Among the many ways to help offset the hefty $695 annual fee (see rates & fees) that comes with *amex platinum* is its annual $200 hotel credit.
Cardholders receive up to a $200 statement credit when booking prepaid stays at Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) and two-night stays with The Hotel Collection properties each year. But a $200 credit doesn't go far at some of these ultra-luxe … and ultra-expensive properties. That's where MaxFHR comes in.
This handy tool helps cardholders find the cheapest Fine Hotels and Resorts properties to maximize their Amex Platinum hotel credit. Instead of struggling to find a property anywhere close to that $200-a-night sweet spot, MaxFHR does all the heavy lifting for you with easy-to-use filters and search criteria.
Let's take a deeper dive into how this tool works and how to use it to your advantage.
A Brief Overview of Fine Hotels and Resorts
Amex Travel is a booking platform that allows cardmembers to search for flights, hotels, rental cars, and even cruises. Within Amex Travel you'll find a couple of premium hotel programs that are only available to select Amex cardholders, such as Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection.
If you carry the bank's $695 annual fee Amex Platinum Card or the business version, you'll be able to access the Fine Hotels + Resorts program for exclusive access to high-end hotels from all the major hotel chains, as well as some other lesser-known luxury hotels brands like The Leading Hotels of the World, Ennismore, and Four Seasons. While you can also book these properties directly, or through other travel search engines, FHR bookings come with added elite-like perks and benefits that can make your stay even better – and help you save.
Here's a look at the stated FHR benefits:
- Room upgrade on arrival, when available
- Early noon check-in, when available
- Daily breakfast for two people
- Experience credit, such as a spa or food and beverage credit
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- Complimentary Wi-Fi (if Wi-Fi costs are included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit for that amount will be applied at check-out.)
One of the other perks to booking through Amex Travel is that *amex platinum* comes with an annual statement credit of up to $200 for FHR bookings. This is an easy way for cardholders to save on their stay and it's just another one of the many benefits that can help justify paying the card's high annual fee.
A Handy Tool to Maximize Your Amex Hotel Credit
With nearly 2,000 properties in Amex's combined Fine Hotels and Resorts and The Hotel Collection portfolio, you shouldn't have any trouble putting the Amex Platinum's $200 hotel credit to use. But unless you're traveling to Southeast Asia, you might get a little sticker-shock when booking a stay at one of these top-tier hotels.
Luckily, there's MaxFHR: This online search tool, from the makers of MaxMyPoint, let's you sort and filter all the eligible properties to help you find the best bang for your buck.
The best part? It's completely free, no subscription is required.
When you use MaxFHR by searching for a specific destination, it will pull up a list of eligible properties and display the lowest nightly rate for the whole year.
Your search includes filters that range from the total cost, whether it includes amenities like a spa, as well as the food and beverage credits that you get during your stay. You can even narrow it down further by selecting a specific hotel chain and whether or not there are any special offers (like a buy two, get one night free deal).
Recently, I was looking for hotels in Sydney when I discovered quite a few properties like the Shangri-La Sydney were offering a complimentary third night. Look out for the properties that indicate this! It's a lot easier to see which properties have special offers rather than scrolling through the Amex Travel booking portal.
If you click on one of the properties, it will display a calendar view of the hotel's nightly rate for each month that you can click through. It's a quick way to easily look for the cheapest nights with this calendar view.
It's an easy tool to use and if you're flexible with your travel dates, this could be a great way to score some major savings! Just click on any of the dates to redirect you to Amex Travel.
Just know, there currently isn't a way to search for the cheapest The Hotel Collection properties – you'll only see Fine Hotels and Resorts when using MaxFHR.
Our Favorite Fine Hotels and Resorts Properties
Ever heard the expression that you pay for what you get? Thanks to MaxFHR, cheaper doesn't always mean lower quality.
With this tool you can get incredible value at some really high-end properties. Here are some of ideas of what's possible … without breaking the bank.
Park Hyatt Saigon
Vietnam's top Hyatt property, the Park Hyatt Saigon, has been on my bucket list for a while. Using MaxFHR, I easily found nights here for as low as $225.
Shangri-La Sydney
The Shangri-La Sydney, is one of the best hotels in Sydney, with incredible views of the Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour. Nights here go for as little as $186, making it a perfect use of your Amex Platinum hotel credit. And if you're able to take advantage of a special offer, like a complimentary third-night free, this 5-star hotel could be even more affordable.
Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace
Looking to stay in a 20th-century French chateau? Look no further than the Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace. This property can be booked for as low as $251 through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts.
If you've got the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card you could also put your biannual $200 Hilton Aspire Resort Credit to use, by booking direct, for an extra night!
The Palazzo at The Venetian
Don't worry domestic travelers, we didn't forget about you! You could use your FHR credit for a stay at The Palazzo in Las Vegas for as low as $203! This is one of the few all-suite properties on the Las Vegas strip and a great way to put your credit to use while staying closer to home.
The Cellars-Hohenort
A new addition to Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Cellars-Hohenort is a 17th-century farm estate that was such a good deal at 50k Hilton points that our executive editor Kyle had to book it for himself! Alternatively, he could have used his annual Amex hotel credit to book a stay for as low as $261 per night.
Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre
If you're like me, Four Seasons properties probably seem out of reach. Fortunately, you could stay at one of these ultra-luxe hotels in Dubai for as low as $317! Be sure to keep the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre in mind for your next trip to the United Arab Emirates!
Bottom Line
There's no easier way to maximize the Amex Platinum's annual $200 Hotel Credit than using the MaxFHR flexible calendar. If you've got an one of these cards in your wallet, we highly recommend bookmarking this website for your future use.