Want to win 30,000 Starwood Points — enough for up to 7 free hotel nights? Read to the end of this post to find out how. (You don’t have to have, or sign up for, a credit card to win!)
American Express is running a fantastic offer giving new cardmembers the ability to earn up to 30,000 bonus Starpoints®, enough for up to seven free nights at select Starwood properties, during their first year of sign-up with the Starwood Preferred Gest Card. To help promote this offer they gave us 30,000 to tell you how we will “stretch our summer” with the points and are giving away 30,000 points to one lucky Go Green Travel Green reader. To be entered to win, use the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post and leave a comment on this post telling us at which Starwood property (or properties) you would spend your 30,000 points.
I love personal finance almost as much as I love to travel. And a lot of personal finance bloggers love the Starwood Card from American Express. Personally, I always preferred cash back credit cards because I didn’t see what the big deal was with hotel points. Until recently. It turns out that you get a lot more value for your Starwood points than you do by getting cash back. For example, 30,000 points on a normal credit card would get you $300 back in cash. But when you use your points to book hotel nights, the value is a lot higher. For example, at the resort on the Canary Islands below I would have to pay over $1200 to stay 7 nights. Or I could use 28,000 Starpoints. Clearly, the points are a better way to go.
So where would I stay with 30,000 points?
Here are my five top picks for places I would stay to spend 30,000 points to make my summer last a little bit longer this year. At each of these hotels (even the fanciest resorts), I could stay from a weekend to a full week with 30,000 Starpoints.
1. Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Golf & Spa Resort Canary Isle
I’ve always wanted to visit the Canary Islands. During August the average high is about 80 degrees and they get almost no rain — so what better time of year to stay at a luxurious resort like this one?
2. Sheraton Iguazu
It was nearly 4 years ago that we spent 4 months traveling around Argentina. One of the highlights of the trip was certainly Iguazu Falls. The Sheraton Iguazu is actually in Iguazu National Park so you can be sure to snap a better picture of the Toucan than we were during our brief visit.
3. The W in Washington, DC
I miss Washington, DC. When we lived in DC I went to the W for conferences, but never actually stayed there. On a return trip it would be awesome to live it up a bit and enjoy this amazing property, which is right in the center of the city.
4. Element in New York City
Element is a new line of green hotels focused on whole living. I’ve been wanting to visit one, and August would be a great time to do it. After all, you don’t get a true New York experience without the full array of sights and smells of a summertime trip.
5. Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis
Sometimes a staycation is in order (especially when you have two dogs and a baby). There is no better place for us than Le Méridien Chambers in downtown Minneapolis. It’s an artsy hotel with one of the best restaurants in the city. Ricotta gnocchi, anyone?
Enter to Win
You, too, have a chance to win 30,000 points courtesy of the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. Here’s how:
- Use the Rafflecopter widget below and leave a comment in this post telling us: how would you use 30,000 Starwood points to stretch your summer? Which Starwood property would you stay at? (You can browse all of the properties here.)
- You can also get extra entries for tweeting about how you would use the points, following GGTG on Twitter, liking GGTG on Facebook, subscribing to our RSS feed, and subscribing to our newsletter.
Enter to Win Using by Using this Widget:
The Details: Please note that 1 random winner will be picked to receive 30,000 Starpoints (ARV $750). All winners must 1) complete a W9 form to be awarded the Starpoints and 2) participate in the SPG program, or, sign up for a free account here: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/index.html
If you want to be guaranteed 30,000 points you can apply for the card from American Express. Know that when you sign up for the card you get 10,000 bonus Starpoints after first purchase, plus 20,000 bonus Starpoints after spending $5,000 in 6 months of card membership. Plus the $65 annual fee is waived during the first year. This offer expires September 4th, 2012. If you don’t already have this card, and stay at hotels at least once a year, I would highly recommend getting this card.
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Westin Paris Vendome
ow…Sherry, sorry to hear your situation,you are so unkcluy. I and an entrecard member too. I wish i won’t face this problem and wish you good luck too!Hope your problem will be solved as soon as possible.Have a nice day !
I would do 13 nights with cash at Le meridien Khao Lak
I would do 4 nights at the Sheraton Krabi.
I’d love 2 nights at the W in Chicago!
Did I already mention that I would stay at the Sheraton Soma Bay Resort, Egypt, Africa ?!
2 nights in Hongkong would be great
I would stay at the Park Tower Buenos Aires
id stay 3 nights at the Westin Moana Surfrider
I’d stay at the Westin Princeville!
3 nights at W Bali with cash and points!
Sheraton Pattaya, Thailand
I would use it on my honeymoon I’ll get to plan for next year! Maybe at the W Retreat Kah Samui in Thailand.
I’d stay 3 nights at Sheraton on the Falls Hotel.
I need to say it again: I would stay at the Sheraton Soma Bay Resort, Egypt, Africa
I’d use the points for my upcoming trip to sheraton princess kaiulani
I’d stay 2 nights at the Sheraton Miyako Osaka
I’d stay at the Westin in Portland, OR
Sheraton portland Airport
I would use the points for Bali
I would stay 2 nights at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel in Johannesburg.
Another post from me: I would stay at the Sheraton Soma Bay Resort, Egypt, Africa
I will stay @ Sheraton Iguazu as you mentioned.
I will stay @ W Taipei to take care my parents.
I’d stay 3 nights at the Westin Moana Surfrider – Waikiki, Hawaii
I would spend a weekend at the St. Regis in Mexico City.
If the St. Regis were booked up in Mexico City, I’d have no problem staying at the W.
I would use them on in the Maldiives. Thanks for having this great contest!
I’d stay 3 nights at Sheraton on the Falls Hotel.
W Maldives
W Londong
I’d stay one night at the Westin Paris Vendome.
I’d stay 3 nights at the Sheraton Miyako Osaka
W Taipei
3 nights at Sheraton Niagara Falls
2 Nights at the St. Regis Bora Bora
We’ve chosen a winner! Congratulations to Lauren W. for winning the 30,000 Starwood Points giveaway from Go Green Travel Green.