Bits: 60% bonus on IHG point purchases, triple Heathrow Rewards, Liverpool SPG hotel deal

News in brief:

Get a 60% bonus on IHG Rewards Club points purchases

IHG Rewards Club is offering a 60% bonus when you buy 5,000 points or more before March 29th.

This is not, in itself, a fantastic deal. At its very cheapest, you are paying $7.18 per 1,000 points. This is still more expensive than they would cost by doing the ‘cash and points and cancel’ trick. This involves doing a ‘cash and points’ redemption – 5,000 points + $70 instead of 15,000 points – and then immediately cancelling.

It might, just might, be helpful if you require a specific number of points to empty out an account. The problem with the ‘cash and points and cancel’ trick is that you need to buy in multiples of 10,000 points to get the $7 price. This promo allows you to buy exactly what you need. The link to buy is here.

Double or triple Heathrow Rewards points

Until 30th April, Heathrow Rewards is offering double points on purchases between £125 and £499 and triple points on purchases over £500.

It is only valid at fashion retailers, specificially Alexander McQueen, Bally, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Case Luggage, Cath Kidston, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Gucci, Hackett, Harrods, Hugo Boss, Jack Wills, John Lewis, Kurt Geiger, Michael Kors, Miu Miu, Mont Blanc, Mulberry, Paul Smith, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Reiss, Rolling Luggage, Salvatore Ferragamo, Smythson, Sunglass Hut, Ted Baker, Valentino and Zara.  It excludes Bulgari, Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Harrods Signature stores.

Don’t forget that you can get 1,100 Heathrow Rewards points for signing up via this Etihad-sponsored promotion.  Etihad Guest is also offering a 100% conversion bonus when you transfer your Heathrow Rewards points before the end of April.

Decent redemption deal at the Aloft Liverpool hotel

Starwood Hotels recently opened a branch of the modern boutique Aloft chain in Liverpool.  It is housed in the historic, neo-baroque, Royal Insurance Building in the city centre, picture above.

It has been classified as a Category 2 hotel by Starwood Preferred Guest.  This means that it costs just 4,000 SPG points per night during the week and just 3,000 at weekends.

Pricing is all over the place but seems to be around £80 midweek and often well over £100 on a Saturday.  This makes it an EXCELLENT use of SPG points.

Even better, ‘cash and points’ appears to be permanently midweek at just 2,000 points + $35.  This is even better value, giving you around 3p per Starwood point.

You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points into Starwood Preferred Guest at the rate of 2:1.  You would be getting at least 1p per Amex point if you redeemed at the Aloft.  You can also get the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card (review) which has a £75 fee but a sign-up bonus of 10,000 SPG points.

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

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.