Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

When you run a business, every dollar counts. Having the right credit card can not only help you pay the bills, but it can go a long way to help you actually save money.

As a business owner, you can qualify for cards that offer better rewards and perks than most personal travel cards.

(And don’t forget: freelancers, side hustlers, and really anyone with a bit of income on the side can qualify for business cards too. You don’t need to be an LLC or have a formal business setup!!)

One of the cards I love is the American Express® Business Gold Card. It’s simple and straightforward, offering flexible bonus categories that actually match your spending habits (something I wish more cards did), and is especially good if you do a lot of paid online ads.

Here’s everything you need to know about the American Express® Business Gold Card to see if it’s right for you:

What is the American Express® Business Gold Card?

The Business Gold Card is an easy-to-use business card issued by American Express. Its best feature is the ability to earn 4x points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month, from six eligible categories (more on those below).

I like that this keeps things simple, instead of offering a laundry list of statement credits to keep track of (though if you are interested in a card that does, check out my review of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express).

As an Amex card, you’ll also get access to fantastic customer service, Amex Offers, and some travel protections.

Here’s a glance at some of the benefits this card offers:

• Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first three months of Card Membership
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month, from six eligible categories. While your top two categories may change, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1x). Only the top two categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap
• Earn 3x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• Earn 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (that’s up to $240 per year)
• Earn up to a $12.95 (plus applicable taxes on one membership fee) statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card (that’s up to $155 per year)
• No foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees)
• Extended warranty, purchase, and cellphone protection*
• Secondary car rental and baggage insurance*

The card does come with a $375 annual fee (See Rates and Fees).

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
 

Earning Membership Rewards Points

As I mentioned, the best feature of this card is the ability to earn 4x in the two categories where your business spends the most (on your first $150,000 of spending each year). It’s important to understand that this doesn’t include all spending categories though, just these six eligible categories:

1. Purchases at US media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
2. U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
3. U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
4. U.S. purchases at gas stations
5. Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
6. Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.

The nice part about this benefit is that your top two categories can change from month to month, reflecting your real-time business needs. But one of the ways to really maximize this benefit is that you can get 4x on online ads while most other cards offer a max of 3x. So, if you put all your online ads on this card and keep it as one of your top categories, you can get more points per dollar spent on ads than any other card!

And don’t worry about keeping track of which categories are your most used. The card automatically figures out your top two spending categories and awards points accordingly (you’ll see them as 1x until your statement closes, after which your top categories will be determined and points awarded).

To me, this is a huge perk because it keeps things simple. After all, as a business owner, you already have enough on your plate.

On the flip side, your regular business spending might not align with these categories. If that’s the case, I’d recommend a business card that has an increased earning rate on the ones that you do spend in, or one that earns more across all categories (you can check out which ones I recommend in this post on my favorite business cards).
 

Using Your Membership Rewards Points

With the Business Gold Card, you’ll earn Membership Rewards® points, which you can transfer to any of Amex’s 21 airline and hotel partners. Since Amex has a well-rounded suite of travel partners, Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points out there.

These are Amex’s current travel partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
• Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
• Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
• ANA Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
• Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
• British Airways Club (1:1 ratio)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
• Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio)
• Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
• Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
• HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
• Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
• JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200 ratio)
• Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
• Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)

Most transfers are instant, though some can take up to 48 hours. Remember to only transfer the exact number of points that you need to book your flight or hotel. Transfers are one-way only.

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in the Amex Travel portal. I would advise against it though. It’s not as good a value as transferring your points to partners.
 

Up to $395 Per Year in Flexible Credit for Business Purchases

The Business Gold card offers statement credits in two categories, adding up to a potential annual savings of $395 per year (effectively paying for the cost of the card).

First, you can earn up to $20 in statement credits each month after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores.

Second, you can earn up to $12.95 in statement credits each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. (Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible.)

I find these statement credits a bit random, and they’re not the most helpful if you have an online business like me. I usually max out on the Grubhub credits though!
 

Access to Amex Offers

The Business Gold Card also has access to Amex Offers, an ever-changing roster of deals where you can save money or earn bonus points with select retailers. The offers are targeted, so every cardholder has their own unique array of offers at any given time. For these offers, you do have to add them to your card before making a purchase (or you won’t get the deal).

Usually, they’re structured as “spend X, get Y amount back as a statement credit” though sometimes they’ll offer bonus points or a percentage back. While you probably won’t be able to take advantage of most offers, the more you can, the more you can offset the card’s annual fee.

New offers get added as old ones expire, so it’s worth checking back every so often so you can add any offers to your card that you might use.
 

Who is the Business Gold Card for?

The Business Gold card is best for business owners who have regular spending in the six categories where you can earn 4x points. This card is especially ideal for entrepreneurs who don’t want to worry about rotating or pre-selecting bonus categories. All you have to do is use it for your regular business spending and you’ll get your points.

Like with any card, if you’re carrying a balance — or think you might — you shouldn’t get this one. Travel cards like this come with high interest rates, and the rewards you earn won’t make up for what you’ll lose in interest charges. Trust me, no amount of points is worth going into debt over!

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for improving your score.)

The American Express Business Gold Card is one of my favorite business cards. The ability to automatically earn 4x points on your top two spending categories each month keeps things simple and helps you rack up points quickly. And more points equals more trips.

While it’s not as flashy as its more premium counterpart the Business Platinum, I like to keep the Business Gold in my wallet because it works hard behind the scenes. If you’re looking for a solid business card that works as hard as you do, this one’s worth a closer look.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express is the OG of premium travel cards. Since its launch in the 1980s, it’s always been known for its exclusivity, suite of perks, and stellar customer service.

While it does have the highest fee in the game ($695, See Rates and Fees), it offers a ton of bang for your buck. You’ll more than come out on top if you take advantage of all that this premium card has to offer. It unlocks the most comprehensive lounge access of any card, includes elite hotel status, has tons of travel perks, and offers hefty statement credits.

I personally love this card, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s my review to help you decide if it’s right for you.

What does the card offer?

This card unlocks a ton of lounge access, elite status benefits (enrollment required), travel perks, special hotel discounts, and luxury goods and service credits. Here’s a glance at just some of the benefits:

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on the first $500,000 spent per calendar year)
• Earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked on American Express Travel
• Travel insurance coverage including secondary car rental insurance, trip interruption and cancellation, lost luggage reimbursement
• Access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection (for eligible Card Members)
• Up to $200 in airline credit (Valid on one qualifying airline that you must choose in advance. Valid on incidentals only, not airfare.)
• Up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.)
• Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. (Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.)

Using Your Membership Rewards Points

You’ll earn Membership Rewards points with The Platinum Card® from American Express. These are some of the most valuable transferable points out there, thanks to their impressive suite of travel partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
• Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
• Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
• ANA Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
• Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
• British Airways Club (1:1 ratio)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
• Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio)
• Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
• Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
• HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
• Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
• JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200 ratio)
• Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
• Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in the Amex Travel portal. (This isn’t the best use of your points. I’d generally advise against it; it’s always best to transfer your points to travel partners rather than using the card’s travel portal.)

Breaking Down the Amex Platinum’s Credits and Benefits

I love Amex cards for their perks and benefits, and the Amex Platinum comes with over $1,500 worth of them. It’s like a little coupon book. Here’s what you get with the card:

Perks for a Streamlined Airport Experience (Lounge Access, CLEAR Plus, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck)
One of my favorite perks of this card is that it offers the most comprehensive lounge access out there, and to some of the best lounges in the game. The Centurion Lounges are stellar, as are the Delta Sky Club lounges. You’ll also get access to the Priority Pass network of over 1,700 lounges around the world.

The Amex Platinum also gets you to the lounge quicker with statement credits that cover services to expedite airport security. You’ll get up to $199 annual CLEAR® Plus statement credit (covers an annual membership) per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal). You’ll also receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®.

Keep in mind that if you’re approved for Global Entry, you’ll also get access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. So, if you’re traveling internationally, just go with Global Entry. The process is a bit more involved (you have to go for an in-person interview), but it’s worth it.

Airline and Hotel Credits
The Platinum Card also offers up to $200 in airline credit, which sounds great at face value but can be a bit of a pain to use. The credit can only be used on one airline, which you must pre-select, and you can only use it for incidentals, not airfare. However, if you regularly check a bag (and don’t already have an airline credit card that offers free baggage as a perk), you’ll use up that $200 in no time. (You can also use it on things like paid seat selection and in-flight food and beverage.)

The card also offers up to $200 back in statement credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. These are usually pretty luxurious properties, so you won’t be getting any free hotel stays with this benefit alone. But if you’re looking to splash out with a high-end hotel or resort stay, $200 off is pretty nice.

Plus, the Amex Platinum offers complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold Status, which offer extra perks and benefits when staying at these properties.

Lifestyle Statement Credits
The “lifestyle” statement credits are where this card can be a bit less useful depending on your spending habits. My favorite of these is the $200 Uber Cash benefit. It’s distributed as $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus you’ll get a bonus of $20 in December after adding your Card to your Uber account.

That said, I do find it a bit annoying that you can only use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. (when you select an Amex Card for your transaction), since I’m often out of the country.

(To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.)

Other lifestyle credits include up to $50 biannual Saks Fifth Avenue credit and up to $155 Walmart+ Credit when you use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership.

You’ll also receive up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit via up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. (This is an easy set and forget if you subscribe to any of these.)

Amex Offers
In addition to all those statement credits, you’ll get access to Amex Offers. With these, you can save money or earn bonus points with select retailers. The offers are ever-changing and targeted, meaning you won’t have the same offers as another cardholder. The majority of these offers are “spend X, get Y amount back.”

The Amex Platinum’s Travel Insurance
Last but not least, you’ll get great travel insurance with this card. No matter where you’re going, travel insurance is the most important thing to get for your trip. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it, but I know from experience that if you do, you’ll be glad to have it. I’ve had to use it around the world, from Argentina to South Africa to Italy. Each time something has gone wrong on the road, travel insurance has helped me recoup my costs.
While I always recommend purchasing a standalone travel insurance policy, many travel cards offer travel insurance as a perk for no additional cost (apart from the card’s annual fee). While I wouldn’t solely rely on the card’s travel insurance, it’s a nice benefit.

Here are the travel protections that the Platinum offers:

• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $10,000 per person, per trip (on round-trip tickets only, $20,000 per 12 consecutive month period)
• Trip delay coverage up to $500 if the delay is six hours or more (on round-trip tickets only, two claims per 12 consecutive-month period)
• Emergency evacuation and medical transport coverage: no limit; must be coordinated via the Premium Global Assist Hotline
• Cell phone protection up to $800 minus a $50 deductible (two approved claims per 12-month period, and you must have paid your cell phone bill with your card)
• Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
• Secondary car rental coverage
• Keep in mind that to be eligible for these protections, you have to pay for your trip (or cell phone bill) with your Amex Platinum. Also, always be sure to always read the fine print so that you understand exactly what’s covered!

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Who is the Amex Platinum for?

The Amex Platinum is best for frequent travelers who’ll use the premium perks, like easier airport experiences and elite status at hotels. If you can also take advantage of a few lifestyle credits, it’s a solid deal. I’d say just run the numbers and see if the value adds up for you. (And read my post on picking a travel card if you need more help.)

As with any rewards card, you should not get this card if you’re already carrying a balance or plan to carry a balance. Interest rates for travel cards are notoriously high and the points just aren’t worth it if you’re paying interest each month.

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for bad credit so you can start improving your score today.)

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• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

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The post The Platinum Card® from American Express Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Over the past nineteen years as a business owner, I’ve used countless business cards. Some have been amazing and elevated both my travel and my business. Others have been…well, lackluster.

One of the best? The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. It comes with a lot of world-class perks and benefits, quality customer care, and a solid rewards structure (especially on large purchases).

While the annual fee is pretty high ($695, pay over time available. See Rates and Fees), for me, the travel benefits, along with all the statement credits, make the card worth carrying. I think it’s a great choice for business owners who travel frequently.

In this breakdown, I’ll detail the card, what you get, and why I like it.

What is the Business Platinum Card® from American Express?

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a travel rewards card geared towards business owners. (Remember: even side hustles and freelancing count as businesses so you can get this card even without being an LLC.) First, let’s go over some of the best things you get when you sign up, which make it a no brainer to get for the first year:

• 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
• 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• Complimentary access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®, featuring more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries. Access is limited to eligible Card Members.
• Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Pre-check every 4 years.
• Up to $209 yearly CLEAR® Plus credit (subject to auto-renewal)
• Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline.
• Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties. (Distributed in up to $50 increments per quarter. Hilton for Business program membership is required.)
• $150 credit with Adobe on eligible annual prepaid business plan purchases of Adobe Creative Cloud for teams or Adobe Acrobat Pro for teams on the Business Platinum Card through 6/30/25.
• Up to $120 per calendar year in statement credits for purchases made directly from any U.S. wireless telephone provider (up to $10 back per month).
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status (enrollment required)
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
• No foreign transaction fees

Using Your Membership Rewards Points

You’ll earn Membership Rewards points with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Since Amex has a well-rounded suite of travel partners, Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable points out there.

These are Amex’s current travel partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
• Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
• Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
• ANA Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
• Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
• British Airways Club (1:1 ratio)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
• Choice Privileges (1:1 ratio)
• Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
• Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
• HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
• Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
• JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200 ratio)
• Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
• Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)

Most transfers are instant, though some can take up to 48 hours.

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in the Amex Travel portal. I generally wouldn’t do this though as it’s not the best use of your points. It’s always better to transfer them out to one of their partners. However, you can get 35% points back when you do book via their portal so just compare the points costs between both before making a decision.

Breaking Down the Business Platinum’s Credits and Benefits

Amex cards are well-known for their plethora of perks and benefits. They’re a big reason I love their cards. And, if you can take advantage of all that it has to offer, the Business Platinum boasts over $1,700 worth of value. But, with so many categories and so much fine print, it can be hard to keep track of whether a benefit is actually useful for your spending habits. So, to help you decide if the card is right for you, I want to break down some of the major categories of benefits:

Airport Experience Credits (Lounge Access, CLEAR Plus, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck)
One of the best things about this card — and what makes it a standout for frequent travelers — is the unbeatable airport lounge access. You’ll get into some of the top lounges worldwide, including the excellent Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when you’re flying Delta, with up to 10 visits per year).

On top of that, you’ll get complimentary access to the huge Priority Pass network. If having a quiet space to relax, grab a drink, or get some work done is a priority when you travel, this card has you covered pretty much anywhere.

I also appreciate that the Business Platinum helps you get through the airport faster. It offers up to $199 in statement credits each year for a CLEAR® Plus membership, which speeds you through security lines.

You’ll also get a credit for Global Entry (up to $120 every 4 years) or TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years), depending on which one you choose. I personally recommend going for Global Entry. It takes a little more effort (there’s an interview), but it includes TSA PreCheck too. It’ll save you a ton of time if you travel internationally.

Airline and Hotel Credits
Another travel-related benefit is the up to $200 airline credit. Unfortunately, it comes with a fair number of restrictions, making this credit a bit more annoying to use. It can only be used on one (pre-selected) airline, and you can only use it for incidentals, not airfare. But if you don’t have an airline credit card that offers free baggage, it can be useful to have. You can also use the credit for airline expenses like paid seat selection or on-board food and drink.

The Business Platinum also offers a few Hilton-related benefits. First, you can receive up to $200 in statement credits at Hilton properties when booked directly. Since these credits are distributed in quarterly $50 increments, you’d have to stay in a Hilton property at least four times a year to get the full value of this credit. But if you’re on the road a lot, that can be easy to do.

Second, the Business Platinum offers complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status (as well as Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite status), which offer extra perks and benefits when staying at these properties.

Business-Related Statement Credits
The Business Platinum card comes with some great perks to help lighten the financial load of running a business. Expenses can really add up if you’re managing a business while traveling, so I appreciate that the Business Platinum helps offset these costs.

You can get up to $400 in statement credits on U.S. Dell purchases (through June 30, 2025, split into $200 chunks every six months). There’s also up to $360 back per year on Indeed ads (up to $90 each quarter), which is great if you’re hiring as your business grows.

If you use Adobe tools, there’s a $150 credit available when you prepay annually for eligible Adobe Creative Cloud or Acrobat Pro plans for teams. And to keep you connected on the go, you’ll get up to $120 a year for purchases made directly with U.S. wireless providers — that’s $10 back each month.

Amex Offers
On top of all those valuable statement credits, the Business Platinum gives you access to Amex Offers, an easy way to save some cash or rack up extra points with a wide range of retailers. These deals rotate regularly and are personalized, so what shows up for you might be totally different from what another cardholder sees. Most of the time, it’s a simple setup like “spend X, get Y back.” I always check Amex Offers before I purchase. (The personal card offers this too.)

The Business Platinum’s Travel Insurance
The Business Platinum also comes with great travel insurance. While I still recommend buying a standalone policy for medical, this card includes strong built-in coverage like trip delay, trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and medical transport. It also includes cell phone protection for damage or theft, a rare but valuable perk. For a maximum of $800 per claim, with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period, when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim.

So, while you could get away with the card’s insurance if you book the trip on the card, I wouldn’t rely on it completely. But it’s better than most!

Should you get this card?

The Business Platinum is ideal for frequent travelers who can make the most of perks like smoother airport experiences and hotel elite status. If you can take advantage of a few of the business-related statement credits, the statement credits alone make the high annual fee worth it. I get a lot of value from the card through the statement credits that make carrying the card after the first year really worth it.

While it’s true you only get 1x point per dollar spent on anything under $5,000 (which isn’t as good as many other cards), the points back on redemptions and the tons of statement credits, elite status, Amex offers, and partners you don’t find anywhere else make this card essential for any business owner.

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

The post The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

When I first started traveling, I lived out of hostels. They were cheap and my budget was tight. Plus, as an introvert, they were perfect for meeting fellow backpackers and getting me out of my comfort zone.

I still love the vibe of hostels, but these days, running a business on the road means I often need more space and privacy. And I love sticking to one brand because you can get free breakfast, upgrades, and rooms.

Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or just an occasional traveler, having at least one hotel credit card is a game-changer. With big bonuses, free nights, and extra perks, it’s one of the best ways to save on accommodation and level up your hotel experience.

That’s why today I want to highlight one of the best hotel cards out there from one of my favorite hotel brands: the Hilton Honors American Express Card. This entry level card is great for people who want a low fee card with good perks.

What is the Hilton Honors American Express Card?

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a hotel rewards credit card. With this card, you’ll earn 5x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. You’ll also get 3x points on all other purchases. It has $0 annual fee (See Rates and Fees), making it great for beginners who don’t want to get a card with an annual fee right away.

Here’s what the card offers:

• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a $100 Statement Credit after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express® Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/13/2025.
• 7x points on Hilton hotels and resorts
• 5x points on U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
• 3x points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
• No foreign transaction fees
• Extended warranty*: The card comes with an extended warranty that adds up to one year to an original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less.
• Purchase protection*: Purchase protection covers items accidentally damaged, stolen or lost if you paid for them with your card. This benefit covers purchases for up to 90 days and covers up to $1,000 per item (up to $50,000 per calendar year).
• Car rental insurance**: When you use the card to reserve and pay for a car rental and decline the rental company’s insurance, you’re covered against damage and theft — up to $50,000. This benefit is secondary coverage to your own auto insurance and doesn’t include liability.

Complimentary Card Benefit: Hilton Honors Silver Status

Being a member of Hilton Honors, Hilton’s loyalty program, offers a lot of perks and benefits (based on elite status of course). To encourage travelers to always book with Hilton, Hilton Honors offers free stays, room upgrades, and other benefits that make frequent stays worthwhile. It’s free to join the program, and basic members enjoy waived resort fees on award stays as well as free Wi-Fi.

Without the card, you’d earn higher status via spending a specific number of nights each year at a Hilton property. With the Hilton Honors Amex card though, you’ll get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status (normally you’d have to stay at least 10 nights at a Hilton property within a year to earn this level of status).

Silver status includes:

• Earn 20% more points: Earn 20% more points on eligible stays compared to base members
• Fifth night free on award stays: When you book four nights on points, you’ll get the fifth night free (up to a 20-night stay)
• Spa discounts: When staying at an all-inclusive Hilton property, you’ll get 15% off the spa
• Elite rollover nights: Carry over any additional nights from the current year toward earning higher elite status next year
• Two complimentary bottles of water per stay: Get free bottles of water at check-in (where available)

While Silver is Hilton’s entry-level elite status, it provides good value, especially for infrequent travelers. I especially like the fifth night free perk, which can be used an unlimited number of times annually (though it is capped at four free nights at once, but who is staying at a hotel for 20 nights in a row?).

Using Your Hilton Honors Points

Unlike World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors doesn’t publish an award chart. That means that the number of points it takes to book a room for the night isn’t set. Instead, the room rate varies dynamically based on supply and demand. That means that stays can be between 5,000–150,000 points per night (150k is for the Hilton resort in the Maldives) — sometimes even more!

That said, you’ll find that most stays hover around 30,000–60,000 points per night.

Unfortunately, the lack of an award chart also means it’s a bit more challenging to figure out how to get the best value out of your points. You can always manually search by locations and properties you’re interested in, or use Hilton’s own Points Explorer tool to help you find stays bookable with points. You can filter by how many points you have, destination, and what type of property you’re looking to book (such as a resort or boutique hotel).

However, I recommend using tools like Awayz to help you find the best deals and make the most out of your points. Awayz helps you compare the cash price to points price to determine where you’re getting the most out of your points. I’ve found some pretty great deals using it!
 

Pros of the Hilton Honors Card

• No annual fee
• Complimentary elite status
• Fifth night free on award stays
• Increased points earning rates at Hilton properties as well as U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations

Cons of the Hilton Honors Card

• Status perks are pretty basic
• No bonus points earned on general travel purchases

Who is this Card For?

This card is best for fans of the Hilton brand who want to earn free stays using a card that doesn’t carry an annual fee. If you’re fine with entry-level elite status and decent earning rates on your spending, this card could be a solid choice.

But, if you’re after more flexibility with your rewards or want to unlock better Hilton perks (like free food/beverage credit or hotel lounge access), I’d suggest a mid-tier or premium Hilton card or even a more versatile travel rewards card. It’s all about matching the card to how you travel!

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

The post Hilton Honors American Express Card Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

If you want to travel cheaper, better, and longer, one of the best tools in your arsenal is a solid rewards credit card.

Still, despite how often I talk about the topic, many travelers (or would-be travelers) are reluctant to get one. They think it’s a scam, don’t want to pay an annual fee, or just are generally wary of the whole thing.

If you’re in that camp, today I want to discuss a credit card that may be the perfect introduction to the world of points and miles: the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

This card offers great value, with no annual fee and solid earning potential. It’s excellent as a standalone card with tons of potential for leveling up your game if and when you’re ready. It’s a favorite for newbies and seasoned travelers alike.

So, in this post, I’m going to break down why the Chase Freedom Unlimited deserves a spot in your wallet and how you can use it to turn everyday purchases into free travel.

What is the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited (sometimes referred to as CFU) is a credit card issued by Chase. What I love about it is that it has a $0 annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It’s great for points and miles beginners who don’t want to worry about earning at different rates across various categories.

Plus, if you do want to level up your game, you can combine it with a Chase Sapphire card to supercharge your rewards earning capabilities (more on that below).

This card earns you the following:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
• Current welcome offer: an extra 1.5% cash back on everything you buy on up to $20,000 spent in the first year

You can redeem this cash back against your next statement or choose to get it directly deposited into your bank account.

But you can get even more out of this card when you combine it with one of Chase’s Sapphire cards (more on this soon).

Perks and Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited

In addition to these excellent earning rates, you’ll get access to a number of perks and benefits. Again, since it has a $0 annual fee, these are all just bonuses.

• Access to Chase Offers, an ever-changing selection of deals for various merchants , including online shopping, gas stations, delivery services, clothing brands, and hotels, among many other sectors (you could really see anything here)
• Complimentary three months of DashPass when you activate by January 31, 2025 (through which members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders)
• Secondary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, or other covered situations)
• Purchase protection (covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account)
• Extended warranty protection

Combining with a Chase Sapphire Card

While this card is a great cash-back card in its own right, it’s best when paired with a more premium Chase card that earns transferable points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (CSP) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve are the two most popular, though you could also do this with my favorite business card, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. (Note that these cards do have fees.)

That’s because, when you also hold one of these cards, you can convert the cash back earned on the CFU to valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. (The Freedom Unlimited on its own only earns cash back.) That means you can pool points earned on either card together and have access to Chase’s great airline and hotel transfer partners.

While getting cash back is easier (and certainly enticing), I consider points to be much more valuable. That’s because you can typically get at least 2 cents per point when transferring to travel partners (sometimes much more).

So why not just have one of the Chase Sapphire Cards and no Freedom Unlimited?

While this is an excellent option (and what many people do), having two cards within the same “family” ensures that you maximize earning categories while earning the same type of points. (You don’t want to spread yourself too thin across too many different cards earning different types of points that you can’t combine.)

By holding both a Chase Sapphire card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can be sure that you’re earning at least 1.5x points on all purchases, a rarity in a travel card (both Sapphires only earn 1x points on all purchases).

If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, you’d earn:

• 1.5x on all purchases (CFU)
• 2x on all travel (CSP)
• 3x on drugstores (CFU)
• 3x on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services (both cards)
• 5x on Lyft (until March 2025, both cards)
• 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel (both cards)

Lastly, since the CFU does have a foreign transaction fee, you won’t want to use this card when traveling. Think of the CSP as your travel card and the CFU as your everyday card with a higher earning rate on all purchases. Using the two together is an excellent combination.

Pros of the CFU

• No annual fee
• Solid rewards structure, with at least 1.5% back on everything
• Easy to redeem cash back as statement credit or direct deposit
• Great value when paired with a Chase Sapphire card

Cons of the CFU

• 3% foreign transaction fee
• Not a ton of travel benefits

Who is this card for?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is ideal for those who want an easy-to-use card that gets a better-than-average earning rate on all purchases. It also leaves room to grow into the points-and-miles world when combined with a higher-level card from Chase. And, if you already have a Sapphire card, adding the CFU to your wallet allows you to continue to level up your game, maximizing your rewards on all purchases.

As with any credit card, you should not get it if you’re already carrying a balance or plan to carry one. Interest rates for travel credit cards are notoriously high, and this one is no different. The points just aren’t worth it if you’re paying interest each month.

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need good or excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for bad credit so you can start improving your score today.)

Lastly, this card does count toward Chase’s 5/24 rule (you can’t open more than five cards within 24 months). If you’ve already opened five credit cards (any cards, not just Chase cards) within the past two years (or want to open more soon), you either won’t be able to get this card or might want to skip it for now.

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the points-and-miles game or looking to complement your current lineup, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic card. With no annual fee and impressive earning rates, it’s the perfect gateway to the world of points and miles if you’re just starting out.

And, if and when you want to take things up a notch, you can pair it with a premium Chase card down the road to really maximize your points. It’s a no-brainer choice that can kickstart your journey to mastering points and miles.
 

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by Nomadic Matt. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is no longer available through Nomadic Matt.

The post Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for ways to make your adventures more affordable and enjoyable. That’s why I collect points and miles. They help me travel longer, better, and cheaper.

Today I want to talk about a card that’s been growing in popularity over the past few years: the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. It’s designed for travelers who want to easily rack up miles without having to keep track of bonus categories.

And, in the past couple of years, they have really improved the card. It’s one of the main cards I use now because I love their travel portal, their transfer partners, and all the perks that come with the card.

With a hefty sign-up bonus, premium travel benefits, and an impressive rewards structure, the Venture X is worth considering if you’re looking for a new card. Here’s everything you need to know about the card and why I think you should consider getting it:

What is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card?

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a travel rewards card issued by Capital One. What I love about this card is its miles system. For every dollar you spend, you earn two miles, which (along with the lower-fee Capital One Venture Rewards Card) is unique among travel credit cards. There’s also no additional cost for up to four authorized users, making this a good option for families who need several cards.

In addition to earning at least 2x miles on every purchase, you can earn miles the following ways:

• 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening the account
• 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel

Other Perks and Benefits of the Capital One Venture X

Aside from earning miles, the Venture X packs a punch with its range of perks:

• $300 travel credit when booking through the Capital One portal
• Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass lounges, after enrollment
• 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary
• $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Access to Capital One Offers (cash back offers from a variety of merchants)
• Access to Capital One Entertainment (where you can redeem miles for concert tickets and other events)
• Travel insurance coverage, including primary car rental insurance, trip interruption and cancellation, and luggage reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees

With an annual fee of $395, it’s also the cheapest premium travel card out there (plus, if you can use the $300 travel credit, that brings the fee down to a manageable $95).

Using Your Capital One Miles

Capital One miles can be redeemed in a few ways. One is by booking travel directly through Capital One’s portal. While I usually don’t recommend booking through credit card portals, to fully benefit from the Venture X’s travel credit, you’ll need to book at least $300 worth of travel this way.

Another option is to use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase. For 90 days after making such a purchase, you can reimburse yourself at a redemption rate of one cent per mile. After 90 days, and for all other purchases, you can use miles as cash back, at a redemption rate of 0.5 cents per mile (but avoid doing this, as it’s not a good value).

You can also use your Capital One miles in the Capital One Entertainment portal to book tickets for concerts, sports events, and more. Occasionally, Capital One offers cardholder-only events and presale opportunities too. While you’ll get just 0.8 cents per mile for tickets (not the best value), it’s still a fun and unique way to redeem miles.

However, you’ll get the most out of your miles by transferring them to Capital One’s 15+ airline and hotel partners. While the actual value varies based on what you book, you can usually find airline and hotel redemptions worth much more than the aforementioned one cent per mile. (The process is pretty straightforward and can be done through your Capital One account.)

Here are Capital One’s current travel partners:

• Accor Live Limitless
• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Airways Guest
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
• Finnair Plus
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• TAP Portugal Miles&Go
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Red
• Wyndham Rewards

Using transfer partners is a game-changer if you’re looking to maximize the value of your miles. That’s why, unless I find a super cheap flight or hotel room (less than $150 USD), I always transfer miles to Capital One’s travel partners. That’s especially true when booking business class flights or fancy hotel rooms. You just get more value for your money.

Plus, with tools like point.me and Awayz (search engines that help you find the best flights and hotels to book with miles), it’s easier than ever to find the best redemption options.

Pros of the Capital One Venture X

• Substantial welcome offer
• 2x miles on every purchase
• $300 annual travel credit
• 15+ transfer partners
• Travel accident and car rental insurance
• Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide
• Access to Capital One Offers and Capital One Entertainment platform
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons of the Capital One Venture X

• Steep $395 annual fee
• Must use Capital One’s Travel Portal to take advantage of some benefits (e.g., 10x miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars)
• Transfer partners are a bit lacking (no US airlines and not the best hotels)

Who is this card for?

The Capital One Venture X is best for frequent travelers who want a straightforward card with a higher earning rate on all purchases. If you frequently fly and stay in hotels, and are willing to pay an annual fee for premium benefits, this card is tailored for you.

Who is this card not for?

On the flip side, if you’re not a frequent traveler or don’t spend enough to offset the $395 annual fee, the Venture X might not be the best fit. It’s also not ideal if you’re looking for a card with a high rewards rate in specific categories like dining or groceries.

If you travel occasionally or prefer a lower annual fee, you might want to pick another card that better aligns with your spending habits and travel frequency. Because there is no right card — only the card that’s right for you!

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a powerhouse for those who travel often and want to enjoy top-tier perks. Weigh the pros and cons to see if it’s the right fit for your travel lifestyle but I bet it is! Like I said in the intro, it’s one of my favorite cards and I definitely recommend getting it.

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

The post Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

I love talking about travel credit cards. They’ve helped me travel the world for over a decade and saved me a fortune in flights, hotels, and other travel perks. I never get bored of comparing their perks, applying for new cards, and optimizing my benefits.

These days, when it comes to travel rewards cards, there are generally two types that get a lot of attention: cards with low or no annual fees that are good for beginners; and premium cards for the jet set crowd, with their high fees and luxury perks.

There aren’t too many cards that fall in between. Today I want to talk about a card that does: the American Express® Gold Card.

While it’s a favorite among avid points and miles collectors, it often gets left out of the larger conversation. I think that’s a mistake, as this card has a lot to offer.

The Amex Gold recently got a refresh and an elevated welcome offer, making it an excellent time to consider this powerhouse of a card. I personally think it’s a card more travelers should have in their wallet and it is one I use.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Amex Gold to help you decide if it’s right for you:

What is the American Express® Gold Card?

The American Express® Gold Card is a card issued by American Express. I think it’s a great choice for travelers who enjoy dining out, as you’ll earn more points dining at restaurants (up to $50,000 on these purchases per calendar year), as well as a ton of statement credits in the same vein (I’ll get into specifics below).

With this card, you’ll earn Membership Rewards® points, which you can transfer to any of their 21 airline and hotel partners (they have some solid partners too).

This card offers:

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year
• Earn 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
• Earn 2x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
• Earn 1x Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Up to $524 worth of statement credits (which I’ll break down below)
• No foreign transaction fees

The card comes with a $325 annual fee (See Rates and Fees).
 

Breaking Down the Amex Gold’s Statement Credits

American Express is known for offering a lot of perks and benefits with its cards (that’s why I love their cards). As I mentioned, this card comes with up to $524 worth of statement credits. If you can take advantage of them, that’s more than enough to offset the annual fee. Since there are so many credits (all with their own fine print), I want to break each one down.

Up to $120 in Uber Cash
This is probably the easiest benefit for most people to use. When you add your Gold Card to the Uber app, you’ll get $10 in Uber Cash distributed each month, (adding up to $120 over the course of the year). You can use it for rides or to order food through Uber Eats, though I don’t love that you can only use it in the U.S. since I’m often on the road.

Before your purchase, make sure that Uber Cash is toggled on as a payment method, and then after your purchase you’ll see the credit deduction on your in-app receipt.

You must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. The Amex benefit may only be used in United States.

Up to $120 Dining Credit
On the flip side, I find this benefit a bit harder to use. You can earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Amex Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. I think it’s kind of a random assortment of companies, but if you use any of these companies often, that’s another $120 per year right there.

Up to $84 Dunkin’ Credit
This benefit was added with the card’s recent refresh. If you’re a fan of Dunkin’, with this credit you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with your Amex Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Since most are on the U.S. East Coast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida have the most locations), it’ll be most useful to fellow East Coasters.

Up to $100 Resy Credit
This is another benefit that was recently added. Resy is a restaurant-reservation website (owned by Amex) where you can make reservations at over 16,000 restaurants around the world.

With the Resy credit, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with your Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants (or make other eligible Resy purchases). Unlike most of the card’s other statement credits, this benefit is rolled out semi-annually, meaning you get up to $50 credit in the first half of the year, and then the other $50 the second half. You can also check your progress in the app or website:

I like semi-annual statement credits because they give you a bit more flexibility, although this is another credit that’s fairly easy to use if you dine out frequently. You don’t actually have to make a reservation with Resy; the restaurant just needs to offer Resy reservations. It’s easiest if you live in or frequently visit a major city that has a lot of restaurants on Resy.

Up to $100 hotel experience credit
This is the card’s only travel statement credit. With this benefit, you can receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property, but it could include dining credits (like complimentary breakfast) or spa treatments.

Enrollment is required for select benefits mentioned in this section.

Access to Amex Offers

In addition to all those statement credits, by holding an American Express card you get access to Amex Offers. These are ever-changing offers where you can save money or earn bonus points with select retailers. The offers are targeted, so every cardholder has their own unique array of offers at any given time.

Amex Offers are structured like this:

• Spend X, get Y amount back (like in the screenshot above; this is the majority of Amex Offers)
• Spend X, get Y number of bonus points
• Get additional Membership Rewards points per dollar you spend at that retailer (i.e. get 5 MR points per dollar you spend at The Gap)
• Get X% back when you use the link provided

It’s important to know that you have to hit that “Add to Card” link before you can take advantage of each offer. While you probably won’t be able to take advantage of most offers, sometimes you may, which is another way to recoup the annual fee on this card. It’s worth it to check back every so often so you can add any offers to your card that you might use (just remember to pay with your Gold Card to redeem the offer).

Using Your Membership Rewards Points

With the American Express® Gold Card, you earn Membership Rewards points. To get the most out of your points, you’ll want to transfer them to one of Amex’s travel partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub (1:1 ratio)
• Aeromexico Rewards (1:1.6 ratio)
• Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio)
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
• All Nippon Airways Mileage Club (1:1 ratio)
• Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
• British Airways Executive Club (1:1 ratio)
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
• Choice Privileges® (1:1 ratio)
• Delta SkyMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio)
• Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
• HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio)
• Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
• Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio)
• JetBlue TrueBlue (250:200 ratio)
• Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
• Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
• Singapore KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio)

Most transfers are instant, though a few (like Iberia and Cathay Pacific) can take up to 48 hours.

You can also use your Membership Rewards points to book flights and hotels in Amex Travel, the travel portal. Though, as I’ve talked about before, this isn’t the best use of your points. I generally wouldn’t do it.

American Express Welcome Bonus Restrictions

Unlike other companies (like Chase), American Express only allows you to earn a welcome bonus once per card. Ever. Plus, you can’t earn a welcome bonus on a card at all if you already have (or have held) a higher tier card in the same family.

For the Amex Gold Card, that means you won’t be able to get the welcome offer if you already have The Platinum Card® from American Express.

I’m mentioning this because it’s important to think about if you want to get other Amex cards eventually. This means that for American Express cards, it’s best to open cards moving up in the food chain, so to speak (so get the Gold Card before the Platinum Card).

Pros of the Amex Gold

• High earning rates at restaurants, US supermarkets, and on flights (when booked directly or through AmexTravel)
• Lots of statement credits
• Access to Amex Offers

Cons of the Amex Gold

Who is the Amex Gold for?

The main draw of this card is being able to earn 4x points on restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets. It stands alone in that aspect among cards with transferable points (the most valuable kind of points). If you are a foodie that can make use of the credits and other perks, then you’ll love this card.

As with any credit card, you should not get this card if you’re already carrying a balance or plan to carry a balance. Interest rates for travel credit cards are notoriously high, and this card is no different. The points just aren’t worth it if you’re paying interest each month.

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out best credit cards for bad credit so you can start improving your score today.)

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

The post American Express® Gold Card Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Earning points and miles is the best way to fly more for less. It’s the way I’ve been able to stay on the road for so long — and I’ve seen what a difference it’s made for my readers too.

I write a lot about the best credit cards to get depending on your travel goals, but I’ve talked less about how to use those points.

Today, I want to change that because I keep getting emails from people talking about how it takes too many points to book a flight. When I follow up, it is because they are booking through the credit card’s travel portal and that’s something you should rarely, if ever, do!

Travel rewards cards offer two main ways to use the points that you earn to book trips:

• By transferring points to their travel partners
• By using a card issuer’s booking portal

For those who are new to earning and using points and miles, there’s a lot of confusion about which is the better option. Travel credit cards position their portals as the best option for using your points. But, in reality, they rarely ever are.

So let’s talk about why this is.

The Low-Down on Travel Portals

Travel portals are online travel agencies (OTAs) offered by banks as part of the benefits of holding one of their rewards cards. They work exactly like other OTAs, such as Expedia or Kayak, where you can book flights, hotels, and rental cars by searching for availability via their search engine.

The main difference is that these travel portals are connected to your credit card. This allows you to use your points and miles when booking. You can also choose to pay partially with points and partially with cash.

Using travel portals is basically like using your points as cash back. You get a fixed value per point and you will also earn points/miles on your booking.

Credit card companies position their portals as the best way to use points. They want you to use the portals and stay within their ecosystem so that they can make money off of you.

To keep you on their site, they offer incentives that you can only get when using their portal. These incentives include the following:

• Travel credits – If you use the portal, many cards offer statement credits to offset your purchase. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers $50 USD hotel credit when booking through Chase Travel^SM, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a $300 USD annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
• Increased rewards earning power – You’ll earn extra points/miles when using the portal. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards both offer 10x on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights when booked through their portals. For the Reserve, this higher earning rate kicks in after the $300 annual travel credit is used, and for the Venture X, you’ll also get 5x miles on vacation rentals that are booked through Capital One Travel.
• Increased point value – You’ll get a small boost in the number of points/miles you can cash in just by using the portal. For holders of Chase Sapphire cards, for example, 1 point becomes 1.25 or 1.5 points (with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, respectively) when booking through the portal. (While that seems like a great deal, you can usually get a much better value per point when transferring to travel partners, as I’ll get into below.)

Travel portals are easy and convenient. However, using them is usually not the best value for your points. What you get in simplicity and convenience you lose in the fixed redemption value that usually isn’t the best.
 

The Low-Down on Transfer Partners

On the flip side, you can transfer points from your account directly to the place where you want to book (such as an airline or hotel). While transferring your points to travel partners is a bit more work, you can get much more value out of your hard-earned points this way.

Only certain cards earn you transferable points though. For example, airline- and hotel-specific cards (such as the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card) only earn you points that can be used at that airline or hotel. They’re less valuable because they’re less flexible. Transferable points are valuable (and what you should aim to get), because they’re so flexible.

Here are a few types of transferable currencies and some cards that earn them:

• American Express Membership Rewards: The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
• Bilt Rewards: Bilt Mastercard®.
• Capital One miles: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
• Citi ThankYou Rewards: Citi Premier® Card.

Here’s a link to a list of my favorite card offers.

Each transferable currency has different travel partners (many overlap). Here are some of Chase’s travel partners, listed at the Chase Travel^SM site:

While the actual value you can get varies greatly based on the flight or hotel, a good benchmark is The Points Guy’s monthly valuation chart, which values most transferable currencies at over 2 cents per point when used as transferable points. That’s double what you’ll get on travel portals, and often you can get much more.

That’s because when transferring your points, you can also take advantage of transfer bonuses offered by credit cards and flash deals (such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue promo awards, which are monthly deals on award flights). These can be incredible deals, up to a 50% discount!

While finding award availability directly with airlines can seem overwhelming, the good news is that tools like Point.me (an award flight search tool) make it easier than ever. (Get 4 months free on the Standard plan with code NOMADICMATT4. )

Generally speaking, I always transfer my points. Doing so provides the best value and booking direct ensures that there is no third-party involved should there be an issue with my flight. Moreover, it takes a lot fewer points for a redemption this way. Let me tell you why in the next section.
 

Comparing Partners vs Portals: Which One Is Best for You?

Unless there is a super cheap flight or room (less than $150 USD), I always transfer points to travel partners, especially when booking business-class flights or nicer hotel rooms. You just get more bang for your buck.

For example, a business class flight from New York to Paris in peak season is 88,000 points on United each way (both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards transfer to United). Those flights usually cost about $2,400 (though they can get as high as $5,000). If you had the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Bilt Rewards Card and booked through their respective portals, you would need 192,000 points (each point is worth 1.25 cents in either of these portals). That’s over double what you’d need when transferring your points to United booking directly.

Since most flight redemptions for economy start at 20,000 points (when transferring directly to airlines), you need to find a flight that’s less than $250 for it to be worth it to use the portal. This is when using the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or the Bilt card, which offer you more than 1 cent per point when booking via their portals. For American Express or Capital One cards, you only get 1 cent per point/mile. That means you’d need to find a flight for $200 or less for it to make sense to use their portals.

For hotels and rental cars, it’s a little less black and white because you don’t always have transfer partners.

For example, I am booking hotels via the Chase Travel portal on an upcoming trip to Barcelona because there are no rooms bookable with points available. (You can only transfer points from credit cards to chains like Hyatt or Marriott.) Since hotels are $300 and up per night, I’m just using my points to save me money by booking with a non-chain hotel. I wouldn’t be able to book with points otherwise. This is the exception to the rule.

Here are some other cases in which using the portal is your best option:

• There are no award seats available on your desired flight (such as if you’re flying in peak season or during the holidays) or hotel (such as if you want to book a boutique hotel that is not bookable with points).
• You’re booking a rental car and want to use points (you can’t book rental cars directly via points).
• You’re chasing airline status and want to earn points on your booking.
• You simply won’t use your points otherwise.

About that last item: always consider your travel goals and determine whether the ease and convenience of using the portal is worth it to you. Using your points, regardless of how, is better than letting them sit around! Never stockpile your points. They get devalued all the time. So use them rather than lose them!

Travel portals can be an enticing way to use your points. They’re convenient, and banks give you incentives to use them. If you’re new to points and miles and just want a simple way to cash in your earnings, they are definitely an option. However, you can usually get much better value out of your points by transferring them directly to airlines or hotels. The fewer points you use per trip, the more points you have for more travel (or more points to fly/stay in luxury).

But the great thing is that you don’t have to choose either the portal or transferring to partners. You can mix and match depending on the best option at the time. So do a quick comparison and use points to book your next trip!
 

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about Chase Cards has been collected independently by Nomadicmatt. Chase Cards are no longer available through Nomadicmatt.

The post Credit Card Portals vs Transferring Points: What You Need to Know appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

The upgraded version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is my one of my favorite premium cards. It offers a lot of fantastic perks for avid travelers.

While The Platinum Card® from American Express gets all the fanfare in terms of luxury rewards cards, I personally prefer the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It comes with better points-earning bonus categories; more practical, everyday perks (which I’ll get into below); and more comprehensive travel insurance.

Today, I want to share a bit more about this card so you can determine whether it’s the right card for you.

What is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (often referred to as CSR) is a travel rewards card issued by Chase. The card comes with a $550 USD annual fee and a host of benefits like lounge access, travel insurance, and an array of statement credits. When used right, these benefits can be worth much more than the annual fee.

One of those benefits is a $300 USD annual travel credit that is very easy to get, effectively reducing the annual fee to a more reasonable $250 USD. You don’t need to do anything extreme to receive this benefit either; the first $300 USD per year that you spend on travel is simply erased from your statement.

Chase also has a very broad definition of what it classifies as travel, making it easy to take advantage of this credit (even parking garages count towards it). According to Chase, they classify travel purchases as including:

“airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.”

So, the first $300 USD of purchases you make in any of these categories will be removed from your statement, and after that, you’ll earn 3x points on these purchases.

And that’s just one benefit of the card. With this card, you can earn:

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 annual travel credit
• 3x points on travel (after earning your $300 annual travel credit)
• 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services and takeout
• 5x points on flights when booked through Chase Travel (after earning your $300 annual travel credit)
• 10x points on hotels and rental cars when booked through Chase Travel (after earning your $300 annual travel credit)
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel
• 10x points on Lyft (through March 2025) + 2-year Lyft Pink membership (activate by Dec 31, 2024)
• Priority Pass Membership (one-time enrollment required) and access to Sapphire Lounges by The Club
• Up to $120 credit toward Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA Pre-Check every 4 years
• Complimentary DashPass membership (activate by December 31, 2027)
• Travel insurance including emergency medical and dental coverage, emergency evacuation insurance, trip delay coverage, primary car rental insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation insurance
• No foreign transaction fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Travel Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also offers the most comprehensive travel insurance out of any credit card and is one of the only ones to include any kind of medical insurance. It’s my top pick as the best credit card for travel insurance.

As a Visa Infinite® card, the card’s travel insurance includes the following:

• Primary car rental insurance up to $75,000 USD
• Travel accident insurance up to $1,000,000 USD
• Trip cancelation/interruption coverage up to $10,000 USD per person and $20,000 USD per trip
• Trip delay coverage of $500 USD after delays of six hours or more
• Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 USD
• $100 per day for up to five days if your baggage is delayed
• Emergency medical and dental coverage up to $2,500 USD for treatment (minus a $50 USD deductible)
• Emergency evacuation insurance up to $100,000 USD

While I always recommend purchasing a separate travel insurance policy, having coverage through your credit card is an added benefit that you get at no additional cost.

Using Your Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points

With this card, you’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. You can use those points like you would any other rewards program: to get cash back, book travel directly, or transfer them to travel partners. You can also redeem them for Amazon or Apple purchases, but these are bad redemption values and I would not recommend using points this way.

The easiest option is to redeem your points for travel in the Chase Travel portal, which works like booking through Expedia or any other online travel agency. When you do this, you’re basically using your points as cash, at a value of 1.5 cents per point. So, for example, if you have 50,000 points, they’ll be worth 75,000 points when redeemed through the portal. This is a better value than if you simply redeem your points directly as cash, as you’ll only get a value of 1 cent per point that way.

Using your points in the Chase Travel portal is very straightforward, making it an attractive option for points and miles newbies. If this is the only way that you’ll use your points, then using them is better than letting them sit around!

Just know that there are pros and cons to using the travel portal. Namely, you can usually get more for your points when you transfer them to Chase’s 14 transfer partners (which is what you should be doing with your points).

Taking Advantage of Chase’s Transfer Partners

The ability to transfer to its partners is what makes Chase Ultimate Rewards® points so valuable. You can usually find airline and hotel redemptions where you can get much more than 1.5 cents per point. While the actual value you can get varies greatly based on flight or hotel, a good benchmark is The Points Guy’s monthly valuation chart, which values Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at over 2 cents per point when used as transferable points.

To give a real-life example, the 50,000 points from the example above could be an off-peak, round-trip economy fare from New York to Paris when redeemed through the Chase Travel portal. But if you transfer points to one of Chase’s partner airlines, you can take advantage of flash deals and saver space, potentially finding the same fare for up to 50% less points. Unless it’s a super cheap flight or hotel room (less than $150 USD), I always transfer points to their travel partners, especially when booking business class flights or fancy hotel rooms. You just get more bang for your buck.

Transferring to airline and hotel partners is a bit more work than using the portal, but there are more tools than ever to help you maximize your points. For example, you can use point.me for finding flights with points and Awayz for finding award hotel stays.

Chase’s current transfer partners are:

Airline Transfer Partners:

• Aer Lingus, AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards®
• Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
• United MileagePlus®
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel Travel Partners:

• IHG® Rewards Club
• Marriott Bonvoy®
• World of Hyatt®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

By this point, you might be wondering what makes this card different from its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. Both cards currently have the same welcome offer. Both also earn 3x points on dining. You also get travel insurance with both cards, though the insurance offered with the Reserve is much more comprehensive.

Given all that, is the Reserve really worth the higher annual fee?

Ultimately, that’s up to you to decide based on your spending, travel habits, and whether you value the Reserve’s extra perks and benefits. But keep in mind that the real difference in cost between these two cards is only $155 USD per year. Sure, that’s considering the $300 USD annual travel credit on the Reserve, but I’m guessing that anyone thinking of getting a travel rewards card spends at least $300 USD on travel per year. And if you do, you’re likely to come out ahead with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® due to the ability to earn points faster, use statement credits, and take advantage of luxury perks like airport lounge access.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of the main differences:

Pros of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Great rewards-earning rates
• Large welcome offer
• $300 USD travel credit
• 14 fantastic transfer partners
• Excellent travel insurance
• Statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck (up to $120, every 4 years)
• Airport lounge access through Priority Pass membership (enrollment required) and access to Sapphire lounges
• Complimentary memberships (including Lyft Pink through March 2025, DashPass when you activate by December 31, 2027)
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Who Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® For?

This card is best for frequent travelers. If you get this card, you’ll want to be able take advantage of the card’s accelerated earning rates on travel and dining, travel statement credits, and other travel-specific benefits. You’ll get even more out of this card if you value perks like airport lounge access and expediting your airport experience through Global Entry/TSA Precheck, and will transfer your points to one of Chase’s transfer partners.

If you’re only a semi-regular traveler, you might be better served by the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. This comprehensive review has everything you need to know about that card.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best travel rewards cards out there. It comes with a high welcome offer, lots of perks, and robust points-earning capabilities so that you can quickly stack up valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You get a ton of value with this card. I think it’s worth a spot in the wallet of any frequent traveler.

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been collected independently by Nomadic Matt. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is no longer available through Nomadic Matt.

The post The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Since its launch in 2009, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has been winning awards for being one of the best travel rewards cards.

And for good reason – you can’t really go wrong with this card. It always has a solid welcome offer, great ongoing rewards rates, valuable transferrable points, and a host of perks, such as comprehensive travel insurance.

Unlike a lot of travel cards, which continue to roll back benefits and increase annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to get better with age. Over the years, Chase has increased some of its earning categories and added perks to the card, all without upping the annual fee.

Because of all this, the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains one of my favorite travel cards, especially if you’re looking for your first travel rewards card. I use it often.

Today, I want to share a bit more about it so you can determine whether it’s the right card for you!

What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (often referred to as CSP) is a travel rewards card issued by Chase. The card comes with a $95 USD annual fee and a host of benefits.

This card offers:

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 2x points on travel purchases
• 3x points on restaurants, eligible delivery services and takeout, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services
• 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel^(SM)
• 5x points on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 10% anniversary points boost (earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year)
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for one year (when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
• $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
• No foreign transaction fees

Using Your Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points

With this card, you’ll earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. You can use those points like you would any other rewards program: to get cash back, book travel directly, or transfer them to travel partners. (You can also redeem them for Amazon or Apple purchases, but these are bad redemption values and I would not recommend using points this way.)

The easiest option is to redeem your points for travel in the Chase Travel portal, which works like booking through Expedia or any other online travel agency. When you do this, you’re basically using your points as cash, at a value of 1.25 cents per point. That means that if you have 20,000 points, they’ll be worth 25,000 points when redeemed through the portal (which is a better value than if you simply redeem your points directly as cash, as you’ll only get a value of 1 cent per point that way). Just know that there are pros and cons to using the travel portal.

On the plus side, using your points in the Chase Travel portal is very straightforward, making it an attractive option for points and miles newbies. If this is the only way that you’ll use your points, then using them is better than letting them sit around!

However, you can usually get more for your points when you transfer them to Chase’s 14 transfer partners.
 

Taking Advantage of Chase’s Travel Partners

The ability to transfer to travel partners is what makes Chase Ultimate Rewards® points truly valuable. You can usually find airline and hotel redemptions where you can get much more than 1.25 cents per point. While the actual value you can get varies greatly based on flight or hotel, a good benchmark is The Points Guy’s monthly valuation chart, which values Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at over 2 cents per point when used as transferable points. That’s almost double what you’ll get in the portal!

To give a real-life example, the 25,000 points from the example above could be an off-peak economy fare from New York to Paris when redeemed through the portal. But if you transfer points to one of Chase’s partner airlines, you can take advantage of flash deals and saver space, potentially finding the same fare for up to 50% less points. Unless it’s a super cheap flight or room (less than $150 USD), I always transfer points to their travel partners, especially when booking business class flights or fancy hotel rooms. You just get more bang for your buck.

Transferring to travel partners is indeed a bit more work than using the portal, but there are more tools than ever to help you maximize your points (use point.me for finding flights with points and Awayz for finding award hotel stays).

Chase’s current transfer partners are:

Airline Travel Partners

• Aer Lingus, AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards®
• Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
• United MileagePlus®
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotel Travel Partners

• IHG® Rewards Club
• Marriott Bonvoy®
• World of Hyatt®

Other Perks and Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

While earning valuable transferable points is the biggest reason to get this card, there are quite a few other great perks and benefits.

A big one is travel insurance (it’s one of the best credit cards for travel insurance). While I always recommend purchasing a separate travel insurance policy, having coverage through your credit card is an added benefit that you get at no additional cost. Some of its benefits include trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip and baggage delay coverage, and travel accident coverage (be sure to read the fine print for specifics).

Additionally, this card comes with a variety of statement credits and memberships, including a complimentary one-year DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and an annual $50 USD hotel credit when booking through Chase Travel^(SM).
 

Pros of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

• Great rewards-earning rates
• Large welcome offer
• Low annual fee ($95 USD)
• 14 fantastic transfer partners
• Solid travel insurance
• Statement credits and complimentary memberships
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

• Must use Chase’s Travel Portal to take advantage of some benefits ($50 USD hotel credit, 5x points on travel booked through Chase)

Who Is This Card For?

This card is best for points and miles beginners as well as infrequent travelers, both of whom may not want to shell out for a high annual fee. The $95 USD annual fee is easy to recoup with the card’s great earning rates, anniversary points boost, and other benefits.

That being said, this card is especially geared toward travelers and restaurant-goers since it offers 2x points spent on travel, 3x points on dining (including takeout and delivery), and 5x points on Lyft rides.

And while more frequent travelers may prefer more premium credit cards (like the Preferred’s big sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®), you can also pursue a more advanced points and miles strategy with this card by pairing it with two other Chase cards to create the powerful “Chase Trifecta.” By using three Chase cards in tandem (usually a Sapphire card, the Chase Freedom Flex®, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, although you could do this with business cards too), you maximize earning categories.

This ensures that you’re always earning the most points per dollar possible, which is key to any good points and miles strategy. (While this may be too much for beginners to juggle, it’s a good way to grow while still keeping this card.)
 

Who Is This Card Not For?

As with any credit card, you should not get this card if you’re already carrying a balance or plan to carry a balance. Interest rates for travel credit cards are notoriously high, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred is no different. The points just aren’t worth it if you’re paying interest each month.

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need good or excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for bad credit so you can start improving your score today.)

Lastly, this card does count toward Chase’s 5/24 rule (you can’t open more than five cards within 24 months). So if you’ve already opened five cards within the past two years (or want to open more soon), you might want to skip this one for now.

Whenever someone asks me which card to open as their first travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is always at the top of my list. It’s an excellent and easy-to-use card, with a lot of perks that greatly outweigh the annual fee. If you’re looking for the perfect introduction to the world of points and miles, look no further. Grab this card so you can start earning points today towards free travel tomorrow!
 

Stop paying full price for travel!

Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to use points and miles for free travel! It's how all the pros travel so much! In this guide, I'll show you:

• How to Pick a Credit Card
• How to Earn Up to 10x Miles on Your Spending
• How to Redeem Your Points
• And a Ton of Other Money Saving Tips!

Get the guide

Non-Affiliate disclosure: All information about The Chase Sapphire Preferred® has been collected independently by Nomadic Matt. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is no longer available through Nomadic Matt.

The post The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.