Kerrick Consulting

Through its Platinum Card, American Express offers cardholders the opportunity to book at over 1,200 hotel properties through its Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) program. By booking through the FHR Portal, members automatically receive the following benefits:

Early Check-In at Noon (when available)
Room Upgrade (when available)
Daily Breakfast for Two
$100 Experience Credit
Complimentary WiFi
Late Check-Out at 4:00 PM (guaranteed)

A new benefit of the revamped AMEX Platinum Card, cardholders receive $200 back in statement credits when booking a FHR experience. This statement credit is an annual one, and resets on January 1st each year. When this new benefit was announced earlier this year, I immediately began searching for a deal.

A Visit to Scottsdale

The average nightly rate for the FHR program is typically much higher than a traditional room, but with a dynamic pricing model, your ability to be flexible may offer you the chance to save big! For instance, we found a room at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows on a Sunday night in August for just $339 including the resort fee; with the $200 statement credit, the room only cost us $139 for the night. In addition, we received a $100 food and beverage credit for a dinner we had already budgeted for, so the total stay only cost us $39!

The experience was first-class, with an immediate recognition at the door for using the FHR program. We were immediately shown to our room, that the host introduced as the nicest room on the property. After checking in, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen on-site.

First Impressions of the FHR Program

The FHR program certainly leads to a more expensive stay in most cases, but when you have budgeted for your vacation, it is absolutely worth checking availability through the FHR portal before finalizing your lodging. With the guaranteed benefits, including free daily breakfast, it can be worth the extra budget allocation to ensure that valued experience.