Starwood Preferred Guest - London calling: how do I maximize points?

I am new to Starwood and about to spend over 20 nights in London. I want to earn the maximum Starwood points (saving for a Disney visit with the kids). Can I get some pointers to maximize the earnings?

Thanks all.

Saty in the most expensive SPG property in the city. When you check in, tell them you want the best room in the place and are eager to pay for it. Consume room service four or five meals a day. Try every treatment at the spa. Charge it all to your Starwood Amex card.:D

Take ten minutes to read SPG T&Cs, especiallywith regard to stay credit and earning points.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/legal/spg_terms.html

I am new to Starwood and about to spend over 20 nights in London. I want to earn the maximum Starwood points (saving for a Disney visit with the kids). Can I get some pointers to maximize the earnings?

Thanks all.

Welcome :D

I would start by reading this thread
Everything you want to know about status at SPG (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/660824-everything-you-want-know-about-status-spg.html)

Then reading the Elite Status Section of the following thread.
The SPG Forum FAQ & Hotel Master Thread List (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starwood-preferred-guest/699676-spg-forum-faq-hotel-master-thread-list.html)
This thread is your GO TO source for information regarding the SPG programs and hotels. If you need to know something, check here first, as it's most likely already been asked and answered numerous times.

Hey peterdc welcome to Flyertalk!
If you are new to starwood- and you are looking to maximize points- you should look for ways to get GOLD status right away (ie a status match from another program or frequent flyer membership etc)... This will immediately give you a bonus.
I actually don't see any great promos on right now with SPG for Europe. One alternative you may want to consider is the Hilton Hhonors program promotion for stays >21 nights in London- I do believe you get 120,000 bonus points- which should be enough for a disneyland stay. If you look over on the Hilton page you should be able to find this- I considered taking advantage of it earlier this year, but opted for a company apartment. I would also consider carefully where in London you need to be- to stay in an inconvenient part of the city is really a pain in London. To stay in a convenient part is brilliant! Unfortunately, Starwood has very very few options in London compared to Hilton for example.
Enjoy London! And good luck on your points quest.

Its August, I would don't a status match unless it's going to give you Gold for the remainder of this year, all of next and the first two month of 2011.

Well for one thing, look for any special point offers by property before booking.

Also, charge everything you can to your room - meals, spa, drinks, sometimes gift shops - you get points for all spending on your bill on check out. If you pay cash or by credit card, you may lose out on those points.

Starwood is rolling out new promos as we speak. If UK hotels get added to the list of eligible properties for the current just announced promo, make sure you register for the new 1000 bonus points per night when the link is activated on the *Wood website.

Finally, read the thread suggested by Cheap Elite for hints that fit your own travel patterns. It may be you need to change properties to get additional stay credits or points. Stay credits are important in order to get status - status gets you additional points and upgrades and host of other benefits.

There are also some good threads on London properties. The Sheraton Park Lane, for example, has mixed reviews. I love it. Others don't. So do your homework - after all, the quality of the stay is just as important as the quantify of points earned.

Enjoy.

I would don't a status match unless it's going to give you Gold for the remainder of this year, all of next and the first two month of 2011.
The OP's 21+ nights will get him awfully close to Gold on his own. The status match would make those night more productive.

make sure you register for the new 1000 bonus points per night when the link is activated on the *Wood website.
1,000 per stay, not per night. Of course, we don't know what's in store for Europe yet...

Hi there peterdc,

Just a simple question....do you have any status with any other group, and if yes, what status, and with whom?

From my SPG Bonus Offer List (http://www.frequentflyerbonuses.com/starwood.html#count) here are some offers if you select specific room types:

Triple Starpoints for stays in an Executive Room at the Sheraton Park Tower, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Double Starpoints for stays in a Classic Room at the Sheraton Park Tower, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Triple Starpoints for stays in an Executive Room at the Sheraton Park Lane, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Double Starpoints for stays in a Classic Room at the Sheraton Park Lane, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Triple Starpoints for stays in an Executive Room at the Sheraton Belgravia, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Double Starpoints for stays in a Classic Room at the Sheraton Belgravia, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Triple Starpoints for stays at the Le Méridien Piccadilly London when you stay in a Club room. Until Dec 31, 09

Double Starpoints for stays at the Le Méridien Piccadilly London when you stay in a Classic or Deluxe room. Until Dec 31, 09

Triple Starpoints for stays in a Club Room at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel & Conference Centre, London Until Dec 31, 09

Double Starpoints for stays in a Classic Room at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel & Conference Centre, London. Until Dec 31, 09

Right now I am just gold on Northwest. I've not managed enough nights in one hotel brand and picked Starwood based on future travel plans. It doesn't look like the Hilton deal (120K for 21+ nights) was available. Plus, the Sheraton properties were closer to the tube lines I will need.