Your Guide to the AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts Program

Travel credit cards offer many valuable benefits that are often overlooked and underutilized. One such benefit is the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program.

This hotel booking platform features exclusive pricing, elite-level perks and access to more than 1,500 hotels around the world. Learn more about Fine Hotels and Resorts, including who can use it, how to maximize your value and drawbacks you should be aware of.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

What is AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts?

AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts is a curated collection of hotel properties within the U.S. and across international destinations.

Eligible American Express customers can book rooms at any hotel within the collection and receive exclusive perks, negotiated pricing and limited-time offers that aren't available to the general public. You'll be treated like a loyal customer, even if you don't have elite status with the hotel's loyalty program.

Who can book hotels through AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts?

Booking a stay through AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts is not available to everyone. In fact, it isn't even available to all American Express customers. To book your room, you must have an eligible American Express credit card.

Eligible American Express cards

Fine Hotels and Resorts reservations are only available for eligible U.S. cardholders. You must have one of the following American Express cards to book an FHR reservation:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

• Corporate Platinum Card

• Centurion Card

What perks does AmEx FHR offer?

When you reserve a hotel through AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts, you'll receive numerous benefits similar to elite status with hotel loyalty programs. On average, you'll receive benefits with a value of $600 per stay. These benefits include:

• 12 p.m. early check-in (when available).

• Complimentary room upgrade upon arrival (when available).

• Daily breakfast for two.

• Experience credit valued at $100.

• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout your stay.

• Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.

» Learn more: Tips for collecting AmEx Membership Rewards

How to book a reservation on FHR

Booking a Fine Hotels and Resorts reservation through American Express Travel is simple. Follow these steps to book your next getaway.

1. Log into your American Express account or visit the FHR home page directly.

2. Search your destination and travel dates to see which hotels are available. The search results typically includes FHR and The Hotel Collection properties toward the top, followed by standard hotels that aren't part of either program but are still eligible to book through American Express Travel.

3. Compare FHR options and review the available promotions. Select hotels may offer a free night, resort credits, discounts or a combination.

4. Use filters to narrow down the choices. The AmEx Travel website allows you to sort by star rating, price, neighborhood, amenities, and other factors. TripAdvisor reviews are also available to help you determine the best hotel for your stay.

5. Select your hotel and room type. Many hotels offer multiple room types for you to customize your stay, including number of beds, room category and suites.

6. Choose your room, then book the reservation.

7. Decide how to pay. During the checkout process, you can pay with cash, Membership Rewards points or a combination of the two. Cardholders may also select to pay over time by selecting Plan It as their payment option. The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5x points on prepaid hotel rooms booked through AmEx Travel, while points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for hotels through AmEx Travel.

How do you maximize value when making an AmEx FHR reservation?

Booking hotel rooms with AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts can offer tremendous value. However, there are simple ways to get even more value from your stay.

• Earn 5x points on your stay. When paying for FHR reservations with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you'll earn 5x points on prepaid stays booked through American Express Travel. Terms apply.

• Save money with hotel credits. The Platinum Card® from American Express includes an annual $200 credit for hotel reservations of two nights or more made through AmEx Travel. The credit will appear on your statement after you book. Terms apply.

• Book free night offers. Select properties carry promotions where you'll receive a free night based on a minimum-length stay. For example, you might receive the third, fourth or fifth-night free when booking an eligible promotion.

• Earn additional resort credits. Instead of free nights (or in addition to), some properties offer food & beverage credits, property credits and other special perks beyond what is required through FHR.

• Use cash instead of points. While you can use your Membership Rewards points to pay for your reservation, you'll only receive 1 cent per point. We value AmEx points at up to 2.8 cents each. By redeeming them to cover hotel reservations, you could be missing out on much more valuable redemptions.

• Book multiple short stays. Since some benefits are once per reservation, like the $100 experience credit, you'll get more value from the FHR program if you're willing to change hotels every few days. Swapping hotels can help you experience other properties or incentivize you to check out multiple cities during your trip.

Who benefits the most from booking an Amex FHR reservation?

AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits are best for luxury travelers who want to stay in high-end resorts without having to worry about earning elite status from hotel loyalty programs. No matter which brand of hotel you pick when booking through AmEx FHR, you'll receive a suite of benefits that rival elite status from popular hotels.

Drawbacks and limitations of booking through AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts

While AmEx FHR offers appealing benefits for all travelers, there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of before booking your trip.

• Can't double-dip with hotel elite status benefits. Most hotel loyalty programs require members to book directly to receive elite benefits. While some locations may provide benefits, there is no guarantee and is generally on a case-by-case basis.

• May not earn hotel points or stay credits. When booking through a third-party (like AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts), you generally won't earn points or credits for your stay. However, reports indicate that some stays at luxury hotels do earn hotel points and stay credits when you provide your member number at check-in.

• Rates may be higher. Before booking your room, compare prices through the hotel website and other online booking sites, since the FHR website may have higher prices. Additionally, these reservations may not be eligible for promotions offering discounts, bonus points or extra stay credits.

• Minimum stay requirements. To receive all FHR benefits, you may need to stay a minimum number of nights. For example, if a property offers the third-night-free, you must stay at least that many nights.

• Maximum number of rooms. Eligible cardholders can book up to three rooms at a time at the same hotel and extend their benefits to each room.

• Benefits must be used during your stay. If there are unused credits or benefits at the end of your stay, they cannot be saved or carried over to another reservation.

• Must pay with an eligible American Express card. While only certain AmEx cards provide eligibility for FHR benefits, you do not have to pay with those cards. If you have one of the cards that allows access to AmEx FHR, you can pay with that card or any American Express card in your name. However, you cannot use credit cards from other card issuers.

How does AmEx FHR differ from The Hotel Collection?

American Express has another collection of more than 700 hotels called The Hotel Collection. Reservations at these properties include complimentary benefits, but they are not as generous as those offered by Fine Hotels and Resorts, and you must stay at least two nights to receive them.

Benefits include a complimentary room upgrade (where available) and an experience credit valued at $100.

AmEx cards that qualify for FHR can also book rooms at these hotels. American Express® Gold Card and American Express® Business Gold Card members can book rooms through The Hotel Collection.

Are AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits worth it?

AmEx FHR benefits are worth it for luxury travelers who don't stay at a particular brand enough to earn hotel elite status. In some cases, the perks included with each stay are more than what they would receive with top-tier status at the hotel.

Before booking your room, compare prices for booking directly, then compare if the FHR perks (like complimentary daily breakfast, 4 p.m. late checkout and $100 experience credit) are worth any price difference.

Since these 1,500 hotels are primarily high-end hotels, budget travelers may find it difficult to locate FHR properties that match their travel style.