If you have an American Express Platinum Card, one of the most valuable (and sometimes overlooked) perks is access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FH&R) program. This luxury hotel booking platform offers premium benefits, including noon check-in (when available), room upgrades, complimentary breakfast for two, late checkout, and a $100 experience credit. Even better? You get a $200 statement credit each calendar year when booking through AMEX Travel using Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection.
That credit alone won’t offset the Platinum Card’s annual fee, but it can certainly help justify it—if you use it. I did—and here’s how.
How I Used FH&R at the Park Hyatt Saigon
When planning a trip to Vietnam, I needed a one-night stay at the Park Hyatt Saigon before joining a tour group. The hotel is part of the World of Hyatt program and is currently a Category 5 property, which means a free night costs between 17,000 and 23,000 points, depending on whether it’s off-peak, standard, or peak pricing.
However, I then realized I still had my $200 American Express Platinum hotel credit to use. I checked the AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts platform and found the Park Hyatt Saigon available for $339. After applying the credit, I paid just $139 out of pocket—and received a long list of valuable perks.
What Comes with an FH&R Booking?
Through FH&R, we received:
- Noon early check-in (when available)
- A room upgrade (if available at check-in)
- Daily breakfast for two
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- A $100 property credit
Some benefits may vary slightly by property, but that’s the general list. For this particular stay, we didn’t need late checkout since we were departing early the next morning, but we did enjoy the early check-in and used the property credit for a delicious dinner on-site.
Breakfast, Dinner, and a Great Deal
We used the $100 property credit for dinner at the hotel’s Italian restaurant—perfect after a long day of travel and jet lag. Even with drinks, the credit covered almost the entire bill.
Breakfast was included too, thanks to the FH&R rate, and it didn’t disappoint. The spread at Opera (Park Hyatt Saigon’s breakfast restaurant) was incredible.
How Payment Works with FH&R
One small note I learned at check-in: even though our room was prepaid through AMEX Travel, the front desk asked to place my AMEX Platinum Card on file for incidentals. However, at checkout, another agent allowed me to use my World of Hyatt Visa to pay for extra charges. So if you want to earn points on food, drinks, or spa charges, it’s worth asking.
Just make sure the room charge itself is made with your Platinum Card in order to trigger the $200 credit.
Did I Still Earn Hyatt Elite Credit?
Yes! This surprised me in the best way. The FH&R booking qualified as an eligible stay with Hyatt, and I earned elite credit and progress toward Hyatt’s Brand Explorer promotion.
In fact, my Discoverist status even got us a little bonus—two welcome drinks at the hotel bar. That perk isn’t officially listed, but it was a thoughtful surprise from the hotel.
Final Thoughts
If you have the AMEX Platinum Card, booking through Fine Hotels & Resorts is an excellent way to stretch your benefits. I paid just $139 out of pocket for a luxury stay that came with early check-in, breakfast, a $100 dining credit, and a room I’d gladly book again.
And because the booking qualified as an eligible Hyatt stay, I got points and elite credit too.
That annual $200 hotel credit is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit, so don’t let it go to waste. Whether you’re booking a domestic staycation or a one-night luxury stop before a longer trip, FH&R can provide real value—especially when paired with thoughtful planning.
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