An amazing card for anyone who spends more than 20 nights a year at an SPG property, the SPG Amex gives you 25,000 SPG points after you spend $3k in 3 months with no annual fee in the first year, $95/year after.
SPG points are more valuable than Chase Ultimate Rewards because they redeem at some of the nicest hotels in the world (St. Regis, for example) but also transfer to airline frequent flyer programs. For example:
THE BAD
Initial bonus is kinda meh; seasonally or if you are targeted it can be as high as 35,000 points.
Amex tends to offer lower-than-average credit lines for the same credit score
Amex is accepted fewer places than Visa/MC
THE GOOD
Attractive exchange rate to a ton of frequent flyer programs. Examples:
- 15,000 🏨 SPG points ➡ 15,000 ✈️American Airlines miles
- 20,000 🏨 SPG points ➡ 25,000 ✈️American Airlines miles
You get 2 SPG points for every $1 you spend at SPG properties. This isn't as high a multiplier as you get with the Chase Ultimate Reserve card, but the points are more useful.
In the interests of disclosure, I'll mention that I get a referral bonus if you apply here, so thanks!