The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Annual $200 Prepaid Hotel Credit
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The Platinum Card® from American Express recently got a facelift, offering lots of additional benefits (like a digital entertainment credit and Equinox credit) while increasing its annual fee.
And while the changes received mixed feedback (as all credit cards do), there’s an undeniable grain of truth that emerges from all of this — if you can maximize your card’s benefits, the value proposition of the Amex Platinum card has never been greater.
One of the benefits is a new up to $200 prepaid hotel credit and this benefit will be the focus of our guide.
We’ll walk you through all of the nuances of this new prepaid hotel credit, give you some inspiration for high-value ways you can use this credit, and hopefully, you’ll walk away with an understanding of how to easily utilize this credit!
Table of contents
- Amex Platinum Card – Snapshot
- What Is the Amex Platinum Card’s Prepaid Hotel Credit?
- The 9 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at Fine Hotels & Resorts
- 2 Nights at Delano Las Vegas… Almost (Nevada)
- A Night at Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou (China)
- A Night at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin (China)
- A Night at Shangri-La Sydney (Australia)
- Mr. C Hotels (California, Florida, New York)
- Taj Campton Place (San Francisco, California)
- The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel (New York)
- Sofitel Mexico City Reforma (Mexico)
- Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (Puerto Rico)
- The 4 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at The Hotel Collection
- Purchases That Do Not Trigger the Prepaid Hotel Credit
- What if My Purchase Isn’t Automatically Reimbursed?
- Final Thoughts
Table of Contents
- Amex Platinum Card – Snapshot
- What Is the Amex Platinum Card’s Prepaid Hotel Credit?
- The 9 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at Fine Hotels & Resorts
- 1. 2 Nights at Delano Las Vegas… Almost (Nevada)
- 2. A Night at Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou (China)
- 3. A Night at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin (China)
- 4. A Night at Shangri-La Sydney (Australia)
- 5. Mr. C Hotels (California, Florida, New York)
- 6. Taj Campton Place (San Francisco, California)
- 7. The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel (New York)
- 8. Sofitel Mexico City Reforma (Mexico)
- 9. Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (Puerto Rico)
- The 4 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at The Hotel Collection
- Purchases That Do Not Trigger the Prepaid Hotel Credit
- What if My Purchase Isn’t Automatically Reimbursed?
- Final Thoughts
Amex Platinum Card – Snapshot
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express  Learn More (at Amex's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Amex Platinum, see our thoughts on the cards incredible benefits and perks, which includes travel insurance coverage, car rental insurance and so much more. Check out our full review to see why it's one of the best travel credit cards. |
What Is the Amex Platinum Card’s Prepaid Hotel Credit?
The prepaid hotel credit on the Amex Platinum card is a new benefit rolled out that takes the form of a statement credit for prepaid hotel stays at Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection booked through Amex Travel using your Amex Platinum card.
Don’t be scared of the “prepaid” language, though, because almost all of these bookings are cancellable and refundable!
Typically, when you book a stay through Amex Travel, you can opt to pay for your booking in 2 ways:
- Prepaid (can earn 5x points)
- Pay at the hotel (cannot earn 5x points)
So if you’re interested in maximizing your points, you’ll want to book a prepaid booking anyway — just rest assured that these reservations are refundable.
In total, you can receive up to $200 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 has actually been within a week, in practice.
The 9 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at Fine Hotels & Resorts
American Express’s signature set of luxury hotels is known as Fine Hotels & Resorts — think of globally-known luxury brands like Four Seasons and lavish boutique brands like Aman.
Whenever you book a Fine Hotels & Resorts stay, you’ll enjoy:
- Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
- Daily breakfast for 2 people
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- Noon check-in, when available
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Unique property amenity, such as a spa or food and beverage credit valued at a minimum of $100
There’s no minimum stay requirement which means you can enjoy all of these benefits on 1-night stays!
Let’s get into our favorite ways to use your $200 prepaid hotel credit at Fine Hotels & Resorts properties.
1. 2 Nights at Delano Las Vegas… Almost (Nevada)
Delano Las Vegas is one of the hidden gems of Las Vegas. Situated in the Mandalay Bay Resort complex in a 43-story tower with all-suite accommodations, a South Beach energy, and reasonable cash rates, this property has a lot going for it.
Each of the modern suites starts at 725 square feet large and is equipped with elegant whites and grays throughout, starting with the chic king bed or 2 queen beds. Within the suite, you’ll find 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.
The bathroom is laden with granite and marble and contains double vanities with a backlit make-up mirror, a separate walk-in shower, a separate soaking tub, as well as a 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, a spa, and a gym.
This resort happens to be one of the rarest Fine Hotels & Resorts 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 $200 prepaid hotel credit! Plus, you’ll get all the Fine Hotels & Resorts amenities, like the $100 property amenity, breakfast, and room upgrades.
That means you could literally come out ahead from your booking and get lots of freebies in addition to not paying for your stay at all!
2. A Night at Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou (China)
One of the newest, sleek city hotels you can book is the Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou, which is located in China.
This riverfront, 5-star hotel is situated along the Guxin River, just 3 miles from Zhejiang Art Museum and 2 miles from West Lake.
Each of the 414 rooms and suites starts at 462 square feet large, offers luxury amenities like floor-to-ceiling windows, modern decor, a king bed appointed with soft bedding, a work desk, a sitting area with a couch, a balcony, a flat-screen TV, a set of coffee and tea facilities, a minibar, and more.
The spacious bathroom welcomes you with a separate shower, a deluxe soaking tub, posh Shangri-La bathrobes and towels, as well as designer toiletries.
You’ll find 3 restaurants, a cocktail lounge, and a lobby lounge for food and beverage options.
Plus, the property is outfitted with a gym, spa, indoor pool, whirlpool, steam room, boutique, and an abundance of event space.
If you book a 1-night stay during the weekday, you could potentially net a free stay using your $200 prepaid hotel credit!
3. A Night at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin (China)
Booking a night at The Ritz-Carlton probably wasn’t within your realm of realistic ways to use a $200 prepaid hotel credit, considering how some of its properties command over $1,000 per night!
But thrifty luxury travelers rejoice — The Ritz-Carlton Tianjin is a posh property in China just 5 minutes from the metro station and 3 miles from the Tianjin Museum.
This opulent property has rooms measuring at least 538 square feet large. Each room is appointed with a king bed dressed with incredibly 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 lighted make-up 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 meeting space.
By booking a weekday stay within 1 month of the stay, you might be able to find room rates at around the $200 per night cutoff, including taxes and fees!
4. A Night at Shangri-La Sydney (Australia)
Shangri-La Sydney is a high-rise luxury property just 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 in size with amazing views of Darling Harbour and comes with signature bedding, a sitting area, a full-size executive desk, a flat-screen TV, coffee and tea, a minibar, and a pillow menu.
In the marble bathroom, there’s a separate soaking bathtub and shower, plus 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. To rejuvenate, enjoy the indoor pool, gym, spa, or Jacuzzi!
This property represents an amazing balance between 5-star luxury and reasonable pricing — you can enjoy all of the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits available and pay around $200 for a 1-night weekday stay!
5. Mr. C Hotels (California, Florida, New York)
Mr. C Hotels refers to a trio of hotels offering old-world luxury and European glamour — with locations in Coconut Grove (Florida), Beverly Hills (California), and Seaport (New York), you’ll often find some incredible value by booking through Fine Hotels & Resorts.
That’s because even though these properties offer worthwhile luxury, their room rates are very reasonable!
The Beverly Hills and Coconut Grove properties often have room rates of around $300 including taxes and fees, which is a steal, considering how pricey these areas can get.
Mr. C Seaport isn’t quite as attractive, though it’s certainly possible to find deals.
Often, Mr. C properties are the cheapest Fine Hotels & Resorts properties in the vicinity, so value-focused travelers will have a blast at any of these 3 properties!
6. 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 Taj Hotels).
This property is primely located in San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood and is actually a prominent landmark.
Offering classical Indian luxury, this elegant luxury hotel is just outside the Financial District and is a half-block from Union Square and a 5-minute walk from Montgomery Street BART station.
Each of the classy rooms starts at 250 square feet large and has a California king bed, a work desk, premium bedding, an iHome docking station, a pillow menu, a well-stocked minibar, turndown service, an LED TV, and a 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.
Here, you’ll enjoy a 2-Michelin starred restaurant, a bar and bistro, and private dining options.
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 less than $200 per night in an expensive city like San Francisco, you might find 1-night stays with a Sunday or Friday check-in booked as far out as 1 month in advance for that price.
Hot Tip: If you prefer to not book a cash rate, check out the best San Francisco hotels to book with points for maximum value.
7. The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel (New York)
If you’re thinking of checking out New York, 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 $200 prepaid hotel credit isn’t enough for a Fine Hotels & Resorts stay, you’d be remiss in discarding the possibility entirely because The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel is competitively priced!
Located in the Downtown Financial District area of Lower Manhattan, this 5-star hotel is a 3-minute walk from Fulton Street subway station, a 14-minute walk from Brooklyn Bridge, and is surrounded by other attractions like the 9/11 Memorial, One World Trade Center, 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, a flat-screen TV, a courtesy luxury house car available upon request, and more.
The bathroom is tiled with Carrara marble and is appointed with an oversized rain shower, D.S. & Durga bath amenities, an oversized walk-in rain shower, a single vanity, and more.
Here, you’ll also find eateries run by famous chefs, as well as a wood-paneled cocktail lounge, a chic bar, and an awe-inspiring, 9-story atrium!
Although this property tends to be the cheapest Fine Hotels & Resorts property in New York, you’ll enjoy nothing but the finest 5-star luxuries here.
8. Sofitel Mexico City Reforma (Mexico)
Experience quintessential French luxury in Mexico City’s Reforma district, a historic destination that immerses you into a combination of French and Mexican poshness.
The property 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’ll live the French way with 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 so much more.
The marble bathroom features plenty of counter space, bathrobes, L’Occitane amenities, and a walk-in shower.
You’ll find 5 dining options here, plus a gym, a sauna, meeting rooms, and pet-friendly policies!
The cheapest Fine Hotels & Resorts room rate we were able to find was around $219 per night excluding taxes and fees ($262 per night total).
Still, this property is your best bet for a value-packed Mexico City stay using the prepaid hotel credit!
Hot Tip: Save money on your hotel stay and your flight — see the best ways to fly to Mexico with points and miles (step-by-step).
9. Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (Puerto Rico)
Our last inclusion in the Fine Hotels & Resorts section is Puerto Rico’s best-value property, 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 guestrooms 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 bathroom has marble tiling, a shower-tub combination, a single vanity, bathrobes, bamboo towels, and C.O. Bigelow amenities.
Importantly, there are 9 dining options, including a cigar lounge, a cocktail bar, an oceanfront bistro, a fine-dining spot, and more. You’ll also find a chic spa, 4 pools, a gym, and meeting space.
The cheapest Fine Hotels & Resorts rate we could find is $294 before taxes and fees ($392 total), which is a great opportunity to use your prepaid hotel credit, considering all of the other perks you’ll enjoy with Fine Hotels & Resorts.
The 4 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at The Hotel Collection
The Hotel Collection is 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, compared to the opulent properties a notch higher at Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Although The Hotel Collection requires a stay of at least 2 nights, these properties are almost always more affordable, so it’s possible to get an entire short stay paid for using your $200 prepaid hotel credit.
To make things better, all bookings at The Hotel Collection afford you with:
- $100 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities
- Room upgrade at check-in, if available
Let’s get into some neat ways to get some amazing value at The Hotel Collection with your $200 prepaid hotel credit!
1. 3 Nights in Bali at Conrad Bali (Indonesia)
One of the most spectacular ways you can use your prepaid hotel credit is on luxury properties in affordable leisure destinations.
One of these destinations is Bali — specifically, the Conrad Bali is a fantastic 5-star resort that will have you dreaming about a stay here.
Conrad Bali has 368 rooms and suites in total and is located in the Nusa Dua area. Every room is at least 484 square feet large and is outfitted with garden views, a private balcony/terrace, blackout curtains, a pillow menu, a desk, a separate sitting area, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and coffee and tea facilities.
You’ll find a granite bathroom with a single vanity, walk-in shower, separate bathtub, Shanghai Tang amenities, and a water closet.
The amenities here are awesome, 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 available for $58 per night excluding taxes, which brings the total cost of a 3-night stay to as little as $213, inclusive of taxes and fees!
2. 2 Nights in Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. And even though tourism has exploded rapidly, we haven’t necessarily seen a corresponding increase in lodging costs.
Luckily for you, 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, there are 3 Hotel Collection properties that will impress the value-focused luxury traveler:
- Hôtel Des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection
- $107 per night ($248 total for a 2-night stay)
- Pan Pacific Hanoi
- $90 per night ($209 total for a 2-night stay)
- Sofitel Saigon Plaza
- $88 per night ($204 total for a 2-night stay)
As a reminder, you get access to a room upgrade upon availability as well as a $100 property credit, which means you could literally get $300+ of value for almost nothing out-of-pocket after the $200 prepaid hotel credit!
3. Sofitel Wellington (New Zealand)
New Zealand can be an expensive place to travel to — but if you stay at the Sofitel Wellington, you’ll enjoy affordable 5-star luxury in Wellington’s business and government hub.
This chic property is a 6-minute walk from Wellington Botanic Garden and a little more than a mile from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Each of the lavish rooms starts at 215 square feet in size, contains a queen Sofitel MyBed, a Bose sound system, specialty coffee and tea, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and a sitting area with 2 chairs and a coffee table.
The French bathroom offers a modern walk-in rain shower, a make-up mirror, bathrobes, French bath amenities, and a single vanity.
There’s 1 full-service restaurant, plus a cocktail bar, meeting space, a club lounge, and much more.
The lowest rates we were able to find are around $145 per night, excluding taxes and fees. For a 2-night stay, you’d spend around $335, inclusive of all taxes and fees, which is a great deal!
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 it attractive to book a short 2-night stay.
This popular 5-star property has standard rooms at least 398 square feet large, a plush queen bed or 2 twin beds, a large closet, a sitting area with city views, a work desk, a flat-screen TV, black-out curtains, a minifridge, and coffee and tea facilities.
The 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’ll pay as little as $122 per night before taxes and fees, bringing up a 2-night stay to a cool $258! This is an amazing opportunity to enjoy fantastic accommodations while minimizing your cash outlay.
Purchases That Do Not 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 Amex Travel
- Purchases not made with a property in Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection
So if you book a hotel through Booking.com, you won’t qualify for the prepaid hotel credit.
If you book a hotel using a different card like the American Express® Gold Card, you won’t get the prepaid hotel credit.
If you book a hotel that is on Amex Travel but isn’t a member of Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection, you wouldn’t be able to 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 posts much faster than this.
If you wait 90 days and still don’t see your statement credit post to your account, you can reach out to Amex over chat or via the number on the back of your card.
Final Thoughts
Overall, using your $200 prepaid hotel credit is super easy. As long as you stay within the eligibility parameters, you’ll save $200 on your next hotel booking.
And while it can be a tall order to get a free hotel night outright at Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties, you’ll at least appreciate the $200 discount, which may bring a 1-night stay to less than $100 out of pocket!
We hope you’ve found this guide useful to help you learn about the Amex Platinum card’s $200 prepaid hotel credit.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Is it possible to book two consecutive nights in advance, one for 12/31/21 and the other for 1/1/22 in order to stay two nights and get the credits for both nights?
Hi Steven. It doesn’t appear so. The terms and conditions state that “Eligible bookings must be made before December 31st, 11:59 PM Central Time, each calendar year to be eligible for statement credits within that year.” The Frequently Asked Questions on the Amex site state: “This new U.S. Platinum Card benefit will renew each calendar year. For 2021, you have until 12/31/2021 to make an eligible prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection booking, but you don’t need to complete your travel by that date”. If you book this year for a stay in the next year, it appears the credit would appear toward this year’s benefit.