Quick question - new to SPG

[unfunkable]

Hi All
Only just signed up to SPG today, to transfer my amex points to potentially book a place.
I want to try and use my points only to book a room for 5 nights (apprentlly I get the 5th night free?)

If I search a place, and it does not come up with an option to use points (W-Sentosa), does that mean, they don't offer that room for points at all? IE: not available for points redemption?
Or is there a box I need to ticksomewhere like when booking Virgin or Singapore Airline flights using points.

cheers!

 

[digpomi]

Make sure you tick spg free nights in search options

 

[unfunkable]

Thanks
Look like they only do a single king bed for points only - 16,000 points per night
2 x double beds is is 10,000 + $210 USD

I am better off booking 2 x king bed rooms!

edit: such a weird site, you can't even book suites!

 

[dajop]

Thanks
Look like they only do a single king bed for points only - 16,000 points per night
2 x double beds is is 10,000 + $210 USD

I am better off booking 2 x king bed rooms!

edit: such a weird site, you can't even book suites!

I've seen several bloggers value SPG points at 2c (USD) per point. Curiously that matched my own personal calculations using a grab bag of possible awards using points vs cash for stay. Using that valuation makes the King worth $320 per night and 2 x double room $410 per night.

I wouldn't spend 22,000 points a night to save $210, unless you valued having separate rooms.

Of course YMMV, especially if you are points rich .

 

[unfunkable]

Thanks for that.
I'll do the math and work it out - it's a shame you can't redeem @ Maldives

 

[MikeeB]

Generally the SPG website only lists the most basic rooms available for points redemption. If you call them up they are more than happy to allow you to use your points to book suites so long as they are available for redemption (this will not be shown on the SPG website, only the phone operators have access to these). Using points for suites will cost you a minimum of twice the points a standard room will cost and I do not think this is particularly good value. What can be good value though, when redeeming for five nights are the enhanced rooms (higher floor, club access, larger room etc.) and sometimes these are only a couple thousand more points than the bare bones basic rooms.
When you have found the place you want to stay I think it's always best to give them a call with your dates and see what they can do for you.

 

[unfunkable]

Generally the SPG website only lists the most basic rooms available for points redemption. If you call them up they are more than happy to allow you to use your points to book suites so long as they are available for redemption (this will not be shown on the SPG website, only the phone operators have access to these). Using points for suites will cost you a minimum of twice the points a standard room will cost and I do not think this is particularly good value. What can be good value though, when redeeming for five nights are the enhanced rooms (higher floor, club access, larger room etc.) and sometimes these are only a couple thousand more points than the bare bones basic rooms.
When you have found the place you want to stay I think it's always best to give them a call with your dates and see what they can do for you.

Hey that is great, thanks for that, I prefer to use points, as I am points rich. cheers

 

[MikeeB]

Ahh....Lucky to be points rich Enjoy!

 

[ric_melb]

Agree with what MikeeB says re redeeming points. Check online for availability on points, generally it will only show the base room. Then ring the 1800 Australian phone number and ask about higher grade rooms. Usually you end up with an associate in Singapore, and I have found all such associates extremely helpful. On a recent Asian stay was able to upgrade from a base king room to an executive king room for only 1500 points extra. And they had an Executive Lounge.

 

[unfunkable]

Thanks
Do I need to have points in my account when I talk to them? or once we settle on something, I can convert and transfer?
cheers

 

[MikeeB]

Again, the call centre are brilliant. I was in the U.S. for five weeks earlier in the year and had three bookings made that were worth about 300,000 star points. They made and confirmed them all for me over the phone without a single point in my account and said I had seven days to transfer the points over from AMEX. They just call them back when they are there so they could redeem them.