How I Paid $36 for a Luxury Hotel Thanks to My Amex Platinum Card

I’ve always believed that the right card can help turn meaningful moments into unforgettable ones. Since my partner and I share a birthday weekend, for this year, we thought, what better way to celebrate than by taking a quick getaway?

We moved to Salt Lake City less than a year ago, and it’s been such a treat to dive into the endless outdoor adventures nearby. Even though we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of all there is to do, one favorite has already stood out: Park City.

Although we’re not skiers or snowboarders, we actually love visiting Park City even more in the summer. The cooler mountain air — often 20 to 30 degrees below Salt Lake Valley’s heat — is a welcome relief. Plus, since it’s the off-season, everything feels like a win-win: Lodging and activities are more affordable, the tourists thin out, and it makes for an easy day trip or weekend escape just 30 minutes from home.

That’s where my Platinum Card^® from American Express came in play. As the year is winding down, I realized there were still a few benefits I hadn’t tapped into. So, I got right to work and used some perks to plan an easy weekend escape, all while minimizing my out-of-pocket cost.

Amex Platinum Card Overview

The Amex Platinum card just got a much-needed refresh this month, making this luxury travel card an even more well-rounded product.

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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

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

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.

Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Although it carries a much higher $895 annual fee (rates & fees) — a $200 increase — the new and improved benefits are easily justifiable for my travel and lifestyle habits:

• New: Up to $400 in Resy credit (up to $100 per quarter) at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required
• New: Up to $300 in lululemon credit (up to $75 in statement credits per quarter) at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) or lululemon.com. Enrollment required
• New: Up to $120 in statement credits for an automatically renewing Uber One credit membership
• New: Up to $200 in Oura Ring credit (applies only to the purchase of the ring) at Ouraring.com. Enrollment required
• Enhanced: Up to $600 in hotel credit (up to $300 in statement credits from January to June and up to $300 in statement credits from July to December) on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum 2-night stay, through AmexTravel.com
• Enhanced: Up to $300 in digital entertainment credit (up to $25 per month in statement credits to subscribe to Disney+, Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV). Enrollment required

Beyond these, the card continues to provide a variety of other statement credits and perks (none of which have been removed), but remember that certain benefits do require enrollment in advance.

Maximizing Amex Platinum Card Perks

The American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program has quickly become my go-to for booking luxury stays. In fact, I no longer bother chasing hotel elite status since most of the perks I value are automatically included when booking through this curated collection.

Initially, I planned to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card to book the new Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, a fantastic choice for a Park City escape. As a Category 6 property, it runs 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night. But I found an even better option.

The Amex Platinum card now offers a prepaid hotel credit worth up to $600 per year, split into 2 $300 credits (one valid January to June and the other July to December). This is a big upgrade from the previous up-to-$200 annual credit that was in place until September 17, 2025. Over our birthday weekend in early September, though, I only had the up-to-$200 credit available.

To my surprise, the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley was only $236 (including taxes and fees!) for a Saturday night stay. Since Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings must be prepaid to trigger the statement credit, I booked at that rate. After the credit applied, my out-of-pocket cost was just $36 for our guest room.

Awesome Elite-Like Hotel Perks

The value didn’t stop there. Any booking through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program get access to a suite of perks:

• Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Daily breakfast for 2 people
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Noon check-in (subject to availability)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit)

The perks we were most excited about included complimentary breakfast, late checkout, and $100 property credit. We also called the front desk the night before and confirmed our early check-in at noon Since we didn’t have to leave until 4 p.m. the following day, that gave us a full 28 hours to soak up hotel life.

To put it in perspective, most hotel guests can’t check in until 4 p.m. and have to check out by noon. We essentially stretched our stay by an extra 8 hours — an underrated but huge win.

At check-in, we were assigned a room with an upgraded view. It wasn’t a major upgrade in terms of room type, but we weren’t complaining. The floor-to-ceiling view of the sprawling pool, hot tubs, and the Jordanelle Reservoir was more than enough.

We could apply our $100 property credit to incidental charges, though ours went quickly. Since we brought our dog along ($150 pet fee) and valet parking was required ($50 per day), we knew the credit wouldn’t cover everything. Still, spending only $100 for valet and having our dog with us felt well worth it.

Breakfast ended up being a highlight. We could each choose either an entrée with a drink or the breakfast buffet (normally $36 per person).

We went with the buffet and didn’t regret it. The spread was plentiful, and the variety made it an easy choice.

How We Spent 24 Hours in Park City

We hit the ground running in the morning with friends on the dog-friendly Dawn’s Trail. The hike took about 2 hours, was not too strenuous, and is one we’d happily do again.

From there, our day unfolded with a mix of food, exploring, and downtime:

• Lunch at the The Eating Establishment on Main Street
• Strolling downtown Park City, complete with an iced latte from Pink Elephant Coffee Roasters and a scoop of ice cream from Dolly’s Bookstore
• Game time back at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, where we played Monopoly in the hotel’s massive game room

Instead of splurging on pricey room service, we ordered takeout from one of our favorites (Ganesh Indian Cuisine). This worked perfectly with the Amex Platinum’s Uber Cash credit, which provides up to $200 per year. Once you link your Amex Platinum card to Uber, you automatically receive $15 in Uber Cash each month (plus a $20 bonus in December) to use toward rides or food orders in the U.S.

We wrapped up the evening at the hotel, enjoying our takeout, making s’mores, and relaxing in the hot tub — a cozy, perfect way to end the day.

The next morning, we headed to the Utah Olympic Park, where we spent 4 hours taking full advantage of the $80 morning pass for extreme zip lining, tubing, and more adrenaline-filled activities. Before making our way home, we stopped at the nearby Run-a-Muk Off-Leash Area, a 43-acre playground where our dog could run free and burn off more energy.

Birthday Gift to Myself

Unrelated to our weekend getaway, I also used this time while reevaluating my Amex Platinum card perks to take advantage of my unused up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit. Cardholders get up to $50 from January through June and another $50 from July through December upon enrollment.

Luckily, this benefit wasn’t cut with the recent refresh. As a little birthday treat to myself, I ordered a Charlotte Tilbury makeup product for $35. With Saks’ $9.99 shipping fee and tax, my total came to roughly $48.

By timing it this way, I was able to get the full value of the up to $50 Saks credit and keep my out-of-pocket cost minimal. While I could’ve picked something pricier, my goal here was to simply wipe out the cost and earn the credit’s full value.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Platinum card has been my main premium travel card for years. It comes with perks I never get tired of, like unmatched airport lounge access and one of the most versatile rewards programs out there, American Express Membership Rewards.

Still, what excited me most this time was finding smart ways to tap into unused benefits for the 2025 calendar year. And with the refreshed credits and benefits now available, I’m already looking forward to discovering new ways to maximize them in the year ahead.