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It’s no secret that Starwood Preferred Guest points are the most valuable in the points game. For a limited time (until 3/28/18) American Express has raised the sign up bonus on their SPG Business credit card to 35,000 Starwood points! This ties the highest offer the card has ever seen. Whether you’re transferring points to airlines with a 20 percent bonus, booking one of the beautiful Starwood properties around the world, or transferring to Marriott at a 1:3 ratio, you can utilize the program’s points in many different ways. Grab this offer before it disappears!
The American Express Starwood Business credit card is a favorite among travel enthusiasts. The standard card offer is 25,000 SPG points for $5,000 spent in the first 3 months; however, Amex recently brought back the highest offer ever for this card – 35,000 points! The higher offer requires a $7,000 minimum spend in 3 months, and the annual fee is waived the first year. With this card, you also get Sheraton Lounge access, which literally saved us hundreds of dollars at the Sheraton Maldives!
Sheraton Club Lounge – Maldives
Do I Have to Have a Business to Apply?
Keep in mind, you do not have to have an “official business,” with a Tax ID number, to apply for a business credit card. If you have a hobby that also earns money, like selling on eBay, tutoring, coaching, etc, you have a business! Simply use your Social Security Number, instead of a Tax ID number when you apply.
Why are SPG Points So Valuable?
You may be wondering why I’m so excited for a 35,000-point bonus, when other cards are offering 80,000 or more. Fair question. I’ll give a few reasons:
Hotel Cost and Quality
Starwood’s portfolio of hotels are some of the highest quality properties around the world. During our trip around the world, we stayed at a number of these hotels, and every one of them was excellent. Unlike other hotel brands, Starwood keeps the point cost low for their properties. For example, we booked the following properties using SPG points:
- Le Meridien Cairo – 2,000 points/night
- Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit – 3,000 points/night
- Sheraton Resort Kona Coast, Hawaii – 10,000 points/night
- Sheraton Maldives – 16,000 points/night
These prices are incredible! Hilton, for example charges over 90,000 points per night for their resort in the Maldives! If you stay for five nights, your fifth night will be free.
Marriott Transfer
Marriott and Starwood are now under common ownership. Until the brands officially merge, you are able to transfer SPG points to Marriott points at a fixed ratio of 1:3. That means, this 35,000-point offer is actually worth 105,000 Marriott points! Compare that to the 75,000-point offer on the Chase Marriott card. The Amex SPG Business card is a clear winner.
Airline Flexibility
Flexibility always increases the value of reward points. Starwood points have the unique ability to transfer to more than 30 airlines. Additionally, when you transfer 20,000 SPG points, you get 25,000 airline miles!
Final Thoughts
I highly recommend that you get this card before the bonus drops on March 28th. This is possibly your last opportunity to get the 35,000-point bonus, because the Marriott-Starwood merger could ultimately eliminate this card all together. Apply for the SPG Business card now and earn 35,000 points. You can also get the SPG Personal credit card, with a bonus of 25,000 points for $3,000 spent. After spending on both cards, you would have 70,000 SPG points! Think of the incredible possibilities!
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
