Discounted Amex Redemptions: Mandarin Oriental Hotels

Oct. 12, 2011

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5 min read

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Through 12/31/11 American Express is discounting many of their Membership Rewards points redemptions. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to airline transfers, which are generally the most lucrative way to maximize the value of Amex points. However, there may be some options that make sense for your specific situation.

I have tons of airline miles as it is, so I always like to try and figure out lucrative ways to use points to pay for luxury hotels, since most don't have their own points programs and thus the only way to stay is to pay. Generally though, luxury hotel redemptions don't make sense in that they usually cost an exorbitant amount of points relative to how much you can pay for a room. However, there may be a situation where using your Amex points might make sense - especially with the current discount and if you are going to a hotel where the currency works against you.

For Mandarin Oriental there are four categories of free nights:

Bronze includes the following properties and with the current discount, cost: 28,000 points a night:

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
Grand Lapa, Macau
Mandarin Oriental, Manila
Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta

Silver is 44,000 points a night:

Mandarin Oriental, Macau
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Gold is 64,000:

Elbow Beach, Bermuda
Mandarin Oriental, Boston
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

And Platinum is 76,000:

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Mandarin Oriental Paris
Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona
Mandarin Oriental, Geneva
Mandarin Oriental, Munich
Mandarin Oriental, New York
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Overall, I can't see getting much more than 1 cent per value with this redemption option, but if you have an upcoming Mandarin Oriental stay, you might as well do the math. For example, if you value your Amex points at 1.5 cents a piece, then you shouldn't redeem for a night at a Silver property unless its going for $420 or more (28,000 points * .015). And remember, these are capacity controlled - I called and tried to book a room at the Excelsior in Hong Kong for New Years and I was told that rooms were not available using the Amex free nights, but they were available online for sale. Bummer.

Before you do this, confirm that the night you want is eligible for free nights per the official instructions:

Advance reservations required. Please contact Mandarin Oriental at 1-800-526-6566 and state "American Express Membership Rewards" when making reservations for your stay.
If a room is available, make your reservation and get a confirmation number.
Then redeem for your certificate by clicking Redeem Now or call 1-800-297-3276 and indicate that you would like to redeem your points for a Mandarin Oriental certificate.
You’ll receive a certificate within seven business days.
Present the Membership Rewards certificate upon check in at the hotel property.

Since these certificates only have 6 month validity, I'd be extra sure that you'll be able to use them before they expire. I don't expect many people to get in on this, but it's good to know the option exists, just in case you have more Amex points than you know what to do with and want to splurge on a luxury hotel stay.

T&C

Customers are responsible for all additional room nights and for all incidentals such as, but not limited to, the following: food and beverage, telephone, fitness center, laundry, etc.
Advance reservations required.
Subject to availability and blackout dates may apply. Subject to each Mandarin Oriental hotel's no-show and cancellation policies. Customers will be responsible for no-show and cancellation charges.
Certificate must be presented upon check-in.
Certificates are combinable.
American Expresss Membership Rewards Certificates have no cash value and may not be sold, bartered or purchased.
Certificates not valid with other promotions or offers.
Certificates will be applied during the first night(s) of stay.

Mandarin Oriental Platinum Award Black Out Dates:

Mandarin Oriental, Geneva
2011: February 28-March 2
2012: January 15-20, March 6-9, May 13-17
Mandarin Oriental, Munich
2011: September 16, 17, 24, 30, October 1-4
2012: February 3-5, May 18-19, September 21,22,28,29; October 5-9, December 31
Mandarin Oriental, Paris
2011: September 27-October 8, December 30-31
2012: July 1-6, September 27 - October 4; December 31
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
2011: January 1, April 30, May 3-4, December 23-24, 31
2012: January 1,2, December 28-31
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
2011: March 23-28, December 31
2012: January 1, March 19-25, December 23-25 and 30-31
Mandarin Oriental, New York
2011: November 23, December 2-3
2012: September 17-21, November 21,22,30, December 1,7,8 and 30-31
Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona
2012: February 27-March2, December 31
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
2012: June 19-23, 25,27,29, July 1,3,5,7 and 9-15, July 27-August 12, August 29- September 9