Stay at select Starwood Resorts for a 35% discount using SPG Points

Starwood Preferred Guest is offering some unique deals with their “Paradise is Closer” promotion, where stays at seven of Starwood’s specialty properties worldwide will see a 35% discount with Starpoint redemptions.

On top of this, as for all Starwood redemptions, stays of 5 nights have the fifth night free, meaning that for 5 night stays the saving increases to 48% when Starpoints are redeemed.

There are some pretty appealing hotels and resorts in Bora Bora, The Maldives, Koh Samui and the UAE all taking part – which are worth checking out, even if it’s to drool over them a little and imagine you have a stay booked.

The properties where this deal is currently offered are all resorts:

• The St. Regis Bora Bora, French Polynesia – 58,500 Starpoints/night down from 90,000
• W Retreat and Spa Maldives, Maldives – 58,500 Starpoints/night down from 90,000
• Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, a Luxury Collection Resort, Dubai, UAE – 39,000 Starpoints/night down from 60,000
• Le Meridien Bora Bora, French Polynesia – 39,000 Starpoints/night down from 60,000
• W Retreat Koh Samui, Koh Samui, Thailand – 39,000 Starpoints/night down from 60,000
• The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket, Thailand – 26,000 Starpoints/night down from 40,000
• Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui, Thailand – 26,000 Starpoints/night down from 40,000

While the redemption rates for these specialty properties are higher than standard Starwood redemptions, the facilities and unique locations offered by them could be well worth it.

Especially for 5 night stays the discount is considerable and most properties are an easy week’s jaunt from locations in Australia.

The South-East Asian properties are easiest to reach for people located in the western part of the continent and French Polynesia being handy for those on the east coast.

Choosing a Property

The terms and conditions of the offer specify the booking must be for the “most basic room category”, so it may be worth comparing similarly located properties to determine which one gives the best benefit for your points.

For example, for Vana Belle in Koh Samui, 26,000 points a night would get you a 86 square metre room with a private pool whereas the same points at The Naka Island in Phuket delivers a Tropical Pool Villa of 350 square metres.

Consider your preferences, the location, overall facilities of the property and what you are seeking to get out of your stay as well, but there could be a sizeable difference in the type of room on offer for your hard-earned points.

Also worth keeping in mind is that if you have your heart set on a special room type, such as an over-water bungalow room, that this may not be the “most basic room category” offered by the resort and unfortunately not eligible in the promotion.

Promotion Length & Validity

The promotion is valid for bookings made for stays until the 8th of March, 2016, so there is only a couple of months left for this year’s promotion. 

If you don’t quite have the points to take advantage of it this year, don’t worry – Starwood tends to repeat this promotion annually, so save and plan for the next one.

Full terms, conditions and details of the offer are available at www.spgresortredemption.com.

You must call to book, the stacked promotional offers will not be available online.

Earning Starpoints

If you are interested in boosting your Starpoint earn, there are several ways to do it in Australia. While there is no Australian card with a direct Starpoint earn, American Express Membership Rewards and Diners Club Rewards are both transfer partners to SPG.

Purchasing Starpoints

In addition, you can directly purchase Starpoints, occasionally with a discount on purchases depending on Starwood’s promotions. Promotions tend to occur at least once every 6 months, and are generally worth planning out and waiting for due to a 20-25% purchase discount or point bonus.

Summing up – Starwood’s ‘Paradise is Closer’ resort redemption promotion

The 35% discount for these resort redemptions is a great offer, and one that should definitely be considered if you are sitting on a stash of Membership Rewards or Starpoints and one of these resorts takes your eye.