When we pick a hotel for a city break, we almost always start with two lists: Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection (THC). Both belong to American Express and both work the same way – you book through Amex Travel, pay with your card and get perks at the hotel that are usually reserved for high-status regulars.
Our hotel of the month, La Fantaisie in Paris, shows how well that works in practice.
The details below are from American Express Germany; benefits can differ slightly in other countries.
Fine Hotels + Resorts (with the Platinum Card)
Around 1,800 luxury hotels in about 100 countries – from big names like Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental or Waldorf Astoria to small boutique hotels. The benefits apply from the first night:
- Room upgrade to the next category, if available at arrival
- Breakfast for two – every day of your stay
- US$100 hotel credit per stay, e.g. for the restaurant, bar or spa (some hotels give more)
- Early check-in from noon , subject to availability
- Late check-out until 4 pm – guaranteed
- Free Wi-Fi in the room (a few hotels excepted)
According to American Express, that adds up to around US$600 in value per stay. Everything is per room: each primary card can book up to three rooms at the FHR rate – each with its own credit and breakfast.
The Hotel Collection (Gold and Platinum)
The “little sister” with more than 1,300 hotels, including many design and four-star properties from brands like Hilton, Conrad, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, InterContinental, Marriott, Sofitel and Fairmont. A Gold Card is enough:
- Room upgrade at arrival, subject to availability
- US$100 hotel credit for spending at the hotel
- Early check-in and late check-out , subject to availability
- Minimum two nights – the benefits only apply from then
- Up to **three rooms** at once, as long as you stay in one of them
The difference at a glance
| Fine Hotels + Resorts | The Hotel Collection | |
|---|---|---|
| Card | Platinum Card | Gold Card, Gold Card Rosé, Platinum Card |
| Hotels | 1,800+ | 1,300+ |
| Minimum stay | 1 night | 2 nights |
| Breakfast for two | daily | – |
| Hotel credit | US$100 | US$100 |
| Late check-out | until 4 pm, guaranteed | subject to availability |
| Upgrade | subject to availability | subject to availability |
How to book
- Log in to your American Express online account and choose Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection under “Travel”.
- Pick a city and hotel – the special rates are only shown to primary cardholders.
- Book and pay with your Amex card, in advance or at the hotel. Paying in advance lets you use Membership Rewards points or the Platinum Card's annual travel credit.
- A deposit usually isn't needed; changes and cancellations work online under “Manage my bookings”.
Our tips
- Compare the price: Put the FHR rate next to the hotel's own flexible rate. Often they're the same – then breakfast and the credit are pure bonus.
- Plan the credit: Ask at check-in what it covers (restaurant, bar, spa). Anything left expires at check-out.
- Combine: Travel credit for the booking, SIXT ride from the airport, Priority Pass for the lounge – that's how you get the most out of the Platinum.
- Use the late check-out: Until 4 pm often means a relaxed breakfast and one more walk through town before heading to the airport.
Add your Amex card to Voynera: the app shows card benefits that fit your trip and reminds you of credits before they expire.
Official information
As of November 2026 · without guarantee · Quelle: American Express (AMEXcited), Stand Februar 2026 – Angaben ohne Gewähr