Which american express card is best for travel

Silver status is enough to get you a fifth night free on award stays, meaning you can spend as little as 20, points total for a five-night stay. Earning rate s : 6 points per dollar at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar at U. Offer ends Nov. Earning rate s : 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and at hotels and 2 miles at restaurants and U.

The card is offering 3x miles on Delta purchases and at hotels, 2x miles at restaurants and U. Earning rate s : 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants and U.

Why we chose it : This card is a terrific option if you occasionally fly Delta. Although Delta significantly devalued its program over the last few years, there are still some solid redemptions using SkyMiles.

There are plenty of benefits to using a small-business card for business purchases. For one, these cards often offer bonus rewards in categories more suited to business expenses, such as internet services or advertising. Plus, you want to be able to keep your business expenses separate from your personal finances and the best business credit cards come with management tools that make that process easier.

Earning rate s : 5 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked at Amex Travel , 1. Why we chose it : Like its consumer-card counterpart, the Amex Business Platinum is best in class when it comes to benefits for frequent travelers. Similarly to the consumer card, unlike typical credit cards, the card allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all.

Amex is now offering a variety of business-centered annual statement credits, from Dell, Indeed, Adobe and for wireless telephone services. Read our full Business Platinum Card from Amex review.

The choices include airfare purchased directly from airlines, U. Earn 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Why we chose it : Unlike the Platinum Business Card, the Business Gold Card offers some valuable spending bonuses on categories that are popular for small businesses, so this is ideal for those of you wanting to boost your Membership Rewards balance.

The flexible rewards structure that automatically chooses your top categories also makes it easier to maximize rewards each month. This card also functions the same as the consumer and Business Platinum cards in that it allows you to carry a balance for certain charges, but not all. Read our full Amex Business Gold Card review. Earning rate s : Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, and at restaurants, on U.

Keep in mind this card underwent similar changes to the personal Delta SkyMiles Gold card earlier this year. I started by selecting what I believe to be the best American Express credit cards on the market today based on the type of card, the benefits offered, the cost of card membership and more.

Then I divided those cards into four categories:. Then, within each category, I broke down the individual perks of each card using the following criteria:. Finally, I tried to provide some context for each card and suggest to whom it might appeal based on a variety of factors, including spending habits, travel patterns and desired rewards. As always, you likely have your own criteria for these decisions, but hopefully, this analysis helps you get a jump start on your research for choosing the right card for you.

This largely depends on the individual. Each card has different benefits suited to different lifestyles. If you eat out a lot, go for the classic Gold. Evaluate your spending patterns and then there is surely an Amex card out there for you! The American Express Membership Rewards program is a benefit that allows customers to accumulate points through purchases that you can then redeem for gift cards, travel rewards, immersive experiences, statement credit or even to cover recent card charges.

Related: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards. You earn points on most everyday purchases depending on which card you have , and there are no expiration dates and no limit on how many points you can earn — just use your card for purchases, large or small, and watch the points add up.

In the points and miles world, Membership Rewards points are considered one of the most valuable currencies around. They are valued at a respectable 2 cents apiece per TPG valuations. As you can see, American Express offers a wide range of selections including some of the best rewards credit cards and best travel credit cards with benefits along with varied earning and redemption options. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Amex card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday, click here.

Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear.

This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Read our Advertiser Disclosure. Articles by Chris Dong. Chris is a reporter at The Points Guy, where he covers the intersection of credit card rewards and travel. At TPG, he writes a broad array of stories ranging from in-depth features and reports to trending travel news as it relates to loyalty, card benefits and consumer behavior.

You can find his latest adventures on Instagram here. Read More by Chris Dong. Annual Fee No annual fee. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors. No annual fee Introductory APR on purchases Great extra benefits like purchase protection and car rental insurance Business-oriented benefits like employee cards and authorized management accounts. From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing.

Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express and other factors. Credit Score Good, Excellent - Excellent welcome bonus A slew of valuable statement credits Extensive airport lounge access Rich suite of travel perks. High spending requirement to earn welcome bonus Annual fee and additional cardholder fees are very high Limited spending bonus categories Some credits are doled out in increments, making them harder to spend.

After that, your APR will be Earn 1. Generous welcome bonus High redemption value for rewards points possible No blackout dates and points never expire. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary.

Complimentary elite Gold status 10 free Priority Pass Lounge visits each anniversary year No foreign transaction fees. Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. Welcome Bonus 50, Bonus Miles. Annual companion certificate for an eligible domestic flight Priority boarding and free checked bags when flying with Delta.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Welcome Bonus 10, points. High point earning rates Automatic Silver status includes complimentary late checkout No foreign transaction fee No blackout dates.

Low point redemption value Silver status comes with limited benefits Poor transfer rate to airline partners. Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.

Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. No Annual Fee. Hilton Honors American Express Card. Credit Card. Credit Score. Terms Apply Terms apply. Rewards: Earn 1. Frequently Asked Questions. Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities.

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The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Visit americanexpress. Good for Simple Cash Back. Last updated November 11, All reviews are prepared by NextAdvisor staff. Good for Maximum Rewards on Everyday Spending. Good for Premium Perks and Benefits. Good for Everyday Rewards and Travel Redemptions. Good for Flexible Business Spending. Good for Loyal Delta Flyers. Good for Hilton Lovers. Why we chose this card This card is as simple as it gets with American Express.

Overview The Platinum Card from American Express pulls out all the stops when it comes to premium perks and luxurious benefits — for a price. Why we chose this card Amex Gold excels in earning points at places you spend everyday, like supermarkets and restaurants.

Why we chose this card This card gives businesses without uniform spending patterns the opportunity to maximize rewards. Why we chose this card If you live near a Delta hub, or simply prefer Delta flights, then a co- branded Delta card from American Express can save you a lot of money on your travels. Overview The Hilton Honors Card from American Express is the entry-level co-branded offering from the pair, but offers no shortage of rewards for travelers who prefer Hilton properties.

Hilton Honors American Express Card. How good does my credit need to be for an American Express card? What is the difference between cash back and points? What are the levels of American Express? Investing Why Mrs. Table of Contents Close On this page. American Express Cash Magnet. American Express Blue Cash Preferred. The Platinum Card from American Express. Read more: Amex Blue Cash Everyday card review. While many people spend enough in the bonus categories to make the Blue Cash Preferred the better option, this remains a decent card for anyone who's strictly opposed to paying an annual fee.

You'll earn cash back on the purchase, which you can put right towards paying it off. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team.

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We operate independently from our advertising sales team. Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available. Disclosure: This post may highlight financial products and services that can help you make smarter decisions with your money. What you decide to do with your money is up to you. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

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