Point Bonuses vs. Nights Bonus: Which is Better?

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**Note from the Editor – This offer (2 free nights at any Starwood property worldwide up to a Category 5 hotel after meeting your minimum of spend of $5,000 in 90 days) is no longer available, but you can still earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints^® after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months!

For a limited time-until October 19-the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from our partner American Express has altered their sign up bonus, offering you a certificate for 2 free nights at any Starwood property worldwide up to a Category 5 hotel after meeting your minimum of spend of $5,000 in 90 days.

The change is that instead of getting the traditional SPG signup bonus of 25,000 Starwood points, you’re getting free nights that don’t require a specific amount of points.

Meanwhile, the personal version of the Starwood Preferred Guest^® Credit Card from American Express is continuing to offer it 25,000 Starpoints upon completing minimum spend.

They both sound great. But which is better?

Whether a nights bonus offer on the SPG Business AmEx or a points bonus on the Personal AmEx is more valuable for you depends entirely on the way you use your hotel points.

• If you’re a points stretcher and typically use your SPG points for lower category hotels or Starwood Cash and Points redemptions to get as many stays as possible, you’ll get more value our of the points bonus.
• If you’re a lover of fine hotels (or expensive destinations like NYC) and will redeem your free bonus nights at a Category 5 SPG property in high season you’ll get the most value out of the 2 free nights offer.
• If you don’t actually stay in Starwood hotels, but instead use your SPG points to transfer to one of their 36 airline partners, then you’ll definitely want the points.
• If you prefer to stay in a Marriott, you can now transfer your SPG points to Marriott 1:3 with the finalization of the Marriott/Starwood merger. You cannot use free SPG night certificates to stay at Marriott properties. Therefore, Marriott lovers will get more value out of the points bonus.

All in all, free nights and free points are both great bonuses, and the Starwood card continues to be a solid card for travelers.

Learn more about these cards and apply:

Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express

Starwood Preferred Guest^® Credit Card

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