Bits: Design Hotels now bookable with SPG points, a potential SPG bargain in Croatia
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News in brief:
32 Design Hotels now bookable with SPG points
Some of the Design Hotels portfolio has been slowly integrated into Starwood Preferred Guest this year. My most recent article was two weeks ago, covering the launch of the well regarded Town Hall Hotel & Apartments in London.
32 Design Hotels properties are now available for SPG points redemptions. You cannot use points to for suites or upgraded rooms, only for standard rooms.
The Town Hall Hotel is 12,000 points per night. This is substantially cheaper than the SPG properties in Central London which are 20,000 to 25,000 points per night, albeit the Aloft at Excel is just 10,000 points.
There are now 19 Design Hotels in Europe available for redemption with options in Austria, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and of course the UK.
One upside from the recent SPG category changes
Here is one potential upside from the recent Starwood category changes which kicked in this week.
Near Dubrovnik (but you’d need a car or rely on the hotel shuttle bus) and near the sea (but not on it) stands the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel. This is a modern conference hotel which looks very smart.
In the devaluation it dropped sharply from Category 4 to Category 2. This means it costs just 4,000 SPG points per night midweek and 3,000 points at weekends.
It is pretty cheap on a random night in April (€88). Jump forward to August, however, and you will pay €230 per night.
This is amazing value for your SPG points. Remember that Starwood has ‘last room availability’ so if the hotel has a standard room for sale for cash it MUST make it available as a reward.
American Express Membership Rewards convert into SPG at 2:1 or you can earn 10,000 points with the Starwood Amex credit card sign-up bonus.
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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)
There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.
The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.
You can apply here.
Marriott Bonvoy American Express
20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review
You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.
Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card? It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.
We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:
- American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
- American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)
and for small business owners:
- American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
- American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)
The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.
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