REMINDER: 35% Off Awards At Some of Starwood’s Most Expensive Properties

a blue sky with clouds

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For the last couple of years (it may be longer) Starwood has run a quiet but popular promotion which sees some of the chain’s most expensive properties (from an award cost point of view) reduced in price by an impressive 35%….and the promotion is still running.

I haven’t really paid all that much attention to Starwood over the past few years (I’ve been too busy concentrating on Marriott, Hyatt and IHG and I think my last stay at a Starwood property was at the Westin LAX back in April 2014) but now that the chain is part of Marriott and I have top-tier Platinum status I’m giving Westins, Le Meridiens and the like a closer look.

I’ve always had two main issues with Starwood:

  • Its loyalty points (Starpoints) are hard to collect in large quantities
  • Award nights are expensive compared to a number of other chains

The first issue really compounds the second and that’s why I almost always use my Starpoints for airline transfers….but even I’m considering this promotion.

The “Bucket List Bound” Promotion

Starwood’s “35% off” promotion doesn’t solve either of the issues I mentioned above but it can be extremely useful to anyone with a healthy Starpoint balance looking to book a very memorable break.

a dock leading to a beachThe Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket – Image Starwood

Participating Properties and Promotion Details

Per Starwood:

SPG members will receive a 35% Starpoint redemption discount off Free Night Awards in select suites that are booked and consumed at participating properties between July 1, 2017 and March 5, 2018 (the “Promotion Period”) for dates available during the Promotion Period. Participating properties that are eligible for this promotion:

  • The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket
  • Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
  • The St. Regis Punta Mita
  • Le Méridien Bora Bora
  • The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort
  • Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui
  • W Retreat Koh Samui
  • Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
  • W Retreat & Spa – Maldives
  • The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
  • The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

What makes this promotion even more attractive is that not only are award night rates reduced by 35% but the “5th night fee” offer can be used here too – that makes it even “cheaper”.

The offer page with all the details can be accessed via this link

What Does 35% Actually Mean In Real Terms?

These are expensive properties to book regardless of whether you’re paying with cash or points….so don’t expect bargains!

The 35% discount is taken on suite awards only (some of these properties only offer suites) so you’re already starting at a high base point.

a screenshot of a hotel

The award nights cannot be booked online and in most cases you can’t even check award availability online (one of the many things I’m hoping Marriott takes cares of when it has time to get around to it) so you’ll have to call up the SPG customer care center for all of that.

Joanna and I loved our visit to Bora Bora so the Le Meridien Bora Bora jumps out as being a tempting option and, if you have enough points, a 5 night booking would cost 156,000 Starpoints or 31,200 Starpoints/night (allowing for the 5th night free).

a group of huts on stilts over waterLe Meridien Bora Bora – Image Starwood

The Naka Island is another option that could offer very good value. At 26,000 Starpoints/night a 5 night stay would cost 130,000 Starpoints and, with a pretty impressive score on TripAdvisor….

a screenshot of a graph

….it should be a pretty safe choice.

The big name on the list has to be the very new St Regis Maldives Vommuli which looks like something out of a James Bond movie.

The Bar at St Regis Vommuli Maldives

A five night stay will still set you back a mammoth 234,000 Starpoints (46,800/night) and I suspect that award availability will be very, very scarce….but what a place to visit!

If you have the points to spare and can find availability I would make this your number one choice of where to visit – it looks spectacular and all the reports I’ve read (from those I believe) have been very good indeed.

Bottom Line

For most of us this promotion is our best chance to visit one of these properties as the cash prices can be ridiculous and the regular award night prices aren’t far behind.

If you’re looking for somewhere to book for a particularly special trip and you have a healthy Starpoint balance then you should probably give this promotion a closer look.