Best Credit Card for Hotel Points?

[wndshr]

Hello..do you guys have any gouge on the best credit card programs to accrue hotel points...hopefully, for a vacation every year? I heard that Am Express offers Hilton points with no annual fee....are there others that are better? Starwood? Thank you for the info!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I like AMEX.

Use it for everything possible and transfer points as necessary for hotel stays/ airline tickets.

the shopeamex site has just about anything you could want also.

good luck!

 

[501261]

The Starwood Amex seems to be one of the best deals around. Starwood points seem to be a bit more handy (transferability to other programs) than HHonors points. Though I prefer staying at Hiltons and they let you "double dip".

I used to have a bunch of Marriott points, but it just seemed like I wasn't getting as much bang for my points as I did with Starwood or HHonors. For instance I think you need to spend something like 70 nights a year to get their top tier level versus 25 nights for Starwood Platinum.

Hyatt’s aren't bad there just aren't enough of them around to really bother with getting points on them.

I'd recommend finding a place to vacation first, for instance say you want to go to Moorea on vacation, well there's a pretty nice Sheraton on Moorea, so earn all the Starwood points you can get.

 

[Bandit60]

Get a credit card the is associated with the hotel you are staying with. I have an Hilton Honors AMEX and a visa for Marriot. The only problems is after a year they will charge you an annual fee. I talk my way out of mine.

I have got alot of use out of my points. My wife loves it. Airline tickets can be cheap so free hotel points are more valuable to me.

Good luck

 

[Gulfstream 200]

consider hyatt if youre going to vacation overseas.

Grand Hyatts are the way to go at many Intl destinations! - way better than Marriott or Hilton!

I like just plain AMEX - then just move the points where you want...its not the best deal but you can do cars,hotels,tickets,computers,cameras,gift certificates,....even BBQ smokers...!!!

yum. BBQ.

 

[rice]

You don't need no Stinking Points!!!!

consider hyatt if youre going to vacation overseas.

Grand Hyatts are the way to go at many Intl destinations! - way better than Marriott or Hilton!

I like just plain AMEX - then just move the points where you want...its not the best deal but you can do cars,hotels,tickets,computers,cameras,gift certificates,....even BBQ smokers...!!!

yum. BBQ.

Hey G,

With that $160k, you won't even be thinking about points anymore!!!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

160K - thats what Im talkin' about!!!

(personally I think its bull$hit - but ya never know!)

100-120K - yup thats right...but 160??? ..not that I dont think we are worth it..but anyways..

until then I use hotel points to take the family places!!

gotta love this job.




Hows that new gig treating you? some decent time off?

 

[rice]

G200

Gig is going great! Not too much time off though. Should be pulling up to the five towers by 0900 your time tomorrow. Gotta love those redeyes. (That's worth 160k all by itself)
I know, I'm dreaming.

 

[AA717driver]

We use Marriott(I've got the visa) almost all the time. Marriott triples the points for bucks spent at their hotels.

Do the others do the same? If not, the multiplication of points seems to tip in favor of Marriott.

I've got to look for a new department. These guys go to Outback instead of hunting for Bar-B-Q! TC

 

[Gulfstream 200]

RICE,

I wish you were pulling up to the 5 towers at 0900 MY time.....
I have been 12 hrs off NY time (ASIA) too often lately..

why cant they just pay me 160K to sit home?

now IM dreaming.

hey, it could be worse - better busy than unemployed I suppose.

well..

 

[G4G5]

The Marriott card also has the Platinum and Gold features.

I know with the Platinum card (75 stays in a Marriott over a year) You get 500 aditional points with each stay and a 15% bonus for each point you spend. 75 stays sounds like a lot but if you do an aircraft initial training, you will aquire close to 30. Then getting another 45 over the course of a year, is not all that hard. Once you get to Platinum, they are very reluctant to remove your status.

You can also call up at anytime and request a challenge. The last time I checked all you had to do was spend 15 nights in 3 months for an upgrade from gold to platinum. I would reccomend doing this just prior to a recurrent. Then you will get 4 or 5 nights, in which case you only need 9 or 10 more over the course of 3 months.

The platinum card also allows you to bump anyone. You are guranteed a room even if the hotel is full, with 48 hours advance notice.

The last time I checked 250,000 points got you 2 round trip tickets to Hawaii, a weeks stay and a rental car discount voucher.

 

[GVFlyer]

Marriott

.

 

[501261]

The platinum card also allows you to bump anyone. You are guranteed a room even if the hotel is full, with 48 hours advance notice.

Yes, but if you read the fine print, it doesn’t count on "Special Events" in other words you're still SOL if the boss wants to go to Augusta, GA during Master's week.

Again I think 75 nights is too much for their top tier, for only 25 or 16 stays at Starwood or Hilton (respectively) you get the same benefits.

On the other hand there's a lot more Marriott’s around then there are others, so it’s usually easier to find a Marriott product.

 

[NJA Capt]

On the other hand there's a lot more Marriott’s around then there are others, so it’s usually easier to find a Marriott product.

Not really, Hilton encompasses Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Homewood Suites, H Garden Inn, Conrad, and Hampton.

50% match with Diamond status and double dip for airline miles. 5 to 1 points on the Hilton AMEX with no annual fee.
Marriott has a pretty good deal too, but the miles are MUCH harder to build.