Originally Posted by
All She Wrote
Thank you for this. I'm UK based, which from what I've seen does have the same issue with suite night awards, for example the Sheraton I stay at only has 2x suites in the whole hotel. I won't get to Ambassador this year, I'm fully booked until New Year now and will reach 88 nights, the credit card would take me to over 100 but it doesn't sound like there's much advantage so I probably won't bother, or am I being stupid passing it up?
QQ regarding Asia, would you include Dubai in the list of places that are good to redeem suite nights? Always fancied a golf holiday there....
For Ambassador, in addition to the 100 nights, you must have a spend of USD20k showing on your account. This means you'd have to spend around £200 a night for each of your 88 nights *and* take out the Amex to get the additional 15 nights. I've never been Ambassador. If you will have the spend then the Amex is quite easy to get but personally I wouldn't bother as Amex is terribly difficult to use because many places don't take it and they charge a terrible 3% for foreign purchases whereas I am charged 0% using my Curve card abroad.
On the other hand, Dubai certainly will get you excellent points redemptions and lounge experiences. Also, you should check out the once-in-a-lifetime aspirational desert resort Al Maha Dubai if you've really got points to burn on hotels you'd never pay for.
Lots to read in the individual hotel threads for the Bonvoy Dubai properties. You'll have a proper elite experience there.