RECENT POSTS
  • Disney World on Points
    Miles and Points

    Booking a Disney World Vacation With Points: My Experience

    A family vacation to Disney World in Orlando FL can be very expensive. I can certainly vouch for that as I have a trip planned for this upcoming Spring. In this post, I’ll show you how I reduced my out-of-pocket cost by over 90% using points and benefits I’ve earned from having various credit cards. There’s a lot to cover in this post, so forgive the length. I have a family of 5 spread out over 2 home airports, we’re starting at one hotel then moving to another, and we’ll be visiting the Disney Parks as well as a side-trip to Universal Studios. That’s a lot of moving parts, so…

  • Marriot Rewards American Express and Chase logos
    Miles and Points

    Marriott’s Relationship With Amex and Chase Takes Shape

    In the ongoing saga of the recent Marriott and Starwood merger, there has been much speculation regarding the combination of the loyalty programs. Additionally, there was the yet unanswered question. Which bank would win their co-brand credit card battle–American Express or Chase? In the past week, some of those questions have been answered. Since the merger, Marriott has been working to combine the resulting three loyalty programs–Marriott Rewards, Ritz Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest–into one. The first step was to link all three programs. This was done so points could be freely transferred and elite status would be matched. Those initial steps were taken last year. Recent Updates Last week,…

  • Miles and Points

    Extra Points by Using Chase Sapphire Card and Digital Wallet

    From now through November 4, 2017, some Chase credit cards will earn an extra point if you pay using a digital wallet. Just use your Chase Sapphire, Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve in Android Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Chase Pay. You’ll earn 1 additional Ultimate Rewards point per $1 spent–up to $1,500 during the promotional period. This is a simple way to earn extra points on everyday purchases. By using your Sapphire card and digital wallet, you’ll earn at least 2x UR points on all spending and up to 4x UR points on travel & dining if you have the Sapphire Reserve. It’s completely automatic–there’s nothing you need…

  • Miles and Points

    How to Combine SPG Starpoints Between Accounts

    Here’s a lesser-known but generous feature of the Starwood Preferred Guest program: members of the same household can combine SPG Starpoints into one account. If you alone don’t have enough SPG points for a redemption, pool points with a family member for that upcoming vacation. I did exactly that, and I’ll show you how. What are SPG Starpoints? Starwood Preferred Guest is a hotel loyalty program where you earn points for each stay. These SPG Starpoints are a favorite for travelers: they have high value when you redeem at Starwood properties like Sheraton, Westin, and W Hotels, they can be transferred directly to miles in a huge list of frequent flyer programs,…

  • Uncategorized

    Targeted: SPG Amex 5000 Bonus Points After $5000 Spend

    If you have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, check your email for a targeted offer. You may be able eligible for an extra 5,000 Starpoints. You can also check to see if you’re targeted by clicking this link and logging in to your American Express account. The Offer American Express is offering 5,000 Bonus Starpoints after spending $5,000 in qualifying purchases on your enrolled SPG card between the time you complete enrollment and May 31, 2017. The enrollment period ends on March 31, 2017. Qualifying purchases can be made by the cardholder and any authorized users and do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases…

  • Miles and Points

    Targeted Offer: SPG Amex 5000 Bonus Starpoints After $5000 Spend

    If you have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, check your email for a targeted offer. You may be able eligible for an extra 5,000 Starpoints. American Express is offering 5,000 Bonus Starpoints after spending $5,000 in qualifying purchases on your enrolled SPG card between the time you complete enrollment and April 30, 2017. The enrollment period ends on January 31, 2017. Qualifying purchases can be made by the cardholder and any authorized users and do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of traveler’s checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of any cash equivalents. The bonus points will be credited to your account…

  • Miles and Points

    My SPG Moments Experience in a Madison Square Garden Suite

    When you think of points earned from credit cards, you generally think of free flights or cash back. But with SPG Moments, your Starwood Preferred Guest points can reward you with great experiences as well. The Moments program gives SPG members VIP access to concerts, culinary experiences, premier sporting events and more. Starwood has luxury suites at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and the O2 Arena in London. You can purchase or bid on events at these and many other venues using your SPG points. I recently purchased an SPG Luxury Suite New York Rangers package and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Background I’ve been…

  • Credit Cards,  Travel Rewards

    Transfer Points and Status Match Between Marriott and Starwood

    Marriott has completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, giving the combined company 30 hotel brands and over 5700 properties worldwide. Effective immediately, you can now match your highest level status and transfer points in either direction between the programs. The 3:1 ratio for transferring points is fair: 3 Marriott/Ritz Carlton Rewards points = 1 Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) point. The only limitations are a minimum of 1000 points and a maximum of all the points in your account. If you have a Marriott or Ritz Carlton account and an SPG account, you can link them together here. If you are not already a member of one or both of the programs,…