What Is the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts® Program?

FHR is a Card Member benefit that offers perks at over 1,500 hand-selected luxury hotels and resorts around the world. Whether you're looking for a relaxing stay at a restorative spa, a tropical family getaway, or a secluded romantic escape, eligible Card Members who book their stays through FHR can enjoy elite benefits like late check-out, experience credits, and more – all of which add up to an average total value of $600, based on American Express FHR bookings for two-night stays in 2022. Of course, actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability, and use of benefits.

When using an eligible American Express Card – like The Platinum Card® – to book a stay through FHR, Card Members can enjoy the following suite of complimentary benefits:

• Noon check-in when available, so you can drop off your things, freshen up, and enjoy the property earlier than standard 2 pm or 3 pm check-in times allow.
• Guaranteed 4 pm late check-out, so you can relax while waiting for a later flight, catch up on some last-minute work, or hit the pool or spa one last time before you depart.
• Room upgrade upon arrival. If available, the property may upgrade your room to a higher category or a better view in the same category. Note that certain room categories may not be eligible for upgrade.
• Complimentary breakfast for two. Members enjoy daily complimentary breakfast for up to two people per room. Breakfast varies by property.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, even if the hotel or resort has a mandatory Wi-Fi fee. If that’s the case, you’ll receive a daily credit for internet access at check out.
• Experience credit. Selected properties may gift Card Members with an experience credit of at least $100 to be used toward purchases such as on-premises dining or spa services. The experience credit will be applied at check out. Note that experience credits vary by property and will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the experience credit.

All FHR perks and credits must be used during the stay – in other words, they can’t be saved or transferred to a different property. Applicable credits are applied at checkout in U.S. dollars or a local currency equivalent. In addition, benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not compatible with other offers unless otherwise indicated. Benefit restrictions vary by property.

To explore properties within the FHR program, visit the American Express Hotel Finder or the Fine Hotels and Resorts booking page at Amex Travel. If you already have a destination in mind, you can type the location into the search field to check out your options. If you’re not sure where you want to go, you may want to use the Hotel Finder to browse by region, hotel ambiance, the environment, the guest experience, and features and activities.

But before you can book a stay through the Amex FHR program, you’ll need one of these eligible Cards in your name:

• The Platinum Card.
• The Business Platinum Card.
• The Corporate Platinum Card.
• The Centurion Card.

The booking process is fairly simple: Once you've found a property you like, select your preferred dates and finish booking your trip. Again, to receive FHR benefits, bookings must be made using your eligible Amex Card but can ultimately be paid with that Card or another American Express Card in your name. You must also stay on the itinerary booked. Note that benefits will be applied per room, per stay and that you can book up to three rooms for a stay under your Card. This means that if you book a trip with family or friends, each room can qualify for Amex FHR benefits.

If you’re wondering if you can redeem Membership Rewards® points toward a stay, the answer is yes. And it’s worth mentioning that if you use The Platinum Card or Business Platinum Card to book eligible prepaid FHR stays via AmexTravel.com, you’ll earn 5X points per dollar spent.

If you’re a regular traveler, you’re probably part of a hotel loyalty program – and wondering how it relates to FHR. In short, it depends. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll receive hotel loyalty points for your stay or that you’ll have access to the elite status benefits you’d normally receive from your hotel loyalty program. This is because many hotels that offer such benefits usually require you to book through their own channels, not an intermediary like Amex Travel. However, some properties may grant you hotel loyalty points and benefits regardless. 

The Hotel Collection is a group of over 700 hotels curated by American Express. Like FHR, The Hotel Collection offers perks only available to Card Members with select Cards. But there are a few key differences.

For one, The Hotel Collection is available to American Express® Gold Card Members and Business Gold Card Members, in addition to both business and consumer Platinum Card Members. What’s more, eligible Card Members must book a minimum of a two-night stay at a Hotel Collection property in order to receive benefits, such as a $100 Experience Credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, and room upgrades when available at check-in. Note that the experience credit varies by property. 

The American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts Program can be a great way to enjoy premium benefits at over 1,500 properties around the world – as long as you have an eligible American Express Card. Booking through FHR provides Card Members with an average value of $600 in benefits, from complimentary breakfast for two to guaranteed late check out – so you can enjoy the pool on a hot summer day without worrying about making it in time for the usual morning check-out.

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