How I Maximize the Amex Platinum’s Fine Hotel and Resorts and Hotel Collection Perk

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is one of the most popular cards for premium travel perks, yet it has gotten a coupon-book reputation in the last few years with its vast number of statement credits.

That said, some of those credits are pretty great, especially if you’re interested in luxury stays. One of the more valuable and easy-to-use ones is the up to $200 prepaid hotel statement credit.

Of course, I wish this annual credit could be used on any hotel, but it’s still a nice perk that saves me money on travel every year. Let’s explore the Amex Platinum card prepaid hotel credit a bit more so you can see how easy it can be to use.

What Is the Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit?

There are lots of valuable travel benefits that help offset its steep $695 annual fee (rates & fees). The one I want to dive into deeper is the up-to- $200 prepaid hotel credit of the Amex Platinum card:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The 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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The 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

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

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Credit Recommended

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 (670-850)

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 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, 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

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• 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 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 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: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Every calendar year, you can get up to $200 back on a prepaid Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection booking made through AmexTravel.com. Bookings through The Hotel Collection require a stay of at least 2 nights, while Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings can be for just 1 night — and the latter is oftentimes where the sweet spot is.

In addition to getting up to $200 back as a statement credit, you’ll be eligible for even more benefits when you arrive at the hotel through one of these programs.

Benefits of Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

When you book a stay through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program, you’ll enjoy these additional benefits:

• $100 experience credit (varies by location)
• 12 p.m. early check-in, when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary breakfast for 2
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Room upgrade, when available

I fell in love with this benefit of the Amex Platinum card the first time I used it. A few years ago, I got a great deal booking 1 night at The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, in Munich.

For that stay, I received a room upgrade, free breakfast, early check-in, 4 p.m. late checkout, and an additional food and beverage credit of €100 (~$109 at the time), which I used for a nice dinner. After enjoying a night there, we moved to a more budget-friendly hotel for the remainder of our trip.

Benefits of The Hotel Collection

When you book a stay of 2 nights or more through The Hotel Collection, you’ll be eligible for these additional benefits:

• 12 p.m. early check-in, when available
• $100 property credit (varies by location)
• Late check-out, when available
• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available

I just used this year’s $200 prepaid hotel credit in Las Vegas last month for a quick 2-night stay to see a concert. The concert was at Park MGM, so that’s where I wanted to stay. Prices in Marriott Bonvoy points weren’t great, but the cash cost ($381) was reasonable for the 2 nights.

I ended up booking through The Hotel Collection and paid with my Amex Platinum card. I received a $200 statement credit and a $100 food and beverage credit to use during my stay.

How To Use the Amex Platinum Card $200 Hotel Credit

Using your Amex Platinum card prepaid hotel credit is simple. Just log into your account and click on Menu in the upper lefthand corner. Then navigate to Travel and choose either Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection.

If you’re not sure which program you’d like to use, just select Book a Trip. Then, you can filter your results to show both The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts options.

After booking, your credit of up to $200 will be applied as a statement credit on your account within 8 weeks (although in practice, I usually see the credit within a few days).

Final Thoughts

One of the benefits I love on the Amex Platinum card is the $200 prepaid hotel credit. This perk allows me to book a special night or 2 each year through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection. In addition to earning the $200 statement credit, booking through these channels earns 5 points per dollar and comes with extra perks like a $100 property credit.