One of the easiest ways to enjoy the extra benefits during your hotel stay is to book through a credit card issuer’s luxury hotel plan, such as the American Express Premium Hotel + Resort Program.
Only select a US Express cardholder can book through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, and only some hotels and resorts can participate in the program.
My husband and I usually book at least a beautiful hotel + resort every year to use his prepaid hotel credit American Express Platinum Card®. But now this credit is half a year, now I American Express Business Platinum Card® Have similar credit. So we will book Fine Hotels + Resorts to use these credits more frequently.
Since the recent Amex Platinum Refresh and Amex Business Platinum Refresh mean more Cardembers can use more credits to use for Fine Hotels + Resorts Stay, which is what you should know about the program.
Platinum card for American Express: Find out your offer. You may be eligible for up to 175,000 membership reward points, which cost $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of your card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
What is a good hotel + resort?
Fine Hotels + Resorts is a luxury hotel program that offers Elitelike benefits in select hotels and resorts.
American consumers, business and corporate platinum cards and centurions can be booked through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts. So, if you have Platinum card for American Express or American Express Business Platinum Cardyou are here too. Similarly, if you are a member of the additional Platinum Card on your Consumer or Commercial Platinum or Centurion Card Card account, you are eligible.
However, remember that the following cardholders are not eligible for booking through the beautiful hotel + resort:
- Membership of Companion Cards on Consumer Platinum and Centurion Card Accounts
- Additional business gold and additional business expenses Cardholder on business platinum and centurion card account
- Delta Skymiles Platinum Card Member
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You must have a qualified card to book a beautiful hotel + resort. But you can pay for your accommodation using any American Express Card in your name. You must travel on the itinerary you booked; if you don’t travel with them, you won’t be able to book a wonderful hotel + resort. However, you can get up to three rooms per stay.
Related: Our Favorite American Express + Resort Properties where you can get Elite Allowance
Amex Fine Hotels + Benefits of Resort Booking
With the recent card changes, Platinum card for American Express and American Express Business Platinum Card Card members are offered every six months, with a maximum rebate credit of $300, totaling $600 per year in prepaid fine hotel + resort or hotel collections booked through American Express Travel*. So if you have one of these cards, you may need to book at least one well-prepaid hotel + resort for every six months of the calendar year. If you are not ready to book a non-refundable rate, many prepaid (“Books and Payments” rates) offer refundable options. (*TCH for at least two nights)
Apart from those great credits, one of the main reasons you might want to book through the Quality Hotel + Resort program is the Eliteleellike benefits it offers. Here is an overview of these privileges:
- Check-in at 12 pm (please be available when checking in)
- Room upgrade upon arrival (depending on availability upon check-in; certain room categories are not eligible)
- Daily breakfast for two ($60 per room or more per room; you must charge the breakfast bill to the room)
- Credit of $100 at checkout is eligible for a room (eligible fees vary by property)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Guaranteed checkout at 4 pm
You can enjoy the benefits mentioned above in every beautiful hotel + resort. However, you cannot book continuously and expect them to get the benefits mentioned above. According to Amex’s fine hotel + resort terms, “Back to back-to-back placed by a single card member, card members who live in the same room or travel at the same party on the same property are considered a stay and are not eligible for additional FHR benefits.” So, for example, if my husband and I booked on the same property continuously and each of us uses our respective cards, we still can only get a $100 eligible fee for both of our pauses.
Related: 12 Really Special Luxury Hotels and Resorts You Can Book with Points
How to book Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts Stay
To book a beautiful hotel + resort (or check your options), log into your American Express account, click “Book a trip” on the home page and enter your accommodation details into the search bar.
On the results page, click Filter and select the box next to “Fine Hotels + Resorts” under “Card Member Benefits”. Scroll to the bottom of the Filters window and click to apply the filter. Doing so will result from 1,614 properties in Bangkok to 14 properties.
Scroll through the options and select the option you like.
Then select the type of room you want to book.
Next, select the price you want to book. You can choose to pay now or when you sign in, and you may see a non-refundable rate for booking or a price offering free cancellation until a specific date.
You will see your full cost, cancellation policy and more on the final checkout page. Between the Special Request box and the Payment area, you can enter the hotel’s loyalty number in one box. By doing so, you should be able to earn elite nights, points and on-site status allowances from the hotel loyalty program at Premium Hotel + Resort (but no other accommodation booked through Amex Travel).
You can use an AMEX card, membership bonus points, or a booking fee that has both. However, if you redeem Amex points, you can only get 1 point per point. TPG’s September 2025 valuation reduces the value of AMEX points to 2 cents, so the value of only 1 point per point is a relatively low value redemption.
After checking all booking details and entering your payment information, click “Reserve Now” to book your stay.
Related: Amex Platinum vs. Business Platinum: Which premium Amex card is right for you?
How do I use Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts
Honestly: Most Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts prices are splurges for most people, so booking makes sense when you have declared credits or other temptations like third or fourth night free.
However, with new semi-annual statement credits for prepaid fine hotels + resorts or hotel collection via American Express Travel Platinum card for American Express and American Express Business Platinum Cardthis value proposition may change some people.
Personally, since he owns Amex Platinum and I own Amex Business Platinum, we may book four relatively cheap premium hotels + resorts, and each of us can take advantage of the $300 biennial statement credit.
There are two reasons for using these statement credits on beautiful hotel + resort bookings instead of hotel collection bookings.
First, hotel collection bookings require at least two nights prepayment to trigger a $300 biennial statement credit, while FHR bookings do not. Second, the exquisite hotel + resort booking provides cardholders with more stakes with holdings.
Be sure to check the beautiful hotel + resort rates for each destination you visit to ensure you take this opportunity to take advantage of the card’s stated credit. You can also view some of the cheapest premium hotel + resort options with MaxFHR, and even view the price calendar for each attribute via MaxFHR. For example, my favorite premium hotel + resort has been by far Naka Island in Phuket’s luxury collector and spa, so I’ll probably use Maxfhr to find some of the cheapest dates to return to travel next year.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that you sometimes see deals or discounts for selected hotel + resort properties. For example, some properties may offer a free third night. Free nights plus all the privileges of quality hotels + resorts can offer great value in some accommodations, which can help you expand your dollar (and enjoy) further.
