The Amex Platinum Card: How To Use the Annual $600 Prepaid Hotel Credit

If you can maximize your card’s benefits, the value proposition of the Platinum Card^® from American Express has never been greater.

This guide will walk you through all the nuances of the up to $600 prepaid hotel credit and inspire you with high-value ways to use it. We hope that you’ll walk away knowing how to utilize this credit efficiently.

Amex Platinum Card: Overview

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

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Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

The Amex Platinum Card’s Prepaid Hotel Credit

The prepaid hotel credit on the Amex Platinum card is a benefit that takes the form of a statement credit on prepaid bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts or the Hotel Collection. The latter requires at least a 2-night stay, but using either program must be arranged through AmexTravel.com to qualify for the benefit. Previously a $200 hotel credit, this $600 hotel credit was updated in September 2025 to be 2 semiannual credits — one of up to $300 from January to June and an additional credit of up to $300 between July and December.

Don’t be scared of the “prepaid” language, though, because almost all these bookings are cancellable and refundable!

Typically, when you book a stay through AmexTravel.com, you can pay for your booking in 2 ways:

1. Prepaid (can earn 5x points)
2. Paid at the hotel (cannot earn 5x points)

So if you’re interested in maximizing your points, go for the prepaid booking and rest assured that these reservations are refundable.

In total, you can receive up to $600 in these statement credits every calendar year. It may take up to 90 days for the credit to be posted to your account, though this typically posts within a week in practice.

8 Best Prepaid Hotel Credit Redemptions at Fine Hotels + Resorts

American Express’s signature set of luxury hotels is Fine Hotels + Resorts — think of globally-known luxury brands like the Four Seasons and lavish boutique brands like Aman.

Whenever you book a Fine Hotels + Resorts stay, you receive:

• A room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Noon check-in, when available
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Unique property amenities, such as a spa or food-and-beverage credit valued at $100 or more

There’s no minimum stay requirement, which means you can get all these benefits on 1-night stays!

One way to think of the $600 Amex Platinum hotel credit is to consider it 2 separate $300 credits that you can use each year. Let’s explore our favorite ways to use this $300 prepaid hotel credit at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties.

International Locations

1. Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou (China)

One of the newest, sleekest city hotels you can book is the Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou, in China.

This riverfront, 5-star hotel along the Guxin River is 3 miles from Zhejiang Art Museum and 2 miles from West Lake.

Each of the 414 rooms and suites starts at 462 square feet and offers amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows, modern decor, a king bed with soft bedding, a work desk, a sitting area with a couch, a balcony, a flat-screen TV, a coffee and tea set, a minibar, and more.

The spacious bathroom welcomes you with a separate shower, a deluxe soaking tub, posh Shangri-La bathrobes and towels, and designer toiletries.

The hotel has 3 restaurants, a cocktail lounge, and a lobby lounge, plus a gym, spa, indoor pool, whirlpool, steam room, boutique, and event space.

If you book a 1-night stay during the weekday, you could potentially net a free stay using your $300 prepaid hotel credit, as rates are often below $300 per night!

2. The Ritz-Carlton Tianjin (China)

Booking a night at a Ritz-Carlton is usually outside the realm of realistic ways to use a $300 prepaid hotel credit, considering how some properties command over $1,000 per night!

But thrifty luxury travelers, rejoice: The Ritz-Carlton Tianjin, a posh property in China just 5 minutes from the metro station and 3 miles from the Tianjin Museum, is now within reach!

This opulent property has rooms measuring at least 538 square feet. Each room has a king bed with soft Frette bedding, a work desk, a private balcony overlooking the garden or courtyard, coffee and tea facilities, and more. There’s a full marble bathroom with twin vanities, a separate tub and rainfall shower, a powder room, a toilet with a bidet, and a lit makeup mirror.

This property has 3 restaurants, a cocktail lobby lounge serving afternoon tea, a full-service spa, a fitness center, an indoor pool, a Club Lounge, and a meeting space.

By booking a weekday stay within 1 month of the stay, you might be able to find room rates at around the $300 per night cutoff, including taxes and fees!

3. Shangri-La Sydney (Australia)

Shangri-La Sydney is a high-rise luxury property a 5-minute walk from the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, a 7-minute walk from Circular Quay train station, and half a mile from the famous Sydney Opera House.

The superb location isn’t the only thing going for it — each of the spacious and comfortable rooms starts at 430 square feet with amazing views of Darling Harbour, signature bedding, a sitting area, full-size executive desk, a flat-screen TV, coffee and tea set, minibar, and pillow menu. The marble bathroom has a separate soaking bathtub, shower, and Shangri-La toiletries and bathrobes.

Once you leave your room, you can recharge at the restaurant, coffee shop, or cocktail lounge with sweeping city views. Use the indoor pool, gym, spa, or Jacuzzi to rejuvenate!

This property represents a fantastic balance between 5-star luxury and reasonable pricing — you can enjoy all of the Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits available and pay around $250 for a 1-night weekday stay!

4. Sofitel Mexico City Reforma (Mexico)

Experience French luxury in Mexico City’s Reforma district, a historic destination that immerses you in French and Mexican poshness.

Sofitel Mexico City Reforma, part of the French-based Sofitel chain owned by Accor, features views of the Angel of Independence monument and is a 9-minute walk from Insurgentes metro station and a little more than a mile from Chapultepec Castle.

Here, you can partake in Sofitel features like floor-to-ceiling windows, a king bed or 2 double beds, a work desk, at least 410 square feet of space, an LED TV, urban Mexico City views, a Nespresso machine, and more. The marble bathroom features plenty of counter space, bathrobes, L’Occitane amenities, and a walk-in shower.

You’ll find 5 places to eat and drink here, as well as a gym, a sauna, meeting rooms, and pet-friendly policies.

We found the cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts room rate at around $250 per night, excluding taxes and fees, for a weekday stay. That means this property is your best bet for a value-packed Mexico City stay using the hotel credit.

Hot Tip:

Save money on your hotel stay and your flight and read about the best ways to fly to Mexico with points and miles (step-by-step).

5. Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (Puerto Rico)

Our last hotel in the Fine Hotels + Resorts section is Puerto Rico’s best-value property, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.

Make no mistake: This time-tested luxury resort has amazingly consistent reviews, a spectacular Condado Beach location, and is a crown jewel for value luxury.

Each of the standard guest rooms has at least 350 square feet of real estate with either 2 queen beds or 1 king bed with Rivolta Carmignani linens, a sitting area with 3 chairs, a desk, a flat-screen TV, an in-room French-press coffee maker with Puerto Rican coffee and tea, and a minifridge. The sleek guest room bathrooms have marble tiling, a shower-tub combination, single vanity, bathrobes, bamboo towels, and C.O. Bigelow amenities.

The 9 eateries and bars include a cigar lounge, a cocktail bar, an oceanfront restaurant, and a fine dining spot. You can also find a chic spa, 4 pools, a gym, and a meeting space.

The cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts rate we could find was $258 before taxes and fees.

US Locations

6. Mr. C Coconut Grove (Florida)

Mr. C Coconut Grove often has room rates between $200 and $300, including taxes and fees. This is a steal, considering how pricey these Miami can get.

Mr. C properties are often the cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts properties in the vicinity, so value-focused travelers should have a blast at any of these 3 properties!

7. Taj Campton Place (San Francisco, California)

If you’ve ever looked for a Fine Hotels + Resorts property in San Francisco, you’ve probably seen a particular property come up as one of the most affordable options: Taj Campton Place (a member of Mumbai-based Taj Hotels).

This property has a prime location in San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood and is a prominent landmark. Offering classical Indian luxury, this hotel is just outside the Financial District and a 5-minute walk from the Montgomery Street BART station.

Each of the classy rooms starts at 250 square feet and has a California king bed, a work desk, premium bedding, an iHome docking station, pillow menu, well-stocked minibar, turndown service, an LED TV, and Nespresso machine. The limestone bathrooms contain a single vanity, a walk-in shower or a shower-tub combo, a bath menu, bath salts, plush bathrobes, slippers, and more.

The hotel is home to a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant, bar, and bistro. This property has an open-air fitness center and a 24/7 business center, too.

Although it’s increasingly rare to find Fine Hotels + Resorts room rates for less than $175 per night in an expensive city like San Francisco, you might discover 1-night stays with a Sunday or Friday check-in as far out as 1 month in advance for that price.

Hot Tip:

If you prefer to avoid booking a cash rate, check out the best San Francisco hotels to book with points for maximum value.

8. The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel (New York)

If you’re thinking of checking out New York City, you’ve probably come to terms with the fact that you’ll probably be shelling out a handsome amount to book your hotels here.

And while it’s true that a $300 prepaid hotel credit isn’t enough for a Fine Hotels + Resorts stay (rooms average around $380 per night), you’d be remiss in discarding the possibility entirely, because the Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, is competitively priced!

In Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, this 5-star hotel is a 3-minute walk from the Fulton Street subway station and a 14-minute walk from the Brooklyn Bridge. It is surrounded by other attractions like the 9/11 Memorial, One World Trade Center, the Federal Reserve of New York, and more.

Each of the rooms at this property boasts high ceilings, curated art, aged oak floors, 285 square feet of space, eclectic furnishings, a minibar, a cocktail table, and a flat-screen TV. The bathroom is tiled with Carrara marble and has an oversized rainfall shower, D.S. & Durga bath amenities, a single vanity, and more.

You also find eateries run by famous chefs, a wood-paneled cocktail lounge, a chic bar, and an awe-inspiring ,9-story atrium! A courtesy luxury house car is available upon request.

Although this property tends to be the cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts property in New York City, you should find nothing but the finest 5-star luxuries here.

Bottom Line:

You can use your prepaid hotel benefit on 1-night stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts locations, while the Hotel Collection properties require a 2-night stay.

5 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at the Hotel Collection

The Hotel Collection is like the little sister of Fine Hotels + Resorts.

A different set of hotels fall under the Hotel Collection, and these are almost always upscale or luxury hotels a notch below the opulent properties of Fine Hotels + Resorts.

Although the Hotel Collection requires a stay of at least 2 nights, these properties are almost always more affordable, so getting an entire short stay paid for using one of your $300 prepaid hotel credits is possible.

To make things better, all bookings at the Hotel Collection give you:

• $100 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities
• Room upgrade at check-in, if available

Let’s get into neat ways to get some fantastic value at the Hotel Collection with your semiannual $300 prepaid hotel credit!

International Destinations

1. Conrad Bali (Indonesia)

One of the most spectacular ways to use your prepaid hotel credit is on luxury properties in affordable leisure destinations.

One of these destinations is Bali — specifically, the Conrad Bali, a fantastic 5-star resort that will have you dreaming about a stay here.

Conrad Bali has 368 rooms and suites in the Nusa Dua area. Every room is at least 484 square feet. It is outfitted with garden views, a private balcon or terrace, blackout curtains, a pillow menu, a desk, a separate sitting area, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and coffee and tea facilities. Each room’s granite bathroom comes with a single vanity, walk-in shower, separate bathtub, Shanghai Tang amenities, and a water closet.

The amenities here are fantastic, including 3 restaurants, a pool bar, a lobby lounge, sprawling lagoon pools, beachside cabanas, a spa, a gym, and more.

But the most incredible part is the price tag: You can easily find rates for $158 per night (excluding taxes)!

2. Hôtel Des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection or Pan Pacific Hanoi (Vietnam)

Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. And even though tourism has exploded, we haven’t necessarily seen a corresponding increase in lodging prices. That means you can book a 2-night stay for around $200, including taxes and fees!

Whether you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City in the south or Hanoi in the north, the Hotel Collection has properties that should impress the value-focused luxury traveler:

• Hôtel Des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection
  • $120 per night ($240 total for a 2-night stay)
• Pan Pacific Hanoi
  •  $97 per night ($194 total for a 2-night stay)

As a reminder, you get a room upgrade upon availability and a $100 property credit, which means you could get $300 or more of value for almost nothing after the $300 prepaid hotel credit!

3. Sofitel Wellington (New Zealand)

New Zealand can be expensive to travel to, but if you stay at the Sofitel Wellington, you get affordable 5-star luxury in Wellington’s business and government hub.

This chic property is a 6-minute walk from the Wellington Botanic Garden and a little more than a mile from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Each room starts at 215 square feet, with a queen Sofitel MyBed, a Bose sound system, specialty coffee and tea, a minibar, flat-screen TV, and sitting area with 2 chairs and a coffee table. Each guest room bathroom offers a modern walk-in rain shower, a makeup mirror, bathrobes, French bath amenities, and a single vanity.

There’s 1 full-service restaurant, a cocktail bar, a meeting space, a club lounge, and more.

The lowest rates we found were around $112 per night, excluding taxes and fees!

4. Grand Hyatt São Paulo (Brazil)

Grand Hyatt São Paulo is one of South America‘s few constituent properties within the Hotel Collection, and the cash price makes booking a 2-night stay attractive.

This popular, 5-star property has standard rooms of at least 398 square feet, a queen bed or 2 twin beds, a large closet, a sitting area with city views, a work desk, a flat-screen TV, blackout curtains, a minifridge, and coffee and tea facilities. Each bathroom contains a walk-in rainfall shower, a separate soaking bathtub, Granado bath products, and more.

This Brazilian property hosts a full-service restaurant, a poolside cocktail bar and terrace, a day spa, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a business center, and more.

For 5-star luxury, you pay as little as $122 per night before taxes and fees, making the total for a 2-night stay an excellent $258! This is an amazing opportunity to enjoy fantastic accommodations while minimizing your cash outlay.

US Destination

5. Delano Las Vegas (Nevada)

The Delano Las Vegas is one of the hidden gems of Las Vegas. In the Mandalay Bay Resort complex in a 43-story tower with all-suite accommodations, South Beach energy, and reasonable cash rates, this property has a lot going for it.

Each modern suite starts at 725 square feet and is equipped with elegant whites and grays throughout, starting with a chic king bed or 2 queen beds. Within the suite, are a separate living area with seating for 5, a flat-screen TV in the bedroom and living room, a work desk, a dual-closet armoire, a bedside stereo system, and a fully stocked minibar.

Each bathroom is laden with granite and marble. It contains double vanities with a backlit makeup mirror, separate walk-in shower, separate soaking tub, and private water closet. There are even bathrobes and luxury bath products!

This property has 2 full-service restaurants, a coffee shop, and 2 bars, plus an outdoor pool, spa, and gym.

This resort is one of the rarest the Hotel Collection properties that can have paid rates of around $100 per night. Because of this, flexible travelers can get a free weekend in Vegas using their $300 prepaid hotel credit! Plus, you’ll get all the Hotel Collection amenities, like the $100 experience credit and room upgrades (if available).

That means you could come out ahead from your booking and get lots of freebies in addition to not paying for your stay at all!

Purchases That Don’t Trigger the Prepaid Hotel Credit

Overall, here are a few examples of purchases that don’t trigger the prepaid hotel credit:

• Purchases not made with an eligible Amex Platinum card
• Purchases not made through AmexTravel.com
• Purchases not made with a property in Fine Hotels + Resorts or the Hotel Collection

For example, if you booked a hotel through Booking.com, you wouldn’t qualify for the prepaid hotel credit. And you wouldn’t get the prepaid hotel credit if you booked a hotel using a different card, like the American Express^® Gold Card. If you booked a hotel on AmexTravel.com but not member of Fine Hotels + Resorts or the Hotel Collection, you wouldn’t get the prepaid hotel credit.

What if My Purchase Isn’t Automatically Reimbursed?

As we mentioned above, it may take up to 90 days for your statement credit to post. Usually, it credits much faster than this.

If you wait 90 days and still don’t see your statement credit posted to your account, you can contact Amex over chat or via the number on the back of your card.

Final Thoughts

Overall, using your $600 prepaid hotel credit is easy. You can save $300 twice a year on hotel bookings if you stay within the eligibility parameters.

And while it can be a tall order to get a free hotel night outright at Fine Hotels + Resorts and the Hotel Collection, you’ll at least appreciate the $300 discount, which may bring a 1-night stay to less than $100 out of pocket!