SPG50: A Starwood special that offers upscale lodging at mid-pack rates

“SPG50”—that’s the code for a special discount available to Starwood Preferred Guest members. It offers the opportunity to use points to get 50% off rack rates for one to five nights at any participating Starwood property. The cost: 1,000 Starpoints. Should you need more than one room, additional SPG50 awards (also priced at 1,000 Starpoints each) can be used simultaneously. There’s also a bonus: You earn Starpoints for the paid portion of your stay, often getting the 1,000 points back.

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Aloft (by W Hotels)

Element by Westin

Four Points by Sheraton

Le Meridien

Sheraton

St. Regis

The Luxury Collection

W Hotels

Westin

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If you don’t have 1,000 Starpoints in your account, no problem. You can buy them for 3.5¢

each, making the ante for this special a paltry $35. Points can also be transferred from other accounts or given as gifts.

There are two ways to look at SPG50: It can cut your bill in half or double your luxury (my preference). Using the SPG50 program at the St. Regis in San Francisco took my rate from $549 to $295—same as the Omni. After staying with both, trust me, the St. Regis is far better.

Right about now the caveat-conscious among you are starting to wonder, “What’s the catch?” Here are some points to consider:

• Availability is at the discretion of the participating property, so extensive seasonal and holiday blackouts are frequent.
• SPG50 booking must be done on the phone through Starwood’s agents. No web, no direct calls to the property.
• First come, first served. No wait-list.
• Not available in Hawaii.
• The inventory is fixed. There are no extra rooms reserved for Gold and Platinum status members.
• The 50% discount applies only to the room. Parking, taxes, and other ancillary expenses are not included.

In short, flexibility is key. Look for an alternate Starwood hotel in the area as a fallback if your first choice is unavailable. Confirm something you can live with, and keep checking back with your preferred hotel.

[aside headline="SLEEPER TIP" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]Many airlines are also members of Starwood’s Preferred Guest Program, increasing the options and benefits. To get the most from the program, carry the Starwood Preferred Guest Amex card, which should be in every frequent traveler’s wallet.[/aside]

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FURTHER INFORMATION

For terms and conditions, visit: www.starwood.com or call Starwood Preferred Guest: (888) 625-4988 Starwood Preferred Guest Gold: (888) 625-4988 Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum: (888) 625-4988

[aside headline="Your thoughts?" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]We’re always looking for new ways to bring you more of what you’re looking for in the world of premium travel. We’re sharing this strategy on how to save big on luxury lodgings to find out if you’d like more of the same ... or maybe you have some other ideas for us to explore! Let us know where your travel passions lie, and we’ll look into more ways to pursue them and save money in the process. — Matthew Bennett • Mr.Upgrade@FirstClassFlyer.com[/aside]