Questions and Answers

I’m 4 nights short of the 50 nights required to get SPG Platinum for 2017. I found a local cheap hotel using cash and points for $35 plus tax and 2000 points, per night. I figured each point is worth about 2 pennies, so for 4 nights the value would be around $330. (I have already enrolled in Platinum Challenge that extends my time to complete by a month, but I have to score 8 more nights between now and end of January, so it doesn’t work). My question is, is the Platinum benefit worth wasting $330? Are there other ways to bypass the 4 nights? Thank you!

Hi [USER=2595]@Jamie300[/USER], and welcome!

The real question is how much will you be traveling next year, and where to? $330, for example, would be the cost of four days of brunch for two people at the Westin Palace Madrid.

But if you aren’t going to travel as much next year, or wouldn’t typically value the perks associated with Platinum status, then it might not be worth it.

The SPG Amex cards also give stay/night credit, but I’m not sure how quickly those post.

If your travel in 2017 involves a lot of United/Star Alliance flights then that might sway your decision too.

SPG Platinum now translates to Marriott Platinum which gives you complimentary United Silver status.

Not the most glamorous status, but if you travel enough I’d place some value there too.