*amex platinum* comes with an overwhelming amount of benefits and money-saving credits to justify the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates & fees). Some perks are questionable, while others are better. But one really shines: Its $200 annual hotel credit.
Each and every year, cardholders get up to a $200 credit to use toward prepaid stays at Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) and as well as The Hotel Collection properties booked through Amextravel.com. This annual credit resets every calendar year, giving you $200 towards a hotel stay and an easy way to offset a good chunk of your card’s annual fee – plus, some great perks at top-shelf hotels around the globe during your stay.
But it’s up to you to actually put this credit to use each year. So let’s walk through how it works and everything you need to know about using it.
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
How Does the $200 Hotel Credit Work?
Cardholders now get an annual credit of up to $200 to use for prepaid hotel stays. Unlike the laundry list of statement credits on Amex cards, this one is fairly easy to use.
All you need to do to get started is search for and book eligible hotels through the Amex Travel booking portal. This credit only applies to Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) or Hotel Collection properties – Amex’s curated portfolio of hotels and resorts around the world. Notably, bookings at Hotel Collection properties require a minimum stay of two consecutive nights.
Booking through these programs can provide some great value. With either hotel portfolio, you’ll get great benefits like complimentary space-available room upgrades, late checkout, and a credit of up to $100 to spend at the property’s spa or restaurants. FHR bookings also get complimentary daily breakfast for two.
Unlike some of the other Amex Platinum benefits, there is no need to enroll for the credit before you use it. All you need to do is book through Amextravel.com and pay with your Amex Platinum Card. The $200 credit will kick in automatically – typically, just a few days later.
A few other important things to note:
- This credit resets on the calendar year – not based upon your card renewal date. That means each credit expires Dec. 31 of each year and you get a new one on Jan. 1, regardless of when you opened your Platinum Card.
- To get the credit of up to $200, you only need to book by the end of each year. Since the credit is for prepaid stays, you can book a stay today for a trip far in the future. You just need to make sure the charge posts before the end of the calendar year.
- If you book a property that doesn’t cost $200, you can use the credit across multiple bookings. That’s nice … although most (but not all) eligible properties will cost $200 or more a night, so it may be a moot point.
- When you book through Amex Travel with your Amex Platinum, you’ll still earn 5x points per dollar. That includes bookings that trigger your $200 Amex Platinum hotel credit.
Once you book, American Express states that the credit can take up to 90 days to post to your account. In practice, it’s typically much quicker.
Members of the Thrifty Traveler staff who have used the $200 Amex Hotel credit this year have reported the credit hitting their account within a week of the booking posting to their card account. In fact, our editor Kyle had that credit hit his account just one day after booking in early January 2024.
While it might not always post that quickly, you definitely shouldn’t have to wait 90 days to receive it.
If you still don’t see that statement credit posted to your account, you can reach out to Amex via the chat function in your online account or via the number on the back of your card.
How to Find Eligible Properties to Use Your Hotel Credit
First things first, you’ll need to start your search on Amextravel.com.
Make sure you are on the “Hotels” tab, enter the number of travelers and rooms you’re looking for, dates, and the city where you are looking to stay.
Once you start your search, you’ll get a full list of hotels that are bookable through Amex Travel. But remember, to use your annual $200 hotel credit, you must book one of the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Hotel Collection properties. These properties should show up at the top of your results, though you can filter to only display these properties about halfway down the page.
For this example, I searched for properties in Las Vegas, where there’s no shortage of Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts properties. In fact, Amex shows 10 options available for a one-night stay next June – plus another six Hotel Collection properties for a two-night stay.
After selecting the Wynn Las Vegas, it will provide you with more information on the Fine Hotels & Resorts Benefits like daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade (when available), guaranteed late check-out, noon check-in (when available), complimentary Wi-Fi, and a $100 spa credit to be used during the stay.
In general, you can expect to pay a bit more per night when booking through Amextravel.com as opposed to other platforms or directly through the hotel itself. But the extra perks can easily outweigh that additional cost – and sometimes, you’ll find the exact same price.
You’ll be able to use the credit even if your stay is far into the following year so long as the charge posts to your account on or before Dec. 31.
A Handy Tool to Maximize Your Credit
There are nearly 2,000 properties in Amex’s combined Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection portfolio. All of them are eligible to put this credit to use.
But a $200 credit only goes so far at ultra-luxe, expensive properties you might not even be interested in – and some destinations and regions have more quality properties to choose from than others. You might struggle to find a property anywhere close to that $200-a-night sweet spot.
That’s where MaxFHR.com comes in. This online search tool comes from the makers of MaxMyPoint.com, an incredibly useful tool to view flexible calendar availability for nights bookable with points at Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG properties.
MaxFHR is fantastic because it lets you flip through tons of eligible properties, sorting them based upon the lowest available price. You can search by destination, then use a flexible calendar to scan through any given month.
It’s an easy tool to use and if you’re flexible with your travel dates, this could be an easy way to score some major savings! Just click on any of the dates to redirect you to Amex Travel booking portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Minimum Stay Requirement?
In order to use your $200 hotel credit on the Platinum Card, you need to make sure your stay qualifies:
- At a Fine Hotels & Resorts property, you can book a one-night stay and still be eligible for the $200 credit
- But with The Hotel Collection, you must book a stay of at least two nights to use that credit
Case in point: If you search for a one-night stay on Amextravel.com, you won’t see any Hotel Collection properties in your results, period.
Do You Have to Use It by Dec. 31 Each Year?
Yes. The $200 credit is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. That means it won’t roll over into the following year if you don’t use it.
That said, since you’re booking a prepaid hotel stay, you could use that credit now for a stay far out in 2025. That should give you far more flexibility – and plenty of time – to find a way to use it up.
Do Business Platinum Cardholders Get a $200 Hotel Credit?
Have *biz platinum*? Unfortunately, you won’t have a $200 hotel credit available for use.
The $200 hotel credit is only a benefit of the personal Platinum card.
Do Platinum Card Authorized Users Get Their Own $200 Hotel Credit?
From unrivaled lounge access to a free membership in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, the American Express Platinum card has the richest set of travel perks on the market. And by adding an Amex Platinum authorized user, your travel companion can share many of them.
Unfortunately, Platinum Card authorized users won’t get their own $200 hotel credit. You’ll get one $200 credit each year per account, no matter whether you have an authorized user or not.
Related Reading: Everything You Need to Know About Credit Card Authorized Users
Can You Use the Platinum Hotel Credit On Multiple Bookings?
In theory, you can use the hotel credit on multiple bookings.
For example, if you booked a Fine Hotels & Resorts property that cost $150 a night, you would get $150 of your $200 credit and still have $50 to use on a future booking through the end of the year.
But in practice, you won’t find many FHR or Hotel Collection properties that are cheap enough to apply the credit across multiple bookings.
What Happens If You Cancel A Booking?
Change and cancellation policies vary from property to property. But as a general rule of thumb, if you cancel a booking and don’t make another new reservation, expect that Amex will claw the $200 credit you received back.
If you make another booking, your credit should be safe.
Will My Hotel Elite Status Benefits Be Recognized On These Bookings?
Probably not … but it’s possible.
Typically, booking any hotel through any online travel agency (OTA) means you shouldn’t expect any hotel elite status recognition or benefits – including earning points. Amex Travel is one such agency, so it’s hit or miss.
That said, Amex Travel is typically treated a bit differently (and better) than your average third-party agency. So be sure to plug your hotel loyalty number into your reservation. It’s no guarantee, but worth a shot!
Read more: Can You Earn Hotel Points By Booking Through An OTA?
Bottom Line
This Amex Platinum credit for up to $200 for prepaid hotel bookings at both Fine Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Collection properties made through Amex Travel is easily among the best on its long list of benefits.
Use it right, and you can extract a lot of value from this great new benefit. Just make sure your booking posts to your Platinum Card account before the end of the year to receive your credit – even if that means booking a hotel stay now for a trip far out in 2025!
