Starwood Vs. Marriott. Which is better for hotel and Airlines?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Temecula, Ca.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 273
Starwood Vs. Marriott. Which is better for hotel and Airlines?
As of April of 2016 Costco will no longer accept Amex. They will only be accepting Visa. I'm looking for a rewards card that would be equal to SPG. Do you feel the Marriott rewards are a good choice?
Also, when I transfer starpoints to American Airlines I get a 20% bonus up to 79,000 points. So if I transfer 60,000 Starpoints, 75,000 points are put into my American Airlines account. Does Marriott rewards have a similar program?
With SPG I can get a very nice hotel with 12,000 points, but from what I can tell online, it seems you may have to use a lot more points with Marriott. Is this correct or do they have another way to use their points that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance.
Also, when I transfer starpoints to American Airlines I get a 20% bonus up to 79,000 points. So if I transfer 60,000 Starpoints, 75,000 points are put into my American Airlines account. Does Marriott rewards have a similar program?
With SPG I can get a very nice hotel with 12,000 points, but from what I can tell online, it seems you may have to use a lot more points with Marriott. Is this correct or do they have another way to use their points that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: UA 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 678
As of April of 2016 Costco will no longer accept Amex. They will only be accepting Visa. I'm looking for a rewards card that would be equal to SPG. Do you feel the Marriott rewards are a good choice?
Also, when I transfer starpoints to American Airlines I get a 20% bonus up to 79,000 points. So if I transfer 60,000 Starpoints, 75,000 points are put into my American Airlines account. Does Marriott rewards have a similar program?
With SPG I can get a very nice hotel with 12,000 points, but from what I can tell online, it seems you may have to use a lot more points with Marriott. Is this correct or do they have another way to use their points that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance.
Also, when I transfer starpoints to American Airlines I get a 20% bonus up to 79,000 points. So if I transfer 60,000 Starpoints, 75,000 points are put into my American Airlines account. Does Marriott rewards have a similar program?
With SPG I can get a very nice hotel with 12,000 points, but from what I can tell online, it seems you may have to use a lot more points with Marriott. Is this correct or do they have another way to use their points that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance.
From a credit card perspective, SPG probably has more value during everyday use.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
The best way to earn airline miles with Marriott points is to wait until you have upwards of 200,000 and then use their nights and flights option. Only by doing this can you receive airline miles at a ratio of 1:1 (depending on the airline).
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Temecula, Ca.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 273
Thank you for the replies.
As I understand it every $3,000 I charge and payoff at the end of the month I get 1 Elite point. If I charge $150,000 in a month and pay it off would I get 50 Elite points? If this is right, I would be at the Platinum level in a couple of months?
Is this right or is there some other qualification?
As I understand it every $3,000 I charge and payoff at the end of the month I get 1 Elite point. If I charge $150,000 in a month and pay it off would I get 50 Elite points? If this is right, I would be at the Platinum level in a couple of months?
Is this right or is there some other qualification?
Last edited by Wisdom; May 28, 2015 at 6:55 pm Reason: Changed my question
#5
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: UA 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 678
Thank you for the replies.
As I understand it every $3,000 I charge and payoff at the end of the month I get 1 Elite point. If I charge $150,000 in a month and pay it off would I get 50 Elite points? If this is right, I would be at the Platinum level in a couple of months?
Is this right or is there some other qualification?
As I understand it every $3,000 I charge and payoff at the end of the month I get 1 Elite point. If I charge $150,000 in a month and pay it off would I get 50 Elite points? If this is right, I would be at the Platinum level in a couple of months?
Is this right or is there some other qualification?
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
As of April of 2016 Costco will no longer accept Amex. They will only be accepting Visa. I'm looking for a rewards card that would be equal to SPG. Do you feel the Marriott rewards are a good choice?
Also, when I transfer starpoints to American Airlines I get a 20% bonus up to 79,000 points. So if I transfer 60,000 Starpoints, 75,000 points are put into my American Airlines account. Does Marriott rewards have a similar program?
With SPG I can get a very nice hotel with 12,000 points, but from what I can tell online, it seems you may have to use a lot more points with Marriott. Is this correct or do they have another way to use their points that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance.
Also, when I transfer starpoints to American Airlines I get a 20% bonus up to 79,000 points. So if I transfer 60,000 Starpoints, 75,000 points are put into my American Airlines account. Does Marriott rewards have a similar program?
With SPG I can get a very nice hotel with 12,000 points, but from what I can tell online, it seems you may have to use a lot more points with Marriott. Is this correct or do they have another way to use their points that I don't know about.
Thanks in advance.
Another way of comparing the programs is to think about aspirational properties. For a normal room at a very nice Starwood hotel (for example, St Regis Singapore, Canyon Suites in Scottsdale, W Hong Kong), estimate 25,000 SPG points per night (with the fifth night free), depending on the season. For Marriott, a normal room in a RC can be 60,000-70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
Thank you for the replies.
As I understand it every $3,000 I charge and payoff at the end of the month I get 1 Elite point. If I charge $150,000 in a month and pay it off would I get 50 Elite points? If this is right, I would be at the Platinum level in a couple of months?
Is this right or is there some other qualification?
As I understand it every $3,000 I charge and payoff at the end of the month I get 1 Elite point. If I charge $150,000 in a month and pay it off would I get 50 Elite points? If this is right, I would be at the Platinum level in a couple of months?
Is this right or is there some other qualification?
Note that the standard way to earn hotel elite status is to actually stay in the hotels. Maybe to you that would be "some other qualification."
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Temecula, Ca.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 273
Check your math. A 20% bonus on 60,000 points would be 12,000 points, for a total of 72,000, not 75,000 (which would be a 25% bonus).
Sorry. For every 20,000 miles I transfer they add 5,000.
Another way of comparing the programs is to think about aspirational properties. For a normal room at a very nice Starwood hotel (for example, St Regis Singapore, Canyon Suites in Scottsdale, W Hong Kong), estimate 25,000 SPG points per night (with the fifth night free), depending on the season. For Marriott, a normal room in a RC can be 60,000-70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
I think you mean nights credits, not elite points. To only earn one point per $3000 spend would be scandalous.
This is what I saw on the Marriott Visa Site. So I guess I'm not sure what a Elite point is. Is the credit earned the same thing as an Elite point towards the Elite status?
ELITE STATUS * for Marriott Rewards premier credit card
15 credits toward Elite Status annually
1 credit toward Elite Status for every $3,000 spent on purchases
Automatic Silver Status
Note that the standard way to earn hotel elite status is to actually stay in the hotels. Maybe to you that would be "some other qualification."
Sorry. For every 20,000 miles I transfer they add 5,000.
Another way of comparing the programs is to think about aspirational properties. For a normal room at a very nice Starwood hotel (for example, St Regis Singapore, Canyon Suites in Scottsdale, W Hong Kong), estimate 25,000 SPG points per night (with the fifth night free), depending on the season. For Marriott, a normal room in a RC can be 60,000-70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
I think you mean nights credits, not elite points. To only earn one point per $3000 spend would be scandalous.
This is what I saw on the Marriott Visa Site. So I guess I'm not sure what a Elite point is. Is the credit earned the same thing as an Elite point towards the Elite status?
ELITE STATUS * for Marriott Rewards premier credit card
15 credits toward Elite Status annually
1 credit toward Elite Status for every $3,000 spent on purchases
Automatic Silver Status
Note that the standard way to earn hotel elite status is to actually stay in the hotels. Maybe to you that would be "some other qualification."
Last edited by Wisdom; May 31, 2015 at 1:50 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Temecula, Ca.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 273
Check your math. A 20% bonus on 60,000 points would be 12,000 points, for a total of 72,000, not 75,000 (which would be a 25% bonus).
Another way of comparing the programs is to think about aspirational properties. For a normal room at a very nice Starwood hotel (for example, St Regis Singapore, Canyon Suites in Scottsdale, W Hong Kong), estimate 25,000 SPG points per night (with the fifth night free), depending on the season. For Marriott, a normal room in a RC can be 60,000-70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
I think you mean nights credits, not elite points. To only earn one point per $3000 spend would be scandalous.
Note that the standard way to earn hotel elite status is to actually stay in the hotels. Maybe to you that would be "some other qualification."
Another way of comparing the programs is to think about aspirational properties. For a normal room at a very nice Starwood hotel (for example, St Regis Singapore, Canyon Suites in Scottsdale, W Hong Kong), estimate 25,000 SPG points per night (with the fifth night free), depending on the season. For Marriott, a normal room in a RC can be 60,000-70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
I think you mean nights credits, not elite points. To only earn one point per $3000 spend would be scandalous.
Note that the standard way to earn hotel elite status is to actually stay in the hotels. Maybe to you that would be "some other qualification."
Marriott has a partnership with United where you can get a 20% bonus. Marriott rooms cost a lot more points but keep in mind that a regular person staying at a Marriott earns 10 points/$ as opposed to SPG's 2 points/$. As plat in both programs, I find that earning/spending points is about equal (maybe an edge to Marriott at higher categories).
From a credit card perspective, SPG probably has more value during everyday use.
From a credit card perspective, SPG probably has more value during everyday use.
When you say higher categories, do the points needed for the best rooms become more even?
Last edited by Wisdom; May 29, 2015 at 1:11 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
Generally not, although the offering of higher category rooms for points is at the discretion of the property, as is the availability of using either cash or points to upgrade to a higher category room, including from "free" rooms or those paid with points. SPG has some charts for this by category, but hotels aren't obligated to participate and the types of upgraded rooms that may be available can vary greatly. So it's very much YMMV with no perceivable convergence of the number of points required for whatever higher category rooms may be available using points in some form.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: UA 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 678
Edit: And to clarify, when I say categories, I mean category of the hotel, not room category
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
Ultimately, for a good comparison you need to calculate how many points you actually earn per dollar spent (as well as per average night spent), including bonuses and promos, in each program and then ask yourself how much you would need to spend (and how many nights or stays if that is relevant) to pay for an award night in comparable properties where you would want to stay. You also need to figure out the savings you would get from program benefits during these award stays. For example, in my case, I would compare a RC to a Starwood StR or good LC property (although the RC feels more chain-like to me in most cases, so ultimately less interesting) but since RCs have lounges (and I would take a club level room on points or pay extra for it), in my comparison calculations, I'd want to compensate for the resulting higher F&B costs associated with the SPG stay at this aspirational level.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: PA
Programs: Platinum SPG, Marriott Platinum, United 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum,
Posts: 128
For the OP:
This is one of the FT posts where I have learned a few tips. As many of the respondents already mention, the SPG Amex card offers very good value for both miles transfer and hotel options.
However, as a frequent traveler, I find that Marriott hotels are very good for airport hotel stays and i really do enjoy the Ritz Carlton Club floor. I have had the Ritz Carlton Visa card now for two years and while it is pricey at $395 a year, it does offer Marriott and Ritz Gold status which includes free breakfast, free wifi, and access to Marriott Clubs if available. I have also successfully utilized the annual $300 airline benefit (used for upgrades), and the Ritz Carlton Club upgrades which depending on the hotel and the length of stay are well worth the annual fee. It includes a Priority Club pass which I have used a few times for free airline club access when there was no loyalty airline club available. Finally, I received 140,000 hotel points for a sign-up bonus so it's been a good option so far.
This is one of the FT posts where I have learned a few tips. As many of the respondents already mention, the SPG Amex card offers very good value for both miles transfer and hotel options.
However, as a frequent traveler, I find that Marriott hotels are very good for airport hotel stays and i really do enjoy the Ritz Carlton Club floor. I have had the Ritz Carlton Visa card now for two years and while it is pricey at $395 a year, it does offer Marriott and Ritz Gold status which includes free breakfast, free wifi, and access to Marriott Clubs if available. I have also successfully utilized the annual $300 airline benefit (used for upgrades), and the Ritz Carlton Club upgrades which depending on the hotel and the length of stay are well worth the annual fee. It includes a Priority Club pass which I have used a few times for free airline club access when there was no loyalty airline club available. Finally, I received 140,000 hotel points for a sign-up bonus so it's been a good option so far.
#13
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
If your primary method of points accumulation will be through credit card spend, then the SPG Amex will normally be the better of the two options. (I guess if the places you tend to charge the most at don't accept Amex cards, that might not be a good option.) As mentioned, SPG points in general are earned at a lower rate (2 pts versus 10 pts per $) and thus awards are lower. So if you have a CC that is accumulating 1 pt/$ spent on most purchases, then the lower SPG award costs would tend to make it more appealing.
For example, if you want to spend 5 nights at Disney, $40K spend (or $15K spend with a 25K sign-up bonus offering) will get you enough points for 5 nights at the Swan or Dolphin hotels (which are actually on-site for Disney stays.) For Marriott the closest hotel would probably be the Marriott World Center. It will cost 140K points for the same 5 nights. So you either need $140K spend (or $70K spend with a 70K sign-up bonus offering).
So at best you would need $15K spend for SPG or $70K spend for Marriott.
Now, I am NOT comparing the programs and saying which has better hotels, better hotel coverage, better benefits, etc. If you can add in a lot of points earning from stays, then the answer may change as your earnings may be from hotel stays more so than from CC spending. And if you can get into that 270K+ points earning range with Marriott, the Travel Package awards become available to you. And personally, I feel the Marriott TP awards are the single best hotel program awards in the industry. ^
For example, if you want to spend 5 nights at Disney, $40K spend (or $15K spend with a 25K sign-up bonus offering) will get you enough points for 5 nights at the Swan or Dolphin hotels (which are actually on-site for Disney stays.) For Marriott the closest hotel would probably be the Marriott World Center. It will cost 140K points for the same 5 nights. So you either need $140K spend (or $70K spend with a 70K sign-up bonus offering).
So at best you would need $15K spend for SPG or $70K spend for Marriott.
Now, I am NOT comparing the programs and saying which has better hotels, better hotel coverage, better benefits, etc. If you can add in a lot of points earning from stays, then the answer may change as your earnings may be from hotel stays more so than from CC spending. And if you can get into that 270K+ points earning range with Marriott, the Travel Package awards become available to you. And personally, I feel the Marriott TP awards are the single best hotel program awards in the industry. ^
#14
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, HHonors Gold; SPG Gold
Posts: 254
For the OP:
This is one of the FT posts where I have learned a few tips. As many of the respondents already mention, the SPG Amex card offers very good value for both miles transfer and hotel options.
However, as a frequent traveler, I find that Marriott hotels are very good for airport hotel stays and i really do enjoy the Ritz Carlton Club floor. I have had the Ritz Carlton Visa card now for two years and while it is pricey at $395 a year, it does offer Marriott and Ritz Gold status which includes free breakfast, free wifi, and access to Marriott Clubs if available. I have also successfully utilized the annual $300 airline benefit (used for upgrades), and the Ritz Carlton Club upgrades which depending on the hotel and the length of stay are well worth the annual fee. It includes a Priority Club pass which I have used a few times for free airline club access when there was no loyalty airline club available. Finally, I received 140,000 hotel points for a sign-up bonus so it's been a good option so far.
This is one of the FT posts where I have learned a few tips. As many of the respondents already mention, the SPG Amex card offers very good value for both miles transfer and hotel options.
However, as a frequent traveler, I find that Marriott hotels are very good for airport hotel stays and i really do enjoy the Ritz Carlton Club floor. I have had the Ritz Carlton Visa card now for two years and while it is pricey at $395 a year, it does offer Marriott and Ritz Gold status which includes free breakfast, free wifi, and access to Marriott Clubs if available. I have also successfully utilized the annual $300 airline benefit (used for upgrades), and the Ritz Carlton Club upgrades which depending on the hotel and the length of stay are well worth the annual fee. It includes a Priority Club pass which I have used a few times for free airline club access when there was no loyalty airline club available. Finally, I received 140,000 hotel points for a sign-up bonus so it's been a good option so far.
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Temecula, Ca.
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 273
It's just my opinion but I find a Marriott Cat 9 redemption at 45000 points more valuable than SPG Cat 7 redemption at 35000 points. Again, this is due to SPG points being worth more. Also, if you look at the redemption rates of both programs, Marriott increases a flat 5k per category. However, SPG has small increments at the lower categories but then balloon to 6k-10k between higher categories.
Edit: And to clarify, when I say categories, I mean category of the hotel, not room category
Edit: And to clarify, when I say categories, I mean category of the hotel, not room category