The mergers are done with and we now know that Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest members can now link both accounts, move points around as they wish, and match their status.

The great thing about this this merger is, that now there exist some redemption opportunities for both Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members at exquisite destinations around the world which were not available to them before. Yesterday, I shared our list of a 10 unique destinations where Marriott Rewards members can now redeem stays courtesy Starwood’s portfolio.

Today, I am listing down 10 great travel locations where SPG members can benefit from Marriott’s existing presence.

1. South Africa: While Starwood has only 1 hotel each in Johanessburg , Cape Town and Pretoria, Marriott has a footprint of 69 hotels, resorts and safari lodges all over South Africa. Situated in South Africa’s oldest game reserve, Elephant coast Protea Hluhluwe & Safaris is one such destination where you can experience the wild nature of Africa in its best form.

• Protea Zebula Lodge, Limpopo : Cat 3 (  15,000 MR points per night)
• Protea Hotel Hluhluwe & Safaris: Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)
• Protea Hotel Hazyview, Mpumalanga : Cat 1 (7,500 MR points per night)
• Arabella Hotel & Spa, Hermanus : Cat 3 (15,000 MR points per night)

2. Zanzibar: A stone’s throw away from some of best African safari destinations, Zanzibar is known for its beautiful beaches and history. The Protea Hotel here is located amidst the ruins dating back to 1870s with access to the beach  and is just 10 mins away from Stone Town.

• Protea Hotel Zanzibar Mbweni Ruins, Zanzibar : Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)

3. Zambia: Spread over 2,500 acres, here’s another private game reserve in Zambia. You can stay here and view the fantastic African wildlife just at an arm’s length.

• Protea Hotel Lusaka Safari Lodge, Zambia : Cat 1 (7,500 MR points per night)

4. Azarbaijan: Azarbaijan is encapsulated by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains and its capital city, Baku is famous for its medivel walled inner city. All Marriott properties here offer great redemption value as they are only Cat 2. The Park Chalet and Pik Palace offer stunning mountain views.

• JW Marriott Ansheron Baku, Azarbaijan : Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)
• Boulevard Hotel Baku Autograph Collection : Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)
• Pik Palace, Shahdag, Autograph Collection : Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)
• Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection : Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)

5. Aruba: This tiny Dutch Caribbean island has some stunning Marriott properties. The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, sits just steps from the powdery white sands of Aruba’s famous Palm Beach. Afterall it’s a good idea to splurge points on luxury stays once in a while.

• The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba : Tier 4 : (60,000 MR points per night)
• Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino : Cat 8 (40,000 MR points per night)
• Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino : Cat 9 (45,000 MR points per night)
• Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club : Cat 9 (45,000 MR points per night)
• Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club : Cat 9 (45,000 MR points per night)

6. Bahamas: Another location in the Caribbean where there are no Starwood resorts, but quite a few Marriott options. Located at the apex of Cove and Paradise beaches, The Cove Atlantis is the island’s most fashionable and chic escape for luxury travellers.

• Courtyard Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach, Bahamas : Cat 6(30,000 MR points per night)
• Atlantis, Royal Towers, Autograph Collection, Bahamas : Cat 8( 40,000 MR points per night)
• Atlantis, Coral Towers, Autograph Collection, Bahamas : Cat 7 (35,000 MR points per night)
• The Cove Atlantis, Autograph Collection, Bahamas : Cat 9 (45,000 MR points per night)

7. St Kitts & Nevis: 3 hours flying time from Miami and 7 hours away from New York, St. Kitts is one of the most seductive islands in the colonial Caribbean.

• St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino : Cat 7 (35,000 MR points per night)
• Marriott’s St. Kitts Beach Club : Cat 7 (35,000 MR points per night)

8. Puerto Rico: Ranked as the No. 1 Renaissance hotel by the U.S. News in 2015, The La Concha resort here is Chic and an icon of modern architecture.

• The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan : Tier 4 (60,000 MR points per night)
• Courtyard Aguadilla : Cat 2 (10,000 MR points per night)
• Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort : Cat 7 ( 35,000 MR points per night)
• La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort : Cat 8 (40,000 MR points per night)
• San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino : Cat 8 (40,000 MR points per night)

9. Macedonia: This beautiful hidden gem is Europe is a landlocked nation of mountains, lakes and ancient towns with Ottoman and European architecture. The capital city, Skopje, is popular for its sprawling Old Bazaar quarter and historic buildings turned museums. The most famous one being the the National Gallery of Macedonia that is housed in a 15th-century Turkish bath complex.

• Skopje Marriott Hotel : Cat 3 : (15,000 MR points per night)

10. Denmark: Copenhagen is lined with colorful buildings, cobbled streets and tiny cafes. Brimming with rich history this city is compact and easy to explore on foot or bike around.

• Copenhagen Marriott Hotel : Cat 8 (40,000 MR points per night)
• AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen : Cat 7 (35,000 MR points per night)

Apart from this with a footprint of over 3500 hotels in the US alone, this merger has opened immense opportunities for SPG members to choose from a wider portfolio now against the existing limited collection earlier, SPG members will now also have access to hotels in Missisipi , Idaho and Utah where Starwood has been non-existent until now.

Remember, SPG  points can be transferred to Marriott Rewards in a ratio of 1 Starwood point = 3 MR points after linking your accounts. Also, just remember, the 5th night is automatically free on a reservation of 5 nights, so that helps too!

Where do you think lie opportunities for great redemptions as a result of this merger?

(All pictures courtesy Marriott)

Join over 5000 people who check-in daily to find out about the best in travel.
Free emails (once-a-day) | RSS Feeds | Facebook Updates | Twitter | Instagram