Through April 5, 2017, the sign-up bonuses for the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards have increased to a total of 35,000 Starwood points after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements.
And there are lots of beautiful and interesting hotels in Asia and Australia where you can stay with Starwood points!
Now is an excellent time to sign-up for these cards. Because the sign-up bonus has NEVER been higher! And because of the Marriott Starwood merger, we don’t know if or when these cards will be discontinued.
35,000 Starwood points is more than enough for an award night at top-tier Starwood hotels, like the Sheraton Denarau Villas in Fiji!
I’ll show you some top places to use Starwood points for hotels in Asia.
Starwood Points for Hotels in Asia
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
Link: Limited Time: Best-Ever 35,000 Point Sign-Up Bonus With AMEX Starwood Cards Returns!
Until April 5, 2017, you can earn an increased 35,000 point sign-up bonus when you apply for the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards and meet tiered minimum spending requirements. The sign-up bonus on these cards is usually 25,000 Starwood points, so this is a good deal!
35,000 Starwood points is enough to stay at the best Starwood hotels, like the W Bali – Seminyak. Million Mile Secrets team member Keith stayed at this hotel during his honeymoon last year. He said the hotel was modern, with lots of restaurants and shopping areas within walking distance of the hotel.
With the personal AMEX Starwood card, you’ll earn 25,000 Starwood points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. And 10,000 more Starwood points for spending another $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.
And with the AMEX Starwood small business card, you’ll earn 25,000 Starwood points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. And 10,000 more Starwood points for spending another $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.
Remember, AMEX will only give you the sign-up bonus for each card ONCE per lifetime, with this possible exception.
1. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is a beautiful resort on the island of Furanafushi, just a 20-minute boat ride from the Male airport.
Visitors really appreciate the greenery of the island, the orchid garden, and the overall insect-free experience! The resort has activities like daily boat excursions, snorkeling, and tennis courts.
This category 6 hotel sells rooms for $550+ per night, or 20,000 to 25,000 Starwood points. That’s a value of between 2.2 and 2.75 cents per point ($550 per night / 20,000 Starwood points). But the Maldives is NOT a cheap destination, even if you’re using points. Food will be expensive, because the resort can charge whatever they want and you don’t have the luxury of choosing another place to eat.
You’ll also have to pay $136 per person for the round-trip boat transfer from the Male airport to the hotel, whether you book your stay with cash or points. But it could be worse! When Emily and I took our families to the Maldives a few years ago, transportation from the Male airport to our island was $500 per person!
2. The Old Clare Hotel, A Member Of Design Hotels
The Old Clare Hotel is a very interesting hotel that sits on Kensington Street, which is one of the most vibrant places in Sydney. Kensington street is located outside Sydney, about 3 miles from the Park Hyatt Sydney, where I stayed last year. But it calls itself Sydney’s NEW downtown. The Old Clare Hotel is extremely boutique. I’ve never stayed here, but it looks like one of the MOST unique atmospheres I’ve ever seen! Some parts of the hotel look rustic and dilapidated.Other parts of the hotel have graffiti on the walls, exposed pipes, and cracked walls. But the hotel is expensive and says it is a true 5-star experience! The idea is to give folks a top-notch experience without throwing it in your face.
This is a category 5 hotel. Rooms here can go for $340+. But you can reserve a free room for 12,000 to 16,000 Starwood points per night. That’s a value of between ~2.1 and 2.8 cents per point ($340 per night / 12,000 Starwood points).
3. Sheraton Denarau Villas, Fiji
As the name suggests, there are only villas at the Sheraton Denarau Villas in Fiji. The base room is a huge 1,206-foot 2-bedroom villa. It’s family friendly, with 6 swimming pools to choose from.
Folks like the jaw-dropping sunsets and gorgeous beaches. And if you want to save money on food, the hotel is close to Nadi, where you can take the bus to town for $1 and buy groceries!
This is a category 6 hotel. Rooms here usually sell for ~$650+, or 20,000 to 25,000 Starwood points per night. That’s a value of between 2.6 and 3.25 cents per point ($650 per night / 20,000 Starwood points).
4. W Singapore – Sentosa Cove
The W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is about a 15 minute drive from the touristy areas of Sentosa. Depending on the kind of travel you’ll be doing, that can be a good thing or a bad thing.
The hotel has 4 restaurants, including the really cool looking Wet Bar at the pool. Folks like the floating bean bags and poolside dining. They’ll even deliver your food to you at the beach!
This is a category 6 hotel. Rooms here usually sell for ~$400. But you can reserve a free room for between 20,000 and 25,000 Starwood points per night. That’s a value of between 1.6 and 2 cents per point ($400 per night / 20,000 Starwood points).
5. The Naka Phuket, a Member of Design Hotels
When you book The Naka Phuket, a Member of Design Hotels, you’ll book directly into a suite. The hotel has very modern architecture, with villas that hang over the Adaman sea. The beach is just steps away, and you can rent kayaks, and snorkels for free!
The hotel is 4.5 miles away from the popular town of Patong. So you’ll have easy access to a lively town, but no noise pollution at the hotel.
This is a category 6 hotel. Base rooms here sell for $300+. But you can reserve a free room for between 20,000 and 25,000 Starwood points per night. That’s a value of between 1.2 and 1.5 cents per point ($300 per night / 20,000 Starwood points).
And remember, if you’d prefer to stay at a Marriott hotel, you can transfer your points between your Starwood and Marriott account at a ratio of 1:3 (1 Starwood point = 3 Marriott points). So you have a lot of hotels you can redeem your Starwood points for!
Bottom Line
There are lots of Starwood hotels between Asia and Australia where you can use Starwood points to get Big Travel with Small Money. You’ll save hundreds per night by booking with Starwood points, especially if you’re staying in expensive areas like Singapore or Sydney.
The sign-up bonus on the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards is usually 25,000 Starwood points. But if you apply by April 5, 2017, you’ll earn a total of 35,000 points after meeting tiered minimum spending requriements.
There has never been a higher sign-up bonus for these cards. And because of the upcoming Marriott Starwood merger, we don’t know if or when these cards will be discontinued! So it’s a great time to apply, especially if you’re considering a trip to any of these fantastic Pacific locations!
What’s your favorite Asia Pacific Starwood hotel?