Maximizing American Express Points with Leading Hotels of the World

Last month, American Express added The Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club loyalty program as a new transfer partner, allowing users to exchange Membership Rewards points at a 4:1 ratio. This may seem less rewarding than other options, but it actually offers the best value for hotel stays, with redemptions starting at 3,000 points per night.

However, there is a catch - you must pay any applicable taxes and fees. Fortunately, you can easily check these costs before transferring points.

How to Find Taxes and Fees with Leading Hotels of the World

If you're considering transferring Amex points to Leaders Club, it's essential to know the out-of-pocket expenses involved. Unfortunately, this information won't be displayed if you don't have enough points to cover the entire stay.

For example, a four-night stay at the Ritz Paris next summer would cost 40,251 points per night. Since I don't have enough points, I can't select the redemption rate. To find the taxes and fees, I simply select the standard paid rate instead.

When I do so, the platform displays the total taxes and fees associated with my stay: 93.50 euros in city tax (roughly $108, based on current exchange rates), or about $27.10 per night. This exact amount is also reflected for a single-night stay, which I can afford with my points.

Just make sure to select the regular refundable rate for a paid stay, listed as "best available rate" or "standard rate." Avoid rates like "Leaders Club exclusive" or "advanced purchase," as these may not reflect the correct taxes and fees.

Taxes and Fees Can Vary Significantly

While a $20 or $30 nightly tax might not be a huge cost, there's a lot of variability across LHW's portfolio, even within the same city. For example, Fouquet's Paris bundles its city tax into the room rate, so Leaders Club redemptions at the property don't have any separate taxes and fees to worry about.

However, Fauchon L'Hotel Paris charges a value-added tax as a separate item, adding 89 euros (about $103) per night on top of your points for a redemption stay. And some spots with significant local tax burdens can charge even more in taxes and fees, like in New York City.