The Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas reached out yesterday to share the news that they have improved their Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits for customers who book these rates through American Express. As a reminder, this hotel is the former Mandarin Oriental but was re-flagged earlier this year. Around that time I was invited by Hilton to stay at the hotel and attend one of their Hilton Honors music concerts with Walk the Moon. Check out my review of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas.
Fine Hotels & Resorts is an exclusive program for Amex Platinum Card and Centurion Card members. You tend to get rates similar to what you find elsewhere, but in addition they include free breakfast each morning, a late check-out, and some kind of property benefit. I’ve long used it at hotels like Four Seasons that don’t have a formal loyalty program or at hotels where I don’t have existing status with similar perks.
In the past the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas offered guests a $100 spa credit as their property benefit. This is very common among FHR rates, but it’s annoying to people like me who don’t use the spa. I did a couples massage on my honeymoon to make my wife happy. Never again.
The Waldorf Astoria’s new perk is a $125 resort credit. Not only is the amount increased, but you can still use that at the spa as well as for food and beverage elsewhere at the hotel, whether for drinks at SkyBar (with one of the best views of the Strip), snacks at the pool, or dinner at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire. What you can’t use the credit for is to offset room rate charges and taxes, resort fees, or retail products (like a robe to take home from the spa).
In the last couple years I’ve stayed at the Bellagio, Aria, Mandalay Bay, and Mirage. I stayed with MGM because of their partnership with Hyatt, but honestly I cannot tell them apart. Meanwhile, the Waldorf Astoria actually felt luxurious, like my money was well spent. The elite recognition of my Hilton Honors status helped, too. So unless there’s some need to stay at a particular location, I’m pretty sure the Waldorf Astoria will be my new go-to. The extra perks for booking a Fine Hotels & Resorts rate are just icing on the cake.
