Best Starwood hotels: Category 1

The Starwood Preferred Guest program is popular for a reason: In addition to having over 1,100 hotels worldwide in excellent locations, the program has a reasonable award chart. The program’s Category 1 hotel list certainly proves that, offering incredible value at amazing hotels for just 2,000-3,000 points per night. Starwood definitely offers better value in terms of location and redemption levels, compared to other major hotel chains. It’s not always easy to earn Starpoints, with limited rewards credit card options, but it’s certainly worthwhile. Below are the best hotel redemption options within Starwood’s Category 1 portfolio:

• Best Category 2 Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels
• Best Category 3 Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels
• Category 4 Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels
• Best Category 5 Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels
• Best Category 6 Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels

NORTH AMERICA

US

There are no Category 1 Starwood Hotels in the US worth mentioning.

Central America

Aloft San Jose Hotel, Costa Rica (San Jose, Costa Rica)

Distinctions: N/A

Honorable mention: N/A

EUROPE

Aloft Bursa Hotel (Bursa, Turkey)

Distinctions: Tripadvisor #2 Hotel in Bursa

Accommodations: Standard are colorfully decorated – very much reminiscent of a new age dorm room (the kind that isn’t overrun by rodents), with an ergonomic work station and 40 inch LCD tv. The bathrooms are spacious, with accessible showers and a phone in case you’re one of those workaholics who can’t bear to be unproductive while on the loo.

Location: Though it caters mainly to business travelers, the Aloft Bursa has a great location for leisure travelers as well – especially considering its just 2,000-3,000 points per night. The Bursa City Museum, Archeology, and Ataturk Museum are all less than four miles from the hotel. Guests can also find the Great Mosque, and the Green Mosque nearby.

For those more interested in shopping than history, there is a shopping mall just a quarter mile away from the hotel, with two others within a four-mile radius. For a nice family activity, head to the Bursa Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located just 3.7 miles away.

Honorable mention:

• Four Points by Sheraton Kecskemet Hotel & Conference Center

AFRICA

Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa (Cairo, Egypt)

Distinctions: Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014

Accommodations: Standard rooms offer city views and are decorated in neutral tones. Guests booking an award night can choose between a Classic room with two Single or one King bed. Wireless internet is absurdly overpriced at 26.80 Euro/$35 per day, which is half the cost of staying at the hotel during low season.

Location: You can’t go to Egypt without seeing the pyramids. If you stay at the Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa, you won’t even need to leave the hotel pool to do so. The hotel is just a mile from the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza and 9 miles from the Egyptian Museum. Other nearby notable attractions include the Sakkara Pyramids (12 miles) and Gezirah Tower (6 miles), which is the tallest building in Egypt.

Honorable mention:

• Le Méridien Dahab Resort
• Le Méridien N’Fi

ASIA

Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Distinctions: N/A

Accommodations: Standard rooms offer 452 sqft of space and feature a balcony offering garden views. The decor is a bit outdated, but this isn’t the type of place where you’ll be staying in your room all day long. The resort has gorgeous indoor and outdoor pools. The health club, to which guests have complimentary access, offers stunning views of a nearby waterfall. All guests get complimentary access to wireless internet in their rooms and throughout the hotel.

Location: There is no shortage of activities in the resort’s immediate area. Within walking distance, guests can check out the Sapto Hoedojo Art Gallery, or venture out 1 mile further to a nearby golf course. There are various museums under 5 miles from the resort, along with a local zoo and shopping mall to keep the whole family entertained.

For those looking for a bit of local culture and history, the Prambanan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Sultan Palace are within 6 miles of the resort. There’s plenty to do in the area and guests looking to venture out further can walk to a nearby bus station or take a 3-mile cab drive to the closest train station.

Honorable mention: Aloft Beijing, Haidan

What are your thoughts on my list of best Starwood hotel redemptions for Category 1? Are there any hotels you think should be on the list that aren’t?

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