How I Used Multiple Amex Credits To Save $175 on a NYC Hotel

Updated: May 4, 2025, 8:30am CDT

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The Secret? Leveraging Multiple Amex Credits at the Same Time
Final Thoughts

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On a recent trip to New York City to see some Broadway shows, I needed a hotel for 2 nights in the Times Square area. I didn’t want to break the bank, but I was able to utilize 3 Hilton credits on my American Express cards for some significant savings.

More than a third of my hotel bill was rebated after my stay, which was an impressive score for an otherwise expensive city. Let’s look at how I stacked 3 key American Express credits to save so much money.

The Secret? Leveraging Multiple Amex Credits at the Same Time

I booked The Draper Hotel, a Tapestry Collection Hotel, on 37th Street. It’s walkable to Penn Station and Times Square, making it ideally situated for my weekend in New York. Rates at this property were about $200 per night, and I needed both a Friday and Saturday night stay.

I paid $482.87 for my booking, but saved $175 using Amex hotel credits — here’s how.

1. Amex Member Week $75 Back Offer

American Express runs an annual Member Week for cardmembers in March, featuring several exclusive Amex Offers and lifestyle perks.

The Draper NYC King Bed — The Draper Hotel is about a 15-minute walk from Penn Station and Times Square.

This year, one standout deal provided $75 back when spending $250 or more at eligible Hilton hotels. I enrolled in the Amex Offer with my American Express^® Green Card, since this card earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on travel, including hotels.

American Express^® Green Card

U.P. Rating

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

All information about American Express^® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Green Card

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

Welcome OfferEarn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$880

Annual Fee

$150

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards^® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR^® Plus membership with the Card.
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$150 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express^® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
$199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express^® Green Card.
Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It^® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express^® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
$150 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Best of all, it only took a few days for me to receive the $75 credit on my statement!

2. $50 Quarterly Hilton Credits

Both the The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express (enrollment required) and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card offer up to $50 quarterly statement credits at any Hilton hotel, with no minimum spend required.

LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome OfferEarn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
150,000 points + $500 statement credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $3,800

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked through Amex Travel
Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024).
Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

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Card Highlights

Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required.
Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
$199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
$695 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome OfferEarn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 
130,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $650

Annual Fee

$150

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons

Pros

12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases

Cons

Annual fee of $150 (rates & fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
$150 annual fee.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

With the Amex Business Platinum card, you’ll need to sign up for a free Hilton for Business membership. Fortunately, you can do this while you enroll in the up to $200 annual Hilton credit.

With these 2 credits combined, I had up to $100 available this quarter.

Hot Tip:

The Hilton Surpass card also awards 12x points per $1 spent at Hilton hotels, making it one of the best Hilton credit cards out there.

3. Stacking the Credits

Most people probably don’t realize that a hotel can charge a specific amount on a specific card, even if it’s not the entire hotel stay. As such, I used 3 cards for this stay to trigger all 3 of my Hilton credits.

While my entire booking cost $482.87, I only needed to spend $250 to redeem the $75 on my Amex Green card. I went to the front desk and asked the front desk representative to charge exactly $50 on my Amex Business Platinum card and Hilton Surpass card.

To do this, she swiped each card, selected a charge of $50 in her system for each, and then billed the remaining amount to the Amex Green card I had provided, which was still over $250.

The Draper Front Desk — When switching your cards, approach the front desk when they’re not busy.

Using 3 cards to pay for this stay triggered 3 credits totaling $175:

$75 Amex Offer from Amex Green card
$50 quarterly statement credit from Amex Business Platinum card
$50 quarterly statement credit from Hilton Surpass card

Hot Tip:

What’s great about those latter 2 credits is that they’re offered quarterly. While the $50 amounts won’t roll over, you’ll have the opportunity to save up to $200 per year at Hilton hotels and resorts with both cards.

Final Thoughts

Before your next hotel stay, check your credit cards for any offers or statement credits that would help reduce the bill. Stacking offers to maximize credits can help you save tremendously, not to mention, earn points and miles along the way that you can put toward your next trip.