Why I’m Booking More Amex Hotel Collection Stays in 2026

The American Express^® Gold Card has long been the cornerstone of my rewards strategy for several years. Though it already has a lot to offer, it just got even better with a few updates that rolled out in April 2026.

For instance, American Express added higher earning rates for prepaid hotel bookings through The Hotel Collection, which is only accessible with certain Amex cards. Beyond my everyday spending, here’s why I’ll be planning a lot more travel with my Amex Gold card moving forward.

Amex Gold Card Overview

The Amex Gold card is a fantastic rewards card, especially for those who dine at restaurants and want elevated rewards at U.S. supermarkets. Its refresh makes the card even more enticing.

TOP PICK

Terms 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 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.

Apply Now(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.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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.

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

With the Amex Gold 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 are several other benefits of the Amex Gold card, including monthly dining credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
• 4x points at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• 4x categories for restaurants and U.S. supermarkets have annual spend caps

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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 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 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
• $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
• Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x) and 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x). Additionally, it earns 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or on AmexTravel.com and 2x points per dollar on prepaid car rentals and cruises via AmexTravel.com.

The Amex Gold card earns 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com and the Amex Travel mobile app (iOS, Android). This is a welcome update to the card’s previous 2x earning rate, making it a much more compelling option for hotel bookings.

We value Membership Rewards at 2.2 cents apiece, so earning 5x points is akin to getting an impressive ~11% return on your eligible prepaid hotel bookings.

The Amex Gold card has a hefty $325 annual fee (rates & fees). Of course, it also has numerous benefits and statement credits (enrollment may be required) that help me offset the annual fee.

How To Access the Amex Hotel Collection

The Hotel Collection is a curated hotel booking program available through AmexTravel.com and the Amex Travel app for eligible premium cardholders, including the Amex Gold card, the American Express^® Business Gold Card, Platinum Card^® from American Express, and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express.

It features a portfolio of more than 1,400 upscale and boutique hotels worldwide. Specifically, Amex Gold cardholders who book The Hotel Collection receive additional premium benefits for stays of at least 2 nights at select properties. This includes:

• $100 property credit toward eligible charges, such as dining, spa, and resort activities
• Room upgrade at check-in, if available
• Noon check-in, when available
• Late checkout, when available

Don’t forget you’re now earning 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. Plus, with The Hotel Collection properties, you can double-dip and earn points with your eligible hotel loyalty program, such as Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

Why the American Express Hotel Collection Is So Valuable

Over the past decade, I’ve accumulated millions of hotel points across nearly every major hotel chain. While that has allowed me to stay at properties around the world, there are many situations where paying cash makes more sense.

Although I have only booked a few hotels through The Hotel Collection and American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, the experiences at these properties have opened my eyes to the possibilities. Since I will be in Asia for the rest of the year, I have looked at several Amex Hotel Collection properties that I plan to book. This includes:

• Conrad Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
• Madi Paidi Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
• JW Marriott Phuket, Resort & Spa (Phuket Thailand)
• Conrad Manila (Manila, Philippines)
• Fairmont Makati Manila (Manila, Philippines)
• The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bali (Bali, Indonesia)
• The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection (Tokyo, Japan)
• Mondrian Seoul Itaewon (Seoul, South Korea)

Earlier this year, I had an incredible stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta, which quickly became one of my favorite hotels. Although the hotel is part of Amex FHR, the concept remains the same.

Since I had a $100 property credit at the hotel, my wife and I opted to use it for some massages and treatments at the hotel’s world-class spa.

Although many of the luxury hotels I’ve stayed at in the past have offered spa facilities, I rarely used them because of the high out-of-pocket costs. However, having the $100 credit gave me the opportunity to try something new.

The Amex Travel App Makes It Easier To Find New Hotels

In late 2025, American Express launched the Amex Travel app, a mobile app of the AmexTravel.com website. Through the app, cardholders can easily book flights, hotels, and rental cars, using their credit card, American Express Membership Rewards points, or a combination of both.

However, the app offers much more. It now acts as a mobile hub that helps card members plan and book travel and manage their trips in one place. It shows all hotels that participate in Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs.

The Amex Travel app also provides information about the perks and features of your American Express cards, as well as travel benefits, including airport lounge access (with details on lounge eligibility and wait times) and additional perks when booking specific hotels, such as complimentary breakfast or guaranteed late checkout.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Gold card has been one of the most rewarding cards on the market for several years now. The card’s refresh — including higher earnings on prepaid hotels — makes it even more compelling. Now that the Amex Gold card offers some solid returns for prepaid hotel bookings through AmexTravel.com, I plan to book more stays through the program for my travels.