Bits: Travelex flash sale today, Hilton improves lifetime status, Starwood and Caesars split

News in brief:

Travelex holding a flash sale today

Travelex is having another of its occasional ‘flash sales’ today.  Between 11am and 1pm, it will be improving the spreads on currency purchases.

This may be a good chance to pre-order for collection at Heathrow if you are heading off for Christmas and the New Year later in the week.  Go here between 11am and 1pm today.

Hilton makes it easier to hit Lifetime Diamond status

In late October I ran this piece on how to earn lifetime status with your favourite hotel loyalty programme.

Hilton HHonors launched Lifetime Diamond (top tier) status last year.  You can find the – sparse – details on the Hilton website here.  You need to have been a Diamond member for 10 years, not necessarily consecutive, and to have knocked up a whopping 1,000 nights in Hilton properties!  Reward nights do not count towards lifetime status, unlike standard status qualification.

Someone at Hilton seems to have decided that this was too aggressive.  Effective immediately, Lifetime Diamond can now be achieved by:

10 years of Diamond status plus 1,000 nights (but reward nights DO now count) or

10 years of Diamond status plus 2 million base Hilton HHonors points

At 10 base points per US$, Lifetime Diamond now becomes easier if your average Hilton spend is greater than $200 per night.

You can compare this with Marriott, Starwood and Hyatt in my October article.  IHG does not offer lifetime status at this point.

Starwood Preferred Guest and Caesars ending their partnership

Finally, the joint venture between Starwood Preferred Guest and Las Vegas-based hotel group Caesars will end on 31st December.

My original 2014 article on the partnership is here.  This is either a side effect of the Starwood / Marriott merger or the financial problems at Caesars – it does not appear clear.

What IS clear is that you will no longer be able to earn or spend SPG points in 2017 when staying at:

• Bally’s Atlantic City, NJ
• Bally’s Las Vegas, NV
• Caesars Atlantic City, NJ
• Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV
• Flamingo Las Vegas, NV
• Harrah’s Atlantic City, NJ
• Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, NV
• Harrah’s Las Vegas, NV
• Harrah’s New Orleans, LA
• Harrah’s Reno, NV
• Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, NV
• Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, NV
• Paris Las Vegas, NV
• Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, NV
• The Quad Las Vegas, NV
• Rio Las Vegas, NV
• Showboat Atlantic City, NJ

Full details of what you can get until 31st December at these hotels can be found on spg.com.  The site has not yet been updated to reflect the end of the deal.  Stays booked before 31st December for 2017 using SPG points will be honoured.

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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.