Within the past 8 years, my husband Nick and I have made great progress financially. We paid off all our credit card debt, increased our credit score, and basically get to travel the world for free using credit card reward points.

Related Article: How We Travel Using Credit Card Points

Since travel is a big part of our lives, we wanted to find a credit card that offered the best benefits, specifically when it comes to travel.

After acquiring 13 different credit cards, the American Express Platinum is my recommendation to anyone who asks for the best travel credit card.

Is The Amex Platinum Card Worth It?

First, let’s address the elephant in the room when talking about the Amex Platinum card: the annual fee is expensive. Some might even say it is painful at a shocking $695 a year. This makes a lot of people question if it is still worth it.

Some have preconceived ideas about this card already and even called the American Express Platinum card an expensive coupon book. 

You may also see the thumbnails on YouTube of finance guru Graham Stephan looking fake shocked or trying to cut their metal card.

But, Is the American Express Platinum really that bad? In this article, I tell you why I think the Platinum Card is still the best travel card you will be able to get.

The Main Benefits Of The Amex Platinum

American Express Platinum Card Benefits

• $200 Uber Credit
• $200 Airline Credit
• $155 Walmart Plus Membership Credit
• $200 Hotel Credit
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit (Audible, Sirius, Peacock, NY Times)
• $300 Equinox Credit
• $189 Clear Membership
• $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit
• 80,000 AMEX Points when signing up ($400 value)
• Access to thousands of Premium Airport Lounges in the world
• Additional Benefits as a Cardholder

I’ll be honest. I am not a numbers person. You can read and watch many reviews listing the benefits that come with the card and if they make sense for what you pay. 

To be fair though, I don’t use all of the benefits the card offers but I find the majority of them quite useful. I pay for HBO Max through Hulu so that is how I use my entertainment credit for the entire year. I buy makeup twice a year on the Saks Fifth Ave. website with their included credit. 

I travel at least 4 times a year using airline and hotel credits. Our last few vacations wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t have the Amex Platinum card.

Related Article: Our Incredible Trip to Italy/Spain 2021

The free Walmart+ membership proved useful when we were trying to get my husband the new Sony PlayStation 5. 

When we got the “virus” and couldn’t go to the store to get groceries, Walmart+ was a lifesaver. 

Even when we have to get something from Walmart but just don’t want to go to the store, we just shop from our phone and have everything at our door in a few hours for free.

I haven’t even mentioned the introductory offer which, depending on how you use it, can give you great value.

By clicking our referral link, you can check out all the current American Express Platinum benefits here.

With that in mind, the reasons why I love my Amex Platinum are much more than just credits and rewards.

Reasons I Am Not Even Considering Canceling My Amex Platinum

There’s no denying that we love the Amex Platinum Card, even with its $695 annual fee. I think it is well worth it but here are the 3 main reasons why we’re likely going to continue the Amex Platinum Card for travel in the foreseeable future.

Lounge Access

One of the main benefits people want when getting a travel credit card is lounge access. Who likes to be stuck in an airport for hours in an uncomfortable seat while waiting at the boarding gate? 

Most who know about credit cards will agree that Amex has the most extensive lounge network. It is easy to use, it is accessible, it saves you money on food at airports, and it is worth basically whatever value you decide your comfort is worth. 

Going to a Centurion Lounge is an experience on its own. While people like to complain about busy lounges, I see the glass as half full.

I just ask for a decent and clean lady’s room where I can “go” before I have to face the horror that is an airplane bathroom. Ladies, you know what I am talking about…

Purchase Protection

This is one of the best perks and maybe the most overlooked. Being able to have peace of mind in the purchases we make is amazing and has helped us a few times already. When we had an issue with a purchase we made, they refunded our money almost immediately.

You also have a 90-day extended warranty that can apply to most of the stuff you buy with your card, insurance for your phone if you pay the bill with your card, and peace of mind every time you swipe your card.

Finally, the reason why I think the Platinum Card shines above its competitors is their…

Customer Service

This is Amex’s strength in my humble opinion. Even though we are talking about a “travel card” that most people only spend a few weeks on vacation every year, you still want the credit card you use to work for you every day when you are not traveling. 

Years ago, when I still had an Amex gold card in Mexico, I misplaced my card. It was nothing major, but I decided to call the customer service line and freeze my card.

Let me also point out that I called close to 10:00 pm. The call was answered by a representative right away and when I mentioned what I wanted to do, his response was “Are you okay, miss? 

“If your card was stolen, I can call the police and have a report made in your name” As a customer, when someone cares about you and your safety first, it matters.

I’ve been a loyal Amex Customer for over 10 years, first in Mexico and now in the U.S. After moving to California to be with my husband, one of the first things I did after my credit was established was get an American Express Card.

I also have a Quicksilver card with Capital One. It was the first card I got when I started building my credit after moving to the U.S. I’ve been trying to get them to raise my credit line or to get an upgrade. Every time I ask though, my request is denied. 

I never carry a balance on any of my cards and I have an excellent credit score, so I don’t really understand why this is a concern. I think it is because they want us to spend more with the card which has a higher potential for them to charge interest and fees.

The lack of communication and long waits, when I call the service line, is putting me off from trying the Venture X travel credit card. American Express is just way easier to deal with.

There are many stories online of people sharing their experiences with the Amex customer service line. I also appreciate that Amex uses native English speakers for their customer service representatives. I dread every time I have to call customer service for Capital One or another bank that outsources their support to India…

With that said, when you contact their customer service line for any reason, or simply with questions you might have, American Express goes above and beyond to make sure you have a great experience as a customer. That is something more valuable than any point conversion rate in my opinion. 

Final Thoughts On The Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum is not perfect. Like many, I wish I could get at least 3 points per dollar spent in restaurants and groceries. However, I have a way around that and it doesn’t cost me any money. 

My tip is to get the Hilton Honors Card. It has a $0 annual fee and you get 5x Hilton Points back when you use the card for groceries, restaurants, and gas stations.

I know Hilton Points are not the same as Amex membership reward points, but if you are saving points for a great vacation, Hilton has a great and easy system to use. 

You also get Hilton Honor Status with Amex Platinum. It is a decent pair that can get you a great vacation.

You can sign up to get the Hilton Honors card and get a welcome offer of 95,000 Hilton points after you spend $2,000 with your new card in the first 6 months.

That is one or two free nights in a decent city hotel anywhere in the world basically for a $0 annual fee.

If you sign up for the Amex Platinum, you will get 80,000 membership rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months of using the card.

Enjoy the great customer experience plus a lot of extra perks through our referral links above. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Thanks for reading!