Best Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel Redemptions: Category 1
Best Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel Redemptions: Category 2
Best Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel Redemptions: Category 3
Best Starwood Preferred Guest Hotel Redemptions: Category 4
It’s been a year and a half since my last post in the Best Starwood Hotel Redemption series. These posts take a long time to research and write, so I kind of half-assed the last one by not including any descriptive information about my picks and then decided to abandon the project until I had more time to devote to it. I’m happy to report that in addition to updated the previous four Starwood category picks (factoring in several category changes that occurred since the posts were published), I’ve decided to continue with the series, with now takes us to Category 5.
Starwood requires 12,000 – 16,000 points per night at their Category 5 Hotels, which can be further reduced thanks to Starwood’s 5th Night Free benefit. Hotels in this category can be a real bargain, since their redemption rates are reasonable while paid rates can be high – that’s especially true at some of the St. Regis properties that fall into this category. I made my picks based on redemption value, which means in some cases I had to exclude high-end hotels and resorts that either had low paid rates or limited participation in the Starwood program. Without further ado, here are my picks for the best Category 5 Starwood hotels:
NORTH AMERICA
US
West Coast
The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego (San Diego, CA)
Superior Room at the US Grant Hotel, a Category 5 Starwood Property
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
TripAdvisor Green Leaders: Silver Level
2015 AAA Four Diamond Award
2015 Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Award
Accommodations: The best way to describe even the standard Superior rooms at the US Grant? Palatial. Sure, they’re small at 280 – 325 sqft, but the 9-foot ceilings, elegant furniture, and art give it a really opulent look. Redeeming 12,000 – 16,000 Starpoints per night at the US Grant can be an incredible deal, especially since room rates regularly range from $300 – $700 per night.
Location: The location of the US Grant Hotel is ideal for sightseeing. Just within walking distance you’ll find several theaters, the Davis-Horton House, the Maritime Museum, USS Midway, the New Children’s Museum, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Aerospace Museum, and lots more. If you want to add an extra stamp to your passport, Mexico is just 17 miles away.
Honorable mention:
The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas, Beaver Creek Mountain
The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth
W Scottsdale
The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland
Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica
East Coast
Element New York Times Square West (New York City, New York)
Deluxe Room at the Element New York Times Square West – One of the Best Category 5 Starwood Hotels
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor Green Leaders: Silver Level
Global Business Travel Association: Project ICARUS Supplier Gold Medal
Accommodations: It’s tough to find a hotel in New York to redeem points for – you’re faced with either reasonable redemption rates for rundown hotels that offer cheap cash rates, or you can unload more valuable points than you’re comfortable with through programs like Hyatt Gold Passport and Marriott Rewards. Thankfully, Starwood offers some reasonable alternatives. Starwood has nearly a dozen Category 5 hotels in the city and out of all of them, I think the Element Hotels offers the best value.
At 12,000 – 16,000 points per night, the standard Deluxe room at the Element Hotel is a great place to stay. The room is just 315 – 335 sqft but features a king bed, a comfortable sofa, a desk, and fully equipped kitchen in a modern setting. In addition to this, all guests receive daily complimentary hot breakfast! No need to hack your way to elite status for a stay at this hotel. You not only get a nice, clean room with a kitchenette, but breakfast is taken care of.
Location: Some people may be put off by the hotel’s location near Times Square, but it can be a convenient base from which to see the rest of the city. Many sights and attractions are within walking distance or you easily accessible via public transportation (or Uber!).
Honorable mention:
Aloft New York Brooklyn
The Westin Georgetown Washington D.C.
Aloft Manhattan Downtown – Financial District
South
Royal Palm South Beach Miami, a Tribute Portfolio Resort (Miami Beach, FL)
Deluxe Room at the Royal Palm South Beach Miami
Distinctions: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Accommodations: A standard award redemption at the Royal Pam South Beach gets you into a relatively small, 265-334 soft Deluxe room with a city view. The decor is modern, with sort of an Andaz vibe. If you’er a fan of Intelligent Nutrients bath products (never heard of the brand personally), you’ll be pleased to know the bathroom is stocked with these.
Location: The Royal Pam South Beach has a very nice beachfront location on Collins Avenue, close to Ocean Drive. Lincoln Road Mall is located within walking distance and other attractions, including sports arenas, the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach Golf Club, and various museums and tourist attractions are a quick Uber ride away. Miami International Airport is also easily accessible, located just 11 miles from the hotel.
Honorable mention:
Walt Disney World Swan
W Dallas – Victory
The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte
The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Antonio
Midwest
The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Chicago (Chicago, IL)
A Standard room at the Category 5 Gwen Hotel Chicago – a great redemption at 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
Distinctions: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Accommodations: Standard rooms at the Gwen Hotel, formerly the Conrad Chicago, feature 375 sqft of space, an oversized shower in the bathroom and up to two windows for a spacious feel. The room is outfitted in earthy, neutral tones and comes equipped with a Bose Lifestyle audio system and a Keurig coffeemaker.
Location: The Gwen Hotel has a great location in the landmark McGraw-Hill Building on the Magnificent Mile, an area famous for its shopping. If you’re not into shopping, you can still walk to a variety of tourist attractions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Navy Pier, Grant Park, and Oak Street Beach. If you’re hoping to catch a Bears game, Soldiers Field is less than three miles from the hotel.
Honorable mention:
W Chicago – Lakeshore
W Chicago – City Center
Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph
Canada
The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler (Whistler, BC)
Westin Resort & Spa Whistler – a great Category 5 Starwood hotel redemption
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
TripAdvisor GreenLeaders: Gold Level
Accommodations: A standard award at the Westin Resort and Spa in Whistler gets you into a Deluxe Studio Suite, which is a 400 sqft room with a full kitchen and sofa bed. These rooms are quiet airy, with some of them featuring faulted ceilings and a loft style layout.
Location: Whether you’re visiting during the summer of winter, the resort’s mountainside location allows access to a variety of activities. The Westin Whistler was voted the number one ski resort in North America and the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Honorable mention:
W Montréal
The Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain
Mexico
Hacienda Santa Rosa, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Santa Rosa, Mexico)
Superior Room at the Hacienda Santa Rosa – a Luxury Collection Hotel
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: Standard “Superior” rooms at the Hacienda Santa Rosa are 430 sqft, featuring antique furniture and high ceilings. The decor isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but definitely nice if you’re into a more rustic look.
Location: The Hacienda Santa Rosa is pretty isolated, which is ideal if you’re looking for a peaceful, quiet location. If you’re looking to venture outside of the hotel, you can head over to Oxkintox and see the Calcehtok Caves – both of which are just 10-13 miles away. You can also check out the ancient Mayan ruins Uxmal, located 45 miles from the hotel.
Honorable mention:
Hacienda Puerta Campeche, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Hacienda San Jose, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Caribbean
The Westin St. John Resort (St. John, Virgin Islands)
Westin St. John Resort
Distinctions: N/A
Accommodations: For 12,000 – 16,000 points per night, guests staying at the Westin St. John Resort get a Traditional Garden View room facing “the colorful tropical landscaping throughout the center of the resort.” Considering the resort has 47 acres of said tropical landscape, I imagine the views are pretty incredible. In fact, the photo of the Traditional Garden View Room on the hotel website depicts a room with a small patio overlooking a lagoon-style pool, so this could work out very nicely for some of you.
Location: White sand beaches and clear blue water are practically a trademark of the Caribbean and you’ll get plenty of that at the Westin St. John, with its 1,200 foot long white sand beach. If that ever gets boring, there are plenty of things to do in the nearby area. The resort is surrounded by Virgin Islands National Park, which is 1.3 mile trek away. There are plenty of vendors on site who will take you on a tour of the National Park or arrange water activities, if you really don’t want to leave the resort. Cruz Bay and two shopping centers are just a mile away. So whether you want to stay on site or explore the island, the location of this resort enables you to do both.
Honorable mention: The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado (Urubamba, Peru)
Standard award room at the Tambo del Inka Resort
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2016: #2 Top 25 Luxury Hotels in South America
TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Platinum Level
TripAdvisor #1 of 24 Hotels in Urubamba
Accommodations: Superior rooms at the Tamba del Inka are fairly spacious at 440 sqft and feature lovely garden or maintain views, which can be enjoyed from the attached balcony. The scenery at this resort is a huge selling point, so it’s nice that even standard rooms have a nice view. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill hotel, which is reflected in the room decor. Superior Rooms feature beautiful hardwood floors, a walk-in closet, and local decorative pieces to give the space an authentic, rustic feel.
Location: As its name suggests, the Tambo del Inka Resort & Spa is located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. While you can stay on-site spa and other amenities, you’ll really want to venture out and explore the area a bit. The resort is a great spot from which to explore interesting local attractions, including the town of Maras, the Chinchero District, the Moray Incan Ruins, and even Machu Piccu -all of which are located within a 25 mile radius of the resort. To get to the Tamba del Inka Resort, you can fly into Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ), which is just 40 miles away.
Honorable mention:
The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center
Sheraton Miramar Hotel & Convention Center
Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa
W Bogota Hotel
San Cristobal Tower, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santiago
Europe
Northern Europe
The Westin Dublin (Dublin, Ireland)
Westin Dublin – a great Category 5 Starwood hotel redemption
Distinctions: TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2016: #20 Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Ireland
Accommodations: Booking the Westin Dublin on points gets you a Classic Room, which is pretty small at 248 – 323 sqft but features a luxurious marble bathroom and a view of the atrium. Is there anything more claustrophobic than an atrium view (or than maybe a room with no windows)? Anyway, smaller rooms are par for the course in Europe, but at least at this hotel they’re nicely furnished.
Location: If you want to explore Dublin, it’s tough to beat the location of the Westin. Some of the most popular historic sights are within walking distance of the hotel. In fact, Trinity College, which has one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, is just a stone’s throw away. Less than two miles from the hotel, you’ll find the National Art Gallery, the Gaiety Theatre, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Writers Museum, Abbey Theatre, National History & Archeology Museum, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ha’penny Bridge, and Dublin Castle. This seems like the ideal place from which to go sightseeing and at 12,000 – 16,000 points per night (even less, if you factor in the 5th night free), it can be a real bargain during high season when rates go up to $400+ per night.
Honorable mention:
The Cambrian, Adelboden, a Member of Design Hotels
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London, a Member of Design Hotels
Nobis Hotel, Stockholm, a Member of Design Hotels
Miss Clara by Nobis, Stockholm, a Member of Design Hotels
Western Europe
Hotel Des Indes, a Luxury Collection Hotel, The Hague (The Hague, Netherlands)
Hotel Des Indes – Currently a Category 5 Starwood Hotel
Distinctions
TripAdvisor #3 of 70 Hotels in The Hague
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2016: #15 Top 25 Luxury Hotels in The Netherlands
Accommodations: Redeeming points at the Hotel Des Indes gets you into a Superior Room, which is one step above the standard Classic Rooms at this hotel. Superior Rooms offer city or patio views and for some reason the hotel website feels compelled to brag about photos of “celebrity guests” decorating the walls of these rooms. I don’t know about you, but outside of a roadside diner, I don’t find this concept appealing. In any case, the room has a nice canopy bed while the bathroom is decorated with red Portuguese tiles and two marble vanities. For more descriptions of each and every piece of furniture and light fixture in the room, see the hotel website (seriously, they describe every piece along with ways to use it).
Location: The Hotel Des Indes was a former palace, built in 1858 and began operating as a hotel in 1881. The hotel was renovated completely in 2006 by French architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia. The location is very close to many tourist attractions and cultural institutions. The Escher Museum, Hague Historical Museum, Binnenhof, Noordeinde Palace, and miniature park Madurodam are all within a 5 mile radius of this hotel. Several foreign embassies and corporate offices are also nearby. The airport is a 20-minute Uber ride away.
Honorable mention:
Hotel Bachmair, Weißach, a Member of Design Hotels
Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht, a Member of Design Hotels
Le Méridien Etoile
Eastern Europe
The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya (Moscow, Russia)
St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya Superior Room
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor #5 of 281 Hotels in Moscow
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2016: #10 Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Russia
Accommodations: A standard free night redemption at the St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya gets you a 320 – 500 sqft Superior Room with a sitting area and views of either the hotel patio or Maly Cherkassky Lane. As you’d expect for a St. Regis hotel in Russia, the decor is classic, with a bold color palette, plush furniture, and a white marble bathroom. Guess staying in the Superior Room also get access to a personal butler, so you can really live like Russian royalty (minus the shooting squad). Considering this hotel easily goes for $400+ per night, redeeming 12,000 – 16,000 Starwood points is a real bargain.
Location: The St. Regis Moscow is housed a historical building, with a central location that makes it easy to explore the city on foot. Notable attractions are within walking distance, like the Bolshoi Theater, the Kremlin, Red Square, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum for those feel compelled to stare at the preserved corpse of a former communist leader, for God-knows-what-reason. The hotel’s location also provides access to lots of shopping, dining, and museums. Even business travelers will find the location convenient, as it’s close to several corporate offices, including Google, Chevron, Merrill Lynch, and Philip Morris.
Honorable mention:
Hotel National, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Moscow
W St. Petersburg
Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague
Southern Europe/Mediterranean
King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens (Athens, Greece)
King George Hotel Athens – a great Category 5 Starwood Hotel
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor #3 of 334 Hotels in Athens
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Accommodations: While standard rooms at the King George Hotel are small at 258 – 300 sqft and have the (dreaded) views of the atrium, the room is nicely decorated in a classic style. Perhaps the most appealing part of the room (were the views a bit better)? The cozy window seat. Some of these rooms also include a sleeper sofa, which is convenient if you’re traveling with more than one additional person and need a second bed.
Location: The King George Hotel is a popular hotel for points and miles collectors and with good reason. Not only is this one of the few chain hotels in the city, it also has a terrific location with views of the Acropolis. Lots of great sights are located within a mile of the hotel, including the Parthenon, Ancient Agora, the Natural Archeological Museum, Royal Palace, National Gallery Theatre of Dionysos, and lots more.
Honorable mention:
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino
The Westin Palace, Madrid
Nira Montana, La Thuile, a Member of Design Hotels
The Principal Madrid, a Member of Design Hotels
Africa
Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove (Mahe Island, Seychelles)
A standard award room at the Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
TripAdvisor #1 of 2 Hotels in Bel Ombre
Accommodations: The great thing about redeeming points for a standard room at Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove is that it still offers impressive views of the sea. These Superior Rooms are located in the main building of the resort and offer 377 sqft of space, plus a large terrace with a sunbed to enjoy those sea views from.
Location: The Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove is located on the north side of Mahe Island, right on Beau-Vallon Beach. The Seychelles are a renowned destination for diving and snorkeling, which the resort makes accessible with a nearby diving center. When exploring sea life or just relaxing on the beach gets dull, guests can head out to Victoria, the world’s smallest capital city, which is just a 20 minute ride away.
Honorable mention:
Tribe Hotel, Nairobi, a Member of Design Hotels
Four Points by Sheraton Lagos
The Westin Dhaka
Middle East
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Superior Room at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi – One of the best Category 5 Starwood award redemptions
Distinctions:
TripAdvisor #15 of 131 Hotels in Abu Dhabi
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice 2016: #23 Top Hotels for Romance – United Arab Emirates
Accommodations: At 12,000 – 16,000 points per night (or less, if you factor in the 5th night free), the St. Regis Abu Dhabi can be a real bargain. Over the summer, you can get rates as low as $170 per night, at which rate some folks would argue, it would make more sense to hold onto your Starpoints and consider redeeming a flexible rewards currency like Barclay Arrival Miles. Guests can book a 484 sqft Superior Room located on the 33rd floor and up, with floor-to-ceiling windows. These rooms are decorated in typical St. Regis fashion, with plush furniture, crystal chandeliers, and a luxurious bathroom featuring a large bathtub, rain shower, and bidet. A small touch of the local culture is incorporated into these rooms to provide some authenticity, including traditional Bedouin weaving.
Location: Whether you’re in town for business or sightseeing, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi has a great location. The hotel is located within five miles of tourist sights like the Heritage Village, Presidential Palace, various shopping malls as well as over a dozen foreign embassies. With reasonable taxi and Uber rides available, even the 14 mile ride to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the 10 mile trek to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is easily accessible.
Honorable mention:
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort</l