The Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program is a fantastic perk for American Express Platinum cardholders who enjoy luxury travel. This exclusive benefit offers special amenities at four-star and higher-rated hotels, making your stays more affordable while adding a touch of luxury. Since we started using FHR, we’ve been amazed by the extra benefits, and now we can’t imagine booking hotels without it.
In this post, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program, especially if you’re new to it. Whether you’re planning a family trip or a relaxing getaway, this program offers fantastic ways to enhance your hotel experience. Therefore, keep reading to discover how it works and why it’s ideal for travelers like you!
What is Fine Hotels & Resorts?
Best for Luxury Travel
THE PLATINUM CARD FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
The Amex Platinum Card offers luxury hotel perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, and property credits through Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR). Plus, enjoy lounge access, elite status, travel credits, and more exclusive benefits for a premium experience.
Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) is a phenomenal benefit program available exclusively to American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders. This program grants access to a world of luxurious perks at 4-star and above hotels, both domestically in the U.S. and internationally. When you book your accommodations through FHR, you’re treated to a selection of elite benefits. Imagine being welcomed with a complimentary room upgrade, enjoying late check-out, and experiencing other premium perks that elevate your travel to new heights. The best part? These incredible benefits come at no additional cost during your stay—offering you VIP treatment simply because you hold the right card.
Want to see how FHR can take your travels to the next level of luxury? Continue reading for more thrilling insights in this blog post!
Key Benefits of Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts
1. Free Room Upgrades (Subject to Availability)
When you check in, if the hotel has availability, you might get a free room upgrade! The type of upgrade depends on the hotel, and sometimes you could even be bumped up to a suite, which is a great bonus! If you don’t get an upgrade right away, don’t be afraid to ask. Hotel staff might forget or not mention it, so it’s always worth checking.
2. Complimentary Breakfast for Two
FHR offers free breakfast for two guests! At luxury hotels, breakfast can be quite pricey, so this is a great perk. Some hotels offer a set amount you can spend, while others let you enjoy a completely free breakfast for two, so make sure to ask about the details when you check in or before heading to breakfast.
3. Early Check-In at Noon (Subject to Availability)
While this depends on availability, early check-in at noon is another FHR perk. Whether you’re eager to start enjoying the hotel or want to hit the pool early, being able to check in sooner is a nice convenience. Some hotels even offer earlier than noon check-in.
4. Guaranteed Late Check-Out at 4 PM
Late check-out until 4 PM is a fantastic bonus, especially if you’re planning a relaxing staycation. Even if you’re only staying for one night, having the room until 4 PM the next day gives you extra time to unwind and fully enjoy your stay without feeling rushed. Instead of the usual check-out scramble, you can take your time—whether it’s lounging by the pool, going for a bike ride, hitting the slopes, or simply relaxing in your room. This extra time allows you to make the most of your stay and truly relax.
5. $100 Credit
When you book through FHR, you get a $100 credit to use during your stay. The way you can use the credit depends on the hotel. Make sure to ask at check-in for details. Some hotels let you apply it to dining, resort fees, or parking. Others may limit it to spa services or activities like bike rentals. Knowing your options ahead of time helps you get the most out of your stay!
Pro Tip: The $100 credit is given once per reservation, not per night. If you want to get the most out of this, you can try making separate reservations for each night. This might mean you’ll need to change rooms, but with the late check-out benefit, you won’t be without a room during the switch.
6. Free Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi is included, which is a standard amenity but still a nice touch to stay connected during your trip. Some hotels will give you premium Wi-FI, check the hotel before you check in if you need faster internet.
7. Additional Offers
Keep an eye out for special promotions, like free third nights when you book two nights or additional discounts on room rates. These offers vary by hotel and can make your stay even more affordable!
This perk breakdown shows how much value FHR can add to your hotel stays, whether you’re traveling for a quick getaway or a longer vacation!
How to Book Using Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR)
To take advantage of FHR, you need to book through the official American Express Travel website. Keep in mind that only Platinum members and Centurion members have access to the FHR program. The Centurion card is the black card which is an invitation only from American Express.
Note: Sometimes, booking through American Express Travel can be a bit more expensive than booking directly with the hotel. When this happens, consider the value of the perks, such as the hotel credit and free breakfast. In many cases, the benefits outweigh the slight price difference.
Additionally, by booking through American Express Travel and using your Platinum card, you can earn 5% back in points, making it an even better deal!
From City to Resort: Amex FHR Hotels Worldwide
FHR includes many luxury hotels, usually rated 4 stars or higher. These hotels are located not only in the U.S. but also in major cities and popular resort destinations worldwide. When planning to stay at a high-end hotel, we always check FHR and other loyalty programs to see which offers the best value.
Explore FHR Hotels
Beyond the Basics: Hidden Perks of Amex FHR
A great advantage of booking through Amex Travel is the ability to combine it with other offers. For instance, booking a Marriott hotel through sites like Booking.com or Expedia won’t earn you Marriott points, even if you’re a member. But by booking through American Express Travel, you’ll still earn points and be able to use your Marriott membership benefits.
For our family, we hold the Marriott Brilliant Card, which gives us automatic Platinum Elite status. With this, we receive complimentary breakfast for two. By using both FHR’s free breakfast offer and Marriott’s Platinum status benefit, all four of us enjoyed breakfast at no additional cost, and we still earned Marriott points for our stay.
*The image above displays three meal vouchers for breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. We booked two rooms for six people through the Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) program this time. With FHR, we received two complimentary breakfasts per room, adding up to four free breakfasts. Additionally, thanks to Marriott Platinum Elite status, we got two more breakfasts covered.
Is the Amex Platinum FHR Program Worth It? Final Thoughts and Insights
If you love staying in luxury hotels or want to enjoy a relaxing, upscale experience, the FHR program is definitely worth considering. Whether you plan a few high-end hotel stays a year or want to maximize your travel budget with added benefits, it can really enhance your travel experience. Plus, if you book hotels using Amex points, you’ll still enjoy all the FHR benefits, adding even more value.
Now that we’ve started using FHR, we always check if our preferred hotel is part of the program before booking elsewhere. While the Amex Platinum card has a high annual fee, the rewards you get from smart use can quickly cover that cost.
I’ll dive into more details in upcoming blog posts, so stay tuned! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a DM on Instagram. Let’s make the most of these amazing travel benefits!
Best for Luxury Travel
THE PLATINUM CARD FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
The Amex Platinum Card offers luxury hotel perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout, and property credits through Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR). Plus, enjoy lounge access, elite status, travel credits, and more exclusive benefits for a premium experience.
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