Good use of 35k Amex Rewards points

[VALittleRed]

Hi all,

If you had about 35-40k worth of Amex MR points to empty out of Amex with no redemption in mind (e.g flight or hotel) what would you use/redeem/transfer them too if you couldn’t choose Avios or Virgin Points? Want to cancel my ARCC keeping them alive so I can reset the clock which I should have done 2 years ago!
I just don’t want to redeem them on something low value. Think I might transfer them to Eurostar which I guess isn’t ideal but think I’d get value out of that, specially on a Bus Prem redemption, what would you do?

I guess I want to park them somewhere else but not sure where else best offers as much flexibility as possible like MR points?

Thanks

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

I think Bus Prem on Eurostar is a waste. Standard premier gets the same seat layout and a decent meal service. You’re losing fast track queue at the station (which isn’t as bad for EU passport holders anyway) and the lounge access (which Amex Plat gets you anyway).

[Carlos]

Send them to Nectar and spend it

[Peter K]

Carlos wrote:

Send them to Nectar and spend it

Via Avios to get more value than direct from MR (if this is an option for OP).

The best place to send MR points is where you’ll use them. If it’s flexibility you want though, Bonvoy can be used for Marriott hotel stays or transferred into multiple airline accounts (at a loss of some value of course).

[memesweeper]

Bonvoy will be my cash-out route of last resort because:

– the gift card routes out of Amex are rubbish
– hotels are easier to spend points with than airmiles
– Marriott have many good hotels with reasonable availability, 5-4-4, and cash-on-top-of-points upgrades for nicer rooms
– Marriott can be cashed out to airmiles when required, with an optimal rate I think at 60k points (and an optimal partner of United)

[VALittleRed]

Thanks all for the really helpful suggestions here, Bonvoy does seem a good option I hadn’t thought about. The reason why Eurostar Bus prem has value is the things you listed as I’m trying to close any MR cards and don’t want to take out Plat as I don’t qualify for a bonus, hence trying to reset the 2 years and don’t hold an EU passport.