{"id":77646,"date":"2025-12-21T21:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T21:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=77646"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:30:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:30:35","slug":"amex-hotel-credit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-hotel-credit\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use and Maximize the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Card $600 Annual Hotel Credit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"remark\"><em>$600 hotel credit offered with American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> applies to prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or The Hotel Collection bookings made via American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-platinum\/\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> and its business counterpart,\u00a0<a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-business-platinum\/\">The Business Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> from American Express<\/a> have some of the highest credit card annual fees on the market, but they also comes with some of the most lucrative benefits.<\/p>\n<p>This is especially true after the recent <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-platinum-business-platinum-overhaul\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Amex Platinum overhaul<\/a>, where Amex added several brand new (or enhanced) benefits to the cards in exchange for a bump in the annual fee. These cards now offer an up-to-$600 hotel credit \u2014 up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 per year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or The Hotel Collection (minimum two night stay) bookings through American Express Travel.<\/p>\n<p>For many cardholders, this upgraded benefit alone can offset a large portion of the annual fee. The credit is automatically active and requires no separate enrollment. That said, it still comes with some important limitations.<\/p>\n<p>Here's how to use this perk each year and the benefits you can expect to receive when you visit your hotel.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#How_to_Use_the_Platinum_Card_and_Business_Platinum_Card_Hotel_Credit\">How to Use the Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and Business Platinum Card Hotel Credit<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Completing_the_booking_ensuring_you_get_credit\">Completing the booking, ensuring you get credit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#When_do_you_receive_the_statement_credit\">When do you receive the statement credit?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_if_I_cancel_my_The_Hotel_Collection_or_Fine_Hotels_Resorts_booking\">What if I cancel my The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels + Resorts booking?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#When_Should_I_Use_the_Platinum_Card_or_Business_Platinum_Card_Hotel_Credit\">When Should I Use the Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or Business Platinum Card Hotel Credit?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#When_Shouldn8217t_I_Use_the_Hotel_Credit\">When Shouldn't I Use the Hotel Credit?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Benefits_of_Fine_Hotels_Resorts_and_The_Hotel_Collection_Plus_the_Differences\">Benefits of Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection \u2014 Plus the Differences<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Fine_Hotels_Resorts\">Fine Hotels + Resorts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_Hotel_Collection\">The Hotel Collection<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Similarities_and_differences_to_note\">Similarities and differences to note<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_About_Hotel_Loyalty_Programs_and_Elite_Status\">What About Hotel Loyalty Programs and Elite Status?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_if_You_Carry_More_Than_One_Platinum_Card\">What if You Carry More Than One Platinum Card?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Use_the_Platinum_Card_and_Business_Platinum_Card_Hotel_Credit\">How to Use the Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and Business Platinum Card Hotel Credit<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It's very easy to use the hotel credit attached to the <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> and <a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/TheBusinessPlatinumCardfromAmericanExpressOPEN\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Business Platinum Card<\/a>. First, head to the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-travel\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Amex Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> website<\/a>, log in, and input your destination and dates.<\/p>\n<p>While <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-fine-hotels-and-resorts\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> bookings can be made with a minimum one-night stay, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/hotels\/amex-hotel-collection\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hotel Collection<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> bookings require a minimum of two nights. So, keep that in mind when choosing your check-in and check-out dates.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, I'm planning a relaxed birthday trip to the beaches of Mexico in November, so I'm hoping to use my hotel credit for this trip:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227946\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/188\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227946 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57.png\" alt=\"Amex Travel booking widget\" width=\"750\" height=\"188\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57.png 2460w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57-1024x256.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57-1536x385.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.40.57-2048x513.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Once you receive your Replace results, click &#8220;filter&#8221; and select Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, The Hotel Collection properties, or both. You can also filter by neighborhood, price, rating, property type, and whether the property is offering any special promotions.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_239116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/456\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-239116 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/platinum-hotel-filter-options.png\" alt=\"A screenshot from AMEX shows the options to filter hotel searches.\" width=\"750\" height=\"456\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/platinum-hotel-filter-options.png 1033w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/platinum-hotel-filter-options-750x456.png 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/platinum-hotel-filter-options-900x547.png 900w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/platinum-hotel-filter-options-768x467.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>If you're anything like me, you love a deal. So, I like to sort by lowest price. Or, you can leave it as sorting by recommended, which is the default.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227948\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/474\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227948 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21.png\" alt=\"Amex Travel FHR and THC results in Playa del Carmen\" width=\"750\" height=\"474\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21.png 2128w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21-1024x648.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21-1536x972.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.47.21-2048x1295.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Generally speaking, The Hotel Collection hotels are usually cheaper than Fine Hotels + Resorts hotels. Most FHR hotels are typically five-star hotels and retail for several hundred dollars a night. However, you might also find some Hotel Collection properties to be in a similar price range as their FHR counterparts.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227949\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/649\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227949 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.49.48.png\" alt=\"Amex Travel FHR and THC results in Playa del Carmen\" width=\"600\" height=\"649\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.49.48.png 1344w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.49.48-277x300.png 277w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.49.48-947x1024.png 947w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.49.48-768x831.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>You can also find some excellent deals and promotions through the Amex Travel portal. For instance, I can stay at a 5-star, adults-only property in Bacalar, Mexico, and receive my third night free. After factoring in my hotel credit, I'm paying a fraction of the sticker price for a luxury vacation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227950\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/362\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227950 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.53.54.png\" alt=\"The Hotel Collection result in Quintana Roo with a special offer\" width=\"750\" height=\"362\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.53.54.png 1756w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.53.54-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.53.54-1024x495.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.53.54-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.53.54-1536x742.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Completing_the_booking_ensuring_you_get_credit\">Completing the booking, ensuring you get credit<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After choosing your property and room type, you will be given payment options. Choose Book and Pay Today, as the credit only applies to prepaid bookings made with your Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or Business Platinum Card.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, Amex makes it incredibly clear to see which option allows you to use your hotel credit. Plus, you might get a better rate when paying today by taking advantage of promotions.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227951\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/718\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227951 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.57.57.png\" alt=\"Two booking options: Book and Pay Today or Book and Pay at Check-in\" width=\"600\" height=\"718\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.57.57.png 1076w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.57.57-251x300.png 251w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.57.57-855x1024.png 855w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-21.57.57-768x919.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Once you get to the checkout screen, ensure that your rate says either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection underneath the section listing &#8220;My Trip Summary.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227952\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/545\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227952 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.01.11.png\" alt=\"American Express Travel rate breakdown.\" width=\"600\" height=\"545\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.01.11.png 1692w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.01.11-300x273.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.01.11-1024x931.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.01.11-768x698.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.01.11-1536x1396.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Be sure to pay attention to the full trip cost. Amex displays the base room rate, but taxes, mandatory fees at booking, and on-property charges are not included in that headline number. If you're trying to land a booking that comes in close to the $300 credit, those extra costs matter &#8212; especially in major cities or resort areas where taxes and add-on fees can be substantial.<\/p>\n<p>Fill out the guest information and complete your purchase. After the $300 credit, I'll pay just $530.78 out-of-pocket for three nights. Given that the room would cost $1,132.56 when booked directly with the property, this definitely feels like a good deal.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"When_do_you_receive_the_statement_credit\">When do you receive the statement credit?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The statement credit is almost always applied within a day of your qualifying prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection booking through the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-travel\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Amex Travel portal<\/a>. You can see below that my credit posted the same day as the day my purchase posted.<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2019t promise that it will always post within 24 hours; it occasionally takes a few days to receive the credit. But as long as you book through AmexTravel.com, select a hotel in Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, and pay in advance, you should get the credit automatically. It's that simple.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_239114\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/104\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-239114 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/platinum-hotel-credit-on-statement.png\" alt=\"A screenshot of the platinum hotel credit that appears on a statement. \" width=\"750\" height=\"104\" \/><center><em>Credit: American Express<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"What_if_I_cancel_my_The_Hotel_Collection_or_Fine_Hotels_Resorts_booking\">What if I cancel my The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels + Resorts booking?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Change and cancellation policies will vary. But let's walk through a couple of examples, assuming your rate is refundable, and you cancel after you get the statement credits from American Express.<\/p>\n<p>If you cancel and make a new booking immediately, the statement credit often remains on the account. You will just pay the cost of the new hotel. You already got the credits, so you come out even.<\/p>\n<p>If you cancel and don't make a new booking, expect American Express to take back the statement credits you received. Then, if you make a new booking later on, the process will work like normal, and you'll receive the credit on your ensuing booking. If you don't get the credit on this new booking, contact American Express for an adjustment.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"When_Should_I_Use_the_Platinum_Card_or_Business_Platinum_Card_Hotel_Credit\">When Should I Use the Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or Business Platinum Card Hotel Credit?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You should use your hotel credit if the hotel's price is the same or similar to rates on the property's website.\u00a0Using the earlier example for a stay at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ourhabitas.com\/bacalar\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Our Habitas Bacalar<\/a>, you'd pay $1,132.56 to book directly with the hotel, after taxes and fees.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227955\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"500\/557\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227955 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.14.33.png\" alt=\"Booking summary for booking direct with the hotel\" width=\"500\" height=\"557\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.14.33.png 808w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.14.33-269x300.png 269w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.14.33-768x855.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Amex Travel advertises two different fares: one for prepaying using a promotion, and another for paying at check-in.<\/p>\n<p>If you didn't prepay when booking through Amex Travel, I'd pay an additional $164.07 compared to booking directly. However, by taking advantage of the promotion, I'll save $301.78 by prepaying through Amex Travel and taking advantage of the promotion. And that's before the hotel credit even comes into play.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, because the Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection rates also include a $100 property credit to be used during your stay and are eligible for the Amex credit, your out-of-pocket cost of booking with your <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> or <a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/TheBusinessPlatinumCardfromAmericanExpressOPEN\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Business Platinum Card<\/a> on AmexTravel.com is several hundred dollars below Our Habitas Bacalar's hotel rate.<\/p>\n<p>The hotel credit is also great for covering all (or nearly all) of the entire cost of cheap bookings as well. Take this $172 nightly rate at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hoteldesartssaigon.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">H\u00f4tel des Arts Saigon &#8211; MGallery Collection<\/a> in May 2026.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227958\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/324\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227958 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.21.50.png\" alt=\"The Hotel Collection booking in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam\" width=\"750\" height=\"324\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.21.50.png 1752w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.21.50-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.21.50-1024x442.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.21.50-768x331.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.21.50-1536x663.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>After taxes, the total cost for a room for two nights at this property is $391.04.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227960\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/254\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-227960 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.24.10.png\" alt=\"A room at the Hotel des Arts Saigon\" width=\"750\" height=\"254\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.24.10.png 1716w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.24.10-300x102.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.24.10-1024x347.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.24.10-768x260.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-22.24.10-1536x521.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Amex Travel<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>More than 75% of the cost would be covered by your Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> or Business Platinum Card hotel credit \u2014 you'd pay just $91.04 out of pocket. At check-in, you would also receive a $100 hotel credit for amenities, more than covering the amount you paid! Plus, you'll have your other $300 semi-annual hotel credit waiting for a future stay.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that this credit is doled out semi-annually. It's a use-it-or-lose-it style credit, so you'll want to make sure you maximize your bookings twice per year so you don't leave money on the table.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/max-fhr-review\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Use MaxFHR To Find Cheap Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts Stays<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"When_Shouldn8217t_I_Use_the_Hotel_Credit\">When Shouldn't I Use the Hotel Credit?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>At times, we've seen hotel prices in Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection significantly higher than rates offered directly from the hotel. If the rate is significantly more expensive than booking directly, hold off on using your credit. Unless you have no plans to use the credit for the remainder of your statement year, you should wait for a better opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>You also should think twice about booking here if your hotel elite status benefits are essential. We'll discuss this in detail below.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Benefits_of_Fine_Hotels_Resorts_and_The_Hotel_Collection_Plus_the_Differences\">Benefits of Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection \u2014 Plus the Differences<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Both Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties offer wonderful benefits. While you can use your <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> or <a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/TheBusinessPlatinumCardfromAmericanExpressOPEN\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Business Platinum Card<\/a> statement credit at both Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection hotels, there are some important differences in benefits to understand.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Fine_Hotels_Resorts\"><strong>Fine Hotels + Resorts<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/amex-membership-rewards\/amex-fine-hotels-and-resorts\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Fine Hotels + Resorts program<\/a> offers luxury hotels with elite benefits. You\u2019ll get a $100 hotel credit to spend on things like dining, spa, and resort activities, free breakfast every day, room upgrades (when available), late checkout, and other elite perks. There are more than 1,800 properties in FHR.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"The_Hotel_Collection\"><strong>The Hotel Collection<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/hotels\/amex-hotel-collection\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hotel Collection<\/a> offers a wider array of hotels, ranging from three to five stars. With The Hotel Collection, you\u2019ll get room upgrades when available, plus up to a $100 hotel credit. It\u2019s also important to note that The Hotel Collection bookings require a booking of at least two nights. FHR bookings do not have this requirement. There are at least 1,300 properties in The Hotel Collection.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Similarities_and_differences_to_note\"><strong>Similarities and differences to note<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Both Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection include a $100 credit. However, it is important to mention that purchases that qualify for this credit are at the hotel's discretion, rather than Amex's. While some hotels might allow you to use that credit at swanky hotel restaurants, others might only allow you to use the credit when taking items from the minibar or the lobby's grab-and-go. FHR credits typically cover higher-end amenities than The Hotel Collection credits.<\/p>\n<p>You may get free breakfast included with The Hotel Collection bookings, though this isn\u2019t guaranteed. Perks you enjoy can vary by property, but the items mentioned above in the FHR and The Hotel Collection sections are the standards you should expect to enjoy at any property when using your prepaid hotel credit.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_129339\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-129339 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cuayan-Island-Resort-luxury-hotel-Unsplash-featured-300x240.png\" alt=\"A woman sits at the pool at the luxury Cauayan Island Resort in the Philippines\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cuayan-Island-Resort-luxury-hotel-Unsplash-featured-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cuayan-Island-Resort-luxury-hotel-Unsplash-featured-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cuayan-Island-Resort-luxury-hotel-Unsplash-featured-325x260.png 325w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cuayan-Island-Resort-luxury-hotel-Unsplash-featured.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Cauayan Island Resort\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"What_About_Hotel_Loyalty_Programs_and_Elite_Status\">What About Hotel Loyalty Programs and Elite Status?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since you are not booking directly through the hotel or loyalty program, hotels aren't required to honor your elite status. That said, during the booking process, there is a space to input your loyalty number. If you are booking a property that belongs to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/marriott-bonvoy\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Marriott Bonvoy<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/world-of-hyatt\/\" rel=\"noopener\">World of Hyatt<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/hotels\/hilton-honors\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Hilton Honors<\/a> &#8212; or any loyalty program you participate in &#8212; it doesn\u2019t hurt to put in your loyalty number.<\/p>\n<p>We've noticed the big chains often honor elite status and provide points, upgrades, and elite nights for bookings made via AmexTravel.com. And yes, this comes alongside any Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection perks. With that said, it is safer to assume you will not receive status perks with any third-party booking. That's because these benefits are not guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/hotel-collection-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Credit Card Hotel Collections That Offer Elite-Like Benefits Without Needing Elite Status<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_if_You_Carry_More_Than_One_Platinum_Card\">What if You Carry More Than One Platinum Card?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you carry more than one version of the <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> &#8212; whether that\u2019s a personal card paired with a <a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/TheBusinessPlatinumCardfromAmericanExpressOPEN\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Business Platinum Card<\/a> or, like me, multiple business cards under the same account holder &#8212; each card receives its own separate hotel credit. That means you'll have multiple semi-annual $300 credits to utilize.<\/p>\n<p>For travelers in this situation, it's important to note that these credits don\u2019t pool, and you can\u2019t split payment across cards. Using more than one credit requires making separate prepaid bookings.<\/p>\n<p>Booking back-to-back stays can be a great strategy for maximizing your credits. For example, you can book a two-night stay with one card and another two-night stay with your second card. That can give you a total of $600 off four nights in a destination &#8212; or even more if you have 3+ eligible cards.<\/p>\n<p>Just note that while you can book back-to-back stays to use multiple credits, not all properties will give you a $100 property credit on consecutive reservations. By the terms and conditions, properties are allowed to treat multiple back-to-back reservations as a single continuous stay.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-2 compare-p-american-express\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/e6901d88-1a35-4373-b3e1-9a2a445490a0.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"American Express Platinum Card\u00ae\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nAs High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $12,000 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.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='American Express Platinum Card\u00ae' data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$895<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/platinum-card\/91101-10-0#offer-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn  5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and The Hotel Collection bookings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/19ca7b53-f41c-4639-ba3b-c44c7c44ba6f.png\"  width=\"150\" alt=\"The Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">The Business Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> from American Express<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Find Out Your Offer<\/strong>\r\nYou may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='The Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express' data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/TheBusinessPlatinumCardfromAmericanExpressOPEN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$895<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/business-platinum-charge-card\/42732-AJTnC-0?rwdFlag=rwd&oneXpVariant=elevatedOffer_variant#FeeTable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul><li>Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.<\/li>\r\n<li>Earn 2X points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.<\/li>\r\n<li>2X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you can utilize the perk to fit your travel needs, the up to $600 hotel credit is an excellent feature of the <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> and now the <a data-ccid=\"4028096\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/TheBusinessPlatinumCardfromAmericanExpressOPEN\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Business Platinum Card<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n<p>You receive up to $600 in credits for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings each year, as well as an additional $100 credit at check-in on each stay. This enables you to potentially save hundreds on accommodations. You don\u2019t need to sign up in advance, unlike most Amex benefits. If you make a booking of less than $300, you can use the remainder of the credit on any additional bookings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amex recently enhanced the annual Hotel Credit on the American Express Platinum Card\u00ae and The Business Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express. These ultra-premium cards now offers up to $600 in annual credits for hotel bookings! Here&#8217;s how to use this perk each year, the benefits you can expect to receive when you actually visit the hotel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":206433,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12055],"tags":[12790,12520,12628],"coauthors":[36518,36466],"class_list":["post-77646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-credit-cards","tag-american-express","tag-card-benefits","tag-travel-experience"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77646"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240674,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77646\/revisions\/240674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/206433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77646"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=77646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}