American Express Gold Card review

American Express Gold Card is a travel card for people whose biggest spending is food. Restaurants worldwide earn 4x on up to $50,000 a year and U.S. supermarkets 4x on up to $25,000, and those points move to the same 20 airline and hotel partners as the Platinum Card. Flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel earn 3x and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com 5x. The $325 fee is offset by food credits rather than travel perks: up to $120 a year in dining credits at partners such as Grubhub and The Cheesecake Factory, $120 in Uber Cash, and a $100 Resy credit, all paid in monthly or periodic amounts. The Hotel Collection gives a $100 property credit on two-night stays booked through Amex Travel. There is no lounge access and no travel credit, so the card works best paired with another card for travel benefits or for someone who mainly wants points from restaurant and grocery spend.

Who it is for

Diners who collect points for flights

Price

$325 annual fee for the Basic Card.

The annual fee for the American Express ® Gold Card is $325
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• 4x points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 a year
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a year
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel
• 5x on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
• Points transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: $120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash and $100 Resy credit a year
• Strength: $100 property credit on two-night stays with The Hotel Collection
• Strength: No foreign transaction fees
• Weakness: No airport lounge access
• Weakness: Credits are monthly or need enrollment
• Weakness: $325 fee is high if you do not eat out often

Key facts

• Annual fee: $325
• Dining earn: 4x on up to $50,000
• Grocery earn: 4x at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000
• Transfer partners: 20

Where it ranks

American Express Gold Card is No. 9 in our Best Travel Credit Cards verdict.