The 3 Best Hotels I’ve Booked With the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts Program

An often overlooked perk of the Platinum Card^® from American Express is access to the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program. Booking luxury hotels through this program gives you additional on-site perks akin to higher levels of hotel elite status, including upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and even on-site dining credits.

Plus, the Amex Platinum card includes up to a $600 annual prepaid hotel credit (up to $300 semi-annually), which can be used for hotels in the FHR or The Hotel Collection program, though the latter requires a minimum 2-night stay. This perk helps offset a good portion of the card’s $895 annual fee (rates & fees).

I’ve used Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts to book several stays over the years, some of which have been truly special. Here, I’ll show you my favorite hotel stays I’ve booked through this awesome program.

Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts Overview

The American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program is a handpicked collection of upscale hotels worldwide. Select Amex cardholders can book hotels and receive extra on-site benefits, similar to higher tiers of hotel elite status, including:

• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Daily breakfast for 2 guests
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
• Early check-in at noon, when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Valuable property amenity, typically a $100 spa or dining credit

You can book these stays through AmexTravel.com — just be sure to pay with your eligible Amex card to receive the benefits. Another great perk of the FHR program is that, at participating hotels, you can still earn loyalty points and elite night credits with programs like World of Hyatt.

Best Cards for Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts Bookings

One of the most popular cards for access is the Amex Platinum card, which also includes up to a $600 annual prepaid hotel credit that can be used on FHR bookings. This is enough to cover a night at some of the best Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, and you’ll also earn 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 on prepaid bookings.

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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

See Pay Over Time APR

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express also includes FHR program access but does not have an annual prepaid hotel credit. However, it still earns 5 points per $1 on AmexTravel.com hotel bookings, including FHR properties.

ELEVATED WELCOME OFFER

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The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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 Offer

Earn 150,000 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $4,400

Annual Fee

$895

APR

18.24% - 28.99% Variable

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

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 1,550 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible travel purchases like flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid short-term rentals booked through AmexTravel.com
• Access to over 1,550 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Earn 2x Membership Rewards points 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 $895 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
• See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
• New! Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
• 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.
• 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.
• Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
• Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
• New! Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
• New! Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
• Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
• Enhanced! 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• $895 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.24% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Further, the invite-only Centurion^® Card from American Express and its business equivalent include FHR access as well.

Grand Hyatt Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan, was the last stop on my wife’s and my honeymoon earlier this year. We spent a night in the city on a 36-hour layover, and we wanted to make the most of it with a central hotel close to the restaurants and sites we wanted to experience. After assessing our options, we landed on the Grand Hyatt Taipei.

The hotel is in the town center, near Taipei 101, Taipei City Hall, and other major tourist attractions. As our welcome amenity, we received an upgrade to a larger room and a $100 dining credit, which we used for lunch at Cheers, the hotel’s lobby bar and grill.

Our room was spacious, with a massive shower, seating area, and sectional couch. It could use some updating and refurbishment (for example, our window shades were lopsided), but for roughly $300 per night, including taxes, we felt it was well worth a night in Taipei.

Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof

We had an overnight layover in Frankfurt, Germany, on our way back from a vacation in Malta in 2022. With just under 20 hours to spare, we figured we’d make the most of our time in Germany and stay in the city instead of an airport hotel. I had my Amex Platinum card’s annual prepaid hotel credit to use, so I booked a night at the Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof.

Next to Frankfurt’s central train station, it’s in the middle of the city’s historical center and financial district. We arrived on a Sunday, when much of the city was shut down. Thankfully, we used the $100 dining credit for a nice dinner at Oscar’s, the hotel’s lobby restaurant, after a walk around the center of town.

Our guest room had a large (and comfortable) bed, Acqua di Parma toiletries, a massive bathroom with a soaking tub, and even a pillow menu. The lobby and exterior of the hotel were beautiful as well, remaining largely untouched since the hotel opened in 1876.

Downtown LA Proper Hotel

My wife and I went on our first cruise in 2023. We sailed to and from Long Beach, California, but our flight home departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), so we scheduled a day in downtown on the way home.

We booked an FHR stay at the Downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel, part of Marriott Bonvoy. It’s in the heart of LA’s Fashion District and has stunning rooms with stylish furniture and comfortable beds. There are even Aesop toiletries in the bathroom.

However, my favorite part of the hotel was its rooftop bar and restaurant, with a stunning 360-degree view of Downtown Los Angeles. Using the $100 dining credit included as a welcome amenity, we had sunset drinks and appetizers with a childhood friend who moved to LA, which was a highlight of the trip.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program gives eligible cardmembers a slew of benefits when booking through AmexTravel.com. These perks include complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, dining credits, and more. Plus, the Amex Platinum card gives you an annual, up to $600 prepaid hotel credit that you can use at these properties, giving you even more reason to try it on your next trip.

If you’re eligible, consider booking a stay through FHR the next time you’re looking for a hotel. Rates are often comparable to booking direct, and you still earn points and elite status credit in most cases.