How I booked 3 nights at the Dolphin for $60/night

[Liz]

Wonderful thread! Thanks for all the info and congrats on scoring a great deal Duffy!

We have a Disney VISA that we use for everything. I'm not thrilled with it but didn't really know a better card with benefits that could help us at WDW. I don't like annual fees either but I think I'm going to get this card. We've stayed at the Dolphin twice and its fabulous. The location, everything, can't be beat!

ETA: I just figured out if I charged $1,000 a month on my Disney Visa (and assuming it is paid in full each month), in 10 months I would have $100 in rewards dollars. If I charged $1,000 a month on the Starwood card, in 10 months I would have enough for one night at the Dolphin and the value of that is much greater than $100, even taking into account the annual fee. I'll keep my Disney Visa but I'm going to start using the Starwood card for all my purchases and see how I like it.

 

[npmommie]

Yes, just make sure the starwood property has your spg # attached to your reservation (using the # qualifies you for a free upgrade too, if available). Even when my room is paid for by using points only, I can still earn points for any incidental room charges. If I charge a meal to my room, that charge earns points ($1 = 1 point); but then having paid that room charge via my Amex, I earn a total of 3 points for every $1.

Thanks for all the info.
this is probably a dumb question, but will i get a spg # just from having the starwood amex card? or do i need to sign up for it separate?

 

[RachelTori]

Thanks for all the info.
this is probably a dumb question, but will i get a spg # just from having the starwood amex card? or do i need to sign up for it separate?

Not a dumb question at all -- I don't know the answer!! (I had the spg # first!) You have to have an spg # associated with the Amex card so I'll assume that if you don't have the # prior to getting the card, they'll assign it then. Why not go to the spg.com website right now and sign up so you have your number?

Maybe you can let us know what you find out from Amex/Starwood!

 

[npmommie]

thanks rachel.
I couldn't find any info on the site about it, so I just went ahead and signed up for the spg card.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

Thanks for all the info.
this is probably a dumb question, but will i get a spg # just from having the starwood amex card? or do i need to sign up for it separate?

I signed up for the AmEx card today. There was a place to put in your spg number if you already were a member and it said if you weren't a member then you would be automatically enrolled when you were approved for the card.

 

[npmommie]

I signed up for the AmEx card today. There was a place to put in your spg number if you already were a member and it said if you weren't a member then you would be automatically enrolled when you were approved for the card.

accckkkk! I missed that when I signed up for the amex card! LOL
oh well, if i end up with 2 spg cards i will have them consolidate to one!
I think I was so excited about earning free nights at the swan or dolphin my vision was blurred.......hehe

 

[Liz]

For those who have the Starwood AmEx, when did the 10,000 points show up in your account? It said I would get that after making my first purchase. I have made a purchase and received my first statement but the 10,000 points are still not there. I hope I didn't miss reading some fine print somewhere that said if you already had an American Express card (I have the AmEx Blue) that you somehow don't qualify for the bonus points.

 

[duffy]

For those who have the Starwood AmEx, when did the 10,000 points show up in your account? It said I would get that after making my first purchase. I have made a purchase and received my first statement but the 10,000 points are still not there. I hope I didn't miss reading some fine print somewhere that said if you already had an American Express card (I have the AmEx Blue) that you somehow don't qualify for the bonus points.

My points only show up around once a month. I should have mentioned that! Actually, they show up right around this time of the month. Aaaannd...spg.com seems to be down right now, as I can't log in to see when I was credited with the points.

Anyway, my billing cycle ends around the 17-20th, and that's when I see all the points I've gotten that month.

 

[tloft]

I'm always looking for the best credit card rewards deal, but I don't understand how this one adds up - or if you just fell into a really great deal.

According to the original post they wanted 40,000 points for a three night stay @ $259 a night. This is a $777 value for 40,000 points which translates to 1.9 cents per point or a 1.9% rewards rate. Not bad, but nothing special as credit card rewards go.

The deal that was taken was 4000 points per night plus 60$ cash. This means the value of the room paid for with points was $199 per night ($259 minus the $60 fee) for a total of $597 value for the three nights. Only 12,000 points are being redeemed for this deal which means that the rewards is 4.9 cents/point or 4.9% which is extremely good.

The credit card companies are not usually this inconsistent with how rewards are valued. Was one of the numbers misquoted or is there really this large a discrepency in how points are applied? If so, anyone using all points is getting ripped off. Just curious - because if I can actually expect a 5% rate of return I most certainly will be opening a starwoods account with amex.

 

[duffy]

I'm always looking for the best credit card rewards deal, but I don't understand how this one adds up - or if you just fell into a really great deal.

According to the original post they wanted 40,000 points for a three night stay @ $259 a night. This is a $777 value for 40,000 points which translates to 1.9 cents per point or a 1.9% rewards rate. Not bad, but nothing special as credit card rewards go.

The deal that was taken was 4000 points per night plus 60$ cash. This means the value of the room paid for with points was $199 per night ($259 minus the $60 fee) for a total of $597 value for the three nights. Only 12,000 points are being redeemed for this deal which means that the rewards is 4.9 cents/point or 4.9% which is extremely good.

The credit card companies are not usually this inconsistent with how rewards are valued. Was one of the numbers misquoted or is there really this large a discrepency in how points are applied? If so, anyone using all points is getting ripped off. Just curious - because if I can actually expect a 5% rate of return I most certainly will be opening a starwoods account with amex.

Not quite sure I follow your math, due to my own ability to "get along" with numbers, , but I assure you, the numbers were correct. Here's my confirmation email, cut 'n' pasted:


Walt Disney World Dolphin
1500 Epcot Resort Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista , Florida 32830
United States
(407) 934-4000 Check-in Check-out
02/06/2008 - 03:00 PM 02/09/2008 - 11:00 AM

1 Room , 3 Adults per room , 2 Double Beds

Room Features : Traditional Non-smoking, Heavenly Bed, Limited View, Cordless Phone, Minibar



Rate Information
Rate Description: SPG Award Room
Daily Rate per Room: USD 60.00 Total Room Rate:
Total Room Rate: USD 180.00

Taxes: State Sales Tax of 6.50% Per Room / Per Night is included in the rate.
Local Resort Tx of 6.00% Per Room / Per Night is included in the rate.


etc., etc.

I'm still in shock, myself. I really think I just lucked into a great deal. I would love to see it happen to someone else too!

 

[Disney 'Ohana]

SOOO jealous over here

What a sweet deal!!

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

posted to wrong thread! sorry - removed post