Amex Platinum Refresh 2025: Is It Still Worth It for Hawaii Travelers?
American Express just refreshed the Platinum and Business Platinum cards. Aside from the new look, they keep the old credit and benefits and add a few awesome ones! But, are the new credits worth it for Hawaii travelers? For this article we are breaking down the Personal platinum card, the hotel, Lululemon, and Resy perks, plus where Amex fell short with the Oura Ring credit.
When American Express tweaks its premium cards, Hawaii travelers like us always wonder: is it still worth paying that big annual fee of now $895?
The short answer? Yes, if you use the credits wisely.
The new refresh of the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum cards, announced yesterday, keeps this card in the “worth it” column for me. The key is knowing which benefits actually bring value in Hawaii, and which ones are kind of…meh. All old credit and benefits remain the same + new credits added.
| Credit | Annual Amount | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Fee | Up to $200 | For incidental charges with an airline of your choice |
| Clear Plus | Up to $209 | For Clear Plus airport security membership (automatic renewal applies) |
| Digital Entertainment | Up to $300 | Up to $25 monthly for select streaming subscriptions |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck | Up to $120 (every 4–4.5 years) | For Global Entry ($120 every four years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years) |
| Hotel | Up to $600 | Up to $300 biannually for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings (two-night minimum for The Hotel Collection) |
| Lululemon | Up to $300 | Up to $75 quarterly for eligible purchases at Lululemon in the U.S. (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com |
| Oura Ring | Up to $200 | For an Oura Ring purchase (hardware only) |
| Resy | Up to $400 | Up to $100 quarterly at U.S. Resy restaurants or for other eligible Resy dining purchases |
| Saks Fifth Avenue | Up to $100 | Up to $50 biannually for purchases at Saks |
| Uber Cash | Up to $200 | Up to $15 monthly Uber Cash for rides or dining in the U.S. (plus a $20 bonus in December) after adding your Amex Plat to your Uber account |
| Uber One Membership | Up to $120 | Membership covered for annual or monthly installments, subject to auto-renewal |
| Walmart+ | Up to $155 | Covers cost of one monthly Walmart+ membership (up to $12.95), including taxes (automatic renewal required; Plus Ups excluded) |
Let’s dive into the big changes!
1. $600 Hotel Credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts & The Hotel Collection)
This is the big one for locals and anyone visiting Hawaii. Each year, you get up to $600 in statement credits when booking through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or The Hotel Collection.
The best part? Many Hawaii resorts are part of the program. A few standouts:
Halekulani (Waikiki, Honolulu) – Daily breakfast for two, upgrades when available, late checkout, and often a property credit.
Fairmont Orchid (Kohala Coast, Big Island) – Similar perks plus that luxury Big Island vibe.
Other FHR Hawaii properties rotate in and out, but there are usually a handful of solid choices.
If you use this for even one Hawaii stay, the $600 easily offsets a big chunk of the annual fee. Add in perks like free breakfast and late checkout, and you’re stacking value beyond just the credit.
2. $300 Lululemon Credit (Yes, Gift Cards Work)
This one’s straightforward but surprisingly useful. Every quarter, you get $75 to use at Lululemon, adding up to $300 a year.
The best part? It currently works on gift cards, so even if you don’t need new gear right away, you can stock up gift cards to use later or give them to family.
Hawai‘i has Lululemon stores in Waikīkī and Ala Moana, plus you can shop online. It’s not “travel” in the traditional sense, but it’s still real cash value.
3. $400 Resy Dining Credit
Now this one’s fun and tasty. The refresh brings a $400 dining credit/$100 per quarter via Resy, which is actually great news for us in Hawai‘i. If you don’t know or haven’t used Resy, its very similar to Opentable, the online restaurant reservation platform. If you’re like me, you probably googled, “which restaurants in Hawaii use RESY?” some solid restaurants came up!
Below is a list of Resy-partner restaurants:
@Sushi - Omakase dine in Sushi restaurant
Brix and Stones – Upscale American grill and steakhouse vibe with cocktails and wine.
Empire Steak House Hawaii – New York–style steakhouse in Waikīkī with prime cuts and seafood.
Lady Elaine – Modern cocktail lounge with small plates and bar bites.
Lava Lounge Waikīkī – Trendy Waikīkī spot with tropical drinks and light bar food.
Little Plum – Café and wine bar offering Mediterranean-inspired small plates.
Nanzan Giro Giro – Kyoto-style kaiseki dining, multi-course Japanese tasting menu.
OKDONGSIK Hawaii – Korean comfort food specializing in pork soup and rice dishes.
Olay’s Thai Lao Cuisine – Homestyle Thai and Lao dishes, casual dining.
Podmore – British-inspired brunch and dinner spot, cocktails, and modern plating.
Restaurant Suntory – Authentic Japanese dining in Waikīkī (sushi, teppanyaki, shabu-shabu).
Silver Lining Wine Bar – Natural wine bar with small bites.
Skull & Crown Trading Co. – Tiki-style bar with rum cocktails and Polynesian-inspired food.
Toro – Contemporary Japanese sushi and seafood restaurant.
Vein at Kakaʻako – Modern Japanese-inspired cuisine with seasonal tasting menus.
We have excluded a participating restaurant due to an ongoing investigation of back paid wages to workers.
You can easily burn through that $400 credit while enjoying some of the best sushi and dining on Oʻahu. It’s a benefit that actually matches how we eat and live here.
Where Amex Missed: The Oura Ring Credit
Not every credit hits the mark and this is where I think Amex slipped up.
They added an annual $200 OURA Ring credit, but the fine print says:
You can’t use it for memberships (which is kind of the whole point of a smart ring).
You can’t use it for accessories.
So what’s left? Buying a new ring every year? That doesn’t make sense. Most of us don’t need a fresh ring annually, and without covering the membership fee, it feels like a half-baked benefit. I made a joke on Ben’s Big Deal Masterclass yesterday that Oura wants us to have a ring for every finger… This image came to mind.
What are we suppose to do with all these Oura rings?
I really hope Amex rethinks this. A simple tweak, allowing the credit to apply to memberships, would make this credit truly valuable.
So…Is the Platinum Still Worth It?
For me, yes. Here’s why:
$600 hotel credit — one nice stay in Hawai‘i can almost cover the fee.
$300 Lululemon credit — guaranteed value, especially since gift cards work.
$400 Resy credit — fun, local, and usable right here in Honolulu. I like the sushi spots.
That’s $1,300 in credits if you maximize them. Add in airport lounge access, 5X points on flights, and all the other Platinum perks, the card still earns its keep.
The only real dud? That Ring credit. Until Amex fixes it, it’s kind of a wasted benefit for most of us. Maybe future gifts for people..?
Scottie’s Take
From a Hawaii traveler’s perspective, this refresh actually made the Platinum stronger. The hotel, Lululemon, and dining credits are all things we can realistically use here in the islands. If you travel even a little bit, or if you like enjoying local dining spots, you’re coming out ahead.
But Amex needs to do better on the Ring credit, no one’s buying a new one every year. My hope is they listen to feedback and adjust the terms.
For now though? The Platinum stays in my wallet, and I’ll happily use it for a stay at Halekulani and a sushi night out at Rinka. That alone makes the fee worth it.
If you decide to apply for any of the business cards, I have an affiliate link for both. Please reach out here so we can send you a link and consult you on the best way to use the card.
