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The 3 Best Cards To Pair With the Amex Gold Card [2024]

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The 3 Best Cards To Pair With the Amex Gold Card [2024]

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

The American Express® Gold Card is regularly ranked as one of our top rewards cards and a favorite at Upgraded Points, for good reason.

The Amex Gold card has an intriguing welcome offer, an incredible earning structure on common spending categories, and travel and purchase protections. It also earns highly valuable American Express Membership Rewards points. The Amex Gold card provides all this value while having a reasonable $250 annual fee (rates & fees).

Let’s look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of the Amex Gold card and other cards that could pair nicely to help you earn rewards even faster.

Amex Gold Card Snapshot

BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros
  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
Cons
Read Full Review
  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Benefits of the Amex Gold card

The Amex Gold card is one of the best cards available and should be the go-to card for those who eat out at restaurants and want elevated rewards at U.S. supermarkets. It also earns our favorite transferrable points currency: American Express Membership Rewards points. The Amex Gold card sets a great balance as both a travel rewards card and an everyday spending card.

Although the card’s substantial $250 annual fee may deter many, the ability to earn elevated Membership Rewards points on everyday spending categories makes it a card everyone should have.

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x).

The Amex Gold card also earns 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com.

» Related: 29 Benefits & Perks of the Amex Gold Card [$4,265+ Value]

In addition to the excellent earning structure, the Amex Gold card comes with some credits (enrollment required) to help offset the annual fee:

  • Up to $120 in annual dining credits, which are broken into monthly statement credits of up to $10 when you use your Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash, issued as $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account
  • A $100 experience credit with a 2-night minimum stay when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com; the experience credit varies by property

The Amex Gold card includes travel protections such as car rental loss and damage insurance, trip delay insurance, and a baggage insurance plan. It also has purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

The Amex Gold has no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), making this card an excellent choice for specific purchases abroad. You’ll still earn 4x points when spending at restaurants worldwide.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Gold card is great for earning rewards fast, primarily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. It does have relatively poor earning potential in other categories.

Where the Amex Gold Card Is Weakest

When it comes to credit cards, there isn’t a single credit card that has everything. It’s good advice to carry multiple credit cards that can help you maximize your rewards as much as possible. This is no different with the Amex Gold card, but as valuable as it may be, it has some notable drawbacks.

First, the Amex Gold card only earns 1x points spent on non-bonus categories. We value Membership Rewards points quite highly, but the 1x earning rate is still relatively low. Some common spending categories where the Amex Gold card struggles include hotel purchases, rideshares, and gas stations.

The Amex Gold card can be thought of as a hybrid travel rewards and everyday spending card. However, the Amex Gold card does not have many common perks for travelers. For example, the Amex does not offer any complimentary airport lounge access.

The 3 Best Cards To Pair With the Amex Gold Card

Stack of Credit Cards on Table Upgraded Points LLC
Image Credit: Upgraded Points

When pairing credit cards, the main goal is to maximize the rewards you earn as much as possible. This is best done when you know what your largest spending categories tend to be.

For example, let’s say your top spending categories are restaurants and gas. Plenty of cards offer a bonus for one of those categories but not for the other. In situations like this, holding 2 cards that complement each other can allow you to maximize your rewards from your spending.

Now that we know where the Amex Gold card shines and where it is weakest let’s look at some of the best cards you can pair with the Amex Gold card to maximize your earnings.

1. The Platinum Card® from American Express

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros
  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
Cons
  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Read Full Review
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get 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. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch travel benefits and purchase protections, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card than the Amex Platinum card.

For frequent travelers, the Amex Platinum card is a no-brainer. The Amex Platinum card earns 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x). It also earns 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com.

The Amex Platinum card offers the best airport lounge access out of any card  — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges upon enrollment, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Delta Sky Club (when flying on a same-day Delta ticket), Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more.

The Amex Platinum card also includes hotel elite status with Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status and access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts collection of properties. Cardholders can also enroll in the following rental car elite programs: Hertz Gold Plus President’s Circle, National Emerald Club Executive Elite, and Avis Preferred Plus status.

The Amex Platinum card’s numerous credits (enrollment required) can help offset the high annual fee and include credits for airline incidentals, Uber Cash, prepaid hotels, Walmart+, digital entertainment, Equinox, Saks Fifth Avenue, and CLEAR Plus.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Gold Card

According to our valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are the most valuable available.

Carrying both the Amex Platinum card and the Amex Gold card is a great way to maximize your spending and earn points quickly since both cards earn Membership Rewards points.

The Amex Gold card should be the go-to card for all purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets thanks to its ability to earn 4x points on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x).

Then, you could use the Amex Platinum card to earn 5x points for all flights purchased directly with an airline or AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x) AND for all prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com. The Amex Platinum card would provide notable travel benefits like travel insurance, lounge access, and hotel and car rental elite status.

Simply put, the high earning rates on the different bonus categories on these 2 cards make them ideal for pairing together.

Hot Tip:

If you want to use your points efficiently, check out our guide for the best ways to redeem your Amex Membership Rewards points. 

2. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros
  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
Read Full Review
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

The Capital One Venture card is a great all-around travel rewards card with a low annual fee of $95 (rates & fees).

With the Capital One Venture card, you can earn an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, making it an excellent option for any non-bonus spending categories other cards may have. You can also earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Your miles won’t expire for the life of the account, and there’s no limit to how many miles you can earn.

The card also features other benefits like purchase protection, travel insurance, rental car insurance, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application credit of up to $100. The Capital One Venture card does not have any foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

The Capital One Venture card also allows for transfers to Capital One airline and hotel partners.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Gold Card

Although you would not be earning American Express Membership Rewards points, having the Capital One Venture card opens up the opportunity to earn Capital One miles. If you want a card that is great for non-bonus spending categories of the Amex Gold card, the Capital One Venture card is an excellent choice as you can earn an unlimited 2x Capital One miles on every purchase.

The ideal way to maximize this pair of cards would be to use the Amex Gold card on all purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets to earn 4x points. You could also choose the Amex Gold card for airfare to earn 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com.

You could then use the Capital One Venture card for nearly all other spending categories. If you want to book a hotel or rental car, use the Capital One Venture card to earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

This pairing of the Amex Gold card and Capital One Venture card gives you at least 2x miles regardless of the bonus category.

Hot Tip:

Learn how to redeem your Capital One miles for maximum value. Many transfer partners are shared between Amex and Capital One, so you can work towards awards in the same loyalty programs from either card.

3. Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® Card
Citi Premier® Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)
Citi Premier® Card
Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points
$960
$95
21.24% - 29.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros
  • 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
  • Access to Citi transfer partners
Cons
    • $95 annual fee
Read Full Review
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
  • 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

If you’re looking for another great all-around travel rewards credit card for everyday spending, check out the Citi Premier card, which has a handful of excellent bonus categories.

The Citi Premier card earns 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels, making it an excellent card for everyday spending. The card earns 1x points for everything else.

As a good overall travel rewards credit card, the Citi Premier card has no foreign transaction fees. There are also no additional fees for adding authorized users.

The Citi Premier card also comes with an annual hotel savings benefit. If you book a hotel stay through thankyou.com and pay with your Citi Premier card, you can receive $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, thanks to this perk.

The Citi Premier card earns valuable Citi ThankYou Rewards Points, which can be redeemed in many ways.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Amex Gold Card

The Citi Premier card pairs nicely with the Amex Gold card as it has elevated earnings on many everyday spending categories that the Amex Gold card does not have.

While the Citi Premier card earns 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants and supermarkets, using the Amex Gold card to earn 4x points for those categories would still be a better return.

However, the Citi Premier card earns 3x ThankYou Points at gas stations and for hotels. These categories earn only 1x points on the Amex Gold card.

Both cards earn 3x points on airfare, so you can use either card. However, according to our valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are worth more than Citi ThankYou Points; therefore, paying for airfare with the Amex Gold card may be a better option.

Hot Tip:

Citi’s transfer partners also overlap a bit with Amex Membership Rewards. Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points to plan your next award.

Card Comparison

Comparing Cards by Bonus Category Earnings

Now that we have reviewed some cards to pair with the Amex Gold card, let’s also look at the earning rates on some common spending categories and which card is best to use:

SCROLL FOR MORE
 Amex Gold CardAmex Platinum Card Capital One Venture CardCiti Premier Card
Hotels1x points5x points (prepaid and booked through AmexTravel.com)5x miles with Capital One Travel, 2x miles otherwise3x points
Rental Cars1x points1x points5x miles with Capital One Travel, 2x miles otherwise1x points
Flights3x points (directly or with AmexTravel.com)5x points (directly or with AmexTravel.com, up to $500,000 per calendar year)2x miles3x points
Restaurants4x points1x points2x miles3x points
Supermarkets4x points (U.S. only; up to $25,000 per year)1x points2x miles3x points
Gas Stations1x points1x points2x miles3x points
Everything Else1x points1x points2x miles1x points

Comparing Cards by Welcome Offer and Annual Fee

Now that we know what cards to use for some common spending categories, let’s look at the current welcome offers and annual fees for each travel rewards card.

SCROLL FOR MORE
 Welcome OfferAnnual Fee
Amex Gold CardEarn 60,000 points when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.$250
Amex Platinum CardEarn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.$695
Capital One Venture CardEarn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.$95 (rates & fees)
Citi Premier CardEarn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.$95

Final Thoughts

Just as there is no single best credit card for everyone, the same goes for credit card combinations. However, pairing the right credit cards together is a great way to earn thousands of extra points and miles annually by maximizing each card for a specific bonus category.

The Amex Gold card is an excellent card with incredible earning potential on everyday categories like restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. However, its earning rate is lacking in many other categories. Pairing the Amex Gold card with 1 or more of the cards mentioned will significantly maximize your earning potential.

Knowing your spending habits is essential, as that will make deciding what cards to hold in your wallet much easier. While a particular credit card combination may work for you now, that may change. Don’t be afraid to mix up your credit card strategy.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, 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.

For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, 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.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Amex Gold card have an annual fee?

Yes, the Amex Gold card has a $250 annual fee. Some credits help offset the annual fee, including dining credits and Uber Cash.

Do American Express Membership Rewards points expire?

No, as long as your account stays active and in good standing, your Membership Rewards points will never expire.

What is the annual fee on the Amex Platinum card?

The Amex Platinum card comes with a $695 annual fee. However, many of the many credits on the Amex Platinum card can help offset the fee. These include up to $200 airline incidental credit, up to $200 Uber Cash credit, and up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, among others.

Does the Capital One Venture card have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Capital One Venture card does not have any foreign transaction fees (rates & fees).

What is the annual fee on the Citi Premier card? Is it a good card to have?

The Citi Premier card has a Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024. annual fee. The Citi Premier card earns 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels, making it an excellent card for everyday spending. If you spend a lot in these categories, the Citi Premier is worth looking at!

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About Ehsan Haque

Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.

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