I recently re-earned @SPG Gold Status. When you hit this elite level Starwood gives you a gift – either 1) 25% of an Award Redemption or 2) Double Starpoints for a month.  Last year I qualified as Gold  a day or two before the end of the year and never got this gift, thus this is the first time I’ve had to make this selection.

My thoughts on these options:

1) I don’t really redeem Starpoints all that regularly. I’ve been building up a bit of a stockpile for some great award stay in the future.  Starwood does give you the 5th consecutive night free (for stays at hotels category 3 or higher) which can be stacked with this reward.  So if I were so inclined to take a week and stay at the same hotel someplace I could get it for only 60% of the required points (5 nights for the price of 4 minus 25%). Maybe I could stay at the Parker Palm Springs for a week, or cash in some miles and points and return to the St. Regis Bangkok or maybe one of the Starwood properties in Paris…or….

2) The idea of double Starpoints is, on the surface, pretty interesting. Unfortunately, I don’t get the choice of what month to select. I just checked and they offer the double points for me in October. I have ONE stay planned in October. What a waste. I was thinking that using double points in August could make sense since I’m (currently) staying 16 consecutive days at the Aloft O’Hare.  I’m getting a pretty good rate here and even doubling the points doesn’t get me all that far.  I’m usually more interested in the double points than the reduced redemption options.

Who out there has recently requalified for SPG Gold? What gift did you choose? What gift would you choose if you had to make this choice and why?

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