Quote:
Originally Posted by bizaro86
I definitely see the preference here is for straight cashback cards, but I have to put in a word for Starwood's SPG American Express. You get one SPG point per dollar spend, and the points are good for hotel stays at Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, etc hotels, or you can trade them for airline miles (aeroplan etc).
I use them for hotels at peak periods, and get easily 5% back on all my purchases. The 5 nights free at the Le Meridien Khao Lak over new years was even better than that.
The card has a $120 annual fee, but if you call and say you're upset about the feel they'll give you bonus points and/or gift cards. (Last year my wife got $100 GC to Future shop). It can be a great deal if you have hotel stays you'd otherwise pay cash for...
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+1 on the SPG Amex. I did have this car when it first came out as they were offering the first year free + 20K in SPG points. I think the current promo now is 15K in SPG points, but you have to pay the $120 fee. The return on the points in North America is a little lower than in Europe where it saved me a ton of cash last summer. For example, the Westin in Rome and Florence were at the time 12k per night, but the rooms paying in cash would be $4-500 EURO per night. Same thing with the Sheraton resort in the Algarve, Portugal which was only 10K per night but a whopping $600 EURO during peak summer holidays.
Bang for the buck in Calgary isnt' so great as I think the Sheraton Eau Claire and Westin are 12k/night, but that is also in line with the Westin Times Square which I booked for 12k/night for this upcoming May long weekend as opposed to paying $400+/night.
Once my free year was over, I switched to the Amex Gold Travel Rewards Card which is decent if you sign up during a decent promo, but imo, if one likes to travel and stay at nicer hotels, the SPG Amex is the best bang for the buck relative to the annual fee.