Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. We may receive a small commission from our partners, like American Express, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

American Express recently raised the annual fee on the Platinum Card to $695 (See Rates), which is a big jump.

There are also new travel and lifestyle credits to help offset the fee increase, including up to $200 per calendar year toward prepaid hotels that are part of Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection. Together, they make up over 1,700 hotels around the world where you can potentially stay and receive $200 per calendar year as a statement credit after booking. 

Read more: The Amex Platinum increased its annual fee to $695 — are the new benefits worth it?

Of all the new credits, this one is the most broadly appealing and easiest for most cardholders to use. In addition to the $200 credit, you’ll also receive exclusive perks during your stay, which vary by the hotel but usually include some sort of credit toward dining, an upgraded room, and late checkout. 

There aren’t any stay requirements for Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings, but you must stay at least two nights at The Hotel Collection properties to receive the credit. Keep in mind, you’ll usually earn points or credit toward elite status if the hotel has its own loyalty program, but not always. Even if you don’t, the benefits you receive through Amex can be worth much more.

How to use the Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Featured Reward

100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months of card membership, plus 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of card membership

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

  • Pros & Cons
  • Details

  • Pros
    • Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
    • Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
    Cons
    • Bonus categories leave something to be desired
    • One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
    • Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
    • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
    • $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
    • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
    • New! American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
    • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
    • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
    • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required.
    • $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
    • $695 Annual Fee.
    • Terms Apply.

    Read Our Review
    Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing right

    To qualify for the Platinum Card’s hotel credit, you’ll need to book your stay through Amex Travel and select a hotel that’s part of either Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection. You’ll know which hotels qualify because you’ll see a banner in the search results and a box explaining what benefits you’ll receive for your booking. 

    A screenshot of two hotel sample bookings through American Express Travel, showing Fine Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Collection options.

    Look for the Fine Hotels and Resorts or Hotel Collection banner when you search for an eligible hotel through Amex Travel.

    American Express


    You’ll also receive 5x Amex Membership Rewards points on your booking when you pay with your Platinum Card.

    Read more: How to use the Amex Travel Portal to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more — and make the most of your Membership Rewards points

    For Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings, you’ll usually get a guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, daily breakfast for two, and an experience credit that you can use for spa services or dining. The exact benefits vary by hotel, but usually add a lot of value to your overall stay. 

    The Hotel Collection bookings come with a $100 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and other resort activities (but not room rates, taxes, gratuities, or fees) and a room upgrade at check-in, if available. Note that these bookings require a two-night minimum stay to redeem your $200 statement credit. 

    To receive your $200 annual statement credit, you’ll need to prepay for your stay using your Platinum Card, meaning you pay when you book and not when you check out of the hotel. Amex says it can take up to 90 days to see the credit on your account, but in practice, credits like this usually post much faster. 

    Read more: The Amex Platinum card gets you access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program for luxury hotel benefits — after a stay in Paris, I think it’s worth the hype

    Note that credits may be canceled or reversed if you modify or cancel your stay, so be sure to use your credit for a hotel you actually want to visit. This credit is also “use it or lose it” — it doesn’t roll over so you can’t save it for a more expensive stay. Authorized users are eligible to receive the credit, but you can only receive up to $200 per calendar year across all the cards attached to your account. 

    How to maximize the Amex Platinum hotel credit

    Amex Fine Resorts & Hotels properties tend to be more luxurious and upscale. For that reason, there aren’t many that cost around $200 per night, but you can come close. Considering all the other benefits you’ll receive, like free breakfast, late checkout, and an experience credit — on top of $200 back as a statement credit — you can do well with a one-night stay at nearly any of the hotels that participate. Using your $200 credit for a one-night stay that costs as close to $200 would be the sweet spot for these types of bookings. 

    The Hotel Collection properties tend to cost less, but Amex has a two-night minimum stay requirement, which means you’ll likely have to pay for a part of your stay. But you’ll receive $100 to use at the property and a room upgrade if one is available, so again, you can do well with finding a room that’s close to $200 for two nights. 

    Read more: The Amex Platinum has a long list of benefits, but 6 of them are especially easy to maximize

    The best use would be on a stay where you’ll take advantage of all the benefits that are offered. That means enjoying the breakfast, requesting a late checkout, and hopefully getting an upgraded room. Even if you don’t have any trips planned, you could always use the statement credit for a stay in your hometown or within a short days’ drive. Or, as part of a trip, you could book a hotel to use your statement credit, and then switch to a cheaper (or free with points) hotel for some added luxury as part of a longer trip. 

    Other valuable Amex Platinum credits

    In addition to up to $200 in hotel credits, the Platinum Card also comes with other credits you can use in your travels or closer to home, including: 

    For more details, check out our complete Amex Platinum review, and find out ways to use American Express Membership Rewards points toward travel. 

    Bottom line

    If you have a Platinum Card, you can receive up to $200 per calendar year when you book a stay through Amex Travel at a hotel that’s part of Fine Resorts & Hotels or The Hotel Collection. The benefit is automatic when you prepay for your booking with your Platinum Card and resets every year. 

    Considering there are 1,700+ hotels included across both sets of eligible programs, this is probably the easiest statement credit for most people to use every year. For the most value, be sure to use all the offered amenities, like late checkout, breakfast, and any credits you receive to use at the property. 

    Featured credit cards from our partners

    Featured Reward

    100,000 points

    Credit Needed

    Good to Excellent

    Featured Reward

    3 Free Nights (valued up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10x total points per $1 spent on up to $2,500 in combined purchases in select categories within your first 6 months

    Credit Needed

    Good to Excellent

    Featured Reward

    $200 after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening

    Credit Needed

    Good to Excellent