rewrite this title Why the AmEx Gold Card Deserves a Spot in My Wallet – NerdWallet

The American Express® Gold Card is a hefty, metal card that makes me feel fancy when I plunk it down at dinner with my friends. Its sleek Gold tint really makes it one of the most attractive cards around, but its true magic works behind the surface.

It earns stellar rewards rates on categories I spend a lot of my budget on, like restaurants and supermarkets. Plus, the American Express Gold Card offers benefits that make travel even more accessible for my family.

Put another way, this one credit card helps turn the money I spend on dining into my next vacation.

Here’s how this card gives hundreds of dollars in value for me each year, and why right now is the best time to start earning your own ‘dining dividends’ from the American Express Gold Card.

If you’re like most Americans, a hefty chunk of your monthly budget goes toward food.

The American Express Gold Card earns generously on dining, with a high rewards rate and large caps on those rewards:

Here’s how it looks, on average, for my family. My household includes two kids and two pets (yes, pet food purchased at U.S. supermarkets counts, too).

Supermarket purchases

$300 spent per week x 52 weeks = $15,600 spent per year.

$15,600 at 4X Membership Rewards® points = 62,400 Membership Rewards® points earned each year.

Restaurant purchases

$100 spent per week x 52 weeks = $5,200 spent per year.

$5,200 at 4X points = 20,800 Membership Rewards® points earned each year.

My dining totals

62,400 + 20,800 = 83,200 Membership Rewards® points earned each year from restaurants and supermarket purchases.

That sounds like a lot of points, but you’re probably wondering: How much are these points worth? How much vacation are these ‘dividends’ buying?

Great question. The answer is, it depends.

We’ll use a baseline value assuming points are worth 1 cent each.

That means the 83,200 Membership Rewards® points I earn each year from dining and supermarket purchases on my American Express Gold Card are worth at least $832 toward travel when I book flights through Amex Travel or transfer to partners.

Like many U.S. families, mine spends less consistently on travel than we do on dining and supermarket purchases. (And we like to use rewards to help cover those costs when we can!)<br><br>But for our travel, the American Express Gold Card is perfect for impressive rewards plus valuable perks. It earns:

And now the American Express Gold Card can make renting a car even more rewarding.

That’s because cardholders can now enroll to receive complimentary Five Star® Status from Hertz®. I’m super excited about this one, because having this status will help us skip the counter at select Hertz locations. And anything that helps save time and hassle when we’re traveling as a family is a priceless win.

Another perk we love taking advantage of is a hefty credit on The Hotel Collection properties booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. When you book at least a two-night stay, you’ll get a $100 credit toward eligible charges, such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges, which vary by property. This is a curated group of more than 1,300 hotels around the world from trusted brands.

Plus, it unlocks perks like room upgrades on eligible room categories upon arrival when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out (when available). The last time my family booked one of these properties through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, we got upgraded to a large corner room with a stunning view, and it made our weekend getaway extra special.

The American Express Gold Card is chock-full of credits that add up to big extra value toward dining.

Up to $120 a year in Uber Cash:

Just add the American Express Gold Card to your Uber account and you’ll automatically get $10 in Uber Cash each month. Make sure your American Express Card is selected for the transaction to redeem Uber Cash received through this benefit. (Terms apply.)

If you’re like me, you may not use rideshare much in your daily life. But don’t discount that credit, because here’s what many people don’t realize: Uber Cash is good toward Uber Eats orders in the U.S., too, not just U.S. rides.

Since Uber Eats operates in more than 500 cities across the U.S., chances are it will be easy to find a restaurant to use your credit. Plus, if you order for pickup you’ll save the delivery fees.

Up to $120 in annual Dining Credits:

You’ll get $120 (issued in monthly $10 statement credits) on your account for purchases made with select partners: Grubhub (including Seamless), Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Wonder. Enrollment required, terms apply.

I tend to use my credit toward Grubhub since so many restaurants are available on that platform. But my family has also been known to splurge some months for a slice of decadent cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate a good report card or a winning game.

Up to $84 per year at Dunkin’:

This credit is also available in monthly increments: Earn up to $7 back in monthly statement credits when you pay with the card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required, terms apply.

My kids love it when I grab a box of MUNCHKINS® for the soccer team or surprise them with a Sunday morning donut splurge.

Up to $100 per year at Resy:

This one is easier than it sounds. You’ll get up to $100 in statement credits each year when you dine at over 10,000 qualifying Resy restaurants and pay your bill with your American Express Gold Card. These credits are issued semi-annually — meaning you can earn up to $50 in the first half of the calendar year, and up to $50 again in the second half of the year. Enrollment required, terms apply.

Resy is a restaurant reservation platform, offers access to more than 10,000 restaurants across the U.S. Using this semi-annual $50 credit is easy because you don’t have to remember to book a reservation using Resy — you just have to pay with your American Express Gold Card.If you’re using the card for all your dining purchases anyway, you may use up the credit easily by happenstance. If you don’t have many Resy restaurant options close by, you could seek a special restaurant to visit when traveling. That’s my favorite way to splurge and help take a bite out of food costs when traveling.

To recap, here’s the possible value of all the credits this card can give each year:

That adds up to a total of up to $424 per year.

Plus, as I showed you above, I’ll earn approximately 83,200 Membership Rewards® points from U.S. restaurants and supermarkets from the card each year, worth at least $823 toward travel when I book flights through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ or transfer to partners.

$424 in credits…

Plus $823 in rewards…

That makes this card worth at least $1,247 for me each year.

And that’s not even including the 5X points I can earn on prepaid hotels I book on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, the 3X points on flights, the 2X points on prepaid car rentals via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and the 2X points on cruises via AmexTravel.com.Not to mention the rewarding welcome offer new cardholders can earn…

When you factor in the value of the welcome offer you’ll get when you open the card and meet the requirements, it’s a no-brainer for many people. 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. Terms Apply.

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

That’s how I think about cards with annual fees. If I know for sure that I’ll get more value from it than I pay in annual fees, then it makes sense to me.

I know I’ll earn rewards worth at least $823 toward travel each year … plus $424 in dining credits … for a total around $1,247 in value. That’s based on my spending – the value you’ll get will vary based on your spending and how you redeem the points.

Plus, don’t forget the value of the welcome bonus you’ll earn in the first year, as well as other valuable perks and protections like:

This card features rich benefits for foodies and travelers, including lucrative rewards at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, plus various dining credits that can help offset its annual fee.

I love the thought that using the card to pay for my family’s dining can earn valuable travel rewards to use on our next vacation. Our Membership Rewards® points have helped my family book countless flights and hotel rooms over the years.

To me, the math makes sense. I’m happy to pay a $325 annual fee when I know I’ll earn more than $1,000 in value each year.Do the math for your own spending habits to see if it makes sense for you. But don’t forget to add in the value of that new cardholder welcome bonus! 🙂

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. Terms Apply.

About the author

Erin is a former writer and assigning editor on the NerdWallet Content team who now heads NerdWallet’s travel business. She’s a credit card and travel rewards expert at NerdWallet, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She has spent nearly two decades showing readers unique ways to maximize their investments and personal finances. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Erin worked on dozens of newsletters and magazines in the areas of investing, health, business and travel with Agora Publishing. Her love of travel led to a passion for credit card and loyalty rewards to subsidize trips, and she thrives on teaching others how to harness the power of credit card rewards. When she’s not helping NerdWallet readers find the best travel value, Erin is planning her next adventure for her family of four using points and miles.