how do i use american express $200 travel credit

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T.J. Dunn

How Does the American Express Platinum Card $200 Annual Travel Credit Work?

The American Express Platinum Card and the Business Platinum Card from American Express are two of the best travel cards in Canada, as they come with a bevy of travel-related perks and a hefty welcome bonus to help justify the high annual fees.

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What is the american express platinum card annual travel credit, how to use the american express platinum card annual travel credit, how to maximize the american express platinum card annual travel credit.

The American Express Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express ‘s $200 annual travel credit is exactly what it sounds like. Each year, cardholders are given a $200 credit that can be used to book flights, hotels, car rentals, or other travel through the Amex Travel portal.

Aside from being approved for the card and paying the $799 annual fee, you don’t have to do anything extra to earn the $200 travel credit. It becomes available as soon as you activate your card, and then once per year on your cardholder anniversary date.

For example, if you’re approved for the American Express Platinum Card in March 2024, you’ll have one $200 travel credit that must be used before March 2025. Then, in March 2025, you’ll have a new $200 annual travel credit available in your account, which must be used by March 2026.

The $200 annual travel credit can only be used for bookings made through Amex Travel. This means that you won’t be able to book travel on your own elsewhere, and then apply the credit against your own travel expenses retroactively.

The $200 travel credit has to be used all at once towards a single travel booking of $200 or more. This means that you won’t be able to use it if your travel booking is less than $200, and you won’t be able to spread it out over multiple bookings.

Lastly, you need to opt in to using the travel credit at the time of booking. Simply booking $200 in travel through Amex Travel isn’t enough to trigger the credit — rather, you have to specify that you want to use your $200 annual travel credit, which we’ll cover in detail below.

Once you’ve made a booking, you’ll receive $200 as a statement credit on your Platinum Card within two business days or so. This means that you’re charged the full amount of the booking first, and then you receive a separate $200 statement credit posted to your account.

On September 26, 2023, the $200 annual travel credit became available on the Business Platinum Card from American Express . This new benefit came in tandem with other changes to the cards, including increasing the annual fee.

If you’re already a Business Platinum cardholder, you’ll have access to the $200 annual travel credit on the next anniversary date that falls on or after September 26, 2023, and every year thereafter on your anniversary date.

There are two ways to use the $200 annual travel credit from the American Express Platinum Card : over the phone, or online.

If you choose to phone in to book travel and redeem your credit, make sure the Amex Travel agent knows that you’d like to make use of your $200 travel credit. You’ll also need to use your personal or business version of the Platinum Card to pay for the rest of the charges on your booking, so be sure to have it handy.

If redeeming online, you’ll have to first login to your American Express account, and then head to Amex Travel.

You can do this by clicking on the “Menu” tab after you’ve logged in, selecting “Travel”, and then “Book Travel Online”.

If you have multiple American Express cards, you’ll be prompted to select the card you’d like to use.

In order to use the $200 annual travel credit, you’ll need to choose a Platinum Card from the list. If you haven’t used the travel credit yet, it’ll indicate that it’s available on this screen, as well as its expiry date.

After selecting the Platinum Card, you can choose which type of travel you’d like to book. The options include flights, hotels, or car rentals, as well as combinations of those three in the “Bundles” tab.

Once you’ve found your desired travel booking, head to the payment screen, and then keep an eye out for the option to apply your $200 annual travel credit.

If you don’t select it as an option at this point, the credit won’t automatically be applied against your travel.

After you’ve opted to use the travel credit, you’ll still need to enter the rest of your Platinum Card information. Your card will then be charged the full amount of the booking, and the $200 credit will appear on your Platinum Card account shortly thereafter.

Even though American Express restricts the $200 annual travel credit in that it can only be used through Amex Travel, there are still ways you can make the most out of your credit, and elevate your travel.

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

One of the best ways to use the $200 annual travel credit is for a hotel stay with Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts , which gives you additional perks to enjoy during your stay.

You can use the $200 annual travel credit to get a free or very inexpensive night if the stay costs around $200, or you could use it to offset the cost of a more luxurious stay.

For example, a one-night stay at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel , in Hobart, Tasmania might cost around $455 (CAD).

By booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, you’ll be able to use your $200 travel credit to reduce the cost down to $255 (CAD), and you’ll also have access to a number of additional perks.

You’ll receive a $100 (USD) property credit, free breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm late check-out, and, when available, a room upgrade upon arrival and early check-in.

What’s more, if you have Marriott Bonvoy Elite status , you’ll still be able to enjoy your status benefits through hotels booked through Amex Travel, and you’ll also be credited with an elite qualifying night to work towards reaching a higher status, or retaining your status for next year.

If you have an upcoming trip planned and want to try out a luxury hotel, be sure to apply your $200 annual travel credit against the cost.

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

Amex Travel Amex Offers

American Express cardholders have exclusive access to Amex Offers , which are special opt-in promotions offered through your online account.

In the past, there have been specific Amex Offers available for spending on Amex Travel online.

One offer that’s popped up over the past couple of years has been a “Spend $800, Get $200” Amex Offer for bookings made through Amex Travel .

If you’ve been targeted with such an offer, you’d receive a $200 statement credit after making $800 worth of eligible prepaid hotel or car rental bookings through Amex Travel, which is separate from your $200 annual travel credit.

However, it’s also possible to stack the $200 annual travel credit with offers like this, which would effectively result in an out-of-pocket cost of $400 for $800 worth of travel.

Therefore, if you’re able to take advantage of both an Amex Travel Amex Offer and the $200 annual travel credit, you’ll end up with a significant discount on your booking.

A situation such as this can also be a great opportunity to try out a high-end property, such as the Four Seasons, Shangri-La, or Mandarin Oriental, without paying anywhere near the full price.

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

Offset the Annual Fee

Lastly, the $200 annual credit can be used as a way to offset the card’s annual fee.

If your plans fall through and you have to cancel a refundable travel booking, you’ll no longer have access to the travel credit.

As per the terms and conditions on the American Express Platinum Card :

If you cancel your travel booking after redeeming the Annual Travel Credit, you will not be able to use it again in the same year.

However, since you’re charged the full amount to begin with, you’ll still receive a full refund for the Amex Travel booking, even after the $200 annual travel credit has been applied to your account. 

For example, if you make a refundable hotel booking for $400, you’ll have two items post to your account: a charge for $400 (your hotel booking), and a statement credit of $200 (from your travel credit). At this point, the net cost to you is $200.

If you need to cancel the hotel booking, you’ll receive a full refund of $400, and the $200 statement credit will remain posted to your account. Therefore, if you had a $0 balance before you made the booking, you’d now have a balance of –$200, since the annual travel credit can’t be reversed.

Having to cancel a booking due to unforeseen circumstances may not be ideal; however, if it comes to that, it’s nice to know that at least your $200 credit doesn’t go to waste.

The $200 annual travel credit is a great perk that comes with every Canadian-issued American Express Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express .

Fortunately, the credit is easy to use through Amex Travel. While you’re limited to what’s available on the platform, you can use it to score a deal on a luxury hotel stay through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts , or to otherwise lower the cost of other expenses for a trip.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to stack the $200 annual travel credit with an Amex Travel Amex Offer to unlock even more value. And if your plans fall through, it’s nice to know that the statement credit will remain on your account even after your booking is refunded.

It doesn’t matter how you make use of the $200 annual travel credit — just be sure to use it up before it expires each year.

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

  • Earn 70 ,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
  • Plus, earn  30,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
  • Also, earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
  • Also, receive an annual $200 travel credit
  • Also, receive an annual  $200 dining credit
  • Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
  • Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
  • Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
  • Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
  • Annual fee: $799

I won’t ever deal with Amex again after their petty and frankly pathetic actions when they cancelled their Air Miles program. Cancelled cards with one day notice but mailed that notice. Very poor customer relations..

Amex always charged me back for the $200 travel credit after I cancelled my booking in the past couple of years.

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

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How to use your $200 Amex Platinum airline fee credit in 2023

Choose the airline that’s best for you to use your Amex Platinum airline credit

Published: January 28, 2022

Nicole Dieker

Author: Nicole Dieker

Kaitlyn Tang

Editor: Kaitlyn Tang

Claire Dickey

Reviewer: Claire Dickey

How we Choose

The Platinum Card from American Express offers a number of premium travel benefits – including an annual $200 airline credit that can help offset the cost of incidental air travel fees.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards , or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs.

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a number of premium travel benefits – including an annual $200 airline credit that can be used to offset the cost of incidental air travel fees.

The Amex Platinum airline credit helps make this top rewards credit card an excellent choice for frequent flyers who don’t mind paying a $695 annual fee for a luxury travel experience . But what does the Amex Platinum airline credit cover, and how do you use your Amex Platinum airline credit during a year when travel may not yet be back to normal?

Let’s take a close look at this valuable American Express perk and what you need to know about using your $200 Amex Platinum airline fee credit in 2022.

How to use the Amex Platinum airline credit

Before you can use your American Express airline credit, you need to choose a qualifying airline. Select your airline by logging in to your Amex card’s online account and selecting your airline for this credit. Choose carefully because you won’t be able to change your qualifying airline until January of the next calendar year.

The following airlines currently qualify for the Amex $200 travel credit:

  • Alaska Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Frontier Airlines
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue Airways
  • Spirit Airlines
  • Southwest Airlines
  • United Airlines

Once you choose your qualifying airline, how do you use your Amex Platinum airline credit? Taking advantage of your Amex airline credit is fairly easy. As you make qualifying purchases, American Express will automatically apply statement credits to your account. You can receive up to $200 in Amex airline credits per calendar year.

Since the Amex Platinum card rewards purchases made with a specific airline, you might want to combine your Platinum card with an airline miles card that would increase both your rewards and frequent flyer perks. This way, you can combine your premium credit card rewards with other travel benefits, such as free flights and elite status.

What does the Amex airline credit cover?

The Amex airline credit can be put toward incidental air travel fees – but not all travel fees qualify, so it’s good to know what your Amex $200 credit covers in advance.

Airline fees that qualify for the $200 Amex Platinum credit include:

  • Checked baggage fees
  • Flight change fees
  • Premium seat fees
  • Airport lounge day passes
  • In-flight purchases made with the airline

Airline fees that do not qualify for the Amex Platinum credit include:

  • Airline tickets
  • Award tickets
  • Mileage points purchases
  • Mileage points transfer fees
  • Duty-free purchases
  • In-flight purchases made with a third-party provider (such as wireless internet)

Remember, all qualifying fees must be purchased through your selected airline. Fees incurred while flying a partner airline won’t qualify – so keep that in mind when you book your next flight.

Choose the right airline for 2022

Choosing the best airline for the Amex travel credit might be different this year. Travel in the time of COVID-19 has changed everything, including airline rules – so plan ahead when you select your qualifying airline for 2022.

Start by checking to see whether a potential airline has any COVID-related restrictions that might make booking travel more difficult. Major airlines are doing their best to make traveling during the pandemic as safe and flexible as possible, including making flight changes easier and more affordable, but it’s still a good idea to check whether you’ll need to provide a negative COVID test before traveling, for example. It’s also worth checking to see whether a potential airline is currently restricting travel to certain destinations, especially if you already know where you plan to fly this year.

In most cases, airlines will follow recommended protocol from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – whether that includes requiring passengers to wear masks or restricting travel to certain areas. Take these factors into consideration as you choose your qualifying airline and try to select an airline that gives you plenty of options in case you need to change your plans.

Maximize your Amex travel credit

Want to know how to spend your Amex travel credit? To maximize your Amex airline credit, it’s a good idea to apply for the American Express Platinum card as early in the year as possible. Since your Amex $200 credit starts over annually, you’ll want to make sure you can take full advantage of your Amex travel credit before the calendar year ends.

With that said, you’ll also want to make sure you’re making enough qualifying airline purchases to maximize your Amex statement credits. The $200 annual Amex airline credit is a use-it-or-lose-it perk – so go ahead and check that bag, book that premium seat and get your money’s worth out of this great card perk.

Bottom line

The Amex airline credit is a luxury travel perk that can help you offset the cost of the Platinum card’s $695 annual fee . Choose your qualifying airline carefully, and try to make enough qualifying incidental airline purchases to claim the full $200 in statement credits each year.

The pandemic may make 2022 another challenging year for travelers. If you don’t plan on traveling enough to take advantage of the Amex $200 airline credit, consider applying for another top travel credit card instead – or hold off on applying for the Platinum card until you’re more likely to return to your old travel habits.

Editorial Disclaimer

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer with a focus on personal finance and habit formation. She spent five years as a writer and editor at The Billfold, a personal finance site where people had honest conversations about money, and she regularly teaches classes on how to build your income as a freelancer.

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How to Use the American Express Airline Credit

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Table of Contents

Steps to use the American Express airline credit

Eligible expenses for the american express airline credit, if you want to use the american express airline credit.

American Express is a powerhouse in travel — and for a good reason. With various co-branded credit and charge cards from which to choose, finding an AmEx card that suits your needs is easy.

Some of these cards also offer an airline fee credit, which will reimburse you for certain purchases made while flying. Even if you’re not a frequent traveler, this credit can come in handy on the road.

Let’s look at which cards provide this benefit, how to use the American Express airline credit and the different types of eligible expenses.

1. Choose your AmEx card

The first step in using the AmEx airline credit comes in having a card that offers this credit, as not all cards do. These are a few that provide the benefit:

The Platinum Card® from American Express .

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express .

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card .

The value of the credit you’ll receive will depend on which card you hold: The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express both provide a $200 annual airline fee credit. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card , meanwhile, provides a $250 annual credit. Terms apply.

» Learn more: AmEx Membership Rewards: How to earn and use them

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

2. Select your preferred airline

The American Express airline credit isn’t automatic and doesn’t apply to all airlines. Instead, if you’re looking to use the credit for eligible purchases, you’ll first need to select a specific airline for which the credit will be redeemed. These include:

Alaska Airlines .

American Airlines .

Delta Air Lines .

Frontier Airlines .

Hawaiian Airlines .

JetBlue Airways .

Spirit Airlines .

Southwest Airlines .

United Airlines .

You can select the airline with which you’d like to use the credit once per year, in January. Once the choice is made, you’ll only be able to use the airline credit from The Platinum Card® from American Express towards purchases on your chosen airline.

Those with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will also receive a 35% rebate on points redeemed towards flights on their chosen airline.

You’ll notice that there aren’t any foreign airlines on the list; if you’ve booked a flight with a codeshare partner, you likely won’t be able to use the credit unless the purchase is made directly through one of these airlines.

Finally, you’ll want to be picky about which airline you select. If you typically only fly with one carrier, choosing that one will likely make the most sense. If you’re unsure which airline to choose, keep in mind that low-cost carriers with many fees, like Spirit and Frontier, may offer more opportunities to redeem your credits than others.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: Frontier vs. Spirit — The battle of the budget airlines

3. Make your purchase

After you’ve selected the airline for which you’d like the airline credit from The Platinum Card® from American Express to apply, redeeming the credit is easy. You’ll simply need to make an eligible purchase with your card and the credit will be automatically reimbursed to your account within two to four weeks.

Not all expenses are eligible for this credit, and AmEx’s wording on this front is vague, specifying only “incidental fees.” It does, however, outline several types of purchases that are not eligible for credit:

Airline or award tickets.

Mileage points purchases and transfer fees.

Gift cards.

Duty-free purchases.

» Learn more: Making the most of American Express Platinum

Not all expenses are eligible for reimbursement by the airline credit AmEx offers. There also isn’t a single decisive list that AmEx maintains for this credit, though it does mention both checked bag fees and in-flight refreshments as examples for use.

Here are a few other ways to use the American Express airline credit.

Other credit cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer a much more flexible annual travel credit which is applicable toward hotels, flights, toll roads and more.

Seat selection fees

Although you may score a complimentary seat assignment by having airline elite status or an eligible economy class ticket, the AmEx airline credit also reimburses these fees on your selected airline.

Happily for travelers, the AmEx airline fee credit doesn’t just apply to standard economy seat assignments. So if you’re looking for a little more legroom, fees for seat selections that put you in economy plus or main cabin extra can also be reimbursed.

However, keep in mind that AmEx explicitly excludes upgrades from this credit — that means if you want to pay for a move from economy to first class, you won’t be able to redeem this credit towards your purchase.

» Learn more: AmEx points vs. Chase points

Lounge access and membership

Although each of these AmEx cards comes with a Priority Pass Select membership, you may find yourself in a situation where you’re still paying for lounge access. Perhaps you’re paying for a guest, or you’ve finally decided to bite on an annual lounge membership from a specific airline.

In any case, both lounge membership and lounge access fees can be reimbursed using the American Express airline credit. However, remember that the lounge you’re trying to access must be affiliated with the same airline you selected for your credit.

Baggage fees

Plenty of co-branded credit cards offer the ability to check your baggage for free, but if you don’t have (or want) one, you can also use the AmEx airline credit towards these fees. This applies both toward checked bag costs and overweight/excess baggage charges.

» Learn more: The airlines with the best (and worst) fees

In-flight refreshments

Airlines may still provide some light refreshments during flights, but unless you’re flying internationally, the odds are that a complimentary meal is not on offer.

If you’re peckish midway through your flight, you can order food and drinks and have these covered by the credit. Just be sure you’ve already selected your airline to receive the reimbursement.

One of the best uses of the American Express Platinum airline credit for Southwest flyers and many other airlines is that pet fees can also be reimbursed entirely by the credit.

» Learn more: AmEx Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve — Reserve has more mass appeal

So what is the AmEx airline fee credit? In short: it’s a way to help lessen air travel costs through reimbursement for various charges, including checked bags, seat selection and lounge access.

There are a total of three credit cards that offer this benefit, including The Platinum Card® from American Express , The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card . Before making any purchases you’d like to be reimbursed, be sure to select your airline, and then enjoy the fact that your trip is just a bit less expensive — and more comfortable.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

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How To Use & Maximize $200 Hotel Credit With American Express Platinum Card For Fine Hotels & Resorts

One of the new benefits of the American Express Platinum Card is the annual $200 hotel statement credits on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings made through the Amex Travel website. 

In this post, I will explain how the Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit benefit works and answer some commonly asked questions about using the credit. Finally, I’ll provide some ideas on maximizing the credit, specifically for  Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR). 

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

Table of Contents

How Does Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit Work?

If you are used to  Amex Offers , Amex Saks Fifth Avenue Statement Credits , or  Amex Walmart+ Membership Statement Credits  benefits on the Platinum Card, the Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit works pretty much the same. 

  • When using your Platinum Card to book the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection through Amex Travel, you can receive up to $200 back in statement credits . 
  • You do not have to spend $200 at once in  one transaction,  and you receive the statement credit each time you spend in combined eligible hotel bookings on your Platinum Card. 
  • The benefit goes by the calendar year from  January 1 through December 31  each year. 
  • The bookings must be  “prepaid,”  referred to as  “Pay Now”  on the American Express Platinum Travel site. 
  • Enrollment for this benefit is  not required . 

Is the Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit benefit based on the calendar or Card membership year?

The benefit goes by the calendar year, so be sure to use it before  December 31  each year. The Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit benefit resets on  January 1  each year. 

Do you need to spend $200 in one transaction to get the Platinum Hotel credit?

No. You receive  “up to” $200  back in statement credits. 

Each time you spend on an eligible Amex FHR booking made through  Amex Travel , you will receive a statement credit for that amount. If the amount is less than $200, you will have unused credit for the future eligible booking until the benefit’s end date, December 31 of that year. 

Is there a minimum night required to get Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits?

No. Unlike  The Hotel Collection , there is no minimum number of nights required to receive the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts statement credit. In addition, you can get all the FHR benefits mentioned above on a one-night stay . 

Can multiple Platinum Cards be used for back-to-back stays to get additional Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits?

Understandably, you may have multiple Amex Platinum Cards in your household, and you want to maximize the $200 hotel statement credits to get multiple FHR perks on consecutive night stays at an FRH hotel. 

One real-world example is if there are two of you, each with an American Express Platinum Card. You want to book a one-night stay at an FHR property, and each receives all the Amex FHR perks, including the $100 on-property credit per night, plus a $200 hotel statement credit for each Amex account for a luxurious two-night stay somewhere in the world. 

Unfortunately, while each of you can book a 1-night stay at the same FHR property for consecutive night stays and gets the Amex $200 hotel statement credit for each Platinum account, Amex has updated the terms regarding  back-to-back stays ineligible for multiple FHR benefits :

Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party  within a 24-hour period at the same property are  considered one stay  and are  ineligible for additional FHR benefits  (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits.

Maximizing Amex Platinum Card $200 Hotel Statement Credits

Use the $200 hotel credit and enjoy amex fine hotels & resorts elite benefits..

When you book each Fine Hotels & Resorts property stay through the  Amex Travel  site, you receive exclusive benefits in addition to your Amex Platinum $200 hotel statement credit. 

These benefits are typically available to  hotel rewards program members with elite status . However, by booking with the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program, you can enjoy all these perks without having any elite level with the hotel: 

  • Noon check-in, when available
  • Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
  • Daily breakfast for two people
  • Guaranteed 4 pm late check-out
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Special amenities unique to each property include on-property credits valued at least $100 for spa or food and beverage. 

Use the $200 Hotel Credit and Earn 5x Points on Travel With American Express Platinum Card.

Remember that as an American Express Platinum Card member, you get  5x   American Express Membership Rewards (MR)  points per $1 spent on all prepaid hotel bookings, including the Fine Hotels & Resorts on  Amex Travel . 

Check Amex Offers For Fine Hotels and Resorts

From time to time, American Express may have an offer for Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings that you can add that offer to your  American Express Platinum Card . 

For example, there used to be the following Amex Offer on Fine Hotels + Resorts that has expired now:

  • Get a one-time $150 statement credit by using your enrolled Card to spend a minimum of $800 in one or more transactions on prepaid hotel bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties with American Express Travel by xx date.

I do not know when the Fine Hotels + Resorts Amex Offer returns, so check your Amex account regularly, especially if you have any upcoming FHR bookings. Alternatively,  subscribe to our blog posts below  to be notified when that offer returns.

Recommended Post:

  • Full List of Amex Offers

Check American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts Promotions and Special Offers

The Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program has dedicated promotions and offers pages that you can check for exclusive benefits with each participating property. In addition to the elite benefits you receive with Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings, you can also receive a complimentary night, additional property credit, etc., that vary by each Fine Hotels and Resorts property. 

  • Direct Link to the Amex Fine Hotel + Resorts Offers by Property .

Use Up the $200 Hotel Credit Before Closing Your Platinum Card

If you decide to close your  American Express Platinum Card , consider using up your Card’s $200 hotel credit before making that final decision. 

Technically, you were still the card member when you used that Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit benefit. American Express will not claw back that credit once used for an eligible transaction. The good news is that this benefit requires the transaction to be  prepaid , so you do not have to wait until your check-out date to receive the statement credits, which is an ideal way to maximize that credit by saving on the Card’s annual fee because this credit is a calendar year’s benefit.

What I mean by that, for example:

  • You applied for the  American Express Platinum Card  in July 2024 and can enjoy all its benefits, including the $200 hotel credit, until the end of December 2024. 
  • Starting January 1, 2025, the $200 hotel credit benefit resets. 
  • You have until July 2025 to spend that $200 hotel credit again before your Card’s annual fee is charged and posted to your account. 
  • If you decide to close your Platinum Card, you will already have a total of $400 hotel statement credits. 

Can I Use the $200 Hotel Credit For Future Reservations Next Calendar Year?

Yes. Moreover, you can now change the date on an Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts booking. See below. 

Changing the Date on Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts For Future Reservations Next Calendar Year

American Express travel platform allows you to change the date on Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings. The process can all be done online by viewing your reservation and clicking the blue  Change Dates  button. You do not have to cancel and rebook if the price drops or you want to change the stay date for the next calendar year to use the $200 hotel credit for  this calendar year  plus another $200 hotel credit for  the next calendar year . 

However, you need to know one crucial piece of information regarding Amex FHR booking. If you cancel the 2024 “modified” reservation in  2025 and are still in the free cancellation window, Amex will refund you, but they will also claw back the $200 hotel credit issued to you in  2024 . 

The bottom line is, subject to the hotel’s cancellation policy on your booking’s terms:

  • If you cancel an FHR booking in the  next calendar year  using the previous year’s hotel credit and receive a refund, Amex will claw back the hotel credit issued to you in the previous year, and you will lose the $200 hotel credit for that year. 
  • If you cancel an FHR booking in the  current year  that you made the reservation and receive a refund, Amex will claw back the hotel credit but will reissue the credit for any future eligible FHR bookings through the end of that year. 

I’ll talk more below on cancellation and refunds with the Amex $200 Hotel Credit. 

Can I Use the $200 Hotel Credit For Someone Else?

Yes. American Express Travel platform now allows you to modify the guest name information before finalizing a booking.

What are the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts like?

If you are new to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR), they are worldwide luxury properties hand-picked by American Express. You can expect those properties to be  “the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts,”  as American Express describes. 

Luxury comes with high costs, so the $200 hotel credit can help. Moreover, by booking Fine Hotels & Resorts through the  Amex Travel  site, you will also receive on-property benefits ranging from complimentary daily breakfast, room upgrades, and hotel credits that vary based on the property and availability.

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Directory List

If you go straight to the  Amex Travel  site and start searching, the site will display all hotels and resorts, but you can filter through which property falls under the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program. But there’s another easy way to find the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts list based on the destination:

  • Direct Link to the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Directory

How to Find the Cheapest Fine Hotels and Resorts Properties to Use Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit?

“Cheap” and “Luxury” don’t go together often. However, if you are flexible in your dates and you don’t really care which property you’re staying at,  here’s a tip for finding a cheap Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts property:

Perform the following steps using the computer desktop’s web browser:

  • Go to the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Directory
  • Enter the destination that you are interested in.  Do not click on Explore Benefits
  • A list of Fine Hotels + Resorts properties is displayed.
  • Go through the list and find the property you may be interested in. 
  • Next, go to  Google Hotels
  • Enter the hotel name that you saw from the list above. 
  • Click the  View Prices  button on the next page, and Google will launch a new page.
  • Click on the “ Check in”  field to bring up a calendar, and go through each date on that calendar to find the lowest rate for that particular property. See the screenshot below. 
  • Once you find the date you want, go to the Platinum travel site to start searching, compare the rates you found, and book! See the step-by-step guide below:  How to Use Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit?

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

How to Use Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit?

Using the Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit benefit is relatively straightforward, and the challenging part is to find an FHR property that offers a reasonable rate. If you have not, you should read the above section:  How to Find the Cheapest Fine Hotels and Resorts Properties to Use Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit?

  • Please note that the above Link will only show Fine Hotels and Resorts properties. You must go directly to the  Amex Travel  site to see  The Hotel Collection  and others.
  • Click the “ Log In”  button at the top of the page to log into your Amex account. 
  • Enter the hotel name or destination you are interested in and other search parameters. 
  • If you want to see  The Hotel Collection  and others, search on the  Amex Travel  site instead. 
  • Go through the list and select the property that you are interested in. 
  • Find the room type you want, and  view the cancellation policy  if flexibility is important to you. Then click the  Book  button.
  • If the property offers payment options between Pay Now or Pay at Hotel, you must choose  Pay Now  for the Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit to work. 
  • On the next page, fill in your information, including your hotel’s loyalty number, if you want to earn loyalty benefits at that specific hotel. See this  section  for more details. 
  • The Pay + Points option is also available, but you must use your Platinum Card to pay for the cash portion to receive the credit. Also, ensure you get good values from your  American Express Membership Rewards (MR)  points this way. 
  • Finally, if everything looks good, you can complete your booking by clicking the  Book My Room  button.
  • The charge will appear pending in your Platinum Card account right away. Once the eligible charge is posted to your account, you will receive Amex Platinum hotel credits (up to $200) within a few days. The reimbursement process is automatic, so asking Amex for that is unnecessary. 

American Express Travel Platinum Service Phone Number

Alternatively, suppose you do not want to book Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts online. You can call the Amex Travel Platinum Service at  1-800-297-2977   to assist with reservation-related requests. 

How long does it take to receive Amex’s $200 hotel statement credit?

The time it takes American Express to issue the $200 hotel statement credits is pretty much the same as the time it takes to issue the other Amex statement credits you are already used to, such as the  Amex Airline Fee Statement Credit , Amex Saks Fifth Avenue Statement Credits , and  Amex Walmart+ Membership Statement Credits  benefits on the Platinum card. 

Once the eligible purchase is posted to your Amex account, Amex will issue the hotel statement credit to your account in 2 to 7 days. In my case, it only took one day! See the screenshot below. 

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Cancellation Policy

To get the Amex Platinum $200 hotel credit each year, you must book a Fine Hotels and Resorts or  The Hotel Collection  with  Amex Travel . You must also use your  American Express Platinum Card  to pay for that reservation at the time of booking, known as  Pay Now . 

This prepayment type means that you pay upfront for the hotel’s reservation, and it does not mean that you cannot change or cancel the reservation to get a refund. All bookings are still subject to the  cancellation policy  set by each property, and the terms are clearly stated on your booking before you pay and book. 

Can I Change the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Date?

Yes. See the above section:  Changing the Date on Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts For Future Reservations Next Calendar Year .

Will Amex Claw Back the Hotel Credit For Refunds Due to Cancellation?

Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) bookings can be canceled and refunded according to the cancellation policy in the hotel’s booking terms. 

If your booking is eligible for a refund due to cancellation, Amex will issue you the refund. However, Amex will also take back the hotel credit issued to you. You can rebook, and Amex will reissue the hotel credit for your future eligible FHR booking accordingly. The process is all done automatically by American Express. 

Alternatively, if you only want to change the dates or the room type, you can change the reservation instead of canceling and rebooking. 

Does Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts Earn Hotel Points & Elite Night Credits?

There are quite a few popular hotels and resorts under the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection that have rewards programs, such as  MARRIOTT ,  HYATT , and  HILTON,  to name a few. 

Generally speaking, hotel bookings made through  Amex Travel  are considered third-party bookings. Those bookings typically do not earn any hotel points or elite night credits because hotels require that you book directly with them. The  good news  is booking Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts does qualify for hotel loyalty programs such as earning points, earning elite night credits, and enjoying elite perks. 

When you make an FHR booking on  Amex Travel , there’s an entry field where you can provide your loyalty number before finalizing your booking. See the screenshot below. 

Suppose you want to be sure whether your booking with Amex FHR will qualify for your desired hotel loyalty program. In that case, I recommend that you make a  prepaid  FHR reservation that offers a  refundable  cancellation policy. After your booking, you can contact the property directly and ask if your stay will be eligible to earn points and elite night credits. You can cancel the reservation without penalty if the property refuses to recognize your loyalty benefits. 

Recommended Posts:

  • [Confirmed] Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) Booking Earns Elite Points and Elite Nights
  • My Experience Not Earning Marriott Bonvoy Points For The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner Booking With Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Does Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) Booking Earn World of Hyatt Points and Elite Nights?

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

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2 thoughts on “ How To Use & Maximize $200 Hotel Credit With American Express Platinum Card For Fine Hotels & Resorts ”

Thanks for writing such a comprehensive article! Do you know if I can book a stay using my $200 platinum hotel credit for my son or do I need to be there?

Hi Martha, unfortunately you will need to be there to check in to receive the FHR benefits per the terms. While in practice you may ask the property for the second guest check-in; however, I do not think it's worth the risk ruining your son's stay, so I do not recommend it.

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The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Annual $200 Prepaid Hotel Credit

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The Amex Platinum Card – How To Use the Annual $200 Prepaid Hotel Credit

Amex Platinum Card – Snapshot

What is the amex platinum card’s prepaid hotel credit, 1. midtown shangri-la, hangzhou (china), 2. the ritz-carlton, tianjin (china), 3. shangri-la sydney (australia), 4. mr. c coconut grove (florida), 5. taj campton place (san francisco, california), 6. the beekman, a thompson hotel (new york), 7. sofitel mexico city reforma (mexico), 8. condado vanderbilt hotel (puerto rico), 1. conrad bali (indonesia), 2. hôtel des arts saigon – mgallery collection or pan pacific hanoi (vietnam), 3. sofitel wellington (new zealand), 4. grand hyatt são paulo (brazil), 5. delano las vegas (nevada), purchases that do not trigger the prepaid hotel credit, what if my purchase isn’t automatically reimbursed, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

If you can maximize your card’s benefits, the value proposition of The Platinum Card ® from American Express has never been greater.

Our guide will walk you through all the nuances of the up to $200 prepaid hotel credit and inspire you with high-value ways to use it. We hope that you’ll walk away knowing how to utilize this credit efficiently.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
  • $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $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 ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
  • $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 is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

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Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The prepaid hotel credit on the Amex Platinum card is a benefit that takes the form of a statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum 2-night stay through AmexTravel.com .

Don’t be scared of the “prepaid” language, though, because almost all these bookings are cancellable and refundable!

Typically, when you book a stay through AmexTravel.com, you can opt to pay for your booking in 2 ways:

  • Prepaid (can earn 5x points)
  • Pay at the hotel ( cannot earn 5x points)

So, if you’re interested in maximizing your points, you’ll want to book a prepaid booking anyway — rest assured that these reservations are refundable.

In total, you can receive up to $200 in these statement credits every calendar year . It may take up to 90 days for the credit to be posted to your account, though this has actually been within a week in practice.

The 8 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at Fine Hotels + Resorts

American Express’s signature set of luxury hotels is Fine Hotels + Resorts — think of globally-known luxury brands like Four Seasons and lavish boutique brands like Aman .

Whenever you book a Fine Hotels + Resorts stay, you’ll enjoy:

  • Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
  • Daily breakfast for 2 people
  • Noon check-in, when available
  • Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Unique property amenities, such as a spa or food and beverage credit valued at a minimum of $100

There’s no minimum stay requirement, which means you can enjoy all these benefits on 1-night stays!

Let’s explore our favorite ways to use your $200 prepaid hotel credit at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties.

Midtown Shangri-La Hangzhou

One of the newest, sleek city hotels you can book is the Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou in China .

This riverfront, 5-star hotel is situated along the Guxin River, just 3 miles from Zhejiang Art Museum and 2 miles from West Lake.

Each of the 414 rooms and suites starts at 462 square feet and offers luxury amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows , modern decor, a king bed appointed with soft bedding, a work desk, a sitting area with a couch, a balcony, a flat-screen TV, a set of coffee and tea facilities, a minibar, and more.

The spacious bathroom welcomes you with a separate shower, a deluxe soaking tub , posh Shangri-La bathrobes and towels, and designer toiletries.

You’ll find 3 restaurants, a cocktail lounge, and a lobby lounge for food and beverage options.

Plus, the property has a gym, spa, indoor pool, whirlpool, steam room, boutique, and an abundance of event space.

If you book a 1-night stay during the weekday, you could potentially net a free stay using your $200 prepaid hotel credit, as rates are typically below $200 per night!

The Ritz-Carlton Tianjin

Booking a night at The Ritz-Carlton probably was outside your realm of realistic ways to use a $200 prepaid hotel credit, considering how some properties command over $1,000 per night!

But thrifty luxury travelers rejoice — The Ritz-Carlton Tianjin is a posh property in China just 5 minutes from the metro station and 3 miles from the Tianjin Museum .

This opulent property has rooms measuring at least 538 square feet. Each room has a king bed with incredibly soft Frette bedding, a work desk, a private balcony overlooking the garden or courtyard, coffee and tea facilities, and more.

There’s a full marble bathroom with twin vanities, a separate tub and rainfall shower, a powder room, a toilet with a bidet , and a lighted make-up mirror.

This property has 3 restaurants, a cocktail lobby lounge serving afternoon tea, a full-service spa, a fitness center, an indoor pool, a Club Lounge , and a meeting space.

By booking a weekday stay within 1 month of the stay, you might be able to find room rates at around the $200 per night cutoff, including taxes and fees!

Shangri-La Sydney

Shangri-La Sydney is a high-rise luxury property just a 5-minute walk from the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia , a 7-minute walk from Circular Quay train station, and half a mile from the famous Sydney Opera House .

The superb location isn’t the only thing going for it — each of the spacious and comfortable rooms starts at 430 square feet in size with amazing views of Darling Harbour and comes with signature bedding, a sitting area, a full-size executive desk , a flat-screen TV, coffee and tea, a minibar, and a pillow menu.

The marble bathroom has a separate soaking bathtub, shower, and Shangri-La toiletries and bathrobes.

Once you leave your room, you can recharge at the restaurant, coffee shop, or cocktail lounge with sweeping city views. Enjoy the indoor pool, gym, spa, or Jacuzzi to rejuvenate!

This property represents a fantastic balance between 5-star luxury and reasonable pricing — you can enjoy all of the Fine Hotels + Resorts benefits available and pay around $250 for a 1-night weekday stay!

Mr. C Hotels Coconut Grove

Mr. C Coconut Grove often has room rates of around $200, including taxes and fees. This is a steal, considering how pricey these Miami can get.

Often, Mr. C properties are the cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts properties in the vicinity, so value-focused travelers will have a blast at any of these 3 properties!

Taj Campton Place

If you’ve ever looked for a Fine Hotels + Resorts property in San Francisco, you’ve probably seen a particular property come up as one of the most affordable options: Taj Campton Place (a member of Taj Hotels).

This property is primely located in San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood and is actually a prominent landmark.

Offering classical Indian luxury, this elegant luxury hotel is just outside the Financial District and is a half-block from Union Square and a 5-minute walk from Montgomery Street BART station.

Each of the classy rooms starts at 250 square feet large and has a California king bed, a work desk, premium bedding, an iHome docking station, a pillow menu, a well-stocked minibar, turndown service, an LED TV, and a Nespresso machine.

The limestone bathrooms contain a single vanity, a walk-in shower or a shower/tub combo, a bath menu, bath salts, plush bathrobes, slippers, and more.

You’ll enjoy a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant , a bar and bistro, and private dining options here.

This property has an open-air fitness center and a 24/7 business center, too.

Although it’s increasingly rare to find Fine Hotels + Resorts room rates less than $175 per night in an expensive city like San Francisco, you might discover 1-night stays with a Sunday or Friday check-in booked as far out as 1 month in advance for that price.

Hot Tip: If you prefer to avoid booking a cash rate, check out the best San Francisco hotels to book with points for maximum value.

The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel

If you’re thinking of checking out New York , you’ve probably come to terms with the fact that you’ll probably be shelling out a handsome amount to book your hotels here.

And while it’s true that a $200 prepaid hotel credit isn’t enough for a Fine Hotels + Resorts stay (rooms average around $380 per night), you’d be remiss in discarding the possibility entirely because The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel , is competitively priced!

Located in the Downtown Financial District area of Lower Manhattan, this 5-star hotel is a 3-minute walk from Fulton Street subway station and a 14-minute walk from Brooklyn Bridge. It is surrounded by other attractions like the 9/11 Memorial , One World Trade Center, and more.

Each of the rooms at this property boasts high ceilings, curated art, aged oak floors, 285 square feet of space, eclectic furnishings, a minibar, a cocktail table, a flat-screen TV, a courtesy luxury house car available upon request , and more.

The bathroom is tiled with Carrara marble and is appointed with an oversized rain shower, D.S. & Durga bath amenities , an oversized walk-in rain shower, a single vanity, and more.

Here, you’ll also find eateries run by famous chefs, a wood-paneled cocktail lounge, a chic bar, and an awe-inspiring 9-story atrium !

Although this property tends to be the cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts property in New York, you’ll enjoy nothing but the finest 5-star luxuries here.

Sofitel Mexico City Reforma

Experience quintessential French luxury in Mexico City’s Reforma district, a historic destination that immerses you into French and Mexican poshness.

Sofitel Mexico City Reforma features views of the Angel of Independence monument and is a 9-minute walk from Insurgentes metro station and a little more than a mile from Chapultepec Castle .

Here, you’ll live the French way with floor-to-ceiling windows, a king bed or 2 double beds, a work desk, at least 410 square feet of space , an LED TV, urban Mexico City views, a Nespresso machine, and much more.

The marble bathroom features plenty of counter space, bathrobes, L’Occitane amenities, and a walk-in shower.

You’ll find 5 dining options here, plus a gym, a sauna, meeting rooms, and pet-friendly policies!

We found the cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts room rate was around $250 per night, excluding taxes and fees, for a weekday stay.

Still, using the prepaid hotel credit, this property is your best bet for a value-packed Mexico City stay!

Hot Tip: Save money on your hotel stay and your flight — see the best ways to fly to Mexico with points and miles (step-by-step) .

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

Our last inclusion in the Fine Hotels + Resorts section is Puerto Rico’s best-value property, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel .

Make no mistake — this time-tested luxury resort has amazingly consistent reviews, a spectacular Condado Beach location , and is a crown jewel for value luxury.

Each of the standard guestrooms has at least 350 square feet of real estate with either 2 queen beds or 1 king bed with Rivolta Carmignani linens, a sitting area with 3 chairs, a desk, a flat-screen TV, an in-room French press coffee maker with Puerto Rican coffee and tea, and a minifridge.

The sleek bathroom has marble tiling, a shower-tub combination, a single vanity, bathrobes, bamboo towels, and C.O. Bigelow amenities.

Notably, 9 dining options include a cigar lounge, a cocktail bar, an oceanfront restaurant, a fine dining spot, and more. You’ll also find a chic spa, 4 pools , a gym, and a meeting space.

The cheapest Fine Hotels + Resorts rate we could find is $258 before taxes and fees. Considering all the other perks you’ll enjoy with Fine Hotels + Resorts, this is an excellent opportunity to use your prepaid hotel credit.

Bottom Line: You can use your $200 prepaid hotel benefit on 1-night stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts locations, while The Hotel Collection properties require a 2-night stay.

The 5 Best Ways To Use Your Prepaid Hotel Credit at The Hotel Collection

The Hotel Collection is the “little sister” of Fine Hotels + Resorts.

A different set of hotels fall under The Hotel Collection, and these are almost always upscale or luxury hotels, compared to the opulent properties a notch higher at Fine Hotels + Resorts.

Although The Hotel Collection requires a stay of at least 2 nights , these properties are almost always more affordable, so getting an entire short stay paid for using your $200 prepaid hotel credit is possible.

To make things better, all bookings at The Hotel Collection afford you with:

  • $100 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities
  • Room upgrade at check-in, if available

Let’s get into some neat ways to get some fantastic value at The Hotel Collection with your $200 prepaid hotel credit!

Conrad Bali

One of the most spectacular ways to use your prepaid hotel credit is on luxury properties in affordable leisure destinations.

One of these destinations is Bali — specifically, the Conrad Bali is a fantastic 5-star resort that will have you dreaming about a stay here.

Conrad Bali has 368 rooms and suites in the Nusa Dua area. Every room is at least 484 square feet large. It is outfitted with garden views, a private balcony/terrace , blackout curtains, a pillow menu, a desk, a separate sitting area, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and coffee and tea facilities.

You’ll find a granite bathroom with a single vanity, walk-in shower, separate bathtub, Shanghai Tang amenities , and a water closet.

The amenities here are fantastic, including 3 restaurants, a pool bar, a lobby lounge, sprawling lagoon pools , beachside cabanas , a spa, a gym, and more.

But the most incredible part is the price tag — you can easily find rates available for $158 per night (excluding taxes)!

Hotel des Arts Saigon - MGallery Collection

Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. And even though tourism has exploded rapidly, we haven’t necessarily seen a corresponding increase in lodging costs.

Luckily, that means you can book a 2-night stay for around $200, including taxes and fees!

Whether you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City in the south or Hanoi in the north, The Hotel Collection has properties that will impress the value-focused luxury traveler:

  • $120 per night ($240 total for a 2-night stay)
  •  $97 per night ($194 total for a 2-night stay)

As a reminder, you get access to a room upgrade upon availability and a $100 property credit, which means you could get $300+ of value for almost nothing out-of-pocket after the $200 prepaid hotel credit!

Sofitel Wellington

New Zealand can be expensive to travel to — but if you stay at the Sofitel Wellington , you’ll enjoy affordable 5-star luxury in Wellington’s business and government hub.

This chic property is a 6-minute walk from Wellington Botanic Garden and a little more than a mile from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa .

Each lavish room starts at 215 square feet, with a queen Sofitel MyBed, a Bose sound system , specialty coffee and tea, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and a sitting area with 2 chairs and a coffee table.

The French bathroom offers a modern walk-in rain shower, a make-up mirror, bathrobes, French bath amenities, and a single vanity.

There’s 1 full-service restaurant, a cocktail bar, a meeting space, a club lounge , and much more.

The lowest rates we found are around $112 per night, excluding taxes and fees, which is a great deal!

Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo

Grand Hyatt São Paulo is one of South America ‘s few constituent properties within The Hotel Collection, and the cash price makes booking a short 2-night stay attractive.

This popular 5-star property has standard rooms at least 398 square feet large, a plush queen bed or 2 twin beds, a large closet, a sitting area with city views, a work desk, a flat-screen TV, black-out curtains, a minifridge, and coffee and tea facilities.

The bathroom contains a walk-in rainfall shower , a separate soaking bathtub , Granado bath products, and more.

This Brazilian property hosts a full-service restaurant, a poolside cocktail bar and terrace , a day spa , a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a business center, and more.

For 5-star luxury, you’ll pay as little as $122 per night before taxes and fees, bringing up a 2-night stay to an excellent $258! This is an amazing opportunity to enjoy fantastic accommodations while minimizing your cash outlay.

Delano Las Vegas

Delano Las Vegas is one of the hidden gems of Las Vegas . Situated in the Mandalay Bay Resort complex in a 43-story tower with all-suite accommodations, South Beach energy, and reasonable cash rates, this property has a lot going for it.

Each modern suite starts at 725 square feet large and is equipped with elegant whites and grays throughout, starting with the chic king bed or 2 queen beds. Within the suite, you’ll find a separate living area with seating for 5 , a flat-screen TV in the bedroom and living room, a work desk, a dual closet armoire, a bedside stereo system, and a fully stocked minibar.

The bathroom is laden with granite and marble. It contains double vanities with a backlit make-up mirror, a separate walk-in shower , a separate soaking tub, and a private water closet. There are even bathrobes and luxury bath products!

This property has 2 full-service restaurants, a coffee shop, and 2 bars, plus an outdoor pool, a spa, and a gym.

This resort is one of the rarest The Hotel Collection properties that can have paid rates of around $100 per night.

Because of this, flexible travelers can get a free weekend in Vegas using their $200 prepaid hotel credit! Plus, you’ll get all The Hotel Collection amenities, like the $100 experience credit and room upgrades (if available).

That means you could come out ahead from your booking and get lots of freebies in addition to not paying for your stay at all!

Overall, here are a few examples of purchases that don’t trigger the prepaid hotel credit:

  • Purchases not made with an eligible Amex Platinum card
  • Purchases not made through AmexTravel.com
  • Purchases not made with a property in Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection

So, if you book a hotel through Booking.com , you won’t qualify for the prepaid hotel credit.

You won’t get the prepaid hotel credit if you book a hotel using a different card like the American Express ® Gold Card .

If you book a hotel that is on AmexTravel.com but isn’t a member of Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection, you won’t be able to get the prepaid hotel credit.

As we mentioned above, it may take up to 90 days for your statement credit to post. Usually, it credits much faster than this.

If you wait 90 days and still don’t see your statement credit posted to your account, you can contact Amex over chat or via the number on the back of your card.

Overall, using your $200 prepaid hotel credit is super easy. You’ll save $200 on your next hotel booking if you stay within the eligibility parameters.

And while it can be a tall order to get a free hotel night outright at Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties, you’ll at least appreciate the $200 discount, which may bring a 1-night stay to less than $100 out of pocket!

We hope you’ve found this guide helpful in using the Amex Platinum card’s $200 prepaid hotel credit!

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i use the $200 amex hotel credit.

It’s easy! All you have to do is use your Amex Platinum card to book a prepaid stay with Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection via Amex Travel. No enrollment is required.

Is the Amex Platinum card changing?

Yes, there have been lots of changes with the Amex Platinum card over the last few years. The card now includes benefits such as up to $300 Equinox credit , up to $240 digital entertainment credit , up to $200 prepaid hotel credit, up to $189 CLEAR Plus credit , and more. Terms apply, and enrollment may be required for select benefits.

Is the Amex Platinum card worth it 2023?

We believe that the Amex Platinum card is absolutely worth it! You can get $5,200+ in value from the benefits and perks ! That makes the annual fee look like a steal in comparison!

How do you get the 100k Amex Platinum card offer?

Currently, the Amex Platinum card is offering: Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

What is the benefit of the Amex Platinum card?

There are tons of huge benefits with the Amex Platinum card: the best airport lounge access worldwide, up to $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 prepaid hotel credit, up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit , up to $200 Uber credit, up to $300 Equinox credit, up to $240 digital entertainment credit, and the list goes on.

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How to use your Amex airline fee credit

American express annual airline fee credits reset each calendar year. use them before you lose them.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

American Express offers premium travel benefits on many cards, including annual airline fee credits. The catch is that these credits reset each calendar year, so it's important you use them before the reset.

Eligible cardholders can benefit from annual airline fee credits up to $250 to cover incidentals, such as seat upgrades, checked bags and in-flight refreshments. The Amex cards that offer these credits often come with steep annual fees, so it's important to use the full benefit in order to offset those costs.

The good news: You can book future travel and use the credit now. For example, if you're planning a vacation for next year, you can purchase the flight and add any checked bags or seat upgrades to your reservation now, therefore using your annual airline fee credit to offset the cost of incidentals.

Amex cards that offer annual airline fee credits

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express : Up to $200 credit ( see rates and fees )
  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express : Up to $200 credit ( see rates and fees )
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card : Up to $250 credit ( see rates and fees )

How to check the status of your airline fee credit

Checking whether you have any credit left is simple and best done via americanexpress.com instead of the Amex app:

  • Log in to your Amex account
  • Navigate to "Benefits"
  • Scroll below "All Benefits" or select "Travel" to find the airline fee credit, which will read something like "$200 Airline Fee Credit"
  • Expect to see either the credit you have remaining or a statement saying you used the full credit

Note: Before you can take advantage of the credit, you have to select an airline to benefit from this perk. You should do this before you book your travel.

Check progress on other credits

While you're checking your airline fee credit balance, consider checking any other credits that expire at the end of the year. Enrollment may be required to take full advantage of the credits.

  • American Express® Gold Card : Monthly $10 statement credit toward eligible dining at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment Required.
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express : Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the U.S. annually (Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only, benefits renew annually); *up to $300 statement credit per calendar year on eligible Equinox memberships (enrollment required; visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll); up to $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership(subject to auto-renewal); up to $20 in statement credits each month ($240 annually) when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal (enrollment required) Terms apply for all benefits.
  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies (up to $200 semi-annually), up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe, up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases and $189 back per year on your CLEAR® Plus membership. Enrollment required.

Don't miss: I saved $350 on my vacation by paying with the Amex Gold Card—here's how you can, too

*Starting in 2023, statement credits for the $300 Equinox Credit benefit will be provided on an annual basis of up to $300 per year and will no longer be provided on a monthly basis of up to $25 back per month. See offer terms for details.

Information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, click here .

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Use your Amex Platinum airline-fee credit to upgrade to a better seat

Ethan Steinberg

Reader Questions are answered twice a week by TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Ethan Steinberg .

The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards on the market, though it comes with a hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees ) to match. One of the easiest ways to recoup that upfront investment is by taking advantage of the card's up to $200 annual airline incidental fee credit , though over the years Amex has made that credit harder to use . Enrollment Required. TPG reader Adam wants to know if he can use the credit to pay for seat upgrades ...

[pullquote source="TPG READER ADAM"]I recently used my Amex Platinum to pay for an upgrade to Economy Plus for a United flight from Houston to Honolulu. It was my understanding that the $200 travel credit is for Wi-Fi, food/drink, luggage, etc, but does not include upgrades. Amex actually reimbursed me the $139 for the upgrade. Is this new or does it just depend on how the charge is coded? Thanks![/pullquote]

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Great question Adam. Unfortunately, Amex doesn't provide a whole lot of clarity on what charges are eligible for this annual travel credit . This credit is even more restrictive when you compare it to the up to $300 annual travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which gets automatically applied to a broad range of travel purchases , including airfare, hotels, ride-hailing services and more. By comparison, Amex only lists which charges are excluded for this credit, with the following list appearing in the terms and conditions under the Amex Platinum application:

"Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. "

Related: Which American Airlines expenses trigger the American Express airline fee credit ?

From this, we can see that upgrades are not eligible for reimbursement. While Adam definitely got a more comfortable seat flying in Economy Plus on the longer flight to Hawaii , technically all he did was pay to select a better seat; he didn't actually upgrade to a higher class of service . This is an important distinction, as if he'd paid to upgrade from economy to business class he would not have been reimbursed by Amex.

This means that selecting preferred seats ( Economy Plus on United , Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines and Comfort+ on Delta ) is one of the most consistent ways to get value out of your Amex Platinum airline-fee credit. Especially on longer flights, including transcontinental or international trips, those extra few inches of legroom can really go a long way.

Things start to get a bit murkier when it comes to upgrading to premium economy. Some airlines will let you pay extra to select premium economy seats after booking, and depending on how the purchase codes it might trigger the Amex Platinum airline fee credit. This is much less consistent though, and unfortunately if the credit doesn't trigger automatically you won't have much luck calling in and asking for it to be manually applied to a purchase like this.

Related: Top cards with airline-fee credits: Make change, cancellation and baggage fees a thing of the past

Bottom line

One of the biggest complaints about the Amex Platinum is how hard it is to use the all-important $200 annual airline incidental fee credit. While Adam wasn't expecting to get reimbursed for his purchase of an Economy Plus seat, this is actually a great use of the credit and one of the most surefire ways to get value out of it on longer trips.

Thanks for the question, Adam, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy , message us on Facebook or email us at [email protected] .

For the rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, please click here .

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American Express Travel Credit

How will you spend yours.

If your American Express® Card offers an annual Travel Credit, you can put it towards eligible flights, pre-paid hotels or car rentals online.

For information on how to use your Travel Credit before 1 May 2023. Click here .

How you use your American Express Travel Credit

1. Visit the American Express Travel Online website to book flights, hotels, and car hire.

2. Make a booking to the full value of your Travel Credit or more and select the Travel Credit at checkout.

3. Pay for your booking using your eligible American Express Card and we will credit the amount to your Account within 3 business days.

Step 1: Log in

Log in  to your American Express account. If unused, view your valid Travel Credit amount in the top right corner of the page. Hover your mouse over the Travel Credit to view the expiry date and terms and conditions.

Step 2: Search

Begin your travel search through the American Express Travel Online site.

Your available payment options will be displayed in the results.

Step 3: Apply Credit

On the checkout page, redeem your Travel Credit by selecting the Travel Credit radio button. You may redeem one Travel Credit credit per booking

Step 4: Book Trip

Book your trip using a combination of the Travel Credit, American Express Membership Rewards points, and your American Express Card.

See where your Travel Credit can take you

More about your American Express Travel Credit

Your Travel Credit is issued annually on the anniversary date that your Account was opened. It must be redeemed within the same year, and it cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year.

You will need to use the full value of your annual Travel Credit in a single booking.

Keep in mind that if you cancel your travel booking, we will not be able to refund your Travel Credit.

Be sure to use your annual Travel Credit before it expires. To find out when it expires, Log In to your Account and hover your mouse over the Travel Credit to view the expiry date and Terms and Conditions.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

Which Cards offer the Travel Credit and how much will I receive?

The following Travel Credit amounts are offered on a yearly basis to eligible Card Members of the following Cards:

  • American Express® Platinum Card: $450 Travel Credit.
  • American Express Explorer® Credit Card: $400 Travel Credit.
  • American Express® Platinum Edge Credit Card: $200 Travel Credit. (Available for eligible Card Members only).
  • American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card: $400 Travel Credit. (Available for eligible Card Members only).

What happens if I cancel my booking or Card?

If your booking is cancelled, and your Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. If you cancel your Card, change your rewards program or Card type you will no longer be eligible for the Travel Credit.

Can I still use Membership Rewards Points and my Travel Credit in the same booking?

Yes, you can use a combination of Membership Rewards ® Points and a Travel Credit. After you have selected the Travel Credit, if the value of the booking is greater than the Travel Credit, you can use Membership Rewards Points for the remaining balance.

I'm a new Card Member, when will my Travel Credit be available?

In order to redeem the Travel Credit, your Card must be in good standing and you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date.

Can I redeem multiple Travel Credits for a single booking?

No, you can only use one Travel Credit per booking.

Can I redeem my Travel Credit for a booking of less than the value of Travel Credit?

No. If your booking is less than the value of your Travel Credit, you will not be able to use your Travel Credit benefit.

When will my Travel Credit expire?

To view your Travel Credit Expiry please log in to American Express Travel Online amex.com.au/travel and hover over the Travel Credit details

Can I use my Travel Credit against airline surcharges and taxes?

Yes, the Travel Credit is applied to the total booking amount. The total booking amount, including tax and charges, must be equal to or greater than the Travel Credit amount.

Can I use my Travel Credit to purchase travel for my family and friends?

Yes, you can use the Travel Credit to book travel for other people, such as family members or friends, provided the tickets are not for resale, promotional, or commercial use. You do not have to travel with them.

Terms and Conditions

If your Card has a Travel Credit benefit, the Primary Card Member is eligible for an annual Travel Credit, subject to the full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions. The Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online  on a single eligible travel booking by selecting the Travel Credit when you checkout. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. Eligible travel includes flights, hotels and car hire when you prepay in advance. The Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the benefit anniversary date and cannot be used past the expiration date. To check the expiration date of your Travel Credit if you have not already redeemed it, please visit americanexpress.com.au/travel ; log in and click ‘Travel Credit . If your booking is cancelled, and your Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. You need to be able to spend on the Card to access the Travel Credit benefit and it should be credited to your Card Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days. Your account must be in good standing and you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. If you cancel your Card, change your rewards program or Card type, you will no longer be eligible for the Travel Credit.

For full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions refer to your product’s Terms and Conditions: 

American Express ®  Platinum Card amex.com.au/platinumtravelcreditterms

American Express Explorer ® amex.com.au/explorer-travelcreditterms

American Express ®  Platinum Edge Credit Card amex.com.au/platinumedge-travelcreditterms

American Express ®  Platinum Reserve Credit Card amex.com.au/platinumreserve-travelcreditterms

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Best no annual fee travel credit cards of April 2024

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Travel rewards cards are a lot like gyms. The best ones may come with tons of added benefits (saunas, yoga class, etc.) but they also cost a lot, usually with a big financial commitment upfront. 

As a result, whether you’re considering a Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card (with its $95 annual fee) or a CrossFit membership, you probably have the same question on your mind: will I really use it enough to justify paying for it? 

While there aren’t any free gyms we know of, there thankfully are plenty of no-annual-fee travel rewards cards that require essentially zero commitment. And just like an ab roller or a Richard Simmons DVD, you can simply use them a few times, forget about them, and put them in a drawer until beach season. Or, you can stick with it and make them part of your daily routine—whatever works for you.

You’re also far more likely to see “instant results” with these cards, too. From 100,000-point welcome bonuses to rewards for paying rent, free travel insurance to 3X on gas, these cards offer way more than you’d expect for a fee of $0 per year. 

The best no-annual-fee travel cards for April 2024

Best overall: bilt mastercard, best for hotel rewards: ihg one rewards traveler credit card, best for airline rewards: united gateway℠ card, best for travel earnings: wells fargo autograph℠ card, best for flat-rate earnings: capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

The Bilt Mastercard allows you to earn points from paying rent and transfer them 1:1 to well over a dozen different travel partners including United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy. Toss in some surprisingly robust travel insurance and you have our unconventional—yet logical—choice for the best overall no-annual-fee travel card of 2024.

Bilt Mastercard®

See Rates and Fees

Special feature

Rewards rates.

  • 1x Earn 1X points on rent up to 100K/year
  • 1x Earn 3X points on dining
  • 2x Earn 2X points on travel
  • 1x Earn 1X points on other purchases
  • Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
  • Uniquely earns points on rent
  • Rent Day bonus every first of the month offers double points (excluding rent)
  • Robust travel transfer partners
  • Cash redemption rate is poor
  • No traditional welcome bonus
  • Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
  • See this page for details
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Why we like this card: As mentioned, the Bilt Mastercard’s most compelling feature is that it allows you to pay rent with a credit card—even if your landlord doesn’t take plastic—and avoid the transaction fee paying rent by credit card would typically incur. Then, as long as you complete five transactions each month, you’ll trigger 1X rewards on your rent payments. 

Note that rewards on rent are capped at 100,000 points per year.

In terms of earning potential, if you pay the median ~$2,000 rent in the U.S., you could earn approximately 24,000 points per year which can be used to book travel in Bilt’s portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point or transferred to any of Bilt’s airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, you could likely earn a domestic flight with United or a weekend stay at Hyatt, all for simply paying rent on time.

The Bilt card also provides trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay reimbursement, and primary rental car insurance (terms apply)—perks you wouldn’t typically find on a no-annual-fee credit card.

If you’re looking for a hotel rewards card that offers the most free nights for no annual fee, wait until you read about the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. With a six-figure welcome bonus, up to 17X on stays and other compelling rewards, it’s currently the gold standard for no-fee hotel rewards.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Intro bonus.

  • 17x Earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts 
  • 3x Earn 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations
  • 2x Earn 2X points on all other purchases
  • Generous welcome bonus not typically seen in a $0 annual fee card
  • Travel protections that are unusual for a no-annual-fee card
  • Fourth night free on award bookings
  • Limited redemption options outside of IHG
  • IHG points are worth less than some other rewards currencies
  • Silver status granted with the card has limited benefit
  • Additional perks: Trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to Gold status
  • Foreign transaction fee:None

Why we like this card: We like calling the IHG One Rewards Traveler card the “Liam Hemsworth” of travel rewards cards because it lives in the shadow of its big brother—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card —but still delivers plenty of quality and substance in its own right (with no annual fee, to boot). 

For starters, you can get a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, potentially worth around $500 to $700 in IHG redemption. 

Plus, enjoy up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, instant Silver Elite status and a handy bonus where you redeem points for three consecutive nights and get the fourth night in your stay free. So, if you book a three-night stay using your welcome bonus, you’ll essentially be getting a complimentary four-night stay at a nice IHG property for no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards program could be very rewarding for the right traveler.

Check out our full review of the IHG One Rewards Traveler .

As a no-annual-fee airline card, the United Gateway℠ Card currently edges out its rival the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card by offering a more generous welcome bonus and travel insurance that the Delta card does not provide. If you fly occasionally and would like to earn miles, but aren’t willing to make the commitment of $95 or more for a mid-tier airline card with more perks, the Gateway is a strong choice. 

United Gateway℠ Card

  • 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges and other United purchases.
  • 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit.
  • 1x 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
  • Reward bonus categories outside of United Airlines
  • Robust travel protections for a no-annual-fee card
  • No baggage or expanded award availability benefits like with other United cards
  • Subject to Chase 5/24 rule.
  • United perks: 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
  • Other perks: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance, Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty
  • Foreign transaction fee: None

Why we like this card: The United Gateway card offers 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting plus 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Considering a United Mile is worth roughly around 1.2 cents these days, effectively earning 2.4 cents back on everyday purchases is a solid value proposition. 

You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. And, you can save with a discount of 25% back on United in-flight and Club Premium drink purchases. 

New cardholders will enjoy a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, after 21.99%–28.99% variable applies.

If the United Gateway card has a small lead on the Delta Skymiles Blue Amex at this point, it soars ahead (pun intended) when you look at the included travel and shopping protections. Both cards offer secondary rental car insurance, but only the Gateway includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection. 

So, if you’re seeking a no-annual-fee card you can use to rack up miles—and you either tend to fly United most of the time or you’re at minimum not devoted to a competing airline—the United Gateway is the card to beat.

Check out our full review of the United Gateway Card for more info.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page  

With a generous welcome bonus in exchange for an attainable spend amount, 3X on travel, and a fancy name, you’d think the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card would command an annual fee of at least $95. But it doesn’t, making it a superb candidate for general travel use.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Intro bonus.

  • 3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
  • 1X 1X points on other purchases
  • No annual fee
  • 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months (that's a $200 cash redemption value)
  • Points transfer to partners
  • Car rental insurance is secondary
  • No travel insurance
  • Transfer partners are limited
  • Additional perks: Cell Phone Protection: Provides up to $600 in cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell bill with your Wells Fargo Autograph card. Coverage is subject to a $25 deductible and limited to two claims every 12-month period.
  • Foreign transaction fee: N/A

Why we like this card: The Wells Fargo Autograph offers unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans and even your landline bill too if you have one, plus 1X points on other purchases—all without charging an annual fee. And, to make traveling a little cheaper/less stressful, you’ll also get $600 worth of cell phone protection (minus a $25 deductible) as long as you pay your phone bill with this card and secondary rental car insurance. 

Cardholders can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to Wells Fargo’s first wave of transfer partners including Air France‑KLM Flying Blue, Avianca Lifemiles, British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, and Iberia Plus and 1:2 to Choice Privileges. 

But even if you aren’t a member of those loyalty programs, earning 3X on dining, travel, gas, and more is hard to pass up. You can redeem points at a value of 1 cent each to offset past purchases on your account, meaning you can wield the Autograph either as a no-annual-fee travel card or as a cash-back card effectively earning unlimited 3% back in a wide swath of useful categories. 

Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph .

Sometimes, you just want a card that offers a little more than 1X on every purchase—without having to worry about what this quarter’s rotating rewards are, or whether a specific merchant qualifies as “groceries” for the purposes of your card’s rewards. If you value simplicity and the lack of an annual fee in your travel card, you’ll probably be a fan of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and its straightforward rewards program.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

how do i use american express $200 travel credit

Reward Rates

  • 5x Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 1.25x Earn 1.25x miles on every other purchase
  • Flexible travel rewards
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Maximizing Capital One Miles requires a learning curve
  • Cash redemption value is limited
  • The VentureOne offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment

Why we like this card: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards offers 1.25X miles per dollar spent on everyday purchases and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. That’s pretty much all that you have to remember. You can also get a nice welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which is a solid payout for a very attainable spending target. 

Capital One Miles can be transferred to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 rate. Partners include Air Canada’s Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Choice Privileges, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards, among others. Other ways to book travel include redeeming miles through Capital One’s portal or making the purchase directly, paying with your card like normal, then using miles for a statement credit to cover the transaction. 

The Venture One also offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (after that, the variable APR will be 19.99%–29.99%). There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open , then 4% per transfer for any promotional APR offered after. 

Come to think of it, provided you have the excellent credit needed to apply, the VentureOne could make a great travel companion for a grad student given its simplicity, lengthy intro APR period and low spending threshold required to trigger the welcome bonus.

Check out our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards .

Frequently asked questions

Which card is best for international transactions without extra charges.

Zero foreign transaction fees is actually a common benefit among travel rewards cards, including many with no annual fee. For example, neither the Bilt Mastercard nor the United Gateway card charges a foreign currency conversion fee. 

What is the best travel credit card for a young person? 

If you’re still paying rent, the Bilt Mastercard is an excellent choice since it can generate points from rent payments which can then be transferred 1:1 to well over a dozen airline and hotel partners. If you’d prefer a card with a welcome bonus, which the Bilt card lacks, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card currently offers a massive welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card—potentially worth hundreds of dollars toward a future IHG hotel stay. 

Is a travel card with an annual fee worth it?

Using a travel rewards card with an annual fee can be worth it as long as you’re extracting enough points and benefits to justify paying the fee each year. If you travel infrequently or just want one less fee to worry about, consider one of the no-annual-fee cards on our list above. But, the best perks and protections are typically available on cards with annual fees.

For example, the Capital One Venture X card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. If you use that every year, you’ve gone a long way toward offsetting the $395 annual fee. You also get 10,000 bonus miles, worth at least $100 toward travel, every year starting on your account anniversary.

Methodology

To bring you our top picks for the best travel rewards cards with no annual fee, the Fortune Recommends surveyed more than a dozen cards currently available from today’s top issuers. From there, we ranked each one based on the following core categories and weights:

  • Welcome bonus (10%): Some cards—even those with no annual fee—offer welcome bonuses that you can earn once you make enough purchases within a certain time frame, such as spending $1,000 within three months of account opening.
  • Travel earnings (25%): These are the point rewards you’d earn by making travel-related purchases (e.g. 3X on hotels, 2X on airfare).
  • Car rental insurance (15%): Many, but not all travel-centric rewards cards include an auto rental collision damage waiver, which allows you to decline a portion of the rental company’s insurance and save potentially up to $30 per day. We gave extra consideration to if a card offers primary rental car insurance versus secondary, because primary kicks in immediately in a covered scenario—whereas secondary only applies after your own, personal insurance. 
  • Travel insurance benefits (15%): Some travel rewards cards automatically apply trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost/delayed luggage reimbursement and even travel accident insurance on travel bookings made using the card.
  • Gas earning (5%): Since road trips remain a common form of travel, whether or not a card offers points rewards at the pump factored into our rankings.
  • Dining earning (10%): If a no-annual-fee travel rewards card offered 2X or more on restaurant purchases it favored well in this category.

The remaining 20% was based on the card’s main focus: hotel, airline or general travel rewards. 

  • For general travel—points transferrable to partners (20%): Points are literally worth more if you can transfer them to certain partners, so a card’s ability to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners factored into our rankings.
  • For hotel rewards—free award night with booking (20%): Some hotel rewards cards offer a BOGO-like perk where if you redeem a certain number of nights with points you get an extra tacked on for free.
  • For airline rewards—ability to spend towards status (20%): Most airline rewards cards allow you to earn miles, but not all of them count those miles towards your next loyalty status. If a card treated them as “qualifying miles,” it fared better in this category.

Lastly, just keep in mind that virtually every aspect of a travel rewards card—from the rewards to the welcome bonus and fee structure—is subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn. 

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.  

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

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