I’ve had the same thought before.
On paper it sounds amazing. $200 here, $200 there, plus a $100 property credit. But then you actually compare prices and somehow the Amex portal rate is way higher than booking direct or through other sites.
When the room is $1500 through Amex but $1100 everywhere else, that “free” credit disappears real fast. And the resort fee differences just add insult to injury.
It only really works if the Amex rate is close to public pricing or if you really value the late checkout and property credit. Otherwise it feels like you’re prepaying for your own perk.
I still think it can work in specific cases, but you definitely have to price check everything. It’s not automatic value like they make it sound.
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