Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here to read more about our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards. 

If you’re looking for a loyalty program ideal for renters, Bilt Rewards is a solid option. As a member, you’ll earn Bilt Points when you pay rent and make your regular everyday purchases. The points you earn can be redeemed for travel through loyalty partners, rent or future down payments, fitness classes, and more.

Plus, there are no transaction fees (see rates and fees) on rent payments when you use the Bilt Mastercard®. You can earn up to 100,000 points on rent per calendar year.

We’re celebrating the Bilt Mastercard (see rates and fees) for winning the Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Rewards Credit Card award at the 2024 TPG Awards. This card is a powerhouse for renters, who can earn valuable Bilt points on their rent payments with no transaction fee. You must make at least five transactions on the card every statement period to earn points (see rewards and benefits).

While we love this card, you don’t need to have it to earn and redeem points in the Bilt Rewards program.

TPG’s May 2025 valuations place Bilt points at 2.05 cents apiece, though there are plenty of ways to get more value from them. Let’s delve into all the details of the Bilt Rewards loyalty program and explore how to earn and redeem points for maximum value.

What is Bilt Rewards?

Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program that lets you earn points to redeem toward travel, Amazon purchases, home decor, fitness classes and more. You can earn Bilt points by simply becoming a member, linking a qualifying card to your Bilt Rewards account and transacting with Bilt partners.

Perhaps most notably, you can earn Bilt points by paying your rent. With the Bilt Mastercard, you can earn points on rent with no transaction fee (see rates and fees).

How do you earn Bilt Rewards points?

You don’t necessarily need to have the Bilt Mastercard or pay rent to earn Bilt points. There are nine primary ways to earn Bilt points.

1. Earning Bilt points by paying rent

You can earn 1 point per dollar spent on rent at any home (up to 100,000 points per calendar year) by paying your rent with the Bilt Mastercard.

You can pay your rent with your Bilt Mastercard through the Bilt app, but if your landlord only accepts physical checks, don’t fret. You can still pay your rent with the Bilt Mastercard on the app, and then Bilt will mail your landlord a rent check each month, allowing you to earn points on rent without incurring any additional transaction fees (see rates and fees). If applicable, you can also process payments through Venmo and your landlord’s online rent portal.

As of April 2025, you can now use a credit card that isn’t a Bilt Mastercard to pay rent, though it may not be the best option. If you use a Visa, Discover or Mastercard, you’ll earn 1 Bilt point per dollar spent on rent. Using an American Express card, you’ll earn 1 Bilt point for every $2 spent. However, you’ll incur a 3% transaction fee with this route.

2. Earning Bilt points with the Bilt Mastercard

Speaking of the Bilt Mastercard, it offers a simple earning structure:

• 5 points per dollar spent with Bilt Dining partners and Lyft, once you link your Bilt and Lyft accounts and pay with the Bilt Mastercard
• 3 points per dollar spent on dining
• 2 points per dollar spent on travel booked directly with the provider or through the Bilt Travel Portal and on Walgreens purchases and prescriptions
• 1 point per dollar spent on rent payments (up to 100,000 points per calendar year) and all other purchases

You must use your card at least five times during each statement period to earn points.

This no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) offers impressive perks, including an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, and No Foreign Transaction Fees (see rates and fees).

You do not need to pay rent to apply for the Bilt Mastercard.

Related: Should you pay your rent with Bilt? We crunch the numbers

3. Earning Bilt points through Bilt Dining

Bilt also has its own dining rewards program called Bilt Dining.

You can link any Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card to the Bilt Dining program to earn up to 3 points per dollar spent at Bilt Dining restaurants when you pay with any eligible card in your Bilt Wallet.

These earnings come in addition to what you earn with your credit card. For example, if you pay with your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn 3 additional points per dollar spent*, for a total of up to 6 Bilt points per dollar spent. Put differently, that’s a 12.3% return on your dining purchases, according to TPG’s May 2025 valuations.

Bilt states that you can earn up to 10 points per dollar spent on eating at a Bilt Dining restaurant and paying with any eligible card on file in your Bilt Wallet. Plus, there is no cap on how many points you can earn through Bilt Dining.

4. Earning Bilt points on the Bilt travel portal

Expedia powers Bilt’s travel portal, where you can earn points on flights, hotel stays, car rentals and things to do. As a Bilt member, you earn 1 point per dollar spent on travel booked through the portal.

As a Bilt Mastercard holder, you earn 2 points per dollar spent on travel booked through the portal and 2 additional points per dollar by charging your purchase to the card*. That is a total of 4 Bilt points per dollar spent.

5. Earning Bilt points with referrals

You’ll earn 2,500 points each time you refer a friend to the Bilt Mastercard, on up to 50 total referrals. For every five referrals, you earn 10,000 bonus points. You can refer friends to the card through the website or app.

6. Earning Bilt points with Lyft

You can earn 2 Bilt points per dollar spent on Lyft rides when you link your accounts. When you pay for your ride with the Bilt Mastercard*, you’ll also receive an additional 3 Bilt points per dollar spent.

7. Earning Bilt points with fitness studios

You can earn up to 10 points per dollar spent on fitness classes booked through the Bilt app.

These studios include SoulCycle, Pure Barre, Barry’s and Rumble Boxing.

8. Earning Bilt points by playing the Rent Free game

Bilt offers a game show-style opportunity for members to earn extra points on Bilt Rent Day (the first of the month): Rent Free.

Rent Free is set up like “Family Feud,” with a new creator or personality playing the game each month. As a Bilt member, you can earn points with Rent Free when you pick a top-three answer, when you correctly rank that answer (double points) and when the celebrity guest picks the same answer as you (triple points).

On top of earning points, the top 10-scoring players will win free rent for a month (up to $2,500). The next 600 top-scoring members will get Bilt points. If you tie, the tie will be broken based on who played the game first.

9. Earning Bilt points on home buying

In 2024, Bilt launched a new way to earn points: home buying. The loyalty program partnered with eXp Realty, and when you work with an eXp agent, Bilt members will earn 1 point for every $2 of a home purchase price. For example, if you purchase a home for $500,000 using an eXp Realty agent, you could earn up to 250,000 Bilt points. According to TPG’s May 2025 valuations, those points would be worth $5,125.

*You must use your card at least five times during each statement period to earn points.

Related: Bilt considering new credit card products to pair with points for mortgage payments — here are our thoughts

Bilt Rewards elite status tiers

Bilt offers four status tiers. You can reach Bilt elite status in two ways: earning Bilt points and receiving fast-track status with spending on the Bilt Mastercard and within the Bilt ecosystem.

While you won’t earn fast-track status on rent spending, you can earn it through SoulCycle classes booked in the Bilt app, Bilt Dining restaurant purchases made with any card linked in your Bilt Wallet, Lyft rides when Bilt is set as your rewards partner, and bookings made via Bilt’s travel portal.

Every member of Bilt Rewards starts in the Blue tier.

Here’s a quick overview.

	Blue	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Option 1: Bilt points qualification	All Bilt Rewards members	50,000 points	125,000 points	200,000 points
Option 2: Fast track with spending	All Bilt Rewards members	$10,000 spent	$25,000 spent	$50,000 spent
Earn interest on your points (at the FDIC-published national savings rate)		✓	✓	✓
Blade benefits		✓	✓	✓ (including a complimentary Blade flight)
Access to complimentary homeownership concierge			✓	✓
Rent Day transfer bonuses		Higher transfer bonuses	Gold-level transfer bonuses	Platinum-level transfer bonuses

Your member status is based on the total points earned in a calendar year. You’ll receive the higher of the two statuses through qualifying points or via spending on the fast-track status path.

No matter when you earn status each calendar year, it’s good for the rest of the year and the following year.

Bilt Platinum members can apply for an Air France-KLM Flying Blue status match

Bilt Platinum members can receive 12 months of Flying Blue Gold status. To activate this status match, members must go to the Bilt app and select “Elite Status Match.” Then, members must transfer 10,000 Bilt points to Flying Blue to officially activate their Gold status. Luckily, these 10,000 points can be used toward a future Air France-KLM award flight.

After requesting status, it may take up to three business days for your Flying Blue Gold status to become officially active.

Flying Blue Gold status will give Bilt members additional airline perks and qualify them for SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which includes benefits on other SkyTeam airlines like Delta Air Lines.

Learn more about specific Flying Blue Gold status perks on Flying Blue’s tier benefits page and the added benefits of having SkyTeam Elite Plus status on SkyTeam’s FAQ page.

Related: How to earn ‘interest’ on your points balance with Bilt Rewards

How to use Bilt points: Best-value option

The Bilt Rewards loyalty program gives you many ways to use your points, though not all carry equal value.

Let’s start with the best way for you to redeem your Bilt points. Nothing beats the outsize value of transferring your points to Bilt’s 20 airline and hotel partners.

Transfer your Bilt points to travel partners

Joining these loyalty programs is free, even if you’ve never flown the airline or stayed with the hotel brand.

By transferring your Bilt points to the right programs, you can easily get 2.05 cents per point in value — and perhaps much more — and score a lie-flat airplane seat or a luxurious hotel stay.

Program	Transfer ratio	Transfer time
ALL — Accor Live Limitless	3:2	**
Aer Lingus AerClub	1:1	Within minutes
Air Canada Aeroplan	1:1	Within 24 hours
Air France-KLM Flying Blue	1:1	Within minutes
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan	1:1	Within minutes
Avianca LifeMiles	1:1	Up to 72 hours
British Airways Club	1:1	Within minutes
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	1:1	Within minutes
Emirates Skywards	1:1	Within minutes
Hilton Honors	1:1	Within minutes
Club Iberia Plus	1:1	Within minutes
IHG One Rewards	1:1	Within minutes
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank	1:1	**
Marriott Bonvoy	1:1, with 5,000 bonus points for every 20,000 points you transfer in a single transfer	Within 48 hours
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards	1:1	**
TAP Miles&Go	1:1	**
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles	1:1	Within minutes
United Airlines MileagePlus	1:1	Within minutes
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	1:1	Within minutes
World of Hyatt	1:1	Within minutes

**TPG has not yet tested transferring Bilt points to these programs.

Best-value transfer partners

Bilt Rewards partners with some of our favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs, including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and World of Hyatt. These programs have largely kept standard award charts for award flights and hotel nights, meaning you’ll pay a predictable rate and can often get outsize value from your points.

Transfer bonuses

Bilt Rewards has historically offered some of the best transfer bonuses we’ve seen during Rent Day (the first of every month).

These have included 150% transfer bonuses to some carriers, such as Emirates Skywards, and up to a 100% transfer bonus to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan for July 2024 Rent Day. Additionally, Bilt has previously offered a 100% transfer bonus to Flying Blue.

Related: The best airline award chart sweet spots

How to use Bilt points: Medium-value options

The following redemption options will get you decent value with a redemption rate of at least 1 cent per point.

Use your points to save up for a down payment on a home

Bilt offers the unique ability for users to save up their points toward a down payment on a home.

If you opt for this route, your Bilt points are valued at 1.5 cents each toward a down payment. This means 10,000 Bilt points are worth $150 toward your down payment.

Redeem for travel on the Bilt travel portal

You can use the Bilt travel portal to offset the cost of flights, stays, rental cars and activities at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.

How to use Bilt points: Poor-value options

If you want to extract maximum value from your Bilt Rewards points, you’ll likely want to avoid some of these less valuable redemption options.

Use points for Amazon purchases

You can select your Bilt Mastercard on Amazon as a payment method and redeem your points to cover all or a portion of your purchase at checkout. However, Bilt points are worth 0.7 cents each when used this way.

For example, you’ll need approximately 14,300 Bilt points to cover a $100 Amazon purchase. Compare that to TPG’s May 2025 valuation of 2.05 cents per Bilt point, and it’s not necessarily the best deal.

Shop the Bilt Collection

The Bilt Collection is a curated list of items, including art, home decor and apparel. The value per point will vary, but since it rarely exceeds more than 1 cent per point, you should likely pass on this option.

Redeem your points for fitness classes

Fitness enthusiasts can redeem their Bilt points to attend name-brand classes like SoulCycle, Solidcore, and Y7 Studio. The value will depend on the class you select, but it hovers around 1 cent per point.

Redeem your points for rent

A potentially enticing option with your points is to save them to help cover your next rent payment. However, the redemption value is just 0.55 cents per point.

Related: Ways college students can meet credit card minimum spending requirements

Frequently asked questions

Does the Bilt Mastercard charge a fee to pay rent?

No, the Bilt Mastercard does not charge a transaction fee (see rates and fees) when you use it to pay rent through Bilt Rewards. However, you can only earn 100,000 points on rent each calendar year, and you must make at least five transactions with the card in each statement period to earn points.

Can you use Bilt without the Bilt Mastercard?

Yes. You do not have to hold the Bilt Mastercard to enroll in Bilt Rewards and earn Bilt points in the program.

Does my landlord/management company have to have a partnership with Bilt?

No, you can use Bilt to pay rent even if your landlord does not partner with the program.

What are Bilt points worth?

TPG’s May 2025 valuations deem Bilt points as worth 2.05 cents per point. Depending on how you redeem your points, however, you could get a much higher or lower value for them.

Is the Bilt Mastercard worth it?

The Bilt Mastercard could be worth it if you want to earn points on rent without incurring a transaction fee (see rates and fees). The card also features popular bonus categories and could be a great option if you find value in the program’s transfer partners.

However, the card doesn’t feature a traditional welcome bonus, and some features aren’t as useful if you live in a less populated area. So, as with any decision, you should consider what you want in a card before you apply.

Related: Bilt Mastercard review: No-transaction-fee rent payments

Bottom line

Bilt Rewards presents an exceptional value proposition for both renters and nonrenters. Bilt has established partnerships with some of the more lucrative airline and hotel loyalty programs, enabling you to extract extraordinary value from your points. Your points transfer seamlessly at a straightforward 1:1 ratio (except when transferring to Accor), and most programs process the transfers instantly.

Even if you aren’t renting or don’t want to apply for the Bilt Mastercard, you can earn lots of points by linking your Lyft account, enrolling in Bilt Dining and booking travel through the Bilt portal.

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

Whether you’re trying to reach the minimum spending requirement for a welcome offer or simply racking up miles for your next award trip, putting everyday expenses on a credit card can unlock serious value.

No points and miles enthusiast wants to leave potential rewards or cash back on the table, but before you start swiping for every bill, it’s crucial to follow the golden rule of credit card use: always pay your balance in full and on time. Doing so helps you avoid interest charges, protect your credit score and even earn credit card rewards.

While using a rewards credit card for recurring bills and other expenses can pay off, not every transaction is worth charging, even if you’re a responsible cardholder.

Here’s how to decide which bills make sense to pay with a credit card — and when it’s better to keep that card in your wallet.

Related: TPG’s 10 commandments of credit cards

How to decide whether to pay a bill with a credit card

Can you pay off the full balance?

If you charge more than you can afford to pay off by your due date, you could face steep interest charges. In fact, the average APR on interest-accruing credit cards was over 21% in Q2 2025, according to the Federal Reserve.

That’s why it’s crucial to know your credit card’s APR — especially if you tend to carry a balance.

Even if you take advantage of a 0% APR offer, carrying a balance from month to month can have drawbacks. Credit card debt can cost you money in hidden ways, including the fact that a higher credit card utilization rate could harm your credit score.

In general, it’s best to only use your credit card only for bills and purchases you’re confident you can pay off in full by the next due date.

Are there fees for using your credit card?

Before entering your credit card details to pay a bill, check whether the merchant or service provider charges a surcharge.

Due to bank interchange fees (charged by banks), landlords, utility companies and other service providers often pass those costs on to customers who pay by credit card.

In some cases, you may be able to sidestep surcharges by using alternative options. For example, the Bilt Mastercard®* lets you pay rent with a credit card without transaction fees (see rates and fees).

*TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor.

When it comes to merchants or service providers, you might also consider switching to a card that doesn’t tack on extra fees for credit card payments.

However, sometimes, there’s no avoiding the surcharge — unless you use a different payment method. In those cases, it’s worth doing the math to decide whether the rewards you’ll earn outweigh the added cost.

TPG’s monthly points and miles valuations can help you crunch the numbers. And if you’re trying to meet a welcome offer’s minimum spend or earn bonus rewards in a specific spending category, those extra points, miles or cash back could tip the balance in your favor.

Is fraud or purchase protection important for this transaction?

One major benefit of using a credit card is the added protection it offers compared to debit cards, cash or checks. For instance, if your debit card is used fraudulently, your liability could be higher. But with a credit card, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) allows you to dispute charges for things like billing errors, undelivered goods and services and more.

Many credit cards also offer purchase protection, which can reimburse you if an eligible item is damaged or stolen shortly after it has been purchased, assuming you paid with a card that offers this benefit. Some even include extended warranty benefits, adding extra peace of mind if something breaks after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.

Bottom line

Some expenses are better left off your credit card — especially if you can’t pay your full balance each month and risk racking up high-interest charges. In that case, it may be wise to pause credit card spending until you’ve paid down your debt and created a plan to avoid overspending.

But when used responsibly, credit cards can be a smart payment method — particularly when you can pay the balance in full and avoid surcharges. Even if a fee applies, the rewards or benefits you earn might still make it worth it, depending on how the math works out.

Related: 13 expenses that you should not put on your credit card

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.

See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

July marks the peak summer travel season in much of the Northern Hemisphere, where temperatures are sizzling and the days are long. Leisure trips are in full swing, whether you’re on a solo adventure to an iconic city or heading to the beach with family members in tow. 

But if contending with stifling heat and crowds isn’t your speed, we recommend dipping below the equator, where it’s winter and the vibes are more about hitting the slopes, cozying up by a fire and making the most of brisker weather.

To spark inspiration for your upcoming vacation, here are the 10 best places to travel in July in the US and beyond.

Rabat, Morocco

Featured in our “Where to go in 2025” list, Morocco surpassed Egypt to become Africa’s most-visited country last year. In July, set your sights on Rabat, the country’s capital. It received a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, and it sits on a breezy perch along the Atlantic Ocean — meaning milder temperatures than its landlocked counterparts of Marrakech and Fez. Somehow, though, it has hovered under the radar.  

Unlike more touristy cities’ medinas, Rabat’s feels as if it’s been undisturbed by time. Amble down Rue Souika, the medina’s main artery, and peruse the stalls overflowing with spices, metalwork and leather goods. Sample the ubiquitous street food maakouda, deep-fried potato patties. Explore Kasbah des Oudaias (home to the picturesque Andalusian Gardens), the massive (and mysterious) burial ground Cimetiere Chouhada and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. 

TPG tip: Overlooking the Bouregreg River, Fairmont La Marina Rabat Sale was the first luxury property to open in the city in 2022. The 274-key hotel channels Moroccan design and culture at every turn, from the contemporary Moroccan restaurant Dahlia to the chic guest rooms and suites. Nightly rates in July start at $542.

Other hotel brands have followed in Fairmont’s footsteps. Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr (from $456 per night) and The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam (from $438 or 80,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night) opened last fall. If you’re planning a trip for next year, keep an eye on the highly anticipated Waldorf Astoria Rabat-Sale, which is scheduled to open in September in the Mohammed VI Tower (Africa’s tallest).

Milwaukee

Compared to many other U.S. cities, Milwaukee enjoys pleasant summers marked by mild temperatures and cooling Lake Michigan breezes. But July just might be the best time to visit since it’s jam-packed with all kinds of festivals, hence Milwaukee’s nickname, “The City of Festivals.”

Certified by Guinness World Records as “The World’s Largest Music Festival,” Summerfest spans three weekends, beginning June 19 and ending July 5. (Megan Thee Stallion and Flo Milli are among this year’s headliners.) Other festivals you should mark on your calendar are Harley-Davidson Homecoming (July 10 to 13), the Wisconsin State Fair (July 31 to Aug. 10) and German Fest Milwaukee (July 25 to 27). 

The city’s emerging restaurant scene has also garnered acclaim in recent years. Birch is a modern American restaurant that showcases Wisconsin’s wonderfully diverse bounty in dishes that feel very here and now (like crudite with carrot miso dip, wood-fired walleye and steelhead trout crudo). It’s led by 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist Kyle Knall; he and his wife, Meghan Knall, are also opening a French bistro called Cassis later this year. 

TPG tip: Book a room at Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, a 158-room lifestyle property in Milwaukee’s hip Third Ward. July rates start at $220 or 38,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Hokkaido, Japan

As one of Japan’s northernmost and largest islands, Hokkaido has long attracted diehard skiers from all over with its thrilling powder snow. (Reportedly, the island sees 80 to 100 days of snowfall every year.) But what you should also know is that Hokkaido holds just as much appeal in the summer.

The city of Furano transforms into a pretty purple paradise when its famous lavender fields hit peak bloom around mid-July. Held between July 18 and Aug. 16, the Sapporo Summer Festival celebrates the season with a Bon Odori dance (Japanese folk dance honoring ancestors) and one of Japan’s biggest beer gardens in Odori Park. Shakotan Fire Festival (July 4 to 6) is a Shinto ceremony filled with lesser-known rituals — such as the Tengu Fire Dance, during which a person dressed as a mountain spirit walks through fire for purification — dedicated to ensuring fishermen’s safety at sea and a plentiful catch. 

TPG tip: Though Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono is a famous ski-in ski-out resort, it also makes a luxurious home base for warm-weather adventures. July rates start at $267 or 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts 

Despite the relatively small size of Martha’s Vineyard, the island has more than a dozen unspoiled beaches, six distinct towns and a diverse community. For some retail therapy, check out Vineyard Haven’s independently owned shops such as Lennox & Harvey, a lifestyle boutique stocking hip global brands like Beams and Normann Copenhagen. For memorable meals, head to Edgartown’s The Covington for hearty New American fare (save room for the velvety, almond-studded Honey Pie) and fresh seafood at Vineyard Haven’s Beach Road. Though there’s no shortage of beaches on the island, Chappaquiddick’s East Beach and Moshup Beach in Aquinnah assure a more tranquil vibe. 

TPG tip: Check in to Edgartown’s Faraway, a boutique hotel with 58 stylish rooms, an outdoor pool, a shaded sundeck and a sushi hot spot called The Pelican Club. Nightly rates for July start at $773.

Though there’s not much in the way of points hotels on Martha’s Vineyard, you can use your points and miles to fly to Martha’s Vineyard Airport (MVY) directly from several major East Coast cities on JetBlue, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.

Bariloche, Argentina  

Beloved by portenos (people from the Buenos Aires area) for weekend getaways, but still largely unknown by foreigners, Bariloche is a postcard-perfect town in the Patagonian Andes. Hugging the crystal-clear glacial lake Nahuel Huapi and cradled by snowcapped mountains, it has heart-stopping natural beauty and four true seasons. Vacationing here this time of year is ideal if you’re into winter sports, as July kicks off the ski season at Argentina’s largest ski resort, Catedral Alta Patagonia.

After a long day on the slopes, refuel with a perfectly grilled entrana (skirt steak) and malbec, as the locals do, at Alto El Fuego. If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck: Bariloche is considered the chocolate capital of Argentina. You’ll find popular chocolatiers, like Mamuschka and Rapanui, clustered on downtown’s Calle Mitre. 

TPG tip: Since 1938, the stately Llao Llao Resort, Golf & Spa has remained Bariloche’s most luxurious property with an 18-hole golf course, private beach and famous signature afternoon tea. Nightly rates in July start at $330. Book through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts to receive daily breakfast for two, late checkout and more.

Helsinki

Since July brings nearly 18 hours of daylight to Finland’s capital city, it’s easy to spend most of your summer vacation here outside. The blissfully mild temperatures that rarely climb over 80 degrees Fahrenheit help, too. One of the best ways to get around town is Helsinki’s extensive bike paths and user-friendly bike system — bikes are free for the first hour, then 1 euro ($1.13) for every additional 30 minutes. Recommended pit stops include the stunning Helsinki Cathedral, contemporary art museum Amos Rex, the bohemian neighborhood Kallio and Kauppatori, a seasonal open-air market selling traditional foods, from herrings to karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies).

TPG tip: Opened last year, NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa has it all: a convenient downtown address, a striking design nodding to the two historic buildings’ storied pasts, sophisticated rooms and a lovely cocktail bar called Kupoli that spotlights Finnish ingredients. Nightly rates in July start at $200. Book a stay of two or more nights through American Express The Hotel Collection to receive a $100 property credit to use on qualifying dining, spa or resort activities, plus other perks like early and late checkout, when available.

Adelaide, Australia

Winters in the South Australian city of Adelaide are wonderfully pleasant and mild, making it an underrated destination for a July trip. Plus, there’s plenty to do. A fusion of light, art and sound, Illuminate Adelaide (July 2 to 20) enlivens the entire city with more than 130 installations, including the free “City Lights” trail and Adelaide Oval’s drone show. The Winter Reds Festival (July 25 to 27) is a festive gathering featuring cool-climate red wines from over 35 wineries, live entertainment and hearty winter fare. Nature fanatics should book a guided snorkel or dive with Diving Adelaide to witness July’s annual (and spectacular) Giant Australian cuttlefish migration.   

TPG tip: With 285 crisp guest rooms and suites, a club lounge, and an indoor pool, the new and centrally located Adelaide Marriott Hotel offers a smart stay for $242 or 33,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night in July.

Montreal

Montreal winters are notoriously frigid. Summers, on the other hand, are ideal with long, sun-drenched days. Even better? There’s a festival or celebration happening almost every day. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest jazz festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival takes place between June 26 and July 5. From July 8 through 20, the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique honors the music and cultures of Africa, the West Indies and Latin America by bringing together over 700 artists from more than 30 countries. The comedy festival Just For Laughs returns from July 16 to 27 with headliners Kumail Ali Nanjiani and Fortune Feimster.

TPG tip: The playful Moxy Montreal Downtown opened in April and marks Marriott’s 300th hotel in Canada. July rates start at $426 or 37,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Anaheim, California

To commemorate its 70th anniversary, which falls on July 17, Anaheim’s Disneyland has rolled out a nearly yearlong celebration (May 16 to summer 2026) across both its California theme parks. The celebration offers new festivities, foods and attractions, and it’s appropriately themed “Celebrate Happy.” Don’t miss the “World of Color Happiness!” musical water show inspired by Pixar’s “Inside Out” at Disney California Adventure Park — it will tug at your heartstrings. You won’t go hungry thanks to the more than 70 anniversary food items offered across the theme park, including the new ube sugar-dusted 70th Celebration Churro or the raspberry mousse-filled Celebration Beignet. Fresh off a four-month refresh, “It’s a Small World” has added two beloved characters to Mexico: Miguel and Dante from “Coco.” 

TPG tip: Opened last summer, Hilton Buena Park Anaheim is a convenient stay just six miles from Disneyland. In July, rooms are available from $161 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Merging culture, history and natural beauty, Dubrovnik offers something for every kind of leisure traveler. History buffs will flip for the UNESCO-listed Old Town and its gorgeously preserved medieval stone walls. Epicureans have a variety of reputable eateries to pick from, such as Croatian chef Marijo Curic’s Michelin-starred Restaurant 360, casual seafood spot Barba and open-air Beach Bar Dodo (ideal for a sunset cocktail and snack). July is high season and it can get crowded. But the annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival (July 10 to Aug. 25), which celebrates Croatian arts and culture citywide, is worth planning a trip around.

TPG tip: A member of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, Sun Gardens Dubrovnik stretches along the Adriatic Sea about 10 miles up the coast from Old Town and features three outdoor pools, understated but dreamy accommodations, and 16 restaurants and bars. Rates start at $333 per night in July. 

Related reading:

• Best travel credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without

The Platinum Card® from American Express is among the best premium travel rewards cards available. Thanks to its generous benefits and its ability to earn valuable, transferable American Express Membership Rewards points, it can be well worth the annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees) for many travelers.

The Amex Platinum’s current public offer is 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

While this is a solid welcome bonus, you may want to check the CardMatch tool for targeted offers — we’ve seen Amex Platinum bonuses of up to 175,000 points floating around in the past (though those offers are subject to change without notice).

Beyond the welcome offer, the Amex Platinum’s ongoing perks, including numerous annual statement credits, can be even more valuable. Here’s a rundown of how to maximize the benefits of the Amex Platinum Card.

Amex Platinum benefits overview

Here’s a rundown of the Amex Platinum’s benefits:

• Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent after)
• Earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• Annual Uber Cash of up to $200 ($15 in Uber Cash to use on eligible orders with Uber Eats and rides with Uber in the U.S. every month plus a $20 bonus in December, for U.S. services)*
• Annual airline fee statement credit of up to $200 per calendar year*
• Up to $200 back in statement credits each calendar year on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (the latter of which requires a minimum two-night stay) with American Express Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum*
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit ($120 for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years)
• Up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your Clear Plus membership (expedited security, subject to auto-renewal)*
• Up to $300 annual Equinox  statement credit on select Equinox memberships when using your card (subject to auto-renewal)*
• Up to $155 annually in statement credits toward monthly Walmart+ membership fees ($12.95, plus applicable taxes, monthly; subject to auto-renewal; Plus Up excluded)
• Up to $100 per calendar year at Saks Fifth Avenue: Divvied up as one up to $50 statement credit from January to June and one up to $50 statement credit from July to December*
• Digital entertainment credit: Up to $20 in statement credits each month ($240 per calendar year) when you pay for eligible purchases with your card at one or more of the following providers: Disney+, The Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal*
• Airport lounge access, including Centurion Lounges and Studio locations worldwide*
• Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton*
• Complimentary car rental elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards**, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive*
• Various travel and shopping protections
• Cruise Privileges Program
• International Airline Program
• American Express concierge service

*Enrollment required for select benefits, terms apply.

**Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.

Let’s focus on the benefits with the potential highest value and how you can maximize them year after year.

$200 in Uber Cash

What it is: One of the more popular Amex Platinum perks is the annual Uber Cash of up to $200 in statement credits, allotted in $15 monthly increments except in December when you’ll get a $35 statement credit ($15 plus a $20 bonus) for U.S. services. For anyone who frequently uses the ride-hailing service or its food-delivery platform, it shouldn’t be hard to get the full $200 in value from this benefit.

Make sure you add your Amex Platinum to your Uber account, and the credit will automatically be applied to your first domestic ride or food order each month. You can also redeem with any Amex card so long as your Amex Platinum is on your account.

Tips for maximizing: Note that these credits are only valid for Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S.

In order to use your Uber Cash, you need to pay with an eligible Amex card. These credits expire at the end of each month, so you won’t be able to roll over any unused credits.

$200 airline fee credit

What it is: With the Amex Platinum, you get up to $200 in statement credits toward incidental fees with one U.S. airline each calendar year. Enrollment is required.

Compared to other cards that offer airline fee or travel credits, the Platinum card’s terms are limited. For instance, you must specify one eligible U.S. airline each year with which to use the benefit ahead of time, and the credit doesn’t cover airfare.

Still, you can use your Platinum card to offset expenses ranging from luggage fees to seat selection, lounge access and more.

Tips for maximizing: You’re technically limited to the airline you select for the entire calendar year, but reports indicate that you might be able to change your selection by contacting customer service (either on the phone or via online chat). Although Amex doesn’t explicitly list which charges are eligible for this credit, it excludes the following expenses:

Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage and points purchases, mileage and points transfer fees, gift cards, duty-free purchases and award tickets are not considered incidental fees.

So try to stick within the parameters to avoid any issues.

$200 American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts credit

What it is: Another benefit of this card is the ability to make bookings through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which is available to Amex Platinum, Business Platinum Card® from American Express and The Centurion Card from American Express cardholders.

The information for the Centurion card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Amex FHR is essentially a travel portal that lets you book stays at a selection of luxury hotels and participating properties, with various benefits.

These include complimentary room upgrades when available, noon check-in when available, 4 p.m. checkout, daily breakfast for two, an experience statement credit worth at least $100 and more. At select hotels in the Amex FHR program, you can also enjoy a free night on multi-night stays — usually the third, fourth or fifth night.

Plus, you’ll get up to $200 annually in statement credits when you book a prepaid rate through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts with American Express Travel. (This benefit can also be used for stays of at least two nights at properties in the not-quite-as-prestigious The Hotel Collection.)

Tips for maximizing: Booking through Amex FHR and paying with the American Express Platinum could make sense for a shorter stay at an eligible property, especially with the on-property credit usually worth at least $100.

However, if you book a property with FHR that participates in a major loyalty program — like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors — you may not earn points on the stay or enjoy any elite benefits. Reports indicate that it sometimes happens, but since these reservations are technically through a third-party platform, you should be prepared to miss out on those perks.

Related: 8 hotels where your Amex Platinum hotel credit covers half (or more) of your stay

Up to $120 Credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment fees

What it is: This is definitely one of the Platinum Card benefits you shouldn’t leave on the table. You can get a credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry once every four years ($120) or TSA PreCheck once every 4½ years (up to $85). Both trusted traveler programs expedite your experience at the airport — at customs and immigration with Global Entry, and at security checkpoints with PreCheck.

Once you’ve applied and been accepted for Global Entry, you’ll also be eligible for TSA PreCheck. Hence, Global Entry is generally the better option (although you’ll need to add your Known Traveler ID number to all your frequent flyer accounts to enjoy the benefits of PreCheck).

Tips for maximizing: You must charge the application fee to your Platinum card to get the fee waiver. You’ll only be able to take advantage of this perk every four years, but authorized users can also receive fee credits of their own. It costs $195 (see rates and fees) to add additional users to your card account — see our guide on adding Amex Platinum authorized users for more information.

Related: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is better?

$199 Clear Plus membership credit

What it is: Clear Plus is a program that essentially lets you skip the serpentine queue at TSA security checkpoints. It has its own lane that allows you to input biometrics such as fingerprints or an iris scan instead of waiting in line to hand your ID and boarding pass to a TSA officer. Just take a few seconds at a Clear Plus kiosk, and you’ll be escorted directly to the big gray bins.

This card benefit gives you up to $199 back in statement credits per calendar year on your Clear Plus membership — the exact price for which the membership retails.

You may even be eligible for discounts thanks to any other associations you have, such as airline elite status with some carriers. However, as long as you have the Amex Platinum, you can receive free membership with Clear Plus.

Tips for maximizing: Families can maximize this perk by combining it with other discounts to all access Clear Plus together. For example, general members of both Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus can enroll in Clear Plus for $189 (it’s even cheaper for those with elite status or cobranded credit cards).

In addition, it costs $109 to add an adult family member to your account. And kids under the age of 18 can accompany adults for free.

As a result, if you sign up through Delta or United (for at most $189), add your spouse or partner (for $119), and then bring your child(ren) through the Clear Plus lane with you, you’ll only pay $99 for the entire family’s membership after your Amex credit.

Read more: Guide to using the new Amex Platinum Clear Plus benefit

$300 Equinox Credit

What it is: With the Amex Platinum, you’ll get up to $300  in statement credits annually on select Equinox memberships or on a digital subscription to Equinox+, the on-demand fitness app. Subject to auto-renewal; enrollment is required.

Tips for maximizing: The most practical use is a digital subscription to Equinox+, $39.99 monthly, so you can take live and on-demand classes online.

$155 Walmart+ credit

What it is: Walmart+ is a service that confers an assortment of benefits as a Walmart customer, including:

• Free grocery delivery (must order at least $35 in products)*
• Free shipping on non-grocery items (no order minimum)*
• Free returns from home
• Complimentary Paramount Plus Essentials subscription
• 25% discount at Burger King
• Discounts on prescriptions
• Discounts at Walmart, Exxon and Murphy gas stations, plus member pricing at Sam’s Club fuel centers
• Included Paramount+ subscription
• Free tire repair at Walmart Auto Care centers

* Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

You’ll receive up to $155 per year in statement credits toward Walmart+ when you pay for your membership each month (subject to auto-renewal). Membership costs $12.95 per month (plus any applicable tax), meaning this perk effectively equates to free Walmart+ membership as long as you have the card (though you might be responsible for local taxes and fees; Plus Ups excluded)

Tips for maximizing: Since the credit is issued monthly ($12.95 + taxes), ensure you’re subscribed to the monthly membership instead of the annual one. Generally, the monthly membership is more expensive than the annual one, but your credit will fully cover the monthly cost.

Related: Fast shipping battle: We put Amazon Prime and Walmart+ to the ultimate test

$300 SoulCycle statement credits

What it is: You’ll receive up to $300 in statement credits when you use your Amex Platinum to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike. You can use this credit for up to 15 bike purchases per calendar year.

Tips for maximizing: This is one of the least useful credits on the card, but if you’re interested in this particular perk, you must make your purchase through this link. If you purchase in a store or through the Equinox mobile app, you won’t receive the $300 statement credit. Also, this credit will not offset any accessories you may purchase for the bike.

$100 Saks Fifth Avenue credits

What it is: This perk is available in the form of two up-to-$50 statement credits per calendar year.

Your first up to $50 statement credit can offset purchases from January through June; a second up to $50 statement credit is available from July through December.

You must register your Amex Platinum card through your Amex online account to receive this benefit before purchasing.

Tips for maximizing: There is no minimum purchase required to trigger these new statement credits, so you could make a purchase of $50 (or less) once every six months and not owe anything out of pocket once the credit posts to your Amex Platinum account.

Related: Your guide to the Amex Platinum Saks Fifth Avenue credit

$240 digital entertainment credit

What it is: You’ll receive up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with your Amex Platinum at one or more of the following providers (enrollment required):

• Disney+
• The Disney+ Bundle
• ESPN+
• Hulu
• Peacock
• The New York Times
• Wall Street Journal

Tips for maximizing: You can get up to a $20 monthly credit, so you can stack multiple subscriptions to get the most value. For example, a Peacock subscription ($7.99 per month) and a Disney Bundle Basic subscription ($16.99 per month) will allow you to use the full $240 in statement credits each year.

Related: Best credit cards for streaming services

Centurion Lounge access and more

What it is: Cardholders enjoy complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges. If you’ve ever visited one, you’ll know why this is a great perk.

These spaces offer gourmet food, craft cocktails and comfortable places to rest. If your home airport or others you travel through frequently have Centurion Lounges, this benefit alone might be worth getting the card — though these spots have seen crowding issues recently.

Tips for maximizing: The Amex Platinum Card also entitles you to Delta Sky Club access (during same-day travel with the airline; limited to 10 annual visits), and you’ll gain unlimited entry to Priority Pass lounges (although not restaurants) and several others. Enrollment is required.

Elite status with Hilton and Marriott

What it is: The Platinum Card allows members to register for automatic Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program along with Hilton Honors Gold elite status. Both hotel chains offer on-property benefits such as late checkout and bonus earnings on stays to elite members. Enrollment is required.

Tips for maximizing: Hilton Honors Gold elite status — which usually requires 20 stays, 40 nights or earning 75,000 Honors base points — includes an 80% points bonus on stays, provides complimentary breakfast (or an on-property credit) at most hotel brands and entitles you to space-available upgrades.

Meanwhile, standout benefits of Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status — which usually requires 25 nights — include a 25% points bonus on stays, upgrades to enhanced rooms and free premium internet.

Related: Your complete guide to breakfast benefits at Hilton Honors hotels

Car rental program elite status

What it is: In addition to Hilton and Marriott elite status, you’ll get status with a few car rental programs. You’ll get Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle* and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. You’ll need to enroll for these benefits on the Amex website.

*Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.

Tips for maximizing: Regardless of how often you rent cars, go ahead and register for these programs since doing so may allow you to skip the counter and/or get upgraded cars when you rent with these companies. With demand (and prices) for rental cars remaining high, having elite status may be a big help when getting the transportation you want.

Travel and shopping protections

What it is: American Express offers extensive shopping protections and travel coverage when you use your card to make eligible purchases. These protections include:

• Trip delay protection*: If your trip is delayed by more than six hours for a covered reason, you may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $500 per covered trip for reasonable additional expenses at up to two claims per consecutive 12-month period
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection*: If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, you may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period
• Extended warranty**: Extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less by up to one additional year
• Purchase protection**: Protects recent purchases against theft, accidental damage or loss for up to 90 days from the purchase date, at up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per calendar year
• Return protection***: If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase and the merchant won’t take it back, American Express may refund the full purchase price (up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account)

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details.

Tips for maximizing: When making a purchase for which you might later benefit from shopping or travel protections, be sure to save your receipt. Start a claim as soon as possible if you need to use your card’s protections.

Related: Our guides to Amex shopping protections and Amex travel coverage

Bottom line

Although the Amex Platinum isn’t necessarily the best card for everyday spending, the average consumer should have no trouble recouping the annual fee thanks to its array of perks. Of course, if you spend more heavily on travel, especially if you’re lucky enough to be able to charge reimbursable business travel to your personal credit cards, you may come out even further ahead.

Just make sure you know the terms of each benefit — including which ones require enrollment — so you can make the most of the card each and every year.

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.

Southwest Airlines is now charging bag fees for all flights booked from May 28 onward. It’s an unfortunate change for Southwest and budget flyers who enjoyed two free checked bags on all flights.

For flights booked prior to May 28 for travel later in the year, your bags will still fly free, as long as you don’t change the reservation in any way.

If you don’t have any upcoming travel plans, applying for a new Southwest credit card or being a Southwest cardholder just became the right course of action.

As a reminder, the new bag fees are $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag.

1 free checked bag with Southwest credit cards

Southwest overhauled its entire business model by adding bag fees, extra-legroom seats, new fare classes, and seat selection.

These changes have made Southwest credit cards a worthwhile investment because cardholders will now receive one checked bag for free. This perk also applies to up to eight companions traveling with the main cardholder on the same reservation.

Eligible credit cards that offer a free checked bag for Southwest flights include:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you fly Southwest a couple of times a year, the $69-annual-fee Southwest Plus card may be enough for you. By taking one round-trip flight where you check one bag each way, you’ll effectively break even with the annual fee.

On top of an easy way to get a checked bag on all Southwest flights without paying a hefty annual fee, the entry-level card also provides you with a standard seat selection 48 hours prior to departure, when available.

If you want more benefits apart from a free checked bag, such as selecting a preferred seat at the time of booking or an upgrade to extra legroom within 48 hours, when available, consider other cards like the Southwest Priority or Southwest Performance Business.

Elite status

Another way to get a free checked bag or two is with Southwest elite status. A-List members will get one free checked bag, and A-List Preferred members will still get two free checked bags. If you’re a frequent Southwest flyer, elite status will pay off in terms of baggage allowance.

Bottom line

The day is finally upon us, and Southwest has joined the ranks of all the other legacy carriers in charging for checked bags.

Don’t let these changes discourage you. Being a Southwest cardholder (or having the right elite status) can still get you free checked bags.

Ultimately, if you’re committed to Southwest but aren’t a cardholder, it’s best to apply for a Southwest credit card. If you fly often or fly as a family, a Southwest credit card can help you save hundreds of dollars a year.

Related reading:

• The ultimate guide to Southwest credit card eligibility
• Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
• Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it

From steamy summers and sudden storms to alligator sightings and late-night Miami energy, Florida embraces all its eccentricities. Families flock to Orlando’s theme parks, nature lovers head for the Everglades or the Keys and space fans stake out Cape Canaveral launches.

Whatever your itinerary may entail, you’ll want a place to stay that matches your ideal vibe. These 16 standout Florida resorts — many of which are bookable with points — offer a stay as memorable as the destination itself.

Related: These are the best times to visit Florida

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Florida’s Gulf Coast got a major upgrade last year with the opening of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, a luxury beachfront escape set on 18 acres of pristine white sand near Sarasota.

With 168 rooms and 26 suites, the design-forward property blends classic St. Regis elegance with a laid-back coastal vibe. The Pools courtyard has a family-friendly river pool, an adults-only serenity pool with a waterfall and a grotto offering in-water Champagne service. Additionally, there’s a 500,000-gallon marine lagoon where visitors can interact with reef fish, stingrays and even Aldabra tortoises, guided by on-site marine biologists.

Dining includes seven venues, from a refined Josper grill-equipped steakhouse and a speakeasy-style spirit room to a coastal Italian restaurant, a rooftop seafood lounge and a tropical tiki bar. Don’t miss the signature sunset ritual at Oshen or the Ca’ d’Zan bloody mary served in handblown Murano glass.

The 20,000-square-foot spa is open to the public and includes a snow shower, a Finnish sauna and La Mer treatments. And thanks to an exclusive partnership with French swimwear brand Vilebrequin, guests can shop a bespoke capsule collection and enjoy branded beach games and cabanas.

Rates at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort start at $899 or 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Since debuting in 2022 as part of the $3.5 billion mixed-use Water Street development and revitalization project, this sophisticated sanctuary in the city has become one of the hottest spots in town for eating and drinking — and one of the best resorts in Florida.

Steps from the waterfront promenade and parkways, The Tampa Edition’s see-and-be-seen scene starts the minute you walk through the bougainvillea-crowned front door into a veritable jungle of potted plants, wisely used to break up the cavernous lobby into more bijou vignettes. Here, you’ll find shaggy seating and extra-long sectionals, a pool table, a bar, a white spiral staircase (a distinguishing feature of the brand) and, if you arrive in the afternoon, a punch-serving welcome wagon. At night, the low lighting casts shadows up to the high ceilings, and it is hard not to be mesmerized by the tangoing fronds. You’ll notice the signature black-tea scent by Le Labo, which creates an alluring and peaceful vibe that will set the tone for your stay.

Equally scene-y and eye-catching is the rooftop pool deck, the first of its kind in Tampa (but judging by its popularity, it most certainly won’t be the last). The green walls, sprays of flowers, alfresco bar, twinkling skyline and glassy pool are instant camera clickbait, no matter the time of day.

Inside the Morris Adjmi-designed, 27-story tower, there are 172 rooms and 38 private residences. Expect creamy minimalism, big windows, refined finishes and one of the coziest beds in the industry. Two more brand hallmarks are found here: a faux fur throw — each Edition has a unique blanket — and framed black-and-white photos that convey a sense of place. Also, trust us, you’re definitely going to want a stand-alone tub if only to put the fancy bottle of salts to good use.

When you’re ready to leave your quiet luxury cocoon, you won’t have to go far to fill your belly or your social calendar. Foodies should call far in advance to secure a green velvety banquette or seat at the chef’s table at Lilac, chef John Fraser’s one-Michelin-starred modern Mediterranean tasting menu experience. Heaven is Fraser’s milk bread and dark chocolate souffle. He also oversees the property’s open-air Greek restaurant. The ground-floor Market at Edition is the spot for breakfast, caffeine or getting some emails sent. The second floor vaunts a swanky drinking den that specializes in punches made with flavors and spirits culled from around the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, and Arts Club, where guests can catch live music and stand-up comedy under a canopy of disco balls.

Compared to many of the other Florida resorts on this list, the spa is minuscule. But small and mighty still get the job done. The same can be said about the gym, which stocks Technogym machines, Peloton bikes and free Kind bars and apples.

Rates at The Tampa Edition start at $354 or 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Related: The best Edition hotels in the world, according to Marriott Bonvoy loyalists

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There are plenty of solid reasons to book the Faena Hotel Miami Beach the next time you find yourself in the 305, starting with the fact that maybe you’ve outgrown the raucous revelry of South Beach but still seek easy access to playtime in the tides and a historic building given a new lease on life. Perhaps you love art or food or pool butlers who clean sunglasses and pour fruit-infused water. Possibly, you want to give shaman-developed wellness rituals (which you saw while stalking A-listers on Instagram) a go. Or, maybe you’ve always wondered what “Elvis” director Baz Luhrmann’s fever dreams look like.

You’ll need to like loud colors, unexpected pattern combinations and edgy art. You’ll also need to be open-minded about woo-woo practices (i.e., sound baths, palo santo cleansing, chakra harmonization, etc.), be able to handle punchily spiced meals and strong drinks, and be willing to part with a good chunk of change to fully appreciate Argentine hotelier Alan Faena’s bold redo of a 180-room property from the 1940s. After all, there is a giant mammoth skeleton encased in glass adjacent to the pool (Damien Hirst, of course). You can also expect DJs who spin actual vinyl and abundant meditation opportunities at the spa.

“Moulin Rouge” mastermind Luhrmann and his Oscar-winning costume-and-production-designer wife, Catherine Martin, were tasked with the design, which is how animal prints, tassels, floral pillows, candy-striped umbrellas and whimsical knickknacks (like shells and fish-shaped pitchers) all come together stylishly. Faena also assembled an all-star food-and-beverage team: South America’s renowned grillmaster Francis Mallmann continues his advocacy for open-fire cooking and gaucho flavor profiles at Los Fuegos. “Top Chef” winner Paul Qui oversees both inventive Filipino fare at Pao and a sushi speakeasy, El Secreto Omakase. There are also several bars that serve more casual snacks alongside tipples and the hotel’s own malbec vintage.

Rates at the Faena Hotel Miami Beach start at $1,593 per night.

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The new-hotel smell hadn’t even worn off — the Conrad Orlando opened in January as part of the billion-dollar Evermore Orlando Resort compound — when accolades, including a spot on TPG’s list of the most anticipated new hotels of 2024, started rolling in for the luxury brand’s second Sunshine State outpost. Situated on the 1,100-acre property, the first and only beach resort in Orlando has quickly become one of the best resorts in Florida. The luxury waterside resort also offers guests access to Evermore Bay, an 8-acre blue lagoon surrounded by a palm-dotted sandy shoreline complete with daybeds, hammocks and kayak and stand-up paddleboarding rentals.

The aquatic adventures don’t end there at this Hilton-managed hotel. There are also a sizable pool with cabanas and chaises, a splash pad and a tranquil spa inspired by the state’s hundreds of springs and native plants. Arrive an hour before your treatment, which starts with breathwork, to wander the spa’s 12,000-square-foot water garden and soak in the warm and cold plunge, as well as the vitality pool. There are water features throughout the two Grand Cypress golf courses located on Evermore Orlando Resort and in the neighboring preserve as well. Not to mention, Conrad Orlando recently debuted wellness guest rooms meant to focus on travelers’ minds, bodies and souls with curated high-tech amenities and easy access to the serene outdoor water garden and its bathing rituals.

The nature motifs continue throughout the resort’s public spaces, meeting rooms and 433 accommodations, which are bright, airy and full of cooling blue shades and light woods. Because Orlando is a family destination first, some rooms contain built-in bunk beds, gourmet kitchens and private balcony spaces with views of Evermore Bay.

Be sure to return in time to eat and drink at the Mexican-serving rooftop bar, Ceiba; the spritz-forward Apero; the coastal-inspired southern Italian venue Sophia’s Trattoria; the Polynesian- and Asian-influenced Papaya Club; and the all-day dining spot, Little Spoon.

Rates at the Conrad Orlando start at $599 or 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

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Bal Harbor Village has long been one of the destination’s ritziest neighborhoods, and The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, with its butler service, marble baths, shiny appointments and Champagne sabering, has fit right in since its opening in 2012.

Sandwiched between bustling Collins Avenue and a scenic strand of sand fronting the Atlantic, the gleaming 27-story high-rise holds 213 refined neutral-hued guest rooms and suites, every single one of which, whether it’s an entry-level room with two queens or one of three new four-bedroom signature suites, promises ocean views and at least one balcony. (Some have three.) To use them, you’ll need to get out of the pillow-topped bed or the stand-alone tub.

Of course, if you never leave the room, you’ll miss quite a lot, including a 14,000-square-foot spa where 24-karat gold wraps and customized baths are the norm, the 24-hour gym with group fitness classes (including beach boot camp), a sprawling sundeck and two pools (one is for the 16-and-older crowd), oceanfront day villas, afternoon tea or French cuisine at La Gourmandise, Greek delights at Atlantikos and a glass lobby lounge. Several of these were added or upgraded in 2020’s $65 million enhancement. If your Miami vice of choice is shopping, cross the street to the Bal Harbour Shops, a compound of couture featuring names like Balenciaga, Gucci and Harry Winston.

Before you go, slide up to the namesake bar to toast to a great getaway (and to how many Marriott Bonvoy points you earned) with a Key lime-garnished Bloody Sunrise, its take on the brand’s signature cocktail, the bloody mary.

This spring, The St. Regis Bal Harbour introduced its first-ever annual resort membership, offering year-round access to the resort’s signature experiences and elevated amenities. Members enjoy full access to the property’s pools, beach and weekly fitness classes, plus savings across dining venues, spa services and retail shops.

Rates at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort start at $1,199 or 82,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Debuted in 1896 and reopened two more times after major fires in the early 1900s, this grande dame of Atlantic Ocean accommodations is not only surviving but thriving as one of Florida’s most lavish lodgings.

The Breakers, a 534-room Italian Renaissance jewel plopped down on 140 beachfront acres of the longtime posh playground, reinvests millions annually to maintain its opulent character — frescoed ceilings, Florentine fountains and crystal chandeliers won’t preserve themselves, after all — while modernizing (think: bathroom mirrors with embedded TVs). The property continues to provide the top-tier services guests demand when they show up to frolic in its four pools and six hot tubs; stroll the manicured grounds; get rejuvenating rubdowns in the indoor-outdoor spa; try water sports or kid-friendly activities like spin art and Skee-Ball; golf on two 18-hole courses and one miniature golf course; or stage envy-inducing celebrations in majestic ballrooms.

There are five room categories and 11 varieties of suites, plus accessible versions. Jovial Lilly Pulitzer-esque prints, quality linens, fragrant toiletries and soft robe-slipper combos make it difficult to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. For a more intimate, exclusive and indulgent holiday, look into the Flagler Club, a 21-room hotel-within-a-hotel concept with its own club lounge, rooftop hang and chauffeured Mercedes-Maybach fleet.

There is also much diversity in the resort’s dining options. Eat your way around the world at 10 restaurants, including Echo (pan-Asian), HMF (global snacks like Greek lamb sliders and duck empanadas with a wine list 2,000 vintages long), Henry’s (an American bistro) and The Italian Restaurant. There are also a seafood bar and a chophouse. Reservations for The Circle’s epic Sunday brunch should be squared away several weeks ahead of the preferred dining date.

In late 2024, The Breakers debuted a spectacular new tennis and racquet sports complex, featuring 16 open-air courts, including 12 for tennis with three different surfaces (hydroponic grass, hydro clay and cushioned hardtop), as well as dedicated pickleball and padel courts, comfort stations with refreshments and a fully equipped stretching deck.

Rates at The Breakers Palm Beach start at $690 per night.

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While we don’t have the exact stats on what brings visitors to Orlando, we’d bet good money that a big chunk of that demographic would include those traveling to theme parks, conventions or the meetings-and-Magic Kingdom one-two punch. The Caribe Royale is the move for those third-circle folks, particularly after news broke that the all-suites independent property was joining the WorldHotels Rewards loyalty program.

With the last pieces of a $140 million renovation and expansion falling into place in late 2023, including 240,000 square feet of primo meeting and events space and an abundance of amenities for all ages, this Barbie-pink behemoth — less than 2 miles from Disney’s parks — is business-leisure travel at its finest, especially if you’re bringing the family along for the fun.

The 1,337 contemporary one-bedroom suites and “villas” (basically two bedrooms with full kitchens, screened patios and laundry facilities) are comfortable and quite sizable, especially given the affordable price point when compared with similarly sized options. Whether traveling as a couple, with pals or as a family, opt for the model with a vanity in the hallway and a wash closet that can be sealed off.

No one will be bored while you’re taking care of business. There’s something to entertain everyone: a playground, a game room and three open-after-dark pools, one of which has a 75-foot slide and a cascading waterfall. Break a sweat in the two-story fitness center or on the courts for basketball, pickleball and padel tennis. (Don’t know how to play that last one? No problem, as the current coach of the women’s national team gives tutorials!)

There’s even a lake with catch-and-release fishing, and the fishing gear is covered by the resort fee (which also covers loaner bikes and transportation to Walt Disney World and Disney Springs).

The convention center handles massive groups under one roof on one level and just far enough away from the towers that house distractions like the spa, The Market’s delectable made-in-house sweets selection and the very well-stocked Rum Bar. An on-site Starbucks provides caffeine fixes that can be ordered through the app from the comfort of your suite’s ergonomic workstation. Reward a hard day of work with a rib-eye or chicken Parm at The Venetian Chop House or by watching multiple big games on the 360-degree overhead display at Stadium Club, a sports bar with pub food and numerous simulators.

Rates at the Caribe Royale Orlando start at $175 or 32,000 WorldHotels Rewards points per night.

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Rebuilt and better than ever after 2017’s Hurricane Irma, Little Palm Island, a 4-acre private island hideaway in the Lower Florida Keys, provides discerning travelers everything they need for a romantic rendezvous, digital detox or slightly more affordable Maldives destination dupe.

The only way to arrive at this member of the Noble House portfolio is by seaplane or vintage boat, adding to the air of exclusivity. (Sandra Bullock, Blake Shelton, John Stamos and Lil Wayne have all allegedly graced the isle with their presence.) Once there, sugary beaches, hammocks, early morning dips in turquoise waters, fruity libations at the palapa bar, sound therapy in the spa and attentive service will kick-start the unwinding process. The noticeable absence of room phones, TVs and kiddos further aids the sense of total escape from the mainland. (Fun fact: There is one flat-screen TV in The Great Room on the property for can’t-miss TV moments.)

Your home-away-from-home is one of 15 thatched-roof bungalows — each is divided into two suites — with ocean views, high ceilings and a distinctly British West Indies design. It will be hard to pull yourself away from your private beach fire pit, the hammered copper tub on the furnished deck or the daybed built for two, even when your stomach starts telling you it’s time to sit down to a supper of chilled caviar and seafood towers, rich soups and hearty meat entrees at The Dining Room.

Before turning in, sip and socialize in the Monkey Hut. Sunday brunch is a spread not to be missed.

If you simply must do something grander, sailing, deep-sea fishing, stargazing and scuba excursions to Looe Key can be organized for a fee.

Rates at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa start at $2,800 per night.

Related: Best private island resorts in the world — and not just for billionaires

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If you’re serious about golf, staying and playing at the PGA National Resort, where pros take on the notorious Bear Trap at the annual Cognizant Classic, probably tops your bucket list. For friends, family and better halves who don’t care about the sport, not so much. After 2022’s $100 million top-to-bottom glow-up, which combined 1960s Palm Beach nostalgia chic with country club culture, convincing them to join you shouldn’t be an issue anymore.

Golf is still the main driver of reservations. Five courses are found on the main property. Free shuttle service deposits players at a sixth 5 miles away. First-time swingers have several schools and clinics to choose from.

The much-improved, heavily wallpapered product promises (and delivers) “a 360-degree luxury travel experience” even if you never play a single one of the 99 holes. It starts with 339 smart rooms and suites featuring wingback headboards, lacquered furniture and showstopping curved mauve sofas. For a tonier, more intimate stay, there are 21 cottages by Serena & Lily on their own cul-de-sac.

Nonplayers have many options to fill their itinerary: a 33,000-square-foot sports and racquet club, a fitness center, birding (and occasionally gatoring) near water hazards, tasting local chocolates at Sugarplume (where the coolest flamingo floor mosaic resides), pool parties, reading in the hammock grove or donning a beekeeper’s suit to learn about the hive-and-honey program. Grab fancy coffee at The MKT, Negronis under the lobby’s handblown banyan tree illuminated by 1,500 LEDs or boozy milkshakes at Birdie’s Diner. Try acupuncture, apricot mani-pedis or the three mineral pools made with healing salts imported from around the world at the 40,000-square-foot spa designed by Venus Williams’ company.

Two restaurants helmed by “Top Chef” alums are reason alone to check in. Lindsay Autry’s Honeybelle serves seasonal American favorites like fried chicken and wood-fired pizzas with a side of Mediterranean flair. The Butcher’s Club, Season 13 winner Jeremy Ford’s slick take on a steakhouse, is a meal you’ll never forget, particularly if you order the tomahawk steak that is set on fire while dangling from a hook tableside. Even appetizers — truffle brisket jalapeno poppers, potato gratin Vidalia onion or scratch-made parkerhouse rolls with whipped honey butter — leave a lasting impression.

Rates at the PGA National Resort start at $399 per night.

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The beautiful barrier island that’s home to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is less than 30 miles away from the urban sprawl of Jacksonville yet feels a world away with its 13 miles of wide and quiet shoreline, Victorian buildings, gentle breezes that make moss-covered trees dance and animal-filled marshes best explored by kayak. The serenity continues at this seaside resort, part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, with its calming color palette, seemingly boundless balcony views and evenings spent at fire pits enshrouded by dunes.

All 446 accommodations, including ground-floor gems with terraces warmed by fire tables and suites with separate living rooms, were redesigned recently to reflect North Florida’s sky, sea and multicultural heritage. There are evening turndown service, newspaper delivery and 24-hour room service, among other special touches. Add an extra layer of indulgence by booking the club level for access to the lounge’s mouthwatering culinary spreads, dedicated concierges, daily garment pressing and an exclusive section of sand with umbrellas and coolers full of cocktails.

While away days on pickleball and clay tennis courts, bike tours, the private golf course or a nature tour to try birding or crabbing. Or, catch dinner with the fish-to-dish experience. If you’d prefer someone else do all the work, sit down for white-tablecloth service at Salt, seafood and steak at Coast, Lowcountry classics at Tidewater Grill, sushi at The Lobby Bar or Spanish/Latin eats outside at Coquina.

Though it caters best to couples seeking a romantic getaway or adults in need of a reset, there are options for families beyond hours of building sandcastles. Given the island’s pirate past, costumed swashbucklers regale kids with stories, make toasts and can be hired to handle bedtime tuck-ins. Get some alone time by sending the kids to the Ritz Kids daytime club or Kids Night Out programming.

Rates at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island start at $764 or 62,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Forbidden love, a Florida real estate fortune and an obsession with the Royal Hawaiian Resort on Waikiki Beach led an Irish immigrant to build his own pink palace in the sunny Tampa Bay enclave in 1928. The Don CeSar quickly became a high-society hangout with F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Al Capone, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig among the regulars.

Since then, its wild history has included Depression-era Yankees spring training, numerous presidential stays starting with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a stint as a World War II army hospital, numerous cameos in movies and TV series (including Robert DeNiro’s “Once Upon a Time in America”) and a community campaign that saved it from demolition in the ‘70s. Now, at 97 years young, the only registered historic hotel on the Gulf Coast is greeting a new generation of guests with its laid-back luxury, Instagram-worthy architecture and pole position on 7 miles of powdery beach.

Built to mimic a Mediterranean castle, with some Moorish elements thrown in for good measure, the hotel now contains 277 pastel-tinged rooms, one-bedroom suites and two penthouses decked out in Jazz Age reproductions and awesome avian wallpaper. Desks and strong Wi-Fi enable seamless work from the hotel, but the photogenic headboards, spectacular sunsets, two heated pools, full-service salon, cabanas, five boutiques, 11,000-square-foot spa with an indulgent five-hour package, swing in the sand and a predominance of pink are better suited to girls trips, bachelorette parties, sexy stays and weddings.

All of those trip types will benefit from six establishments dedicated to eating, imbibing and entertaining. Small plates and live music are found in the jewel-toned Lobby Bar. Beeline to Society Table for a casual vibe and coastal cuisine. Special occasions call for Maritana’s stone crabs, hogfish and roasted bone marrow.

Rates at The Don CeSar start at $399 per night.

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The Boca Raton’s story begins back in 1926 when it was known as The Ritz-Carlton, Cloister Inn. The Addison Mizner Moorish-Mediterranean masterpiece was a vision of archways, secret gardens, finials and fountains, and upper-crusty Northerners arriving for fun in the sun only to become instant fans. Flash forward to 2021, when phase one of a thoughtful $200 million transformation that preserved the best parts of the past kick-started a much-anticipated sequel. Given that it is now five hotels nestled within the resort’s 200-acre complex bordered by ocean, lake and a 30-slip marina accommodating sailing vessels up to 170 feet, the plot of a South Florida furlough here is choose your own adventure.

While all are impeccable examples of salt air chic with shared services, including water taxis and evening turndown service, each member of the fab five offers a unique vibe. Cloister is the 294-room original. Yacht Club is an all-suites, adults-only hotel where you can watch over your boat from the balcony. Bungalows is set up for long-term stays, with 65 two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites with kitchens; it has its own entrance, pool and comped continental breakfast in the reception area.

The newest locale within the complex is Beach Club, which was renovated and unveiled in January. Set on a half-mile stretch of private beach along the Atlantic Ocean, the $130 million revamp includes 210 guest rooms and suites, such as the Grand Suite + Lanai with one- and two-bedroom options that flow into expansive outdoor poolside living spaces with lounge seating.

Those suites also come with priority reservations at more than 15 restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisine, including Italian and Japanese. Four are part of the acclaimed Major Food Group empire.

The resort has plenty of other accouterments of hoity-toity hospitality to brag about, too, such as a macaron shop, live bossa nova, bocce and a fleet of houseboats.

Rates at The Boca Raton start at $369 per night.

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Sure, this elegant offering in the tranquil northern area of Miami is from the reputable Canadian brand that delivers tailored interiors, proffers polished service and caters to well-heeled wealthy folks who like to make deals between laps in the pool and black-diamond runs. But don’t get it twisted. The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is not a boring, buttoned-up hotel.

It couldn’t be if it tried, and that’s mostly because it was built around an iconic Prohibition-era social club kept damp by Cuban and Bahamian rum runners that lured the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams, Joan Crawford, Henry Ford and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to parties that are the stuff of legend. (We’re talking live elephants, kayaks in the pool and 300 tables made of ice.) And while the events are tamer these days, it’s a den du jour once again.

But it’s also a result of the Four Seasons’ solid reputation for hospitality and hiring the best people in the biz, including Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Richard Meier and Parisian interior designer Joseph Dirand, the latter of whom conjured a minimalist-meets-golden-age-glamour mood inside classical modernist exteriors. Across 9 acres, there are 73 rooms, four bungalows, 25 suites and 156 residences. In some, you can see the Atlantic from the shower, while others let you peep the sunset show over Biscayne Bay.

Common spaces are lovely with beamed ceilings, arched windows, oversized pendant lighting and potted plants. There’s a sublime spa with a traditional hammam and tea lounge. Even the three pools, 40 cabanas, gym, seaside gardens and beach area are effortlessly crisp and classy.

Award-winning chef Thomas Keller’s first Florida foray, The Surf Club, already wrangled a Michelin star for his meticulously plated takes on continental cuisine from the social club’s heyday, including avocado Louie, Dover sole meuniere, short rib Wellington and lobster thermidor. Taste la dolce vita at Lido, helmed by award-winning chef Marco Calenzo, in what was once the fabled ballroom. Bragging rights for the city’s largest collection of bubbles belong to The Champagne Bar, which also makes a mean gin sling and 747. Procure yummy provisions with slightly less pomp and circumstance at Crudo Bar or Winston’s.

Rates at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida start at $1,500 per night.

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Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, one of the original branded properties in Orlando imagined by Walt himself, is a fantastic lodging choice for those who don’t want their Disney World dream vacation to end when the park closes. This is particularly true if one of the party had voted to instead spend their PTO somewhere in the South Pacific sipping umbrella drinks, as it conveniently sits on the monorail system but creates the illusion of an island paradise complete with dense vegetation, high-pitched fale-like roofs, water taxis, overwater bungalows and a “Moana” theme.

Despite being around since 1971, the 39-acre, 847-room resort’s quality has remained high due to an extensive commitment to the theme and regular renovations. The upkeep is most noticeable in the longhouses. With floral throw pillows, carved vanities and wall art featuring Maui, Pua and Heihei, the various rooms, suites and deluxe studios sleep up to five adults, while bungalows — a worthwhile splurge with plunge pools and full kitchens — can accommodate eight people.

There are nine places to dine at this Central Florida resort, most of which serve tropical delicacies like Tonga toast (Capt. Cook’s) and tuna poke (Kona Cafe), American standbys or food with Asian flair. Notably, there’s Ohana, with its “Lilo & Stitch” breakfast and all-you-can-eat dinner with delectable noodles, teriyaki beef and bread pudding. Hawaiian pupus like pork ribs are plated at Tambu Lounge, while the ever-popular Dole Whips can be procured at the Pineapple Lanai. There are even dueling indoor and outdoor Trader Sam’s tiki bars.

When you aren’t at a theme park, there are plenty of activities and amenities on the grounds, such as the Senses spa, marshmallow roasts, free outdoor movies, motorized boat rentals on the lagoon, the Electrical Water Pageant and a 142-foot waterslide that dunks riders into a pool with a volcano.

Rates at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort start at $430 per night.

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Hilton Honors loyalists desiring a reasonably priced, reliable and unique hotel smack dab in the heart of Miami’s nightlife and tourism hub should look no further than this colorful Curio Collection boutique housed inside a mix of preserved art deco low-rises and new builds.

Visitors who want to shop, eat, hit the club, work out or have fun in the sun can’t beat the location of The Gabriel Miami South Beach, offering 132 rooms along famed Ocean Drive and across the street from one of the world’s most famous stretches of sand. The resort fee includes manual and electric bike rentals, daily beach chairs, a shuttle to the downtown sister property every hour and one to Wynwood on weekends, rooftop yoga classes at dusk, and free tickets or discounts to several immersive art experiences, including Wynwood Walls, the Bass Museum and the new Artechouse.

Staying on the property provides big vacation energy with two bars, a mezzanine library, a small but stocked gym and two pools — one in the garden where DJ sessions pop off and one glass-bottomed one atop a building that looks down onto a 30-foot mural by street artist Mr. Brainwash.

There are three restaurants, though only the Mediterranean spot in the lobby, Meet Dalia, can be signed to the room. It’s hopping at happy hour with cheap oysters and micheladas, and patio tables provide front-row seats to endless people-watching.

Spying on passersby and people working out at the beach gym from personal terraces is also a good time, but there’s a tradeoff. Those quarters suffer from more street noise, though decent insulation, a calming coastal aesthetic and turning up the complimentary movie rental can help. Kudos are in order for myriad sustainability measures like bamboo keycards and “do not disturb” placards, digital tablets for directories and notepads, energy-efficient windows and reusable water bottles.

Rates at The Gabriel Miami South Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton start at $179 or 53,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

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Thrilling is Eau Palm Beach’s business, and business is good for this independent luxury hotel that provides a similarly pricey but more playful alternative to the dignified matriarch that lives up the street, The Breakers.

Built out of the bones of a former Ritz-Carlton, majorly updated in 2021 and situated on 7 acres of sun-dappled coast, Eau knows the vast turquoise expanse just beyond its retaining wall is the star of this show. As such, it takes every opportunity to feature it, from the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors in the 309 rooms to the island’s only private ocean-facing cabanas. The aptly named Breeze Ocean Kitchen, one of eight dining venues, is an open-air patio with waves for a soundtrack.

Guests can also get quality sea time by experimenting with nonmotorized water sports, beach yoga or bicycles, all of which are complimentary, which is particularly notable given there is no resort fee. Other inclusions of note: dog amenities, beach furniture use, the teen club and summer kids club, and free dining for kids 5 and under at most restaurants. Club-level guests get even more extras.

The adorable rooms give the sea a run for its money. Jonathan Adler deployed numerous of his calling cards — electric colors, fanciful and retro embellishments, wow wallpaper and statement curtains — to achieve a Capri-meets-Santorini mirage.

If you spend plenty of time indulging in Wine Down Fridays; Polpo’s pasta; Angle’s foie gras and short rib macaroni and cheese; or waffle cones from Melt (instead of Savor’s healthy chickpea and cucumber bowls), you can schedule some time with the Technogym toys in the fitness center or in the yoga studio. Personal trainers and a tennis pro, who can be found at the Har-Tru clay courts, can help. If you prefer private workouts, Peloton bikes can be delivered to your room.

Or, skip exercising and go straight to treating yourself in the 42,000-square-foot spa. Between self-care journeys that take six hours and include Champagne and caviar bumps, a DIY body polish bar, cupcakes and swinging chairs, it’s an adults-only refuge so inviting you may never want to leave.

Rates at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa start at $799 per night.

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As with the rest of the U.S., true turnkey Florida all-inclusive resorts are few and far between. The best of the rare breed is Bungalows Key Largo, an adults-only Florida Keys paradise of pools, premium alcohol and protected waters perfect for paddleboarding and snorkeling that is only 75 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA).

Toss your keys to the included valet, swig the coconut rum-laced welcome cocktail during the golf cart tour, and settle into a garden-view or waterfront cottage featuring verandas adorned with two Adirondack chairs, cozy bedrooms with either one king or two queen beds, bicycles and Keurigs. The star of the setting is the fenced-in patio with lounge furniture, a soaking tub and an outdoor shower, ideal for admiring the starry skies.

Your wristband grants access to a quiet pool and a party pool, daily yoga classes, karaoke, trivia nights, a fitness hut, cabanas, hammock nooks and an assortment of open-water sports equipment, including clear kayaks, water trikes and snorkeling gear. Taking a cruise aboard a floating tiki hut or hanging out in the spa and its Himalayan salt room and eucalyptus steam room comes with an added cost.

Unlimited food and drinks from five restaurants — as well as poolside and beachside service — are included, however. Enjoy the breakfast buffet and island-meets-Italian dishes at Fish Tales, bar bites and frozen spiked concoctions at Sunset Tiki Bar, craft cocktails with lamb chop lollipops at Hemingway Bar or upscale Mexican fare at Sea Senor. Staying four or more nights earns guests one complimentary reservation at the most elegant offering, Bogie & Bacall’s, where you can feast on wagyu beef carpaccio, lobster bisque and bison strips.

Rates at Bungalows Key Largo start at $1,359 per night.

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However, shopping for this clothing — especially those pieces that you might wear for just a few hours and maybe never again — doesn’t make much fiscal sense. Neither does overpacking, as storage and closet space on cruise ships can be tight.

For all my travels, but especially for cruises, I’ve found that my monthly clothing rental subscription is a lifesaver. It lets me select pieces of clothing tailored to all my adventures on land and on the open seas — even if that’s just Tuesday night dinner in the main dining room.

Clothing rentals keep your cruise wardrobe afloat

The basic business model for clothing rental subscriptions is the same: Subscribers pay a fee each month for a shipment (or multiple shipments) of a certain number of pieces. You wear them, send them back and select new pieces for your next shipment, with the understanding that if you keep a piece or two for a while longer because you really like them, you’ll receive that many fewer pieces in the next shipment.

Returns include free shipping, and you don’t need to wash or dry clean anything before sending it back.

Companies often offer the option to purchase pieces if you just can’t part with them after wearing them a few times. And despite a widespread misconception, you’re not receiving random shipments “based on your style” like with Stitch Fix or other mail-order shopping services; you’re actually selecting the exact clothing that appears on your doorstep.

Several major operators exist for clothing subscriptions. URBN — the parent company of Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters — offers trend-forward and vintage-inspired women’s styles through Nuuly; the subscription plan is $98 per month for six pieces. Armoire’s subscription plans for women range from a four-item plan for $89 per month to an unlimited plan for $249 per month; it starts with a style quiz so the company can provide tailored suggestions. 

For men’s clothing, Thred offers a three-, four- and five-piece subscription for $69, $99 and $119, respectively. Meanwhile, Taelor Style offers one or two shipments per month for $79 or $109, respectively; the latter is also available with a money-saving quarterly payment.

I’m loyal to Rent the Runway, which launched in 2009 with one-time rental dresses and gowns for galas, weddings and proms. It expanded to a subscription model including workwear, casual attire, formalwear, and even accessories like handbags and sunglasses. Its one-shipment plan costs $119 per month for five pieces, but I opt for the 10-piece, two-shipment plan for $144 per month. Both include full access to their “closet” of 750 designer brands — my favorites are Ulla Johnson, Scotch & Soda and Derek Lam.

I appreciate the thoughtful reviews and photos that other subscribers post (I post myself too). Many people include their measurements and the sizes they rented, so I can get a good idea of how something will look on me. (I stick to clothing with a minimum of a 4 out of 5 rating from a decent number of reviewers.) I can’t tell you the number of compliments I’ve received during my cruise travels when I wear a rental — couture really is cut differently and makes you feel more fabulous than ready-to-wear.

Snag the best laid-back looks on loan

Whichever company and subscription you select, you can use the favorites feature to “heart” items that speak to you. When I book a cruise and the date gets closer, I create a list specifically for the trip, then start adding to it. I select a lot more pieces than I’ll need, since when it comes time to place my order, my size might not be available. I seek pieces that are versatile as well as items for those unique, one-off events during the sailing (like a white party). 

For the former camp, since I have a limit of five pieces per shipment, I rule out anything that’s too basic — like shorts, T-shirts and casual tops — because those are already in my closet. Instead, I focus on items that I can mix and match. For example, I can wear a long printed skirt with different solid tops or tanks and pair them with sandals or my white Adidas sneakers for several days of excursions or walking tours. A lightweight sundress can do double duty as a bathing suit cover-up on the pool deck. Sleeveless or short-sleeve midi dresses or rompers work for daytime with flats or sandals and evenings with heels or wedges.

For men, polo shirts, button-down shirts and chinos can serve the same function, and a lightweight sport coat elevates the look for evenings — maybe with a few snazzy, easy-to-pack pocket squares. (Renting a neutral solid color provides more versatility as it’s easier to coordinate.) Though I love the look of linen, I opt for wrinkle-resistant fabrics unless I’m packing my travel steamer; cruise ship cabins usually don’t offer irons, and laundry service is expensive.

Sail with formal wear — no commitment required

When I’m selecting more elegant attire, I keep packing limitations top of mind as I try to avoid checking my luggage. There are gorgeous — and I mean stunning — gowns on the Rent the Runway site, but some, like those with heavy fabrics and detailed appliqués, are impractical if you’re trying to pack light.

That’s why I always read the product information about the fabric as well as the reviews, which often mention weight. But if limited luggage isn’t a concern, then feel free to rent that floor-length silver sequined gown. For men, if space permits, a dark navy or charcoal suit can work for formal nights. 

As far as those special events and parties onboard that require “costume” attire, my suggestion is to earmark only one of your rentals that you can wear another time during the cruise — any more than that and you’re not getting bang for your buck, subscription-wise.

I rented a white dress for a white party on an MSC World Europa sailing, which I was able to wear again for dinner another evening. I don’t buy white clothing as it makes me look washed out, and I’m also afraid of spills. But it was liberating to step out of my comfort zone that week, commitment-free.

If you don’t want to go all-out with themed clothing, just don one detail. Rent a red shirt or blouse and pair it with jeans or white pants for red night, or pick a retro print for ’70s night. Tropical attire is ubiquitous on clothing rental sites, at least for women, as there are tons of midi and maxi floral-printed dresses and skirts; those can do the heavy-lifting for a Hawaiian party, port shopping and an upscale dinner.

Of course, cruises aren’t always limited to sailing the Caribbean islands or popping around the Mediterranean. For cooler trips like Alaskan cruises or expedition itineraries, you can rent sweaters and heavy outerwear for outdoor pursuits. 

Whatever you rent, keep in mind that it’s a finite number. I use my shipment as the basis for my wardrobe, then supplement it with a few things from my closet. Oh, and remember: You’ve booked your cruise to relax, so it’s not the time to stress about outfit repeats. Everyone does it, and no one’s keeping score.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Since adding the card to my wallet, Frontier Airlines has continuously leveled up the perks for cardmembers — and it feels like the airline is just getting started.

Here’s why now is the perfect time to apply for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard and elevate your travel game.

Complimentary upgrades

When you’re approved for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, you can unlock instant Elite Gold status for 90 days after making your first purchase in the first 90 days. Even better? You can extend it for a full year by spending $3,000 in the first 90 days, which (naturally) I made sure to do.

Elite Gold status comes with plenty of perks, but the newest one is complimentary upgrades to the carrier’s UpFront Plus seats. And here’s the kicker: These seats will soon be replaced with first-class seats (in late 2025).

Read more: Frontier Miles elite status: What it is and how to earn it

On a recent flight from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), I got to see this perk in action. As an Elite Gold member, my upgrade window opened four hours before departure.

As my wife drove us to the airport, I pulled up the Frontier app, and right on the main dashboard was an option to upgrade my seat. I had already selected a complimentary seat for myself (and paid for seats for my wife and daughter), but when I pulled up the seat map, there were four UpFront Plus seats still available.

I’m a big fan of the window seat, so I snagged 2F — and after tapping “Continue,” my new seat was confirmed.

Upon boarding with Zone 1 (another perk of Elite Gold status), I stepped onto the Airbus A321neo — with a curassow (a type of bird) on the tail — and noted the blocked middle seat.

But even more importantly, I was thrilled with the legroom I found.

It gave me plenty of room to stretch out and catch up on some Netflix downloads that had piled up on my Kindle.

And when the new first-class seats roll out, you can bet I’ll be first in line to upgrade.

Companion travel

Plenty of airlines offer companion perks for frequent flyers or credit card members, but Frontier’s new companion benefit stands above the rest.

As of May 7, Elite Platinum and Elite Diamond travelers can bring a companion with them on every flight they take. And the best part? You’re not limited to a single companion — you can swap them out with each booking.

I know what you’re thinking. Surely, there are some onerous requirements to use this perk. But surprisingly, the requirements are minimal:

• Your companion needs to be a Frontier Miles member.
• You must add them at the time of booking.
• You must pay applicable taxes and fees (starting at $5.60 each way) for their ticket.

That’s it. No sneaky fine print or blackout dates — just unlimited companion travel as long as you maintain Elite Platinum or Elite Diamond status.

And the Frontier World Mastercard makes it even easier to reach those elite status tiers.

For starters, you earn 1 Elite Status Point for every dollar spent on the card. Spend $50,000 in a calendar year, and you’ll hit Elite Platinum status outright — no flights required.

Or, you can mix card spending with Frontier purchases. As an Elite Gold member, you’ll earn at a rate of 14 Elite Status Points per dollar spent.

New (and better) redemption options

Frontier has long allowed its members to use miles for flights, with redemptions starting at 10,000 miles. However, the carrier recently lowered that to just 5,000 miles, allowing you to stretch your rewards twice as far.

I recently took advantage of this when I booked a flight for a friend to visit her family in the Washington, D.C., area using my miles. As a Frontier cardmember, I also enjoyed a waived redemption fee on the booking. In total, it required just 5,000 miles plus $5.60 out of pocket for a nonstop flight at a perfect departure time for her schedule.

But you’ll soon have even more flexibility for your miles.

By summer, Frontier will allow you to redeem miles for bag and seat bundles, giving you even more flexibility to save on your flights. As a cardmember, your miles never expire, so you can hold onto them until you’re ready to put them to use.

Other money-saving benefits

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard isn’t just about flights. It also allows you to save more money with these valuable perks:

• Free checked bags: Cardmembers can receive two free checked bags (up to 40 pounds each) on every Frontier flight they take, a perk that was just added in 2024. On my recent trip to New Orleans, that perk alone saved me $76 per checked bag, more than covering the card’s $99 annual fee (see rates and fees).
• Complimentary carry-on: With your instant Elite Gold status, you’ll also enjoy a complimentary carry-on bag, yet another huge way for travelers to save money.
• Annual flight voucher: Spend at least $2,500 during your card membership year, and you’ll receive a $100 Frontier flight voucher on your account anniversary.
• Welcome bonus of 50,000 miles: New cardmembers earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days of account opening. That’s enough for up to 12 one-way domestic award flights, which is perfect for planning your next round of getaways.

Terms and conditions apply.

All of this adds up to some serious value — both in the first year and beyond.

Bottom line

Frontier Airlines has been making big moves, and 2025 is shaping up to be its most exciting year yet. With first-class seats, companion travel and enhanced redemption options, Frontier is putting a luxury (and rewarding) spin on budget-friendly travel.

If you want to be among the first to experience these exciting launches — and unlock a ton of benefits in the process — consider applying for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

For years, American Express Membership Rewards points have sat at or near the top of our monthly valuations of loyalty currencies. According to TPG’s May 2025 valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each. This is almost the same as Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards Points, but noticeably higher than nearly all major airline and hotel points.

However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll get exactly 2 cents per point in value every time you redeem them. Instead, we use this number as a benchmark for a good redemption. The highest-value redemptions should give you more than 2 cents per point, while the lowest-value awards offer less than 1 cent per point.

In short, there are various answers to the question, “How much are Amex points worth?”

Today, we’ll discuss the value of Amex points, how to earn them and some of the best (and worst) redemption options.

How to earn Amex Membership Rewards points

The easiest way to earn Membership Rewards points is by applying for a Membership Rewards points-earning card. Amex has several to choose from, ranging from premium cards with generous benefits (and high annual fees) to no-annual-fee cards that reward daily business spending.

Earning Membership Rewards points from credit cards

To help you choose which is the best Amex card for you, here’s a look at the welcome offer, earning rates, annual fee and benefits for each of the six most valuable Membership Rewards cards:

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Before you apply, make sure you’re familiar with Amex’s application and welcome bonus rules.

What are Amex Membership Rewards points worth?

There are many ways to redeem your American Express Membership Rewards points. However, they can offer a wide range of values. Some redemptions provide a fixed value for your points, while others have the potential to far exceed our May 2025 valuation of 2 cents apiece.

Why does TPG value Amex Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece?

Here at TPG, we use a data-driven methodology to determine our valuation for transferable credit card points. The factors that go into methodology include:

• The base value for cash-equivalent rewards (e.g., statement credits, cash back, Amazon redemptions)
• The base value for travel redemptions
• The quantity (and quality) of airline and hotel partners

The value of Amex points when transferring to travel partners

You’ll usually find the most valuable redemptions when transferring your Amex points to one of Amex’s transfer partners. Amex partners with 21 airline and hotel loyalty programs. Here are the transfer ratios and times.

With so many transfer partners available, Membership Rewards points offer incredible flexibility.

Good redemption options for Amex Membership Rewards points

With Amex points, there are many ways to redeem them, with some being much better than others.

Best-value redemptions

Many Membership Rewards redemptions could provide more than 2 cents per point in value. Our handy points versus cash calculator can help you gauge the value you get from a redemption.

• Transfer your points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and you’ll pay just 13,500 KrisFlyer miles for a one-way flight from California, Oregon or Washington to Hawaii with Alaska Airlines. Those based elsewhere in the country can book nonstop or connecting flights on United Airlines. You’ll pay 19,500 miles for a one-way economy ticket or 39,000 for business class. This includes United’s long-haul nonstop flights from Newark, Chicago and Washington, D.C., to Honolulu.
• Singapore Airlines operates two of the world’s longest flights: from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). You won’t want to spend 18 hours in an uncomfortable seat, so use your Membership Rewards points to fly in business class. Both routes cost 111,500 KrisFlyer miles plus taxes and fees one-way.
• Transfer your Amex points to Club Iberia Plus. You can fly from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and JFK to Madrid for just 17,000 Avios in economy, 25,500 in premium economy and 34,000 in business class each way.
• Transfer your Amex points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to enjoy its fantastic monthly Promo Rewards offers. With this ongoing promotion, one-way business-class flights to Europe are regularly available for under 40,000 Membership Rewards points.
• Transfer your Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program and book round-trip business-class flights to Japan on ANA for just 105,000 Membership Rewards points from the West Coast and 120,000 points from the East Coast.

It’s also important to note that many of these partners offer transfer bonuses throughout the year, sometimes offering up to 40% bonus points or miles when you transfer. These limited-time promotions can help you stretch your Membership Rewards points even further.

Related: A complete list of transfer bonuses over the past decade — which issuer is the most generous?

Redeeming Amex points when booking flights through American Express Travel

While we focus a lot on the value of transferable points here at TPG, you can only maximize them if your preferred airline or hotel has award space available. If you need to travel on fixed dates — especially on a premium route like New York to Los Angeles — this might pose a problem. If you’ve exhausted all other options, you can get an acceptable value by redeeming points through the Amex Travel portal.

With this option, your Amex points are worth 1 cent each. This can be great with a cheap fare, but it isn’t always the best option.

However, if you have any of the following Amex business cards, you can receive a bonus when using Pay with Points for eligible flights:

• The Centurion Card from American Express: 50% bonus
• The Business Platinum Card from American Express: 35% bonus (up to 1 million points per calendar year)

The information for the Centurion Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

These bonuses are valid on first- or business-class flights with any airline and economy flights with the airline you picked for your annual $200 airline incidental fee statement credit. You need to have the full number of points required for a booking in your account, and the bonus will post to your account within six to 10 weeks.

Utilizing one of these bonuses can increase your redemption value from 1 cent per point to 1.54 with the Business Platinum and 2 cents with the business Centurion card. As a bonus, you’ll earn both redeemable miles and elite-qualifying miles on tickets booked this way, as the airlines treat them the same as cash bookings.

Low-value redemptions for Amex Membership Rewards points

Not all redemptions are created equal — in fact, some redemptions listed below will give you under 1 cent per point in value. We recommend skipping these and saving your points.

Redeeming points for gift cards

Amex partners with various retailers to offer physical and electronic gift cards in various denominations, or you can also redeem points for American Express gift cards. If you go this route, each Amex point will typically be worth 1 cent apiece (so a $50 gift card costs 5,000 points). However, some merchants offer less than this in value, while others run promotions to give you slightly more value. This is better than redeeming for a statement credit (which we’ll detail below), but it’s still low compared to redeeming points for travel.

Redeeming points for Amazon purchases and statement credits

If long-haul flights represent one of the best possible values for Amex points, then redeeming them at Amazon and for statement credits are among the worst. When you add your Membership Rewards points-earning card as a payment method on Amazon, you can use your Amex points for purchases, but you’ll only get 0.7 cents per point in value.

Meanwhile, you can use Membership Rewards points to cover eligible purchases made with your Amex card at a rate of just 0.6 cents per point.

These redemptions offer poor value and should only be considered a last resort. Remember, Amex points don’t expire as long as you keep at least one Membership Rewards card open, so there’s no reason to rush into a low-value redemption.

If you want to earn cash-back rewards to go shopping or help pay the bills, check out TPG’s list of top cash-back credit cards.

Redeeming points to book hotels through Amex Travel

You should generally avoid redeeming Membership Rewards points for hotel stays through Amex Travel. With most hotels, you can redeem your points at a rate of 0.7 cents each through Amex Travel. And since these are third-party bookings, you won’t usually earn hotel points or elite night credits for your stay.

The one exception is Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, a luxury hotel program that’s only available to Platinum and Centurion cardmembers. If you pay with points to book one of these properties, you’ll get 1 cent of value per point and receive elitelike benefits for your stay, including complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late checkout, and usually a dining or spa credit. Plus, these stays usually earn hotel points and elite night credits.

Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

Frequently asked questions

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Amex points.

How much are 10,000 Amex points worth?

According to TPG’s May 2025 valuations, 10,000 Amex points are worth $200. You may be able to get a higher value if you leverage transfer partners like Air Canada Aeroplan or Hilton Honors. However, you may get less than 2 cents per point if you redeem for statement credits and gift cards.

Are Amex points worth more than Chase points?

According to TPG’s May 2025 valuations, Chase points are worth slightly more than Amex points. Chase points are worth 2.05 cents per point, compared to Amex points, which are worth 2 cents per point.

Do Amex points expire?

Amex points don’t expire as long as you have a Membership Rewards points-earning card and your account is in good standing.

Are Amex Membership Rewards worth it?

Amex Membership Rewards points are worth it because they give you extreme flexibility. You can redeem points for less-than-ideal things like cash back, gift cards or travel booked through Amex Travel. However, you also can get immense value with Amex’s 21 transfer partners. The choice is yours.

How do I get the most value from Amex points?

Transfer your points to one of Amex’s 21 hotel and airline partners to get the maximum value from them.

Bottom line

Amex Membership Rewards points have long been considered some of the most valuable points on the market. They sit near the top of TPG’s May 2025 valuations, thanks to many high-value airline transfer partners that allow members to book premium-cabin awards at low rates.

The value you get from your Amex points can vary significantly, starting at just 0.6 cents for statement credits but rising much higher for select transfer partners. Of course, that requires extensive flexibility and the willingness to learn the ins and outs of loyalty programs, so many cardmembers may prefer simpler reward options.

Ultimately, TPG’s May 2025 valuations peg Amex points at 2 cents apiece, but be sure to consider the best redemption option for your specific situation.

For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.

For many years, Club Iberia Plus (as well as British Airways Club) offered one of the best sweet spots in the points and miles industry, with nonstop lie-flat flights to Spain’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) starting at just 34,000 Avios each way.

Here’s what you need to know about the new Iberia award rates.

Related: A review of Iberia’s new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

Iberia increases most award rates

Iberia will continue to utilize an award chart, pricing flights with peak and off-peak dates. The price of all Iberia-operated flights has been adjusted (both short- and long-haul), with the following rates for North American services, each way, per person, plus reasonable fees, taxes and surcharges:

While the cost of Iberia’s cheapest Economy Basic rates has reduced slightly, all other awards have increased by around 10-20%, depending on routes, fare classes and dates.

These rates are still attractive even after the increases, particularly if you can travel during off-peak dates. With other programs switching to dynamic pricing and business-class flight redemptions to Europe being priced at 350,000 miles or more, being able to book a lie-flat Iberia flight to Spain for only 40,500 Avios represents great value.

The British Airways Club has increased the redemption cost of flights operated by Iberia in the same way, so you’ll pay the same price whether you redeem Avios through Club Iberia Plus or the British Airways Club.

You may find the British Airways website easier to navigate than Iberia’s booking platform.

Related: Is Iberia premium economy worth it on the Airbus A330 from Madrid to Dallas?

How to earn Iberia Avios

Avios are one of the easiest currencies to earn. At least one Avios program partners with all major transferable currencies, and you can transfer Avios between any Avios program at a 1:1 rate.

There are also transfer bonuses to Avios programs from time to time, meaning you may need even fewer credit card points for the rates above.

Related: Iberia makes Orlando the 10th city on its US route map

Bottom line

While no-notice devaluations are an unpleasant reality of redeeming points and miles, this could have been much worse. For so many years, you could fly business class to Europe for as little as 34,000 Avios each way, a testament to the value of the Club Iberia Plus loyalty program.

The new rates, now approximately 10-20% higher, still represent a great way to fly to Spain, especially in business class, given how easy Avios are to redeem.

Related reading:

• 5 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways
• Best ways to redeem British Airways Avios: From flights to Hawaii to island hopping in the Caribbean
• InterContinental Madrid review: Best for business, not leisure travelers
• With 5 airline loyalty programs using Avios, here’s why I focus on the British Airways Club
• 15 of the most beautiful villages in Spain