Whether you like it or not, many credit cards continue to add additional statement credits as a benefit, creating what we refer to as a ‘credit card coupon book’.
Recently, American Express refreshed both the Platinum and Business Platinum cards in the United States and added a valuable semi-annual $300 hotel credit that is usable within the Amex Travel platform. While there are some restrictions to be aware of, these credits are pretty useful if you are smart and a bit flexible in how you travel.
With that in mind, let’s get into everything you need to know about the new American Express $300 hotel credit and how you can receive the maximum value when using this credit.
How The American Express $300 Hotel Credit Works
The American Express semi-annual $300 hotel credit is offered on two of the most premium cards, the American Express Platinum Card (US) and the American Express Business Platinum Card (US). Since it is a semi-annual credit, cardholders will receive one $300 credit from January-June and an additional $300 credit from July-December, for a total of $600 per calendar year.
The American Express Platinum Card (US) offers a welcome bonus of up to 80,000 Membership Rewards with an annual fee of $895 USD. The card also comes with a smattering of credits for various retailers, offering outsized value for cardholders who can take advantage of them.
The American Express Platinum Card (US) is a premium credit card that offers cardholders over $1,000 in annual credits and benefits.
Check out our American Express Platinum Card (US) review for more details.
80,000 Membership Rewards points
$6,000
$1,600+
$895
No
–
The American Express Business Platinum Card (US) offers a welcome bonus of up to 200,000 Membership Rewards with an annual fee of $895 USD. The card also comes with additional credits that are more focused on business purchases and expenses, so they may be harder to utilize for some.
The American Express Business Platinum Card (US) offers a massive welcome bonus with over $1,000 in annual statement credits paired with stellar travel benefits.
200,000 Membership Rewards points
$20,000
$4,000+
$895
No
–
Cardholders do not need to enroll for the $300 hotel credit benefit, as it is automatically available on their eligible cards. In order to use this credit, cardholders must make a one-night minimum booking for an eligible Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) booking, or a two-night minimum booking for an eligible The Hotel Collection (THC) booking. Eligible properties are easy to find, as you can filter for properties that fall within either category when searching on Amex Travel.
The booking must be prepaid to be eligible for this credit, and once a booking is made and charged to the eligible card, cardholders will receive a statement credit for the amount of the eligible reservation, up to $300.
If the reservation is cancelled, the credit will be clawed back. However, you can book pretty far in the future if you have a stay in mind, so it isn’t too hard to find a hotel to book with this credit. For example, I made a booking in October 2025 for August 2026 and received the $300 credit with no issues.
The Differences Between Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
Since the $300 hotel credit can be used at hotels in both the Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs, you need to be up to speed on the different hotels and benefits these programs offer.
If you prefer luxury when it comes to hotel stays, Fine Hotels & Resorts is the program for you, as it includes brands such as Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Alilia. Cardholders only need to book a minimum of a one-night stay when booking with Fine Hotels & Resorts to be eligible to receive the credit.
Booking a stay through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program offers several benefits, further increasing the value of using this platform:
- 12 p.m. check-in, when available
- Room upgrade, if available
- Complimentary daily breakfast for two
- $100 credit to use towards eligible charges (varies by property), such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges during your stay
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout
Additionally, when you make a booking through Fine Hotels & Resorts, you can add your loyalty number if the hotel falls within a specific program, such as Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. You should still earn elite nights, points, and receive your entitled benefits as if you booked direct, so this is definitely a perk you don’t want to overlook.
The Hotel Collection still offers many excellent properties, but just a notch below many of the properties Fine Hotels & Resorts program. A few of the brands you can expect to see in this program are Marriott, Hyatt, and W Hotels. Cardholders need to book a minimum of a two-night stay when booking with The Hotel Collection to be eligible to receive the credit.
Booking a stay through The Hotel Collection program offers several benefits, further increasing the value of using this platform:
- 12 p.m. check-in, when available
- Room upgrade, if available
- $100 credit to use towards eligible charges (varies by property), such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges during your stay
- Late checkout, when available
Both programs offer excellent hotels around the world, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a property that fits your travel needs.
How to Maximize the Amex $300 Hotel Credit
The best bang for your buck when it comes to maximizing the $300 hotel credit is to book a one-night stay at a Fine Hotels & Resorts hotel and use as much of the credit as possible on that singular booking.
Another simple yet effective option is to chain credits together, creating a series of one-night bookings at the same property for longer stays. Based on the terms and conditions, you shouldn’t be eligible for the property credit every night if the reservation is under the same person, but you might have more luck if the bookings are under two different people (such as yourself and a significant other who also has a card with the $300 credit.
When it comes to flexibility, being picky with your dates can go a long way in getting the most out of your credit. For example, mid-week or off-season dates are the way to go for certain destinations. A classic example would be Las Vegas, where there is a ton of cheap availability mid-week, but prices may be 2x or 3x higher for the weekend.
In the same vein of flexibility, while I wouldn’t let the need to use the credits dictate your travel, I do think you should always be checking your planned destinations for opportunities where you can leverage the credit in addition to hotel points.
For example, if you found a Waldorf Astoria that you wanted to stay at for three nights, pay for the first night using the $300 credit, and then book the remaining two nights using Hilton Honors points (or a Hilton Honors free night certificate). In advance or when you arrive, you could just ask the hotel to link the reservations and request that you stay in the same room for all three nights.
If you have multiple credits and really want to maximize, you could consider hotel hopping daily if you are in a city where there are multiple options within budget. This is no doubt a ton of extra daily work, and not a solution that I would take, but it is a valid option.
Fine Hotels & Resorts also offers additional free nights at certain properties from time to time. If you can take advantage of one of these promotions and the hotel is within your budget, you could score a three-night stay for much cheaper than expected.
Finally, if you are curious about what hotels would cost less than the $300 hotel credit, MaxFHR is an excellent resource to dig into. Users can search for hotels around the world within each program, and it will showcase the lowest price and what date it is available on.
Users can also use MaxFHR to filter by property credit, brands, and price. If you have flexibility with dates, this can be a great tool to utilize to ensure you are getting the most from your credit.
Conclusion
When new credits are added to a card (and oftentimes, they include an annual fee increase), cardholders roll their eyes because they know it will be hard to extract value from these new benefits.
However, I don’t think this is the case with the Amex $300 hotel credit, as the eligible programs capture a huge number of hotels around the world at various price points, making it easy for cardholders to book a hotel that fits their needs while still getting the most value out of their newly acquired credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the $300 hotel credit only applies to bookings made through the American Express Travel portal for hotels that are categorized in The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay) or Fine Hotels + Resorts (minimum one-night stay) when you pay with your eligible American Express card.
Reservations made directly with hotels or through third-party sites (like Expedia or Booking.com) will not trigger the credit.
The credit resets every six months on January 1st and July 1st. To maximize value, be sure to use the credit before your next renewal date.
To get the most value, use the credit toward short, high-value luxury stays, such as one-night bookings at premium Fine Hotels & Resorts properties. Booking during off-peak dates can also make your $300 credit go further.
Josh Bandura
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