Here’s My Favorite Underrated Amex Platinum Travel Perk

There are a lot of ways to travel. Sometimes, I just want to get to my destination and hit the ground running, trying to see everything there is to see. In this case, I’m perfectly happy to book a room at the Residence Inn so I can grab a free continental breakfast on the way out to explore. 

But every now and then, I want an experience. I want luxury and decadence, to feel, from start to finish, that my trip is a true break from my everyday life. When I want this kind of trip, I turn to The Platinum Card® from American Express.

More specifically, my Amex card and one of my favorite travel card perks: the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FH&R) program.

Fine Hotels & Resorts makes luxury more affordable

My normal travel budget is a lot more Holiday Inn than the Four Seasons. So on those rare trips where I let myself splurge on the luxury experience, I need to make every penny count. That’s why I really love using FH&R to book my hotel.

Available to Amex Platinum Card users, FH&R is effectively a collection of top-tier luxury hotels around the world that you can book through Amex’s travel portal. Booking with your Amex Platinum Card unlocks these lucrative benefits that can make your stay more affordable and more enjoyable:

• Early check-in
• Room upgrades
• Daily breakfast credits
• $100 experience credit
• Free wifi
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. check-out
• Terms apply

On top of all these, many hotels also offer a personalized gift upon arrival. I’ve gotten everything from fancy chocolates to locally crafted bath salts.

Upgrades and freebies extend the travel budget

Amex advertises the program as having an “average total value of $600.” I’m not sure whether that’s an accurate assessment, but I honestly don’t think it’s too far off, either.

Right off the bat, the room upgrade is an easy $50 to $200 or more. You may only get a basic upgrade to a better view,  but you could also end up with a suite upgrade worth hundreds. (Either way, you’re in a luxury hotel, so even a minor upgrade is still probably a pretty darn nice room.)

The credits are easy money. Breakfast credits vary by hotel, but I average around $70 in value per day when I’m with a guest. And the “experience credit” is usually a property credit that you can apply to the in-house restaurant, room service, or even parking fees. I always maximize this without much trouble.

Guaranteed late checkout in low-key priceless

The most underrated part of an underrated program has to be the guaranteed late checkout. I cannot emphasize enough how remarkably valuable this single perk can be. I’d say it’s easily worth at least half the cost of the room — if not the whole cost — if you can maximize it.

Why do I say that? Because you’re basically getting an extra day for free when you don’t have to check out until 4 p.m.

Think about it this way: Normally, you need to check out somewhere around 10 or 11 a.m. So, you might have time to grab breakfast before you need to pack and get out. 

If you don’t need to leave until 4 p.m., you have an extra six hours to explore, relax, or enjoy the hotel amenities. This could mean time for a day trip to a nearby attraction. Another day in the theme park. A few more museums. Or just a long soak and a satisfying nap before catching an evening flight.

It would be almost impossible to get this time without paying out the nose; some hotels may even require you to pay for another full night. Having it included and guaranteed changes the entire game (terms apply).

Prices may be inflated, but I think the value is there

Alright, so I’ve waxed poetic on the magic of the FH&R program. It’s only fair that I add on a few of the criticisms, too. The major one of which would — understandably — be the fact that prices in the Amex Travel portal can be a bit inflated.

Well, maybe even more than a bit on occasion. The worst I paid was $100 over the cost of booking the room directly. For me, it was still worth it; the credits and perks easily made up for the extra cost.

Not every trip needs to involve an expensive hotel stay. But the ones that do I always book through FH&R with my Amex Platinum Card. It may not be the most talked-about credit card perk, but it’s definitely one of my favorites.

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