Scoring a Luxury Hotel Stay for Under $35 per Night in Portugal
This summer was my third trip to Portugal, but the first time I turned a stay at an aspirational property into one of my cheapest hotel bills ever. With the help of two American Express cards, I scored a luxurious Hilton stay in Porto for under $400, with an effective cost of just $137 out of pocket – or under $35 per night.
How I Stacked the Cards' Benefits
The Platinum Card from American Express comes with up to $200 in statement credits each year for prepaid bookings through The Hotel Collection with Amex Travel (or through Fine Hotels and Resorts, if you choose). I booked two nights at the Boeira Garden Hotel Porto Gaia (a Curio Collection property) for $535 through Amex Travel. This triggered the $200 credit on my statement within two weeks of booking.
I also received a $100 on-property credit through The Hotel Collection, which I used to pay for a room service lunch and two dinners at the hotel's restaurant. The savings from these credits were $300 ($200 in credits and $100 in on-property credits).
Double Up on Hilton Resort Credits
I chose this hotel because it's part of Amex's The Hotel Collection and an eligible Hilton resort, allowing me to take advantage of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card's up to $200 in statement credits for eligible Hilton resort charges every six months.
I booked an extra two nights directly through Hilton for $421. This triggered the second half of 2024's resort credit. By using this trick, I saved an additional $400 off my bill.
Earn Bonus Amex and Hilton Points
On my first two-night booking, I earned 2,675 American Express Membership Rewards points on my prepaid booking (at 5 points per dollar spent), worth $54 per TPG's August 2025 valuations. I also earned 23,790 Hilton Honors points, worth $119 per our August 2025 valuations.
These points were earned through a combination of base points, promotions, and my Diamond status from the Aspire card, which doubled my points earnings.
The Bottom Line
By stacking these benefits, I was able to cut my out-of-pocket cost by 64%. Factor in the $173 in points earned and $80 worth of complimentary breakfasts, and my effective cost dropped to just $137 for a four-night stay at a luxury Hilton property.
The Annual Fees: Worth It?
Yes, the Amex Platinum has a high annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), but even across just four benefits – the up to $200 hotel credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash, up to $200 airline fee credit, and up to $240 digital entertainment credit – I get up to $840 in value each year.
The Hilton Aspire's $550 annual fee is also easy to offset with two key perks: up to $400 in Hilton resort credits and up to $200 in flight credits. With careful planning, you can easily get more value back than you spend on these cards.
How This Strategy Can Work for You
Hilton resorts that overlap with the two American Express hotel programs are the sweet spot for stacking benefits. Look for properties that are both Hilton resorts and part of Amex's The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts programs.
Once you've confirmed it is an overlapping property, book a stay through Amex Travel with your Platinum to trigger the up to $200 hotel credit. Then, book a second stay with your Aspire; if possible, place a deposit in one six-month period and pay the rest in the next.
By planning ahead and taking advantage of these benefits, you can easily save hundreds of dollars on luxury hotel stays like mine.
Conclusion
Stacking credit card benefits turned my stay at the Boeira Garden Hotel into one of the most lucrative hotel redemptions I've pulled off. And sipping port by the Douro River felt even better knowing I'd only paid (at most) a third of the price.