Remember my recent blog, Credit Cards: Your Own Worst Financial Enemy?

So now that you’re allowed two credit cards, which two do you choose that best match your lifestyle? If travel is on the top of your A list, the American Express Platinum card is my absolute favorite.

I’ve had a lot of experience with credit cards (LOL) so I believe I actually have some pretty great insight on the topic. Let’s start by chatting about the MAJOR benefits of the AMEX Platinum card:

1. They award you 40,000 bonus points when you make $3000 in purchases within the first three months. We all know how easy it is to spend $3000… no need to try hard, groceries and gas alone will give you a pretty good start.
2. Their airport lounge access program gives you complimentary access to over 850 airport lounges. No matter which class you are flying, you will have total access.
3. When you use your card to purchase airline tickets, you’ll receive a $200 statement credit toward the airline purchase. Now you can upgrade to business class for less!
4. Cardholders are given a $100 statement credit every 5 years when you sign up for TSA Pre Check or Global Entry. I recommend Global Entry because your TSA Pre Check is included in the Global Entry. Say goodbye to long lines at the airport and an even longer immigration line when entering back into the US from travel abroad.
5. You will receive 1 point per every $1 you spend on eligible purchases made with the card (this is pretty much everything). You can turn these points into retail, dining, travel or entertainment dollars toward these purchases.
6. You can opt to reserve any of their FINE hotels and save on breakfast, spa credits, receive early and late checkout and more.
7. Enjoy travel concierge to book all flights, hotels and cruises. Restaurants, tours, activities and more can all be booked through their concierge. Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of money on international phone calls.
8. Buy one full business class fare or higher and receive a complimentary companion ticket on select flights and partner airlines. Just pay the tax on the free one. We’ve used this service a lot and I love it!
9. No foreign transaction fees! This is a huge money spender if you’re like me and want to rack up points on the card while traveling abroad.
10. Their purchase protection covers you up to $10,000 per transaction not to exceed $50,000 in one year. Have you read my engagement story yet? See why I love with this feature.

Now that you know all the reasons why I love this card, go to their site to read the fine print, check out the APR and decide if the Platinum card is right for you.

A few examples of experiences I’ve had arranging travel with AMEX Platinum Services…

Greece and London 2015- I booked this trip last minute for me, my fiancé, our friends and their kids. I totally freaked out midway through planning! We managed to get a 2 for 1 business class companion airfare ticket which was awesome and saved us a few $1000, but after making our booking I realized the best hotels were either sold out or so expensive, I mean in the thousands per day, that there was no way we would be able to stay in anything decent (and by decent I mean my kind of luxury). Thankfully, our Amex travel agent Jane was super helpful and diligent. We were able to find rooms at new, luxurious places just as other people were letting go of their reservation holds.

For our London stay, I made a FINE hotels reservation which didn’t require payment until the day of arrival. This helped to keep the credit card balance down while I was busy paying off the Grecian vacation.

Beverly Hills 2016– I booked us a room at The Beverly Hills Hotel under the Amex FINE hotels program. It was amazing and thus far, our best experience because I was prepared after reading all about our benefits! When we arrived at noon and realized they were sold out for the weekend, the manager still accommodated our wishes and gave us a 12:30pm check in, an upgrade to a Bungalow suite and a late 4pm checkin. We also enjoyed a $75 credit for breakfast. Normally, I wouldn’t have gone to a hotel spa for a facial (I prefer medical facials back home) but since we were given a $100 credit, I couldn’t pass one up! The amex FINE hotel program made our stay so much more luxurious, relaxing and less expensive so we could apply those savings towards our next trip. You know me- always planning my next travel adventure!

Let’s sum it up!

I am a working girl so finding ways I can afford all of the trips I am dying to take (Egypt, Africa, Thailand… so many I’m already planning in my head) means planning and effort! The AMEX Platinum card helps hard working people like me travel in luxury and comfort at more affordable prices. Did I mention AMEX has such a great reputation with all of its affiliate hotels and resorts, that you receive special VIP treatment on each trip booked with your Platinum card?

Take a moment and check out what the Platinum card has to offer. See if it’s right for you and your mode de vie.  If it is, fantastic! If not, that’s okay too. Just knowing the options and benefits one card may have can be super helpful when planning out the financial portion (and travel) of your life!

xx Shanna

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