Question
Hey all,
Yeah, I did a quick search, drew blanks...
I just got an offer for a Bank of America / American Express Rewards card. I'm most interested in accruing points or whatever for the redemption of hotel stays. How does this card compare to AmEx Starwood? Does anybody know?
Answer
You want SPG points or MBNA retard WorldPoint Reward program. They have a wacky way of deciding how many points rewards cost. For example for 25K points you can get a ticket valued $399.99 or less. Airlines miles rewards have no dollar limit and Citi Thank You Network and Chases Rewards Network have higher limits which are $750 and $600.
I never redemed a hotel award from MBNA but jugeing from there airline rewards I would assume there hotel rewards work the same way. They try to limit the value of your points to 1.5 cents per point. If the ticket cost over $400 they charge ticket value divided by 0.015.
Answer
You want SPG points or MBNA retard WorldPoint Reward program. They have a wacky way of deciding how many points rewards cost. For example for 25K points you can get a ticket valued $399.99 or less. Airlines miles rewards have no dollar limit and Citi Thank You Network and Chases Rewards Network have higher limits which are $750 and $600.
I never redemed a hotel award from MBNA but jugeing from there airline rewards I would assume there hotel rewards work the same way. They try to limit the value of your points to 1.5 cents per point. If the ticket cost over $400 they charge ticket value divided by 0.015.
I get enough miles from flying, and I prefer to by *my* tickets in any given year that I'm accruing elite status. Hotel stays are what I'm really looking for right now.
Answer
I get enough miles from flying, and I prefer to by *my* tickets in any given year that I'm accruing elite status. Hotel stays are what I'm really looking for right now.
Best of your assumtion about my post I decided to call BOA. I was 100% correct on my assumetion. SPG points are better they are not caped by a dollar amount. Like I stated above.
MBNA points for Hotels work the same way as airlines. 10K points = a $150 hotel cert at starwood. While 10K starwood points = would give you a catagory 4 hotel room for 1 night or 5 nights at Cat 1 hotel which would run you a min of $300+.
So SPG are much better value.
Answer
So you're saying that I should go with the AmEx SPG card? I'm having a hard time understanding your posts.
Answer
Yes, I think he is. And it matches the calculation I did on my real-life example below.
I have a *wood Amex to collect points to take my family to Disney. They have two different category hotels down there in Orlando. If you want to stay on property (Swan or Dolphin) you are looking at Category 4, 10K points/night. So two rooms for three nights = 60K points. Simple.
My Visa Rewards card limits my room costs to $150/night per reward night or 10,000K points. But since the rate at the Dolp;hin is $175/night it will cost me 60K points PLUS six room nights * $25 = $150 in 'overage' costs.
YMMV, and if you're just looking for the Best Western on the Blue Ridge Parkway so you can ride your bike the length, then it won't matter.
Answer
Yes, I think he is. And it matches the calculation I did on my real-life example below.
I have a *wood Amex to collect points to take my family to Disney. They have two different category hotels down there in Orlando. If you want to stay on property (Swan or Dolphin) you are looking at Category 4, 10K points/night. So two rooms for three nights = 60K points. Simple.
My Visa Rewards card limits my room costs to $150/night per reward night or 10,000K points. But since the rate at the Dolp;hin is $175/night it will cost me 60K points PLUS six room nights * $25 = $150 in 'overage' costs.
YMMV, and if you're just looking for the Best Western on the Blue Ridge Parkway so you can ride your bike the length, then it won't matter.
If you are really interested in reward hotel stays, there are two good cards: AMEX Hilton Honors and AMEX Starwood.
AMEX Hilton Honors has a higher yield when purchasing stays at premium hotels. However, the only thing it is good for is purchasing Hilton stays.
AMEX Starwood has a higher yield when purchasing stays at non-premium hotels. However, it is more flexible in that you can use the points for other purposes.
Consider this. Spending approximately $40,000 will get you 6 nights at the Waldorf Astoria with HHonors (not including any points for hotel stays). Starwood would require approximately a $60,000 spend (not including any points for hotel stays).
Answer
If you are really interested in reward hotel stays, there are two good cards: AMEX Hilton Honors and AMEX Starwood.
AMEX Hilton Honors has a higher yield when purchasing stays at premium hotels. However, the only thing it is good for is purchasing Hilton stays.
AMEX Starwood has a higher yield when purchasing stays at non-premium hotels. However, it is more flexible in that you can use the points for other purposes.
Consider this. Spending approximately $40,000 will get you 6 nights at the Waldorf Astoria with HHonors (not including any points for hotel stays). Starwood would require approximately a $60,000 spend (not including any points for hotel stays).
Okay, thanks. I'm a budget man myself.