Amex Centurion Hotel Benefits: A Comprehensive Guide

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As a Centurion cardholder, you're likely aware of the incredible hotel benefits that come with membership. You can enjoy complimentary upgrades, guaranteed room availability, and access to exclusive hotel experiences.

One of the most valuable benefits is the ability to book luxury hotels at a discounted rate, often with a 4pm check-in time, and a 3pm check-out time. This can be a huge perk, especially for business travelers.

Additionally, you can take advantage of hotel credits, which can be used towards room upgrades, food, and other incidentals. These credits can add up quickly and provide a significant savings.

As a Centurion cardholder, you'll also have access to a dedicated concierge service that can help you book reservations, plan itineraries, and even make travel arrangements.

Centurion Card Perks

The Centurion card offers an impressive array of perks, making it a valuable addition to any traveler's wallet. One of the most notable benefits is access to the Centurion Haus lounge, a members-only venue hidden behind a shop in the Raffles Singapore arcade.

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To gain entry, you simply need to know the lounge's location and push a specific display panel in the adjacent hat shop. This will reveal the entrance to the lounge, where you can relax in elegant surroundings and enjoy a range of sophisticated food and beverage options.

In addition to the Centurion Haus lounge, cardmembers also receive a suite of other benefits, including:

  • Complimentary Delta Platinum Medallion status, valued at $3,865
  • Complimentary Hilton Diamond status, valued at $3,025
  • Complimentary Marriott Gold status, valued at $845
  • Hertz Platinum status, including valet drop-off service at participating locations
  • Access to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, as well as the Centurion hotel collection
  • Annual holiday gifts, typically valued at over $500

These perks provide a tremendous amount of value, making the Centurion card a worthwhile investment for any serious traveler.

Hotel Benefits

With the American Express Centurion card, you'll have access to some amazing hotel benefits. You'll get elite status at renowned hotels and resorts worldwide, including Marriott Gold Elite status, Hilton Honors Diamond, and IHG Priority Club Rewards Platinum Elite.

These elite statuses come with perks like room upgrades, guaranteed 4 pm checkout, and in-room WiFi. You'll also get access to the Centurion Hotel Program and AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, which offer benefits like daily breakfast for two.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts:

  • Complimentary daily breakfast for two
  • Room upgrades
  • Guaranteed 4 pm checkout
  • In-room WiFi

Elite Status

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Elite status can be a game-changer for frequent travelers.

The Centurion Card allows cardmembers to receive automatic elite status with several programs.

This can include perks like priority check-in, upgraded hotel rooms, and access to exclusive airport lounges.

With automatic elite status, you can skip the lines and enjoy a more seamless travel experience.

The Centurion Card† is a prestigious card that offers a range of benefits, including elite status with several programs.

Hotel Benefits

Hotel Benefits are a game-changer for travelers. With the right benefits, you can enjoy a more luxurious and stress-free stay.

You can earn elite status at top hotels and resorts worldwide, including Marriott Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Diamond, and IHG Priority Club Rewards Platinum Elite. This can lead to perks like room upgrades and guaranteed late checkout.

Access to the Centurion Hotel Program and Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts offers even more benefits, such as daily breakfast for two and in-room WiFi. These programs are especially useful for luxury travelers who don't stay at a particular brand often enough to earn elite status.

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Before booking your room, compare prices for booking directly with the hotel's website. Then, see if the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts perks, like complimentary daily breakfast and $100 experience credit, are worth any price difference.

Some hotels in the Amex FHR program may be more budget-friendly than others, but high-end hotels make up the majority of the 1,500 properties in the program.

Finding FHR Properties with American Express

Finding FHR Properties with American Express is a breeze, thanks to the Fine Hotels + Resorts page. You can peruse the collection to see what's available before logging into your account.

To identify FHR properties, look for a label across the top of each hotel in the results page. This label is easy to spot and will let you know if the hotel is part of the Fine Hotels + Resorts program.

If you're not sure where to start, use the Hotel Finder tool to filter through the collection. You can filter by region, ambiance, environment, guest experience, and features & activities.

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Using the Hotel Finder tool, you can also find hotels that fall under dozens of categories, including recently renovated, romantic hideaways, ski and spa, and more. This makes it easy to find the perfect hotel for your needs.

Here are some examples of categories you can filter by:

  • Region: Americas, Europe, Asia, etc.
  • Ambiance: Beach, city, countryside, etc.
  • Environment: Nature, urban, luxury, etc.
  • Guest experience: Family-friendly, pet-friendly, etc.
  • Features & activities: Skiing, spa, golf, etc.

FHR vs The Hotel Collection

American Express has two collections of hotels: Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) and The Hotel Collection. The Hotel Collection offers complimentary benefits, but they're not as generous as FHR's.

You must stay at least two nights to receive the benefits at The Hotel Collection hotels, which include a complimentary room upgrade and an experience credit valued at $100.

The benefits at The Hotel Collection are a step down from FHR's, but still worth considering if you're looking for a more affordable option.

How to Book a Reservation

To book a reservation through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, you must have an eligible American Express credit card. This program isn't available to all American Express customers, so make sure you meet the requirements.

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First, log into your American Express account or visit the FHR home page directly. You can also search for hotels by destination and travel dates to see which hotels are available. The search results typically include FHR and The Hotel Collection properties toward the top.

Compare FHR options and review the available promotions. Select hotels may offer a free night, resort credits, discounts, or a combination. You can use filters to narrow down the choices, such as sorting by star rating, price, neighborhood, amenities, and other factors.

The AmEx Travel website also allows you to check TripAdvisor reviews to help you determine the best hotel for your stay. You can also use filters to see only FHR properties.

Here are the steps to book a reservation:

1. Log into your American Express account or visit the FHR home page directly.

2. Search for your destination and travel dates to see which hotels are available.

3. Compare FHR options and review the available promotions.

4. Use filters to narrow down the choices.

5. Select the hotel you like and choose your preferred room type.

6. Pay with either Membership Rewards points or your eligible credit card.

Note that you must prepay in full at the time of booking to qualify for the 5x points on your stay and the annual $200 hotel credit on the Amex Platinum Card.

Travel & Shopping Protections

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As a Centurion cardmember, you'll enjoy the highest level of travel and shopping protections American Express has to offer.

These protections include protection against trip delay and cancellation, as well as baggage delays, which can be a huge relief when you're traveling.

Eligibility and benefit level vary by card, so be sure to check the details on the American Express website.

You'll also get extended warranty and purchase protection, giving you peace of mind when making purchases.

Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company, and by AMEX Assurance Company.

Centurion Haus and Resorts

The Centurion Haus is a members-only lounge hidden behind a shop in the Raffles Singapore arcade, accessible only to Centurion cardmembers who know the secret location.

To gain access, you simply walk into the right hat shop and push a specific display panel, revealing the entrance to this exclusive lounge.

Inside, you'll find elegant seating and a menu of sophisticated food and beverage options at your disposal.

The Centurion Haus is just one of the many perks available to Centurion cardmembers, who also have access to Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, a curated collection of over 1,500 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.

Centurion Haus

A spacious and luxurious hotel lobby with contemporary decor and natural lighting.
Credit: pexels.com, A spacious and luxurious hotel lobby with contemporary decor and natural lighting.

The Centurion Haus is a members-only lounge located in the Raffles Singapore arcade. It's hidden behind a shop, and to gain access, you need to walk into the right hat shop and push a specific display panel.

The hat shop wall then opens to reveal the entrance to the lounge, where Centurion cardmembers can relax in their choice of elegant seating and order from a menu of sophisticated food and beverage options.

This lounge is exclusive to Centurion cardmembers, and it's a unique perk that comes with holding this elite credit card.

Private Suite

The Private Suite is a perk that comes with being a Centurion cardmember, and it's definitely a unique experience. Cardmembers get a complimentary annual membership to The Private Suite, which normally costs $4,500.

You'll get to feel like a celebrity upon departure or arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, but the value of this perk is debatable. The normal price tag for a membership is $4,500.

For every one-way flight where you use the service, you'll need to pay an additional $2,700 - $3,000. That's a discount of up to $1,000 off the fees charged to non-members, but it's still a hefty price tag.

Booking and Access

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To book a reservation on FHR, you'll need to log into your American Express account or visit the FHR home page directly. You can search your destination and travel dates to see which hotels are available.

Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) properties are typically listed at the top of the search results, followed by standard hotels that aren't part of the program. You can use filters to narrow down your choices, such as sorting by star rating, price, or amenities.

The Amex Travel website also allows you to compare FHR options and review available promotions, which may include free nights, resort credits, or discounts. Select hotels may offer a combination of these perks.

To access FHR, you'll need to hold one of the eligible American Express cards, including the Amex Platinum, Business Platinum Card, or Amex Centurion Card. The Centurion Card is invitation-only and comes with a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee.

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Once you've chosen your destination, you can search for all the hotels offered by Amex Travel, which will include FHR properties. These properties will be marked with a black label and will also be listed under the hotel details.

To secure your reservation, you'll need to pay with either Membership Rewards points or your eligible credit card. A popup will appear on your screen where you'll be asked to choose how you want to pay, with options including Pay Now, Pay with Points, or Pay at Hotel.

Value and Worth

The Centurion Card's hotel benefits are a game-changer for luxury travelers. You can earn elite status at renowned hotels and resorts worldwide, including Marriott Gold Elite status, Hilton Honors Diamond, and IHG Priority Club Rewards Platinum Elite.

To maximize value, consider booking through AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, which offers benefits like daily breakfast for two, room upgrades, guaranteed 4 pm checkout, and in-room WiFi. These perks can be worth the extra cost, especially if you're willing to pay a bit more for the luxury experience.

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Some hotels offer free night offers, where you'll receive a free night based on a minimum-length stay. For example, you might receive the third, fourth or fifth-night free when booking an eligible promotion. This can be a great way to save money on your stay.

Here are some examples of how to get even more value from your stay:

Ultimately, the value of the Centurion Card's hotel benefits depends on your travel style and preferences. If you don't stay at luxury properties, then AMEX FHR may not be worth it to you. However, if you value the perks and luxury experience, it could be a great investment for your travels.

Booking Drawbacks and Tips

Booking through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts has its perks, but it's essential to be aware of the drawbacks before making a reservation.

You can't double-dip with hotel elite status benefits, so if you're a loyal member, you might not receive the perks you're used to.

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Most hotel loyalty programs require direct booking to earn elite benefits, and even then, it's often on a case-by-case basis.

May not earn hotel points or stay credits when booking through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, but some luxury hotels may make exceptions.

Rates may be higher on the FHR website compared to booking directly with the hotel or other online booking sites.

You'll need to stay a minimum number of nights to receive all FHR benefits, and some properties may have specific requirements.

To maximize your benefits, be sure to prepay in full at the time of booking to earn 5x points on your stay, especially if you're using the Amex Platinum Card.

Here's a quick summary of the drawbacks to keep in mind:

American Express Eligible Cards and Perks

To take advantage of American Express Centurion hotel benefits, you'll need to have one of the following eligible cards: The Platinum Card from American Express, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Corporate Platinum Card, or Centurion Card.

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These cards offer exclusive access to Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) reservations, which come with a range of perks.

With FHR, you can enjoy benefits like 12 p.m. early check-in (when available), complimentary room upgrade upon arrival (when available), daily breakfast for two, experience credit valued at $100, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout your stay, and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.

The value of these benefits averages out to around $600 per stay, making FHR a great option for those looking to elevate their hotel experience.

You can pay for your FHR reservation with cash, Membership Rewards points, or a combination of both. The Platinum Card from American Express also earns 5x points on prepaid hotel rooms booked through AmEx Travel.

Final Thoughts

Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts is a game-changer for luxury travelers who want to get the most out of their hotel stay without breaking the bank.

By booking an FHR property, you can enjoy elite status-like perks without needing to have elite status or even a loyalty program. This is especially valuable for high-end hotels that don't offer loyalty programs.

The program isn't for everyone, as you need to have the right American Express card to access it, but it's a valuable tool for the right type of traveler.

You can book inexpensive hotels through FHR, so it's not just for luxury stays.

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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