What are the eligible American Express Platinum hotels?

Yes, Amex Platinum is worth it for travelers with good credit who spend a lot and can take advantage of the card’s benefits. Amex Platinum benefits include a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit, airport lounge access, up to $200 in Uber credits and up to $200 in airline fee credits annually, and more. The card’s initial bonus of 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months also goes a long way toward making the card worth its $695 annual fee.… read full answer

For the first year alone, you could wind up with at least $1,800 in net value (rewards and other perks, minus the $695 annual fee). The American Express Platinum card’s second year will have the same annual fee, but the total value of your benefits in year two would only be about $900 if you spent the same amount on the card as year one.

To really make money with this card after the first year, you’d have to spend a lot more. That said, many of the card’s perks are ongoing. You’ll benefit more if your purchases qualify for Amex Platinum’s ongoing bonus rewards rates, and if you utilize Amex Platinum’s complimentary Gold status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotel loyalty programs.

All in all, Amex Platinum is a good card for big spenders who travel all the time and can wring every drop of value out of its benefits. But it’s far too expensive for light spenders and occasional travelers.

The American Express Platinum card hotel benefits include:

• Gold elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors hotel loyalty programs
• $100 credit when booking a 2+ night reservation at more than 600 Hotel Collection properties
• 5 points / $1 spent on prepaid hotel bookings at amextravel.com when using your American Express Platinum card.… read full answer
• The Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program offers more benefits with any stay at its 1,100+ worldwide locations. They include:

  Free amenities worth $100, daily breakfast for 2, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout and free Wi-Fi. Other Fine Hotels benefits include noon check-in and free room upgrades, when available.

Some of the perks that come with elite Hilton and Marriott status are bonus points for hotel stays, late checkout and room upgrades, if available. To take advantage of either Hilton or Marriott elite status, you can only book rooms with the respective property. Bookings made through third-party websites such as Amex Travel will not earn bonus points from either hotel’s loyalty program.