The ‘rogue’ Starwood resorts in Dubai finally join Starwood Preferred Guest

On paper, Dubai should have been the ideal place to redeem Starwood Preferred Guest points for a beach holiday.  The group has four beach resorts in the Emirate:

• The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
• Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
• Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa (below)
• Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort

…. plus another 12 non-beach properties.

For reasons never quite understood, however, many of these hotels refused to participate in Starwood Preferred Guest.  You couldn’t earn points and you couldn’t redeem points – it wasn’t quite clear why they were even carrying Starwood brands.

The last two hold-outs – the Westin and Le Meriden at the Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina – have now joined up as full members.

Both are 20,000 SPG points per night compared with 25,000 per night at Le Royal Meridien and 12,000 per night at Sheraton Jumeirah Beach.

Whilst these redemptions are not the cheapest, they are good value at peak periods.  Starwood has ‘last room availability’ which means that if the hotel has a standard room for sale it must be offered as a reward.

On Easter Monday, Le Royal Meriden is £475 per night, so you are getting almost 2p per SPG point.  Sheraton Jumeirah is £355 so you receive almost 3p per point!  The other two are already showing as sold out but I would expect a similar result.  These prices are totally normal for beach resorts in Dubai over Easter or October half term, by the way.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (March 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.