I got the Starwood AMEX because I am frequent traveler and I moved from Intercontinental hotels to Startwood hotels as my preferred chain. I have to say I have been extremely pleased.

I later found out that most AMEX employees have the Starwood AMEX because the annual rate is lower than Gold Card and the Starwood rewards are better than AMEX Points.

The rewards program is better because you …can use the Starwood points on any airline, as opposed to AMEX. Also, the reward levels are lower. A $100 Banana Republic gift card is 9500 points with Starwood and 10000 points with AMEX.

Plus you get all the normal travel insurance and services you get with all AMEX cards.

My first America Express Card is the Starwood. I only opened it because I heard such raves about it.

Now that I have had it for 3 months, I haven't been all that impressed by this credit card. Most stays at hotels are not 3000 points. I checked on a few upcoming vacation spots and they range much higher - as high as 10,000 points. That was a disappointing discovery for me.

Let me also comment on American Express in general. Although I have superb credit, my initial credit line was dismal. When I called AmEx to ask them why they said it was because I was a first time customer. I asked them if they even looked at my credit score and my credit lines on other credit cards - they said yes but that the formula was complicated.

All in all not impressed by this card or American Express, supposedly the Rolls Royce of Credit Card companies.