Triangle Trip

Following up on my last article, SPG is finally showing free weekend nights awards online at spg.com (you have three more days to earn another free night which can be redeemed before the end of September 30, 2009).

To check your SPG free weekend nights status, login to SPG’s website, select account information, than under Starpoints@ Awards, click “My Earned Award” link.

The My Earned Award page should show you the number of free weekend night awards.  Reminder, they expire end of September and are running out of rooms fast.  Use them or lose them.

Quick update: I just booked a category 5 hotel for labor day weekend.  The process took a little bit since everyone is saving their awards for the last minute august/september travel.  The spg operator has to search date by date for the hotel of choice.  I had the operator search through each weekend in september for numerous hotels until we luckily found one.  Book quick for the higher category hotels.

Following up on previous post regarding how to check status, SPG has responded with email notifications.

Previously, the only way to find out the number of free weekends awarded was to call SPG’s award winning customer service.  The e-mail I finally received was a pleasant surprise.  Another reason to bank at Starwood (more reasons why hotel points are more valuable than airline miles), they respond to demand and answer!

How much is 10,000 United miles worth to you?

Are you willing to sacrifice three stays toward status at your favorite hotels (Starwood, Marriott, Hilton, etc.)?   Are you willing to forgo your free weekend nights at Starwood or free golf club offers from Crowne Plaza?  Are you willing to experience a motel for business travel (ghetto it up!)?  If so, here’s a deal for you!

Wyndham Hotel is offering 10,000 United miles in exchange for three stays at three of their hotels.  You will need to register or enroll (link to registration page) for a Wyndham account. After you have enrolled/registered, you must choose to earn United miles for your Wyndham stays. To get the 10,000 United miles, you will need to complete THREE stays at THREE DIFFERENT Wyndham branded properties. This means you cannot have all three stays at a Wyndham. Below is a list of the Wyndham family of hotels for you to choose wisely:

You will have to complete your three stays at three different brands between May 15, 2009 to September 10, 2009.  Unlike the Crowne Plaza offer which doesn’t allow you to have Priority Club points for your free nights, Wyndham will allow you to earn normal United miles for the three stays.  You should see your 10,000 bonus United miles in November or early December (6 to 8 weeks after the end of the promotion).

Aside from the Wyndham (which I have stayed at 2 to 3 times), all of the hotels on the list are like motels at best. I am not sure if I would stay there for business – maybe Ramada (and that’s a stretch). I have stayed at a Knights Inn and Travelodge when I was traveling as a college intern but that was years and years ago.  You might get lucky with Hawthorn Suites.  I have driven by a few and they looked new, especially the one’s near the airports.