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Got your free Amex Plat £400 Marriott credit? Get an extra $100 and breakfast if you book with us

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As we covered yesterday, the first 2,000 holders of The Platinum Card from American Express to sign up will receive £400 to spend at selected Marriott International hotels.

To see if you are targetted, have a look at our previous article.

If you WERE targeted, there is some good news. If you book your stay via Emyr Thomas at Bon Vivant, the Head for Points official hotel booking partner, you will receive extra benefits on top.

How does the £400 cashback deal work?

The offer launched on Monday morning. Only 2,000 people are able to register, after which it will disappear from the Amex website.

If you have The Platinum Card, I STRONGLY recommend that you look at your online offers page IMMEDIATELY. If you see this offer, click ‘save to card’.

If you checked yesterday, it is worth checking again. I didn’t have it at 7am when I wrote the original article, but it had appeared by 10am.

Do NOT just look on the Amex app. You will see a broader range of offers if you look on the Amex website instead.

If you do not see it, you are either not targeted or the cap of 2,000 people has been reached. This is possible as our article yesterday was read over 15,000 times.

American Express Amex Platinum card £400 free Marriott stays

Do I really get £400 of free stays?

Yes. Here are the terms:

  • Spend £400 and get £400 cashback
  • You must stay by 23rd November

How can I get an even better deal by booking via Bon Vivant?

Before I run through the deals, I should clarify three things:

The rules of the ‘spend £400, get £400 cashback’ offer say that you need to book via marriott.com. If you book via Bon Vivant, you won’t be doing this. However, because you are paying at check-out, there is virtually no chance that the ‘book via marriott.com’ rule could be applied. How is American Express meant to know how you booked? However, it is only fair that I highlight this to you.

Some of these hotels can also be booked via American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. You would get similar added benefits. The key difference is that Bon Vivant will book you in at the Best Available Rate showing on marriott.com. Amex FHR uses a random rate which could be higher or lower than this.

Some hotels are offering online deals which are substantially cheaper than Best Available Rate. You need to factor in the $100 credit and free breakfast to decide what is best.

What are the ‘added value’ deals?

We have only looked at the UK hotels included in the American Express Platinum deal, given the current restrictions.

However, if you are thinking of booking any of the other hotels on the list, Emyr can also book those for you with similar benefits. The two German hotels can be visited without the need to quarantine on your return.

Trump Turnberry £400 American Express offer

Which hotels are included?

Here are the options for UK stays:

What deals can Bon Vivant offer?

The following ‘free night’ offers are available via Bon Vivant and stack with the £400 credit:

  • The Westbury – pay for two nights, get a third night free
  • JW Marriott Grosvenor House – either pay for three nights and get a fourth night free or pay for five nights and get a further two nights free

You receive the following benefits on all nine of the hotels listed above:

  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  • Complimentary breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay
  • $100 USD equivalent hotel credit once per stay
  • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability 
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Customised amenity

Note the ‘complimentary breakfast’ AND the $100 hotel credit. This means that you can actually spend around £480 without having to pay a penny, since your $100 credit will be deducted from your bill at check-out!

Do I still receive points and elite night credit in Marriott Bonvoy if I book via Bon Vivant or Amex FHR?

Yes, except for Bulgari. Bulgari does not participate in Marriott Bonvoy.

Do I still pay on departure if I book via Bon Vivant or Amex FHR?

Yes

How can I contact Bon Vivant?

Please send your booking enquiries via the form on this page of Head for Points.

Please be as precise as possible to allow us to deal with enquiries as efficiently as we can. Remember that pricing will match Best Available Rate showing on marriott.com.

A typical enquiry might be “I’m thinking of booking a standard room at The Westbury from 7th to 10th November. The Best Available Rate showing online is £281. Can you please confirm that you can book the 3-for-2 deal at this price and provide the other benefits on top?”.

As for my own trip …. as I live in London, I am tempted to book a one-night stay for as little money as I can and then have a good night in the hotel restaurant and bar until I’ve hit the £400 cap (plus $100 hotel credit!).

The form to contact Emyr is at the bottom of this page (click).


How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Comments (179)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • KBuffett says:

    I’d be interested to hear which hotels have the best restaurants?

    Or indeed, opinions on the various hotels available?

    • Graham Walsh says:

      That’s what I’d like to know as well. Perfect timing for my girlfriends birthday. Dinner and a night in London.

      • Angry Voldemort says:

        Who said romance was dead. 🤣🤣

      • Rob says:

        I was looking at this last night. London EDITION is probably the best option BUT the restaurant seems shut at present. Grosvenor has a lot of restaurants and they seem open. Park Tower fish restaurant had closed pre covid for a new look and hasn’t reopened. Can’t speak about Wellesley.

        • Harry T says:

          The EDITION is still shut.

          • Rob says:

            Reopens next week I think but £330ish for a room.

          • TGLoyalty says:

            They’ve been reopening every week for a while.

          • Ikaz says:

            The Liverpool Marriott did that for a while, they were cancelling my stays every Wednesday/Thursday for the following week before they decided that it was time to re-open

        • George K says:

          I can speak about the Wellesley, but pre-Covid. Had an anniversary dinner at the Jazz lounge and the food was exceptional. Art Deco atmosphere with live singer and pianist topped it all off. Highly recommended

    • Harry T says:

      Yeah, TG is right – I keep booking weekends and they keep emailing me to say they are pushing back their opening date.

  • KS says:

    Anyone stayed at JW Grosvenor House recently? I’m trying to find out if executive lounge is at reduced service and how so?

    • Jason says:

      I stayed at the JW Grosvenor House this last weekend. Club Lounge still open and just doing table service for drinks and snacks. Breakfast was in JW Steakhouse instead of the lounge. All a pretty good effort considering. So many just closed, they were making the effort!

  • Manya says:

    I have a 3 year old and 2 year old so will probably book the cheapest room and forgo the overnight stay but would be keen to know if readers know of any child friendly options, such as mad hatters tea party etc at any of these hotels?

  • Jk says:

    Sorry – a few potentially silly questions.

    1. Given that you pay at check out, does that mean you need to book AND STAY at a participating hotel before 23/11/2020
    2. Is there an option to prepay for a later stay?

    Thanks

    Jonny

    • Rob says:

      If the hotel offers prepay and charges, you should be ok. Problem is that many don’t charge until the night before you arrive.

  • Sam says:

    Hi, If I checkout and pay on Nov 23rd will the offer still trigger or does the payment actually have to clear rather than show pending?

  • Nick says:

    Hoping Emyr can answer here instead of having hundreds of people email asking the same question!
    1. Do any of the non-UK hotels have ‘extra’ offers at the moment? Such as 3 for 2?
    2. Is his price always BAR, and if so is it fair to say we can check what it would be before emailing him?

    I want to book with him but also want to avoid asking questions unnecessarily as he’ll be busy!

    • Harry T says:

      Emyr doesn’t mind answering lots of questions – I usually pester the poor chap far too much.

  • James Purvis says:

    We booked The London Edition via American Express Travel for £450 but got an additional $200 property credit to spend, therefore $300 overall. This is crazy good value! I recommend you check it out. We are staying Friday 6th November for one night.

    • Ray says:

      I think the $200 additional credit is for a minimum of 2 night stay, pulled the extract “FHR USD 200 ADDITIONAL HOTEL CREDIT PLUS FHR AMENITIES BASED ON A MINIMUM 2 NIGHT STAY“ Although if you do get it you would definitely be laughing!

    • TGLoyalty says:

      I would double check it 100% $200 is only for 2 night stays

    • Matt says:

      I called up and it is a minimum two night stay, even if you can book it on the 1 night deal.

  • s879 says:

    Does anyone know if any of the London hotels have an indoor pool. Late check out is good but with kids, you need to think what to do unless you go out.

    • Rob says:

      Don’t think so. Need Langley for that.

      • s879 says:

        Thanks Rob. With two kids it’s just working out at a crazy price. Even one kids is like £900+. I live 15 minutes from the hotel so it is such a shame! I also think mid to late November is riskier re Covid related restrictions/lockdown. If you think a particular hotel in London would be better for the kids, please do advise. My children are 11y and 14y.

        • Rob says:

          None are kid friendly – these are very high end places for very wealthy tourists. Fly to Scotland and try Turnberry.

          Don’t understand though. If you live near The Langley who cares about room rate? Book the cheapest room, take the gang, use the pool and spa and leave.

          • s879 says:

            Oh so they won’t mind as long as we don’t request extra beds etc. Fab idea.

          • a270 says:

            Sorry to jump in but are there no early check out facilities or do you mean book a day rate?

          • Rob says:

            No, you need to book an overnight rate but you could turn up at 3pm and potentially return the next morning (check-out is noon I assume).

          • TGLoyalty says:

            Why checkout? Just do your thing Food / spa etc then leave for the night and perhaps even return the next morning.

          • Rob says:

            That’s what I meant, sorry.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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