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6 Travel Rewards Alternatives for People Who Don’t Want to Pay for an Amex Platinum Card

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5 months ago

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6 Travel Rewards Alternatives for People Who Don’t Want to Pay for an Amex Platinum Card

Look, I love my ridiculously expensive little platinum friend. But I am not so dazzled by it that I can’t recognize that it is, indeed, ridiculously expensive. The Platinum Card® from American Express costs you a whopping $695 just to have it in your wallet (terms apply, see rates and fees).

To me, it’s worth it. I get that money back in perks and rewards. However, I know plenty of folks who aren’t so willing to fork over a small fortune just for a credit card annual fee.

Happily, you may not need to do so to enjoy some of the things that make our shiny friend so popular. Here are just some of the alternative options.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

If you still want lots of perks…

The bountiful bevy of travel benefits is the big draw for many cardholders. If you’re willing to pay for benefits — just not quite as much as Amex wants — you can consider these less expensive, but still beneficial options.

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Ratings Methodology
Credit Score:


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.





Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Score


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.




Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Rewards


Circle with letter I in it.


Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.


Annual Fee



Circle with letter I in it.


N/A

$550

Welcome Offer


Circle with letter I in it.


Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

75,000 bonus points

  • This Chase card is your ticket to big rewards on travel spending and dining out, like up to 10x points on spending through Chase Travel, where your points are worth 50% more if you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll also score excellent perks, like a $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost.
    Read Full Review

    • Sign-up bonus
    • Travel credits
    • Airport lounge access
    • Travel and dining rewards
    • Flexible travel points

    • Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
    • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
    • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
    • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
    • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
    • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
    • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
    • Member FDIC

This is one of the OG travel rewards cards, and it still ranks highly on many best-of lists.

While not quite as packed full of perks as its platinum-hued compatriot, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® still has a lot going for it, starting with a lower annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees). You also get:

  • A valuable welcome bonus
  • Bonus rewards on travel and dining
  • An annual $300 travel credit
  • Priority Pass lounge membership
  • Extensive travel protections

2. Capital One Venture X Card

Ratings Methodology


Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Credit Score:


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.





Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Excellent (740-850)

Credit Score


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.




Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)

Rewards


Circle with letter I in it.


Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

2X-10X miles

Welcome Offer


Circle with letter I in it.


75000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

75,000 Miles

  • Our favorite premium travel card. Yes, there’s a premium annual fee here, but you get what you might expect from a luxury card, like up to 10X miles on spending through Capital One Travel, a $300 travel credit, experience credits, and a huge welcome bonus.
    Read Full Review

    • Big travel rewards bonus
    • High rewards rate
    • Travel credits
    • Easy-to-use miles
    • Annual fee
    • Other card issuers have more valuable travel rewards

    • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
    • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
    • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
    • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
    • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
    • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
    • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
    • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
    • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Compared to some other premium travel rewards cards, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is downright affordable with its $395 annual fee (see rates and fees). You still get some solid travel perks with that lower fee, though, including:

  • A valuable welcome bonus
  • Unlimited 2X miles on purchases
  • An annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • Complimentary lounge access for Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network

If you still want Membership Rewards…

Arguably one of The Platinum Card® from American Express’s most valuable perks isn’t status or lounge access — it’s the rewards. Specifically, the Membership Rewards points you earn.

This transferrable currency can be turned into points with more than a dozen airlines or hotels, making it easy to book free travel. You don’t need to pay top dollar for these lucrative rewards, though. Try these more affordable Membership Rewards options.

3. Amex Gold Card

Ratings Methodology


Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

American Express® Gold Card
Credit Score:


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.





Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Score


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.




Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards


Circle with letter I in it.


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.

1X-4X Membership Rewards® Points

Welcome Offer


Circle with letter I in it.


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.

60,000 Membership Rewards® Points

  • This card has some impressive benefits, including a high earning rate and welcome offer to earn points quickly. There are also potentially valuable spending credits, including $120 in annual dining credits and $120 in annual Uber Cash. (Terms apply.) It’s a lucrative card for people who spend quite a bit in its bonus categories and can use its spending credits.
    Read Full Review

    • Impressive welcome offer
    • Restaurant rewards
    • U.S. supermarket rewards
    • Travel and dining credits
    • High-value rewards points
    • Annual fee
    • Inflexible spending credits

    • 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.

The American Express® Gold Card has a permanent place in my wallet, and not just because it can give its sibling a run for its money in the ooo, shiny department. I’m also a big fan of the big rewards it earns.

While the American Express® Gold Card earns less on flights — 3X vs. 5X — it makes up for it with two very valuable categories (terms apply):

  • 4X Membership Rewards® Points per dollar dining, including U.S. takeout and delivery services
  • 4X Membership Rewards® Points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchase per year)

This card shares another thing with the The Platinum Card® from American Express: credits. Specifically, you can get up to $240 a year in Uber and dining credits. Maximize those and you can make up nearly the entire $250 annual fee before you’ve redeemed a single point (see rates and fees).

4. Amex Green Card

Ratings Methodology


American Express® Green Card
Credit Score:


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.





Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Score


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.




Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards


Circle with letter I in it.


3X Membership Rewards® Points on Restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery. 3X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, from subway swipes and window seats to hotel stays and city tours. The 1x points on other purchases.

1x – 3x points

Welcome Offer


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Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

40,000 Membership Rewards® Points

  • Packs in a big welcome offer, lucrative credits, and premium points for travel and restaurants. These perks justify the annual fee for many new cardholders.

    • Restaurant rewards
    • Travel and transit rewards
    • Welcome offer
    • Useful travel points
    • Travel credits

    • Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
    • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
    • $189 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $189 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
    • $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
    • Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
    • Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
    • $150 annual fee.
    • Terms Apply.

The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by The Ascent and not provided by the issuer. Therefore, some terms may be out of date. Visit the issuer’s website for more information.

In some ways, the $150 (see rates and fees) a year American Express® Green Card is what many folks wish its pricier sibling was: a travel rewards card with bonus rewards for all kinds of travel.

Instead of limiting you to airfare and Amex Travel, the American Express® Green Card gives you bonus rewards on a huge variety of travel and transit purchases (terms apply). Indeed, you’ll get 3X points per dollar on everything from airfare and rental cars to taxis and tolls. You also get 3X points on dining, which is really handy if you don’t happen to have a Gold Card.

As if the broad bonus categories weren’t already enough to make this card interesting, you also get some travel perks that may be especially appealing to The Platinum Card® from American Express fans. This includes an annual CLEAR credit and an annual LoungeBuddy credit for airport lounge access.

If you want to spend less than $100…

I can hear some of you thinking that even $150 is way too much to pay for a credit card. I get it. So here’s one more group of alternatives for folks who want travel rewards cards without the three-figure fees.

5. Chase Sapphire Preferred

Ratings Methodology


Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Credit Score:


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.





Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Score


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.




Intro APR



Circle with letter I in it.


N/A



Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Rewards


Circle with letter I in it.


Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases


Annual Fee



Circle with letter I in it.


N/A

$95

Welcome Offer


Circle with letter I in it.


Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

75,000 bonus points

  • The enormous welcome bonus (worth over $900), bonus points for travel and dining, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the $95 annual fee. What really stands out are the rare travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. It’s one of the only low annual fee cards we’ve seen offer those protections.
    Read Full Review

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Travel rewards
    • Dining rewards
    • Flexible travel points
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • Annual fee
    • Limited-time perks

    • Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
    • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
    • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
    • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
    • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
    • Member FDIC

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is my favorite “budget” travel rewards card in that the $95 annual fee is very reasonable, especially for what you get.

From a rewards standpoint, you get bonus points on a ton of useful categories. You earn:

  • 3X points per dollar on dining
  • 3X points per dollar on streaming
  • 3X points per dollar on online groceries
  • 2X points per dollar on travel and transit

You get more rewards if you use the Chase Travel portal, where you’ll rack up 5X points on purchases. Plus, you can get up to $50 a year back on hotels booked through the portal.

6. Citi Strata Premier

Ratings Methodology


Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Credit Score:


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.





Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Score


Circle with letter I in it.


Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.




Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards


Circle with letter I in it.


10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.

1x – 10x points

Welcome Offer


Circle with letter I in it.


Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.

70,000 ThankYou® Points

  • Citi Strata Premier offers 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and other hotel purchases – a unique combination of bonus categories for a low annual fee card. It comes with a welcome bonus that’s redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards, no foreign transaction fee, and access to Citi’s ThankYou® Rewards program, a standout in the industry.
    Read Full Review

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Annual hotel savings offer
    • Travel and dining rewards
    • Grocery and gas rewards
    • Flexible travel rewards points
    • Travel insurance protections

    • Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
    • Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
    • Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
    • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
    • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
    • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

This brand-new iteration of Citi’s mid-tier travel rewards card is a solid option for an entry-level travel rewards card. The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has a reasonable $95 annual fee with a slew of interesting rewards and perks.

The bonus categories on this card will cover your travel and then some:

  • 3X points per dollar on dining
  • 3X points per dollar on groceries
  • 3X points per dollar on gas
  • 3X points per dollar on airfare
  • 3X points per dollar on hotels

As with most travel cards, you’ll get even more points for booking travel through the issuer’s portal. Cardholders can earn 10X points per dollar hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. You also get $100 a year back if you spend at least $500 on a single hotel stay booked through the portal (see rates and fees).

Any of these cards could be a great alternative to an The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

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