Do You Get 5X Points For Hotels On Amex Platinum?

Are you an avid traveler looking to maximize your rewards on hotel stays? If so, you’ve likely heard about the lucrative earning potential of the American Express Platinum Card. But do you really get 5x points for hotels on Amex Platinum?

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Yes, the American Express Platinum Card offers 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the details of this valuable benefit, exploring the eligibility criteria, booking requirements, and potential limitations. We’ll also provide insights into maximizing your earnings and compare the Amex Platinum hotel rewards to other premium travel cards.

Understanding the 5x Points Benefit

The American Express Platinum Card is a premium travel rewards credit card that offers a generous 5x points earning rate on eligible hotel bookings. This benefit can be a game-changer for frequent travelers who prioritize earning points for future hotel stays or other travel rewards.

However, it’s essential to understand the nuances of this benefit to maximize your earnings.

Eligible Hotel Bookings

The 5x points benefit applies to eligible prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. This means that you’ll earn 5 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible hotel bookings, up to $500,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year. After that, you’ll earn 1 point per dollar spent.

It’s worth noting that Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings also qualify for the 5x points earning rate.

Booking Through Amex Travel

To take advantage of the 5x points benefit, you must book your hotel stays through Amex Travel. This can be done online, via the Amex mobile app, or by calling the Amex Travel service directly. Bookings made directly with hotels or through other third-party travel sites do not qualify for the 5x points earning rate.

Prepaid vs. Pay-at-Hotel Rates

It’s important to note that the 5x points benefit only applies to prepaid hotel bookings. This means that you must pay for your hotel stay in full at the time of booking. Pay-at-hotel rates, where you pay for your stay upon check-out, do not qualify for the 5x points earning rate.

However, you’ll still earn 1 point per dollar spent on these bookings as a standard Membership Rewards earning rate.

According to Amex’s terms and conditions, here’s a breakdown of the points earning rates for hotel bookings:

• 5x points on eligible prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year)
• 1x point on pay-at-hotel rates and other hotel bookings not eligible for the 5x points benefit

By understanding the intricacies of the 5x points benefit, you can maximize your earnings on hotel stays and enjoy the perks of being an American Express Platinum cardholder. Don’t forget to check for special offers and promotions that may further enhance your earning potential! 😉

Maximizing Your Hotel Rewards

Stacking Offers and Promotions

One of the best ways to maximize your hotel rewards with the Amex Platinum card is by stacking offers and promotions. This means taking advantage of multiple deals and bonuses at the same time to earn even more points or savings on your hotel stays.

For example, you can combine the 5x points earned on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel with a hotel’s own loyalty program promotions or seasonal discounts. 😎 Additionally, Amex often runs targeted promotions like “Spend $500, Get $200 Back” or bonus points for specific hotel chains, which you can stack on top of the regular earning rate.

By combining these offers, you can supercharge your rewards and make your hotel stays even more rewarding. 🎉

Using Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts

The Amex Platinum card also provides access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers additional benefits and amenities at over 1,000 luxury hotels worldwide. When you book through this program, you’ll earn 5x Membership Rewards points on your prepaid hotel stays, plus enjoy perks like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late check-out, and unique amenities like spa credits or food and beverage credits.

👏 This can significantly enhance your hotel experience and provide even more value for your Amex Platinum card. According to The Points Guy, the average value of the Fine Hotels & Resorts amenities is around $550 per stay, making it a fantastic way to maximize your rewards while enjoying a luxurious hotel experience.

Combining with Other Travel Rewards

To truly maximize your hotel rewards, it’s essential to combine your Amex Platinum card with other travel rewards programs. 💯 For instance, you can transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to various hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, or Choice Privileges at a favorable rate.

This can help you top up your hotel points balance or even book free nights at your preferred hotels. Additionally, you can stack your hotel stays with airline loyalty programs to earn miles or elite status credits, further enhancing your overall travel rewards ecosystem.

According to NerdWallet, combining hotel and airline rewards can lead to an average savings of 20-30% on hotel stays. 🤑

By stacking offers, using the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, and combining with other travel rewards, you can truly maximize your hotel rewards with the Amex Platinum card. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to earn more points, enjoy better amenities, and save money on your hotel stays! 💰

Comparing Hotel Rewards Across Premium Cards

When it comes to earning hotel rewards with premium travel cards, the Amex Platinum is not the only game in town. While it does offer 5x points on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel, other premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige Card also offer generous rewards for hotel stays.

Let’s take a closer look:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

• Earns 3x points on travel and dining purchases, including hotels
• Points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• According to The Points Guy, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valued at 2 cents each, making the effective return on hotel stays 6% (3x points x 2 cents/point)
• Offers an annual $300 travel credit that can be used for hotel stays

Citi Prestige Card

• Earns 5x points on air travel and restaurants, and 3x points on hotels and cruise lines
• Points can be redeemed for travel at a rate of 1 cent per point, or transferred to airline partners for potentially higher value
• According to The Points Guy, Citi ThankYou points are valued at 1.7 cents each, making the effective return on hotel stays 5.1% (3x points x 1.7 cents/point)
• Offers a complimentary 4th night free on hotel stays booked through Citi’s travel portal

Other Premium Travel Cards

While the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Prestige Card are among the most popular premium travel cards, there are other options to consider as well. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example, earns 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.

With miles valued at 1.85 cents each according to The Points Guy, that equates to an impressive 18.5% return on hotel stays booked through Capital One Travel.

At the end of the day, the “best” premium travel card for hotel stays will depend on your spending habits, travel preferences, and how you plan to redeem your rewards. But with so many great options on the market, travelers have plenty of opportunities to earn lucrative rewards on their hotel stays.

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Redeeming Amex Membership Rewards for Hotel Stays

One of the biggest perks of the American Express Platinum Card is earning 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. But that’s not the only way to maximize your Membership Rewards for hotel stays. Let’s explore the different options:

Transfer Partners for Hotel Loyalty Programs

Amex Membership Rewards has transfer partnerships with several major hotel loyalty programs, including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Choice Privileges. By transferring your points to these programs at a favorable ratio (usually 1:1), you can book award nights and enjoy elite benefits.

For example, you can transfer Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy and redeem for free nights at properties like The St. Regis or The Ritz-Carlton. This option can offer excellent value, especially for luxury hotel stays.

Booking Through Amex Travel

As mentioned earlier, you earn 5x Membership Rewards points (that’s a 10% return based on TPG’s valuations) when booking prepaid hotel stays through Amex Travel. This can be a great option for non-loyalty stays or if you don’t have enough points for an award night.

Plus, you’ll enjoy benefits like late checkout, room upgrades, and a $100 hotel credit on eligible stays at Fine Hotels & Resorts properties. 😍

Maximizing Value with Flexible Redemptions

While transferring to hotel partners or booking through Amex Travel are popular options, you can also redeem Membership Rewards for hotel stays through Amex’s flexible redemption options. This allows you to use your points to cover all or part of the cost of a hotel stay at a fixed rate.

The value per point can vary, but it’s generally around 0.7-1 cent per point. While not always the best value, this can be a convenient option for last-minute stays or when award nights aren’t available. 👍

No matter which option you choose, redeeming Amex Membership Rewards for hotel stays can be a great way to stretch your travel budget and enjoy luxurious accommodations. Just remember to do the math and compare the different redemption options to maximize the value of your hard-earned points.

Happy travels! 🎉

Conclusion

The American Express Platinum Card’s 5x points earning rate on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel is undoubtedly a valuable benefit for frequent travelers. By understanding the eligibility criteria, booking requirements, and potential limitations, you can maximize your earnings and enjoy luxurious hotel stays while accumulating valuable rewards.

However, it’s essential to consider your travel patterns, preferred hotel brands, and redemption strategies when evaluating the Amex Platinum against other premium travel cards. By carefully weighing the pros and cons of each card, you can choose the one that best aligns with your travel goals and preferences.

Ultimately, the key to maximizing your hotel rewards lies in strategic planning, leveraging promotions, and combining various travel rewards programs. With the right approach, you can elevate your travel experiences while earning valuable points and perks along the way.