The Amex Gold Isn’t Technically a Travel Card — But It’s Still My Favorite

When most people think of travel cards, they picture a card loaded with airline perks, lounge access, or hotel upgrades. The American Express^® Gold Card doesn’t really have any of these features.

While it’s not marketed as a traditional “travel card,” it’s become my go-to for earning a ton of travel rewards. Here are 3 reasons that make this everyday rewards card stand out from the others.

1. Go-To Card for Food Spending

I have a family of 5, and buying food makes up a huge chunk of our monthly spending, just behind our mortgage and car payments. That’s where the Amex Gold card shines.

It earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year), plus 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year), including online grocery deliveries like Instacart. This earning power turns everyday purchases into serious rewards I can later redeem for flights, hotels, and other travel experiences.

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American Express^® Gold Card

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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!

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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!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, 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 & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

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Card Highlights

• 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 US 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.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

We do a lot of cooking at home, and with kids, our budget adds up fast. Additionally, we enjoy dining out frequently, whether for casual dinners or special occasions, making the 4x points at restaurants a significant advantage.

To be clear, the 4x points I earn on U.S. supermarket spending are capped at $25,000 a year, and the 4x at restaurants worldwide is capped at $50,000 per year. For a family like mine, that’s more than enough to cover pretty much all our groceries and dining out for the year.

This heavy focus on food spending makes the Amex Gold card’s $325 annual fee more than worth it for me (rates & fees). The points I rack up on groceries and dining alone justify the yearly fee, and then some.

When you’re earning 4x points on your biggest expense category, that adds up quickly. If I were using a card that offered just 1 or 2 points per $1 on food, I’d be missing out on thousands of points every year.

2. Statement Credits Offset Even More Costs

Beyond the excellent earning rates on food categories, the Amex Gold card also comes with several credits and benefits (enrollment required) that help offset food expenses even further.

There’s an up to $120 dining credit that covers purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, wine.com, and Five Guys, and an up to $100 Resy credit for dining reservations booked through Resy. Both credits basically put money back in my pocket for things we were already doing — and all while earning 4x points on those dining purchases.

I also make full use of the up to $120 annual Uber Cash credit that comes with the card. I primarily use this credit for Uber Eats orders, which means more points on food and a nice discount on delivery fees. With all these credits combined, the net annual fee I effectively pay feels much lower — and the card pays for itself multiple times over.

3. Access to Amex Transfer Partners

But what really sets the Amex Gold card apart for me is how I redeem the points I earn. I don’t just let those Membership Rewards points sit in my account. Instead, I transfer them to Amex’s airline and hotel transfer partners, where I get outsized value on flights.

For example, I transfer points to valuable partners like Air Canada’s Aeroplan, Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue, or Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club to score premium cabin seats for far less than the cash price — or to book seats for my whole family.

This strategy means that every dollar I spend on groceries and dining with the Amex Gold card indirectly funds my travel adventures. I’m essentially using my everyday food spending to earn valuable points, which I convert into memorable trips with my family.

Why I Don’t Use the Amex Gold Card To Pay for Travel

Now, the Amex Gold card also earns 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, plus 2x on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, so it can also function as a travel rewards card if needed.

But truth be told, I rarely use the Amex Gold card for airfare or prepaid hotels because I have other cards that earn more. For example, The Platinum Card^® from American Express earns a higher rate — 5x points — on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x), as well as on prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com. Plus, it offers lounge access upon enrollment.

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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 ins and outs 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.

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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.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

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 (enrollment required), 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)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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 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 through American Express Travel using 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.
• Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club^® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $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^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. 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.
• 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.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

And for hotel expenses, I usually stick with co-branded cards, like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or The World of Hyatt Credit Card, where I earn elevated points and elite perks on stays at those brands.

Because I’m already covering flights and hotels with other cards, the Amex Gold card’s strength is truly in everyday spending — especially food. It fits my spending habits perfectly, as feeding my family earns me points that turn into flights and vacations.

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Gold card is perfect for foodies and families alike who spend heavily on groceries and dining. It’s not designed like a traditional travel card focused on flights and hotels, but its power lies in rewarding everyday spending that often dwarfs those travel expenses.

With strong earning rates, valuable credits, and the ability to transfer points to Amex’s valuable transfer partners, the Amex Gold card turns our family’s food budget into a travel rewards engine. That’s why, for me, it’s hands down my favorite card to earn travel rewards — even though it’s technically not a travel card.