Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express®

Special Offer! Earn Up To 10,000 Bonus Starpoints® During the First Year Welcome Bonus of 4,000 Starpoints® with First Purchase Earn Up To 6,000 Starpoints® in the First Year of Membership Through Stays at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Starpoints® are Earned for Every Eligible Dollar Spent

Review: The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express® is designed for those with good credit who frequently stay at Starwood Hotels and Resorts and plan to take advantage of the various benefits and services that are provided. In reference to the reward program, one point is earned for every dollar spent on the card and three points are earned for Starwood-related purchases. Points can be redeemed for various travel services, such as free hotel stays and airline travel. Cardholders receive 1,000 points for their first eligible stay and 500 points for each additional stay (up to a maximum of ten) at a Starwood Hotel or Resort within the first year of membership. Cardholders also earn 4,000 bonus points after their first purchase. Points do not expire as long as the account is active within a one-year period. Perhaps what is most impressive about the program is the fact that cardholders can transfer earned points to a variety of frequent flyer programs. In addition, when a cardholder transfers 20,000 Starpoints into miles, they are awarded 5,000 bonus miles. Aside from the reward program, the card does offer a variety of benefits such as travel accident insurance, auto rental insurance, discounts via the Offer Zone, and various fraud protection services (see website for all benefits available). The interest rate for purchases is considered above average (for a reward card), and there is an annual fee of $30 that is waived the first year. There is also a low introductory rate for purchases and balance transfers for the first six months. Therefore, those who can afford to pay in full each month after the introductory rate expires (to avoid finance charges), frequently stay at Starwood Hotels and Resorts (to earn additional points), and can accumulate enough points for a free hotel stay or other travel related service within a two-year period will benefit most from what the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express® has to offer.

Date of Review: 2006-04-07 00:00:00

Notes: Card is currently unavailable to residents of Puerto Rico. See website for complete terms and conditions of card usage and application disclosure.

Additional Perks: Receive 50% off a future stay charged to the card at participating Starwood hotels and resorts each year. Year-end financial statement. Various Internet account related services. Extended warranty for purchases. No liability for unauthorized Internet transactions. Purchase protection. Return protection. Price protection service. Access to the Offer Zone for various discounts at participating retailers and merchants. Emergency card replacement. Emergency cash replacement. Up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance. Auto rental insurance. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. Roadside assistance. See website for additional benefits.