If you don’t already own an American Express card, now might be the perfect time to get one. Starwood Preferred Guest is back with its Free Friday’s promotion, but this time there is a new twist. Stay any five nights between May 1 and Aug. 31 and you’ll earn two free Friday nights. Stay an additional five nights during the same time period and you’ll earn two free Saturday nights — for a grand total of two free weekends.

This offer is available to Starwood Preferred Guest members only. Preferred Guest members need to pay for their stay with their American Express card, and mention code SFW-9E. Members can earn a maximum number of Free Weekends Worldwide, consisting of two free Fridays and two free Saturdays. Multiple rooms charged to the same member on a single night will only count as one paid night. A valid Preferred Guest membership number must be presented at time of reservation and check-in on all qualifying stays.

The stays can be redeemed at almost any Starwood property worldwide between June 1 and Aug. 29. Redemption is for standard guestrooms only, and any incidental charges must be placed on the American Express Card. As far as we can see, the only property that is excluded from the redemption process is the St. Regis New York.

Awards are automatically tracked in the Starwood Preferred Guest system and must be reserved in advance by calling the nearest Customer Contact Center or by visiting www.preferredguest.com. The awards can not be reserved until the stay in which the threshold is achieved has been credited to your Starwood Preferred Guest account. Free Weekends Worldwide awards are non-transferable and must be used by the qualifying member. The awards are also subject to the availability of standard guestrooms. Register for the promotion at: www.preferredguest.com/ promotions/free_weekends/register.jhtml.