American Express Membership Rewards - Best Hotel Partner Program?

What is the best hotel partner program with an AMEX card? I know Hilton gives 3 points/$1, but don't know how that plays out in terms of points/redemption value vs. other hotel programs. Anybody out there got hard data?

What is the best hotel partner program with an AMEX card? I know Hilton gives 3 points/$1, but don't know how that plays out in terms of points/redemption value vs. other hotel programs. Anybody out there got hard data?


i personally like starwood, mainly for the ability to top off my other ff accounts

Starwood is the best IMO. You'll get 1 point per $1 but Starwood points are worth much more than Hilton points. You'll also have the ability to transfer your SPG points into many airlines, most with a 1:1 ratio with a 5000 mile bonus when transferring 20000.

SPG for sure.

In the UK I would need to spend £30k on my Amex to get one night at a good Hilton property but only £20k for a very good SPG property.

Also the 1000 SPG points for 50% of is great.

Personally, I would hold the points in your Amex account until a situation comes up when you need a hotel. Then do the transfer.

For example: it turned out last month that I needed a hotel in North Conway for the October holiday weekend. Most hotels are already fully booked (!) but the Holiday Inn Express had availability at a rip-off $160 / night or just 10,000 PC points. I transferred over 10,000 MR points for 20,000 PC points and saved myself $320 + tax. I would never normally have thought about using MR points with Priority Club, but in this case it did the job just fine.

I also transferred the bare minimum of MR points to Hilton recently to keep my account active for another year. And whatever you think of Hilton Honors, some of the 10,000 point rewards (all the Scandics, Tokyo Narita) are excellent value.

On another occasion, I can imagine how a Starwood 'cash and points' or 50%-off reward could do the trick. I recently saw the "4,000 points + $60" reward at the Imperial (or was it the Bristol?) in Vienna described as "the best reward bargain ever" on the *wood board.

Since Amex can transfer the points within a few days as long as you already have the link set up, there is no need to transfer in advance. Keep your powder dry for when you need it!

Ahh, so you can x-fer MR points into Hotel programs like Airline programs?

Do you use the Amex Starwood card, or a regular ol' Amex?


Personally, I would hold the points in your Amex account until a situation comes up when you need a hotel. Then do the transfer.

For example: it turned out last month that I needed a hotel in North Conway for the October holiday weekend. Most hotels are already fully booked (!) but the Holiday Inn Express had availability at a rip-off $160 / night or just 10,000 PC points. I transferred over 10,000 MR points for 20,000 PC points and saved myself $320 + tax. I would never normally have thought about using MR points with Priority Club, but in this case it did the job just fine.

I also transferred the bare minimum of MR points to Hilton recently to keep my account active for another year. And whatever you think of Hilton Honors, some of the 10,000 point rewards (all the Scandics, Tokyo Narita) are excellent value.

On another occasion, I can imagine how a Starwood 'cash and points' or 50%-off reward could do the trick. I recently saw the "4,000 points + $60" reward at the Imperial (or was it the Bristol?) in Vienna described as "the best reward bargain ever" on the *wood board.

Since Amex can transfer the points within a few days as long as you already have the link set up, there is no need to transfer in advance. Keep your powder dry for when you need it!

Ahh, so you can x-fer MR points into Hotel programs like Airline programs?

Do you use the Amex Starwood card, or a regular ol' Amex?

I have a regular old Amex, which earns Membership Reward points, although most of my personal spending these days goes on a British Airways Amex. However, my corporate Amex still racks up MR points.