Using your Amex hotel credit before the end of the year? Here are 3 things to know As the year draws to a close, many American Express cardholders are scrambling to maximize their hotel-related benefits before they expire. One of the most valuable of these is the annual hotel credit, which offers a set amount of money to use towards qualifying hotel stays. Whether you're a first-timer or just looking for an easy way to use the credit as the calendar winds down, here are three important things to know. 1. What is the Amex hotel credit? The hotel credit is a benefit offered on several premium American Express cards, including the Platinum Card, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. Depending on the card, the credit ranges from $200 to $300 per calendar year, and can be used towards room rates, incidentals, and other eligible hotel charges. To qualify, the hotel stay must be booked directly with the hotel or through the American Express travel portal. Third-party bookings, such as those made through online travel agencies, do not count. Additionally, the credit can only be used for a single hotel stay - it cannot be broken up across multiple bookings. This benefit is tremendously valuable, essentially giving cardholders a free hotel night (or close to it) every year. However, the credit is use-it-or-lose-it - any unused portion expires at the end of the calendar year and cannot be rolled over. 2. How to maximize the credit With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time for Amex cardholders to start planning how to best utilize their remaining hotel credit. Here are a few tips: Book a stay before December 31st The simplest way to use the credit is to book a hotel stay that takes place before the end of the year. This ensures the charges will post to your account in time to be covered by the current year's credit. Consider a short weekend getaway or a quick one-night stay to maximize the value. Longer trips may be overkill if you're just trying to use up the credit before it expires. Split a stay across two calendar years Another savvy strategy is to book a multi-night stay that extends into the new year. By doing this, you can use the current year's credit for the first part of the stay, and then leverage the following year's credit for the remainder. This approach is especially useful if your hotel credit resets in January. It allows you to effectively "double-dip" and get twice the value out of your benefits. Look for high-cost hotels When deciding where to use your credit, try to target hotels with higher nightly rates. This will allow you to get the maximum value out of the fixed-dollar credit amount. For example, if you have a $200 credit, you'd get better bang for your buck by using it towards a $400/night hotel stay rather than a $150/night one. The credit will cover a larger portion of the total cost. 3. Beware of blackout dates and restrictions While the Amex hotel credit is a valuable perk, it's important to be aware of any blackout dates or other restrictions that may limit when and how you can use it. Many hotel chains, for instance, have blackout periods around major holidays when the credit cannot be applied. Certain room types or special packages may also be excluded. It's crucial to read the fine print and understand the limitations before booking. Additionally, the credit can only be used for the cardholder's own stay - it cannot be applied to rooms booked for friends or family members. This means you won't be able to use the credit to cover a relative's hotel costs, for example. Maximizing the value of your Amex hotel credit takes a bit of planning, but the potential savings make it well worth the effort. Whether you book a quick weekend trip or a longer vacation, just be sure to use it before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st.