Credit cards are an important instrument in the banking industry, as it offers an emergency line of credit, along with innumerable perks and benefits. Banks offer credit cards tailored for different needs of the customers, be it for groceries, gas, or travel. Credit cards are offered to individuals based on their credit scores, and the credit limit is directly proportional to the annual income. But for travelers, American Express offers the best combination of benefits, which makes traveling more fun and cost-effective.
Here are the top five American Express credit cards, every traveler should opt for:
1. The Platinum Card from American Express
The Amex Platinum Card offers a range of offers and benefits and is one of the original premium cards released by the reputed bank. Though it has a high annual fee of $550, the earning rates compensate pretty well. The cardholder earns 5X points on flights and hotels booking done through this Amex card and 1 point for other transactions. Cardholders also have the opportunity to earn a bonus of 60,000 points on spending $5,000 in three months.
The card also offers an airline incidental fee credit of $200 annually, along with $200 worth of Uber credits. Other benefits include Priority Pass Select membership, access to lounges and Delta SkyClubs while flying with Delta Airlines.
2. Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express
This is one of the most widely-used Amex credit cards in the world, which has a nominal annual fee of $195, waived for the first year, unlike the high fee for other Amex cards. Cardholders earn 3X points for flights bookings, and 2X points for purchases at gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants in the US. Cardholders receive 25,000 points for spending $2,000 with the card in the first three months.
The best part is that there are no foreign transaction fees. Apart from that, the cardholder receives an airline fee credit of $100, along with a $75 hotel credit for booking more than 2 nights, annually. If calculated, the returns on the airfare bonus come to around 5.7%. This card is best-suited for travelers on a budget.
3. The Amex EveryDay Preferred Card from American Express
The Amex EveryDay Card charges a minimal annual fee of $95. This is the cheapest way to be a part of the travel rewards program. The users earn 15,000 points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. The card also offers decent earning rates, such as 3X points for transactions at supermarkets and 2X points for purchases at gas stations in the US.
With this cheap alternative, the users can avail the benefits of strong bonus categories for earning rewards points, without paying the high fees involved with premium cards. The rewards points add up quickly if there are more than 30 transactions in a billing cycle.
Amex has a different line of credit card in collaboration with airlines and renowned hotel chains. These cards offer exceptional benefits for travelers. The Hilton Honors Amex credit card grants 100,000 Hilton points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of use. The earning rates are astounding, as the user earns 14X points for bookings with Hilton properties, 7X points for flight bookings with certain airlines, car bookings from rentals, and restaurants in the US.
Though the benefits are tremendous, the card comes with a costly annual fee of $450. Annually, the cardholder receives an airline fee credit of $250 and a Hilton credit of $250, which can be redeemed at Hilton Properties. Users are also entitled to a free weekend stay on account activation and direct access to Priority Pass Select membership.
5. Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
The Gold Delta SkyMiles Amex Card has a tie-up with Delta Airlines and offers 30,000 air miles with the airlines after spending $1,000 in 3 months of account approval, along with a $50 credit. The annual fee is nominal and stands at $95. Perfect for frequent Delta flyers, the earning rates offered are 2X miles on flight bookings with Delta and 1X for other transactions.
The benefits include priority boarding for all Delta flights, along with a 20% concession for all in-flight purchases. As Delta Airlines is a major player in the global aviation industry, opting for this card will save real money for travelers.