Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.
One of the lesser-known perks on select American Express cards is access to The Hotel Collection. This program offers room upgrades and hotel credits for dining, spa and resort activities when you stay for two or more nights at select hotels.
To use this benefit, you need to have an eligible card and book a participating hotel through American Express Travel. But using the Amex Hotel Collection to book your next hotel stay may also save you money and improve your experience.
In this post, I’ll take a closer look at The Hotel Collection and compare it to the better-known to help you understand what to expect and how to take full advantage of the benefits.
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How The Hotel Collection works
Only cardholders of the following American Express cards can book hotel stays through The Hotel Collection:
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (requires a minimum two-night stay)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Centurion Card (invite-only, both business and personal versions are eligible)
If you have one of the above cards, then you'll have access to the following benefits when you book through The Hotel Collection (terms apply):
- A room upgrade at check-in when available
- Up to a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities
- 2x Membership Rewards points when you use your Gold card for prepaid bookings
- 5x Membership Rewards points when you use your Platinum card for prepaid bookings
- The ability to use Pay with Points on prepaid bookings
However, you'll only get these perks when you book a stay at an eligible property through American Express Travel. And there's a minimum stay requirement of two nights for Hotel Collection stays. Finally, back-to-back stays within 24 hours at the same property are considered one stay and won't get multiple $100 hotel credits.
Related: Should you use points or cash to book hotels?
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What to know about The Hotel Collection
Before you book a stay through Amex's Hotel Collection, there are several aspects to keep in mind.
Pay with Points
You will see the option to Pay with Points when you book a stay with Amex's Hotel Collection. However, you'll only receive 0.7 cents of value per point redeemed, which is less than half of TPG's valuation of Membership Rewards points, at 2 cents each.
Especially since Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders earn 5x points for prepaid reservations made through American Express Travel, this is a case where it's better to pay for your stay and save your points for higher-value redemption options.
Related: Here are 9 of our favorite ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points
Pricing
When you search, beware that Amex displays only the base rate (which excludes taxes and fees). For example, I saw a nightly rate of $89 for a sample two-night stay in November at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. But, the actual cost is $145 per night after all taxes and mandatory hotel fees.
The fine print for the Hotel Collection notes that hotels can add additional government taxes and fees as well as hotel-imposed taxes, fees and deposits when the hotel charges your card. So, you may need to call the hotel and ask about its policies to ensure you're aware of the total cost of your stay.
Related: 4 Las Vegas hotels raised resort fees — here’s how to avoid them
Elite earning and perks
Additionally, most hotel loyalty programs won't give elite earnings and benefits if you don't book direct. And, although you may get elite earnings and benefits when you book some hotels through the , you typically won't when you book through The Hotel Collection. As such, if you have hotel elite status with one or more brands, you may find it best to only book through The Hotel Collection with properties outside your primary loyalty program(s).
Related: Booking direct: How much value does Marriott status provide?
Properties in The Hotel Collection
The Amex Hotel Collection includes a range of both popular brands and smaller boutique properties. Here's what I found when searching for Hotel Collection properties in three popular tourist destinations. Note, the pricing and availability are as of publishing and may be different when you search.
New York
I picked a date this winter and performed a search for properties available in New York City. My search returned 19 Hotel Collection properties.
The least expensive Hotel Collection property for my dates was the Ink 48 Hotel at $389 per night before taxes and fees. Meanwhile, the most costly Hotel Collection property for my dates was the JW Marriott Essex House New York at $929 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: 8 easy New York City escapes you can get to in three hours or less
Phoenix
On the other end of the price spectrum is Phoenix in the summer, which stands out for having some of the lowest prices for hotels featured by these types of programs. I got eight Hotel Collection results when I searched for a weekend in July.
The least expensive Hotel Collection property in Phoenix for the weekend I searched was the Tempe Mission Palms, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel, for $169 per night before taxes and fees. Meanwhile, the most expensive property for the weekend I searched was the Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale for $319 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: Road-tripping from Phoenix? Here are six destinations to set your sights on
Rome, Italy
If you're looking to travel internationally, there are plenty of Hotel Collection properties abroad. For example, a search for a stay in Rome, Italy, returned nine Hotel Collection properties.
In Rome, Italy, the least expensive Hotel Collection property was the NH Collection Roma Giustiniano, for $163 per night before taxes and fees. Meanwhile, the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese was the most expensive property for $438 per night before taxes and fees.
Related: Italy is reopening: 11 things I learned as a tourist there this week
The Hotel Collection vs. Fine Hotels & Resorts
The (FHR) program offers more valuable benefits. But, the FHR program is only available to Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders. Booking through the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program can get you the following elite-like perks:
- Noon check-in when available
- Room upgrade when available at check-in
- Daily breakfast for two
- Free in-room Wi-Fi
- Guaranteed 4:00 p.m. late checkout
- $100 experience credit
Related:
While I expected to find significant overlap in the properties offered by The Hotel Collection and the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, I found none. A comparison of the two programs reveals that each has its strengths and weaknesses.
But, in general, properties tend to be more expensive than The Hotel Collection properties. And the benefits you'll get on FHR stays, including complimentary breakfast, early check-in and guaranteed late checkout, are superior. Thus, the real benefit of The Hotel Collection appears to be access to extra perks at high-end (rather than ultra-high-end) hotels.
Related:
How to best use The Hotel Collection
Food, beverage and other services at hotels can be costly. So, most travelers won't have trouble using the $100 credit. But, the real sweet spot of this program is for business travelers whose company already reimburses their room and meals. After all, these hotel guests can put the $100 credit toward drinks, pay-per-view movies and spa services that would not be allowed by most company expense policies.
The benefits of the — such as early check-in, late checkout and complimentary breakfast — are geared toward leisure travelers who can afford expensive properties. And booking through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program can be particularly useful when you don't have elite status with a particular brand.
Amex offers both programs to Platinum and Centurion cardholders, which indicates that The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotels & Resorts programs each offer distinct benefits. In short, The Hotel Collection is a valuable perk of the Amex Gold and Business Gold Card -- not just a watered-down version of FHR.
Additional reporting by Chris Dong and Katie Genter.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
FAQs
How much is 150000 AmEx MR points worth? ›
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 150,000 | $1,005 |
| 140,000 | $938 |
| 130,000 | $871 |
| 120,000 | $804 |
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 100,000 | $670 |
| 90,000 | $603 |
| 80,000 | $536 |
| 70,000 | $469 |
An overview of AmEx points vs.
Number of transfer partners. AmEx leads the way with 20 airline and hotel partners versus Chase's 14 transfer partners. That means more access to airline sweet spots for AmEx points collectors. Redemption rate for travel purchases.
You can redeem your American Express rewards either online or through the mobile app. To do so, log in to your account and click or tap the "Rewards" tab. Redemption options include travel purchases, gift cards, statement credits, and more, depending on the card.
How much is 44 million Amex points in dollars? ›Redeeming Amex Points for Cash
If he were to cash out directly using statement credits, Portnoy would receive about $900,000 on his 44.4 million Amex points.
While 200K Amex points will typically only give you about $2,000 in value when you shop for flights in the Amex travel portal, you can sometimes find Business or First Class flights — that can normally cost over $10,000 — for only 200K points, when transferred to a frequent flyer program.
How much is 75 000 Amex points worth in cash? ›How much are 75,000 American Express points worth? At a minimum, 75,000 American Express Membership Rewards points are worth $750 when you use them in the Amex Travel portal.
How much is $95,000 American Express points worth? ›| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 95,000 | $636.5 |
| 85,000 | $569.5 |
| 75,000 | $502.5 |
| 65,000 | $435.5 |
For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders earn 5x points on flights booked directly with an airline or through AmEx Travel and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmEx Travel. They also have access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection through the travel portal.
How do I get a black Amex card? ›The American Express Black Card isn't available to just anyone. It's a charge card that's offered to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) only through an invitation. Think of it as an exclusive club. This means that you can't just apply to join.
Do Amex points expire? ›
Do Membership Rewards® points expire? Membership Rewards® points have no expiration date.
Can I use Amex points to pay my bill? ›You can use Membership Rewards® points for statement credits toward eligible charges that appear in your 'Recent Activity' or 'Current Statement'.
Can I convert American Express points to cash? ›Redeeming Points for Credit is not available for redemption by Corporate Card accounts and is not redeemable for cash via Credit balance refund. All rewards (other than the redemption of Points for Credit) are provided by the rewards provider and not by us, our affiliates or our subsidiaries.
How many Amex points equal a dollar? ›100-200 Amex points equal a dollar, depending on how they're redeemed. For example, you'll need around 167 points for $1 if you redeem for a statement credit, while you'll only need 100 points for $1 when redeeming for flights through American Express Membership Rewards.
How many Amex points is $300? ›If you redeem 30,000 points at 1 cent per point, that's a welcome gift of $300. Category multipliers. Most Cards offer bonus points for purchases made in certain spending categories like travel, dining, groceries, or gas.
How much is $1000 in Amex points? ›| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $6.7 |
| 11,000 | $73.7 |
| 21,000 | $140.7 |
| 31,000 | $207.7 |
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 15,000 | $100.5 |
| 25,000 | $167.5 |
| 35,000 | $234.5 |
| 45,000 | $301.5 |
- Use Amex Membership Rewards Credit Cards.
- Allocate Your Spending to the Right Cards.
- Book Flights Through Amex Travel.
- Check Out Your Amex Offers.
- Refer a Friend to Membership Rewards Cards.
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 60,000 | $402 |
| 50,000 | $335 |
| 40,000 | $268 |
| 30,000 | $201 |
70,000 American Express points are worth about $469, depending on which American Express credit card you have and what you spend the points on. You will get the best value for your American Express points when you redeem them for Travel, but there are multiple redemption options.
What can I get with 2 million Amex points? ›
The value of 2 million AMEX points can vary depending on how they are redeemed. AMEX points can be used for a variety of rewards including travel, merchandise, gift cards, and statement credits. Assuming an average value of 1 cent per point, 2 million AMEX points would be worth $20,000.
How much is 80000 Amex Platinum points worth? ›| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 80,000 | $536 |
| 70,000 | $469 |
| 60,000 | $402 |
| 50,000 | $335 |
Exchange 2 points for 3 Marriott Points, meaning 500,000 Membership Rewards points is worth 750,000 Marriott points to spend on travel. Redeem 70,000 points for one night at a category 8 hotel during off-peak dates, 85,000 points per night during normal dates and 100,000 points during peak times.
How much is the 150k Amex Platinum worth? ›Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer
We generally value Membership Rewards points at about 2.2 cents per point, which means that a 100,000-point bonus offer is worth ~$2,200, a 125,000-point bonus is worth ~$2,750, and a 150,000-point bonus is worth $3,300.
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 90,000 | $603 |
| 80,000 | $536 |
| 70,000 | $469 |
| 60,000 | $402 |
With your American Express Platinum card, you'll earn 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases. To qualify for this card's 5 points / $1 rewards rate, flights must be booked directly through the airline's website or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 spent per year), and hotels must be booked through Amex.
How many points is $1 Amex gold? ›You will earn one point for each dollar charged for an eligible purchase in each billing period on The American Express Gold Card.
How long does it take to get 100k Amex points? ›In addition to the enhanced benefits, American Express is offering new Platinum cardholders a very generous welcome bonus: You can earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points when you spend $6,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership.
Are hotels more expensive on Amex travel? ›Using Amex Travel to access The Hotel Collection guarantees the lowest rates when you book a prepaid rate, plus a few premium perks. The benefits include: Room upgrades at check-in (based on availability) $100 hotel credit (good for things like dining or the spa)
How do you get 5X points on Amex Platinum? ›You will get one point for each dollar charged for an eligible purchase on your Business Platinum Card® from American Express. You will get 4 additional points (for a total of 5 points) for each dollar spent on eligible travel purchases.
Does Amex Platinum get Marriott status? ›
As a The Platinum Card®, Member, you are invited to enroll in complimentary Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite status and enjoy the following experiences: A complimentary upgrade to an enhanced room at check-in, if available: corner room, higher floor or better view*.
What salary do you need for a black Amex? ›How much do you have to make to get Amex's black card? There aren't any income requirements per se, but you most likely need to be a high spender on your Amex cards. If you're in the ballpark of $250,000 to $500,000 in annual spending across all your open Amex cards, you may qualify for the Centurion card.
What is the highest level Amex card? ›The American Express Centurion Card
The Amex Centurion (or Amex Black) is the highest level American Express card, but it has a very elite, invite-only membership and Amex does not officially publish its information.
Amex Centurion Card qualifications, fees and benefits. Experts estimate that there are around 100,000 Amex Centurion cardholders in the world, with only about 20,000 of those being in the United States.
How much is 30 000 Amex points worth? ›| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 30,000 | $201 |
| 40,000 | $268 |
| 50,000 | $335 |
| 60,000 | $402 |
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 22,000 | $147.4 |
| 32,000 | $214.4 |
| 42,000 | $281.4 |
| 52,000 | $348.4 |
This is simple: American Express Membership Points are worth exactly 1 cent apiece when booking flights or 0.7 cent if booking hotels through the issuer's portal. This math is made explicit when booking a flight or hotel while logged in. For example, a $210 flight will cost 21,000 points.
Can I use my Amex points to pay for my annual fee? ›With Membership Rewards, you can redeem your points for credit to offset the Card Annual Fee on your American Express® Card.
Why can't I use my Amex points? ›It may be that your Card is not enrolled in Membership Rewards®, or that your Membership Rewards balance is less than 200 points. You must redeem a minimum of 200 points per transaction and you cannot redeem for a higher value than the monetary value of the eligible transaction.
Do you get Amex points if you pay early? ›If you're enrolled in Membership Rewards®, you can earn points for eligible charges, even purchases that you choose to pay over time.
Is it better to get Amex points or cash back? ›
Cash-back credit cards typically offer better value when the redemption options on a points card don't appeal to you. If a points card offers cash-back options at all, it may offer cash back at a lower value than other redemption options.
How many dollars is 150k Amex points? ›| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 150,000 | $1,005 |
| 140,000 | $938 |
| 130,000 | $871 |
| 120,000 | $804 |
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 10,000 | $67 |
| 20,000 | $134 |
| 30,000 | $201 |
| 40,000 | $268 |
| Distance (miles) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 500 | 6,000 pts | 15,000 pts |
| 501 - 1,500 | 10,000 pts | 20,000 pts |
| 1,501 - 2,750 | 12,500 pts | 25,000 pts |
| 2,751 + | 22,500 pts | 35,000 pts |
| Number of American Express Points | Average Value |
|---|---|
| 17,000 | $113.9 |
| 27,000 | $180.9 |
| 37,000 | $247.9 |
| 47,000 | $314.9 |
Amex Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer
We generally value Membership Rewards points at about 2.2 cents per point, which means that a 100,000-point bonus offer is worth ~$2,200, a 125,000-point bonus is worth ~$2,750, and a 150,000-point bonus is worth $3,300.
This is simple: American Express Membership Points are worth exactly 1 cent apiece when booking flights or 0.7 cent if booking hotels through the issuer's portal. This math is made explicit when booking a flight or hotel while logged in. For example, a $210 flight will cost 21,000 points.
How much is 2 million Amex points worth? ›AMEX points can be used for a variety of rewards including travel, merchandise, gift cards, and statement credits. Assuming an average value of 1 cent per point, 2 million AMEX points would be worth $20,000. However, if the points are redeemed for travel, they can potentially be worth more.
Is Amex Platinum worth it with 150k points? ›Amex Platinum 150,000- or 125,000-point offers
The card has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees). Based on TPG point valuations, the 150,000 Amex Membership Rewards points bonus is worth a staggering $3,000.
| Distance (miles) | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 500 | 6,000 pts | 15,000 pts |
| 501 - 1,500 | 10,000 pts | 20,000 pts |
| 1,501 - 2,750 | 12,500 pts | 25,000 pts |
| 2,751 + | 22,500 pts | 35,000 pts |
Does Amex Platinum have a limit? ›
If you have a Consumer or Business Green, Gold or Platinum Card, your Card does not have a credit limit. Instead, your Card has no preset spending limit unless you have been previously notified otherwise.
Can you convert Amex points to cash? ›Redeeming Points for Credit is not available for redemption by Corporate Card accounts and is not redeemable for cash via Credit balance refund. All rewards (other than the redemption of Points for Credit) are provided by the rewards provider and not by us, our affiliates or our subsidiaries.
How much is 600000 Amex points worth? ›60,000 American Express points are worth about $402, depending on which American Express credit card you have and what you spend the points on. You will get the best value for your American Express points when you redeem them for Travel, but there are multiple redemption options.