Full Review

The Platinum Card® from American Express is an elite charge card for high-spending frequent travelers with credit scores of 700+. Amex Platinum does charge a very large annual fee, at $550, but it is worth the cost if you can take advantage of the card’s initial bonus (60,000 points), up to $400 in statement credits ($200 in Uber and $200 in airline-fee credits that cardholders get each year), and various other perks.

Highlights

Nice initial bonus.The American Express Platinum Card offers you 60,000 bonus points for spending at least $5,000 within three months of account opening, which are worth about $480 on average.

Naughty annual fee.The Amex Platinum Card's main claim to fame, aside from its luxurious travel rewards, is a whopping $550 annual fee. That alone will turn a lot of people off, but frequent travelers can definitely still get their money's worth from the card’s rewards and other perks.

Solid travel rewards, with some limitations.Amex Platinum gives you 5 points per $1 spent on airfare, as long as you book directly with the airline or through American Express. You'll also get 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotel reservations booked through Amex. That equates to about 4.25% cash back, which is great compared to the 1.07% you’d earn with the average cash rewards card. But that’s not the real star of the Amex Platinum rewards show.

Airport lounge access and annual travel credits.Amex Platinum provides access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide, including the Amex Centurion Lounge network. Plus, cardholders get $200 per year in statement credits for baggage fees and other airline incidentals (with one qualifying airline), as well as $200 in annual Uber credits. But remember, such perks are only good if you use them.

Automatic hotel status.As an American Express Platinum Card user, you will be able to join Hilton's and Marriott's loyalty rewards programs as a Gold member without meeting any of the standard spending requirements. This gives you access to perks such as complimentary room upgrades and enables you to earn free nights faster. For more information about these loyalty programs.

You have to pay in full most of the time.American Express Platinum is a charge card, which means you must pay your monthly bill in full if you want to continue making purchases — unless certain charges of at least $100 qualify for the "Pay Over Time" feature (up to Pay Over Time Limit), which allows you to carry an interest-accruing balance. So you’ll need to find another card for big-ticket purchases.

No go without good credit or better.The American Express Platinum Credit Card requires good or excellent credit for approval

The Platinum Card From American Express Review

Sams Credit Card

The Sam’s Club Credit Card, issued by Synchrony Bank, is a basic store credit card for Sam’s Club members with a less-than-stellar credit profile. The Sam’s Club Credit Card can only be used at Sam’s Club and Walmart stores and doesn’t offer any rewards on purchases, so it’s mainly for borrowers who aren’t likely to qualify for a better credit card that can be used more broadly. If your credit is just fair (if you have a FICO score of 580 to 669) and you shop at Sam’s Club and Walmart frequently, this card can be a worthwhile financing tool, albeit with a steep interest rate.

Big Lots Credit Card

The Big Lots Credit Card is a good choice for frequent Big Lots shoppers who want the flexibility to pay for their purchases over time. If you can handle the deferred-interest financing deals properly, you can save a lot of money and gain the flexibility around paying your credit card bill. Most people, however, will be better off with a cash-back card that works anywhere and earns rewards of some kind. Try the CardCruncher tool to find the right card for you.

Surge Mastercard Credit Card

The Surge Mastercard® is one of the easiest credit cards to get if you have bad credit, but the card's annual and monthly fees may reduce its appeal. If you're considering the Surge Mastercard® to build credit, here's what you need to know before you submit your application.

Menards BIG Credit Card

Menards has been one of the leading stores for home improvements for over five decades now. Many people rely on this store for their home improvement needs where they spend thousands of dollars. The Menards Big Card is designed to help all the Menards loyalists to get more rewards from making their purchases in the store and a few other selected gas stations. The card offers different types of rewards from cash back to in-store financing making it a very valuable tool especially if you tend to do a lot of home improvement.

Stein Mart Credit Card

The Stein Mart Platinum Mastercard® offers additional savings on items that fly off the rack at the discount retailer's store.The card, issued by Synchrony Bank, earns rewards at the retailer online and in-store and everywhere that Mastercard is accepted. It also offers perks such as exclusive savings events, birthday surprises and the chance to earn even more rewards with Elite status. The card's annual fee is $0.

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There’s no doubt about it: The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the most high-flying travel rewards credit cards on the market, offering perks, bonuses, and credits at nearly every step of the journey. It comes at a high cost—$550 per year—but if you’re a savvy traveler who uses all of the card’s features while out and about, you can get a lot of value.
The Platinum Card From American Express