips on saving money at Disney!
4. Four Points by Sheraton Las Vegas East Flamingo
The Four Points by Sheraton Las Vegas East Flamingo is only a few blocks from the world-famous Las Vegas strip and close to the airport. See live shows and try your luck at the casinos!
If you want to explore the surrounding area, consider driving 2 and a half hours to gorgeous Zion National Park in Utah. Many folks combine a day trip to the park with some fun in Vegas. The drive is spectacular when the weather is nice!
An 11-night stay here costs ~$1,429, or 40,000 Starwood points. When you use points to cover your stay, you can stay a little longer at the slot machines. Or play a few more rounds of blackjack!
Hopefully this gives you some ideas. And shows you how valuable your Starwood points can be!
Bottom Line
40,000 Starwood points is enough for 11 consecutive nights at Starwood Category 2 hotels. Because you’ll pay 4,000 Starwood points for 7 weekday nights, and 3,000 Starwood points for 4 weekend nights in total. I was able to find 11-night award stays at each hotel I checked!
After you spend $5,000 on your new AMEX Starwood personal or small business card, you’ll have at least 40,000 Starwood points because the current sign-up bonus offer is 35,000 Starwood points (closes March 30, 2016) after meeting the minimum spending requirements.
A longer award stay is a fantastic opportunity to have more time for relaxing or fully exploring the area. Your 40,000 Starwood points can easily be worth over $1,000 toward your extended break.
Let me know which Starwood hotel you’d choose for an 11-night stay!