The Hidden Truth Behind Travel Influencers and American Express Cards
If you’ve ever scrolled through travel content on social media, you might have noticed a pattern. Many influencers seem to be pushing American Express Gold and Platinum cards as if they’re the ultimate travel companion. But behind the scenes, there’s a different story at play.
These cards come with significant annual fees—$325 for the Gold card and nearly $1,000 for the Platinum. While they offer perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, and dining benefits, these features may not justify the cost unless you’re a frequent traveler. For most people, the fees could be better spent elsewhere.
Do the Perks Outweigh the Fees?
The Gold card offers 3X points when booking travel through the Amex portal and 4X points on restaurant and supermarket purchases. The Platinum card, on the other hand, gives 5X miles on travel bookings but only 1X on other purchases. These rates don’t sound impressive compared to other credit cards in the market.
However, many travel influencers stop at this point, without mentioning the American Express Green Card. This card is often overlooked, despite being one of the best options for earning points.
Why the Amex Green Card Is a Better Option
The Green Card has a $150 annual fee but offers 3X points on all travel, transit, and restaurant purchases worldwide. Unlike the Gold and Platinum cards, you don’t need to book through the Amex travel portal or airline websites to earn these points. This means you can get 3X points on everything from subway tickets to Euro Rail passes, and even when booking through Airbnb or TripAdvisor.
To maximize your rewards, consider creating a free Rakuten account. Rakuten is a shopping portal that offers cash back on purchases made through its site. You can choose to receive Amex points instead of cash back, provided you already have an Amex card. Once set up, you can also create an account on a travel booking website like Expedia.
Maximizing Your Rewards
When booking through Expedia via Rakuten, you can earn up to 10X points on hotel and activity purchases. Combine this with the 3X points from Amex, and you’re looking at 13X points total. This is significantly better than the 1X or 2X points offered by Gold and Platinum cards.
Expedia also offers its own rewards program, which can provide additional cash back on future purchases. If you travel frequently, you may qualify for Expedia “Platinum Benefits,” such as complimentary room upgrades and early checkouts. These perks are similar to those offered by the American Express Platinum Card.
Other sites like TripAdvisor occasionally boost rewards to 15X points, giving you a combined total of 18X. While this isn’t always available, it’s still a great deal compared to the standard points earned on other cards.
Timing and Credit
It’s important to note that some travel purchases may take time to be credited to your account. Websites like TripAdvisor often credit points immediately, while others like Expedia may wait up to three months after your trip. Rakuten transfers points to your Amex account quarterly, so it can take anywhere from three to six months to see your full reward.
Despite this, the Green Card remains a strong option for travelers who want to earn points without the high annual fees of Gold and Platinum. If you’re looking for a way to build up your travel rewards, the American Express Green Card could be the perfect choice.
