{"id":3953,"date":"2013-04-06T13:48:58","date_gmt":"2013-04-06T19:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=3953"},"modified":"2013-04-24T21:56:59","modified_gmt":"2013-04-25T03:56:59","slug":"how-to-stay-8-free-nights-in-a-hotel-without-going-to-jail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=3953","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay 8 Free Nights in a Hotel Without Going to Jail"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I recently redeemed 3,000 of my Starpoints for a night in the Downtown Salt Lake City Sheraton. \u00a0It was just prior to our departure to Panama, and as we prepared to board the shuttle to the airport, I made a run to the lobby restroom with my son. \u00a0As we entered the restroom, there was a loud snoring sound reflecting off the marble walls. \u00a0My son and I looked at each other, puzzled, and advanced to investigate. Extending beneath the door of a bathroom stall, we saw two dirty boots, upright, unstirring. A homeless man had escaped the winter cold, opting for the warmer, and perhaps, somehow, more comfortable, bathroom floor of the Sheraton.<\/p>\n<p>We suppressed our snickers and hurriedly took care of our business. \u00a0But as we left, the thought occurred to me that we had paid no more for our room with two plush beds and pillows, than had this man paid for the stone floor and a ceramic pillow. We alerted the front desk and the poor guy was presumably hauled off to the slammer.<\/p>\n<p>If he had only known that if he could qualify for the <a href=\"http:\/\/beemrdwn.com\/clk.aspx?l=3135&amp;c=15031\" target=\"_blank\">Starwood Preferred Guest\u00ae Credit Card from American Express Card<\/a>, he too, could have enjoyed the luxurious 800\u00a0thread-count\u00a0sheets, the 42&#8243; plasma TV with HBO, and perhaps, even, a soak in the hot tub &#8211; not just for a night, but for 8 of them! \u00a0Now, doubtless, the homeless man probably doesn&#8217;t have the credit score to get approved, but do you? \u00a0If your credit score is at least 700, and you&#8217;re capable of making all of your payments on time and in full, it&#8217;s time for you to start taking advantage of credit card travel rewards.<\/p>\n<p>In order to get the bonus points, you need to spend $5000 within the first 6 months. \u00a0There&#8217;s no annual fee for the first year, and 10,000 of them come right away, so you can get started instantly!<\/p>\n<p>Here are three amazing hotels you could stay at for 8 nights&#8230; in a room, not a bathroom floor&#8230; for free&#8230; without going to jail:<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.starwoodhotels.com\/preferredguest\/property\/overview\/index.html?language=en_US&amp;propertyID=736\" target=\"_blank\">Medellin, Colombia Four Points by Sheraton<\/a><\/h2>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-3953 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3972'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Medellin-Four-Points-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Medellin Hotel\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3972\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Medellin-Four-Points-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Medellin-Four-Points-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3972'>\n\t\t\t\tStay at the Medellin Four Points by Sheraton\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=2719'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Paragliding-Colombia-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Paragliding in Medellin\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-2719\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-2719'>\n\t\t\t\tParagliding in the mountains of Colombia\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=425'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/colombia-0851-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Food in Colombia\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-425\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-425'>\n\t\t\t\tEat the &#8220;bandeja paisa&#8221; &#8211; Typical Colombian food\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3157'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Colombia-286-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"colombia waterfall\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3157\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3157'>\n\t\t\t\tVisit the Tequendemita waterfall\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.starwoodhotels.com\/preferredguest\/property\/overview\/index.html?language=en_US&amp;propertyID=778\" target=\"_blank\">Manchester, New Hampshire Four Points by Sheraton<\/a><\/h2>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-3953 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3980'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Manchester-Four-Points-Lobby-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-3980\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Manchester-Four-Points-Lobby-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Manchester-Four-Points-Lobby-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-3980'>\n\t\t\t\tKick back in the lobby of the Manchester Four Points\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3978'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Salem-Witch-Museum-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-3978\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Salem-Witch-Museum-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Salem-Witch-Museum-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-3978'>\n\t\t\t\tVisit the Salem Witch Musem\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3981'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Anadama-bread-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"New England Food\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-3981\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Anadama-bread-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Anadama-bread-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-3981'>\n\t\t\t\tTry a New England favorite: Anadama Bread\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3979'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7976563_s-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"covered bridge\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-3979\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7976563_s-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/7976563_s-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-3979'>\n\t\t\t\tSet out to find the Bath Bridge &#8211; a classic in covered bridges\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.starwoodhotels.com\/preferredguest\/property\/overview\/index.html?language=en_US&amp;propertyID=213\" target=\"_blank\">Vancouver, British Colombia Four Points by Sheraton<\/a><\/h2>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-3953 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3975'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Vancouver-Four-Points-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Room with a view\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-3975\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Vancouver-Four-Points-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Vancouver-Four-Points-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-3975'>\n\t\t\t\tStay for free in the Vancouver Four Points &#8211; a room with a view!\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3973'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Cruise-Alaska-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Vancouver Activities\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-3973\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Cruise-Alaska-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Cruise-Alaska-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-3973'>\n\t\t\t\tUse it as a launching point for a an Alaskan Cruise (Photo: Cruiseweb.com)\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3976'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/de-dutch-vancouver-001-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"pannekoeken\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-3976\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/de-dutch-vancouver-001-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/de-dutch-vancouver-001-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-3976'>\n\t\t\t\tHave a De Dutch Pannekoeken (Photo: Keryn Means: www.walkingontravels.com\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?attachment_id=3974'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Capilano-Bridge-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"best bridges\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-3974\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Capilano-Bridge-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Capilano-Bridge-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-3974'>\n\t\t\t\tWalk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge (Photo: Getty Images)\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>If you liked these ideas, you might also want to look at our great Starwood &#8220;loops&#8221; &#8211; roadtrips you can take between some of these free Starwood Hotels.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Use Credit Card Rewards to Explore Europe\" href=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/2011\/08\/03\/credit-card-rewards-to-explore-europe\/\">Alpine Europe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"New England Vacation with Free Nights at Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels\" href=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/2012\/10\/10\/england-vacation-free-nights-starwood-preferred-guest-hotels\/\">New England<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"American History Tour with Starwood Preferred Guest for Free\" href=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/2012\/11\/14\/american-history-tour-starwood-preferred-guest-free\/\">American History<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Dream Italian Vacation: Instructions to make it happen\" href=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/2013\/01\/18\/dream-italian-vacation\/\">Dream Italian Vacation I<\/a>\u00a0&amp;\u00a0<a title=\"Dream Italian Vacation Part II\" href=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/2013\/02\/06\/dream-italian-vacation-part-ii\/\">Dream Italian Vacation II<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All courtesy of the 30k bonus starpoints you&#8217;ll accrue with the Starwood Preferred Guest American Express Card. <a href=\"http:\/\/beemrdwn.com\/clk.aspx?l=3135&amp;c=15031\" target=\"_blank\">Apply now.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"zemanta-pixie\" style=\"margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;\"><a class=\"zemanta-pixie-a\" title=\"Enhanced by Zemanta\" href=\"http:\/\/www.zemanta.com\/?px\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"zemanta-pixie-img\" style=\"border: none; float: right;\" alt=\"Enhanced by Zemanta\" src=\"http:\/\/img.zemanta.com\/zemified_e.png?x-id=c61d4a77-f79e-4ac1-a563-2cac8d5c40b0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I recently redeemed 3,000 of my Starpoints for a night in the Downtown Salt Lake City Sheraton. \u00a0It was just prior to our departure to Panama, and as we prepared to board the shuttle to the airport, I made a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/?p=3953\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,24],"tags":[71,1081,1082,1080],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3953"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3953\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldwanderlusting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}