We’re always looking for ways to turn our credit card points into high-value hotel stays, and American Express has brought us a new option to do just that. Recently, the bank added The Leading Hotels of the World® (LHW) as a transfer partner at a 4:1 ratio. 

Now, that may sound like a terrible value, but the opposite is true! Their Leaders Club points are worth around eight cents per point. So even with the transfer ratio, you could easily get two cents per Membership Rewards® point to book these luxury properties. 

Citi had previously added LHW at a 5:1 ratio, so transferring from American Express® is a better deal to book your stays. 

 

What is Leading Hotels of the World®? 

LHW is a collection of about 500 independent, luxury hotels (similar to Hilton’s Small Luxury Hotels). Given that small footprint, these points won’t be quite as easy to use as IHG or Marriott points, but there are opportunities if they have a property somewhere you’re interested in going. 

Luckily for parents, luxury doesn’t have to mean unfriendly to families. Many LHW properties specifically advertise themselves as being family-friendly. The hotel program even maintains a list of its coolest kids’ clubs!

 

Pros and Cons 

What I find most exciting about this is that holders of American Express® cards finally have a way to get solid value from our points on hotel stays. While American Express Membership Rewards® have long been transferrable to Hilton at a 2:1 ratio, that’s been a less attractive option lately as Hilton continues to devalue its points. The other hotel transfer partners also don’t typically offer great value without a transfer bonus. 

For family travelers, LHW allows you to book many different room types with points—not just standard rooms like some hotel programs do. So this could be an ideal option for families, especially in places like Europe with strict occupancy limits. 

Additionally, many LHW properties are also available through American Express® Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection. So if you found a property with a cash rate you were willing to pay, you could potentially book a few nights through this program and use your premium hotel credits. For a longer stay, you could then add on another night or two with Leaders Club points.

The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.

Another benefit of booking one of these properties is that American Express Platinum Card® or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders in the U.S. are eligible for Leaders Club Sterling status. So you can benefit from status just by holding the card and be eligible for pre-arrival upgrades (though these are not available on points stays). 

There are a few drawbacks, though. One is that there are very few properties, period. To put this into perspective, Hyatt, the smallest of the major points programs, has about 1,500 hotels. So there are about a third as many LHW hotels as there are Hyatt properties. 

This program is not yet supported by any of the major hotel points search sites that I’m familiar with (and it may never be due to how small it is). So if you want to book these hotels, you’ll be doing manual searching. I’ve also noticed that some of their properties don’t seem to accept points at all. That’s unfortunate, but there are still great deals to be had with the properties that do! 

One final potential drawback—this program charges taxes on award stays. I’ve seen mixed reports online about whether those taxes were actually charged at checkout, so your mileage may vary. 

I booked a stay with LHW points for a few months from now, and the taxes are prominently shown at booking as a cash surcharge. I guess I’ll find out after the stay whether I actually have to pay them! 

With all that in mind, let’s look at some family-friendly stays you could book with your points! 

 

Example Stays

 

Windjammer Landing Resort and Residences (St. Lucia)

 

 

The Windjammer Landing Resort and Residences is a family-friendly resort in gorgeous St. Lucia that could be perfect for your next family trip! This resort has so much to do for active families, from beach volleyball to St. Lucian cooking classes. The property also has a kids’ club, teens’ club, and loaner baby gear. So whatever age your little travelers are, this property has you covered. 

I found rooms here that sleep four people for as few as 16,000 American Express Membership Rewards® per night (transferred to LHW). 

 

 

Falkensteiner Family Hotel Montafon (Austria) 

 

 

If you’re looking for a family stay, it’s hard to beat a hotel with “family” in the name in the gorgeous Austrian Alps. The Falkensteiner Family Hotel Montafon is a family escape that you can book with your points. This beautiful, nature-focused hotel has some unique kids’ club options, including the chance to build your own sustainable product or take part in a science lab. 

I found a family-size suite here during peak summer season for about 45,000 American Express Membership Rewards® per night. While that’s a lot of points, this property has a cash price of around $900 a night. That’s a solid value. 

 

 

Sonnenalp Hotel (Vail, Colorado) 

 

 

If winter sports are more your family’s jam, check out the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado. This property puts you in the middle of Vail’s world-class skiing and other winter sports. In the summer, your family can enjoy hiking, summer festivals, and much more. The property also has a kids’ club most evenings.  

During ski season in January, I found family-sized rooms here for 44,000 American Express Membership Rewards® per night, with a cash rate over $1,000 per night! 

 

 

Knickerbocker Hotel (New York City) 

 

 

If your family wants to stay in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, close to Broadway shows, Times Square, and more, the Knickerbocker Hotel can be a great deal for your points. This kid-friendly, historic property has excellent points availability. 

For example, I found availability on a fall weekend for about 39,000 American Express Membership Rewards® per night for a room that sleeps four people. You can also splurge a few more points for a suite if the family needs a bit more room. 

 

 

Bottom Line

As you can see, this exciting transfer partner can get you an unforgettable stay with your American Express Membership Rewards®. Which property are you choosing for your next points-funded adventure?

 

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