The Thrifty Traveler Podcast · Thursday, October 1, 2026
American Express has added Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) as a new transfer partner for its Membership Rewards points. While the transfer ratio is 4:1, the reasonable online rates for LHW properties present an opportunity to book unique boutique hotels outside of major chains. This move could be particularly valuable for Amex cardholders seeking more distinctive travel experiences.
“Honestly, this isn't necessarily super new news, but fairly recent with Amex adding leading hotels of the world as a transfer partner.”
“It does look kind of scary because it's a four to one ratio. So you transfer like 4,000 points, you only get a thousand. But their rates are super reasonable online. And I think it's just it creates a really interesting opportunity to book more unique boutique properties that maybe you wouldn't find when you're just keeping with the big four hotel chains.”