topic Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG in Credit Cards

What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

xgac12x — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:16:27 GMT

I've been reading and I am seeing that Starwood Points are a heck of a lot more valuable when redeeming for travel.

How does the CSR compare? Say I would only use one of those two cards. For redeeming for overall value, which would you go for, and why?

Thank you!

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

xgac12x — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:18:50 GMT

How is "ValuePenguin" coming up with these valuations? They said if you transfer for a flight that the starwood points could be worth 4.4%? That seems a bit high

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

xgac12x — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:24:13 GMT

Also,

I am just trying to figure out what cards I want to go for after I get done gardening.

I have a Chase Freedom, that I could pair with the CSR, and possibly get the Citi Prestige as well for the 4th night benefit? I am not sure, I am trying to figure out what to do. Because after I would like to just let my credit portfolio sit for a really long time. I don't want to keeping adding cards etc

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

wasCB14 — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:30:41 GMT

Which loyalty program do you expect to eventually use the points in?

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

xgac12x — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:31:36 GMT

Not sure.. Whatever gets the best value I guess. Hotels & Flights

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:36:41 GMT

Even assuming that your preferred loyalty program is served by both, remember that point valuation is only half of the equation, you also need to consider point earning.

That is, the real question is, on average, what value do I get per $ I spend.

SPG has always been well regarded for the valuation (and flexibility, many more partners) but it falls short on earning. Almost everything is 1 point per $, except for stays at Starwood or Marriott.

Plus of course we don't know the long-term future of the rewards program

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

xgac12x — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:47:03 GMT

Okay. I think that I am going to stick to looking into the CSR with Freedom & FU along with it.

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

iced — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 23:31:54 GMT

If your goal is min-max your CC spend to get maximum dollar value based on point valuations on ANY website, stop. You're doing it wrong. Unless xgac12x IS ThePointsGuy or happens to have the exact same travel and spend patterns as ThePointsGuy, the valuations ThePointsGuy gives you aren't going to be correct. They're meant to be guides, not rules. That isn't to say there isn't meaningful content in them, but it needs to be digested for what it is.

The only real authority that can help you maximize your rewards is you. Here's what you need to do:

1. Understand your travel patterns and goals. Are you the kind of person who likes to travel domestic or short-haul international? Maybe airline miles aren't as valuable to you since those tickets tend to be cheap and available in plentiful supply. Do you hate Marriotts and love Hiltons? The RC Visa might not be for you, then. Or maybe you like boutique bed and breakfasts? Something like UR where you can spend it like cash on travel might make more sense.

2. Understand your spending habits. If you do a lot of MS or your largest purchases each month are things like groceries or home improvement, you're going to have an uphill battle with the CSR and SPG both. Maybe focus on a cash-back card instead. But if you eat out a lot a CSR might make a lot of sense.

The card with maximum value for you is the card which most closely matches item 1 to item 2. If there truly was one magical, universal "maximum value" card out there, then a lot of people would be using it and only it. It would also be made out of unicorns and would shoot rainbows out of the POS machine every time it was swiped or inserted.

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 13:15:28 GMT

As others have stated, SPG is good value if you can actually obtain SPG points. They hand them out like candy if you're staying at SPG/Marriott properties, but if you're not... you will not accumulate them that fast. I'll have 50 nights after my visit to Tampa this coming weekend. I've raked up 46k SPG pts (not including the two card bonuses) plus whatever I'll get this weekend and that doesn't include the two card bonuses I got earlier this year.

Me and the wife have been using SPG for our 'other' purchases that don't fit a category... and it just does not accumulate hardly anything. We'll be putting our other charges on my EDP from now on. It'll be more of a return for us. That's the perspective from an SPG fanatic though. Hopefully more CSR people can chime in for you.

Do what fits your spend pattern the best!

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

darwin_wins — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:10:54 GMT

**bleep** 46k just through spg stays is a lot of points. Also 50 nights? That's 1/6 of the year

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

iced — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:56:36 GMT

50 nights isn't unusual for people who travel for work. It's how people get platinum or diamond status typically. I myself have stayed 75 nights in just Marriotts this year and I'm by no means a road warrior.

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 02:49:52 GMT

Who knows how long the Amex SPG program will even be around!

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 04:24:26 GMT

Who knows that the SPG American Express won't become a Marriott American Express?! ;-)

Re: What is more valuable as a whole: CSR vs AMEX SPG

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:14:40 GMT

This is merely off vacation. I do not travel for work. I've been on a whopping 11 vacations this year as I had 400hrs of time to burn. I can say that it will be at 0 by the end of this weekend. Obtaining Platinum again next year will be rough, but I will try my hardest. I didn't know how long or what SPG will turn into over the next few years so I wanted to experience it at least once.

As for the points, they have so many easy bonuses (like double/triple points for staying on the weekend or stay at a Sheraton twice and get triple points) that it makes raking them up easy as long as you sign up for them as they toss them at you.