5X Reward Rate
Earn 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and on flights booked directlyRead More
Welcome Bonus
Earn 80,000 points
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
Good,Excellent (700 – 749)
Editorial Review
The Platinum Card is destined for frequent travelers who intend to fully leverage the rich set of luxury travel benefits and Platinum Concierge service. In the right hands, the classic status card’s staggering annual fee is well justified.
Pros & Cons
High reward potential on flights and hotels booked through American Express TravelMultiple credits can help justify the feeComprehensive airport lounge accessLuxury travel benefits and elite status with Hilton and Marriott with enrollmentVery high annual feeMaximizing the statement credits takes some work and could be impractical for manyReward rate outside of travel is sub-par for a premium card
Card Details
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.$695 annual fee.Terms Apply.
What Are the Most Popular Credit Cards for Europe Travel?
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase’s premier travel rewards credit card checks many of the boxes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a generous welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. And while the $550 annual fee may seem steep, the benefits add up quickly.
The first $300 you spend each year on eligible travel purchases is given back to you as a statement credit. Also, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a free Priority Pass Select membership and access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club a statement credit of up to $100 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS and no foreign transaction fees.
In terms of ongoing rewards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Without a doubt, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most popular and best credit cards for travel to Europe or other countries.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Another one of Chase’s top travel credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a lower annual fee than its sibling while still offering a solid welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
It also offers strong earnings potential in everyday spending categories. The card earns 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Foreign transaction fees are waived with the Sapphire Preferred, but cardholders don’t receive any lounge benefits or credits for Trusted Traveler programs. There’s also no general travel credit available, but the card does offer a hotel credit of up to $50 per year for stays purchased through Chase Travel.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel. The flat earning rate on non-travel purchases provides an uncomplicated way to earn rewards on whatever you buy during your Europe trip.
You’ll also get access to multiple lounges including the Priority Pass network, waived foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and a Global Entry credit.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The premium card offering from American Express offers not only a solid welcome bonus but also a large suite of travel benefits and coverages all packed into one card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. You’ll also get a $200 statement credit each year to cover airline incidental fees for the airline of your choice. This can help offset your baggage fees, in-flight refreshments, or even seat selection fees.
In airports, you’ll gain entrance to the famed Centurion Lounges by American Express, other lounges in the Global Lounge Collection and a Priority Pass Select membership. Combine that with a guide suite of travel insurances like trip delay and interruption insurance¹, car rental loss and damage coverage², and even cellphone protection¹, it’s hard to beat all these benefits packed into one card.
Europe Travel: ATM vs. Credit Card
It may seem tempting to use your ATM card when you arrive in Europe and take out cash, but that might not be your best option.
Most places in Europe use Tap to Pay with credit cards, so your need for cash will likely be limited. It’s always recommended to have a little bit of local currency, so you could always take out a smaller amount of euros just in case. Your hotel should be able to break larger bills into smaller ones or even coins to leave tips.
When you take money out of an ATM in another country, your bank may not only charge you a foreign transaction fee, but you may also incur a foreign ATM fee and a non-bank ATM fee. Those fees add up quickly if you must take out money more than once.
The right credit card can help avoid those pesky foreign transaction fees and also earn rewards. Also, if you lose your ATM or debit card or there’s fraud on the account, the money from your checking account could be at risk. Most credit cards, on the other hand, offer zero liability protection if your card is lost or stolen.
Europe Travel: Credit Card Fees
Every time you make a purchase outside the United States, your credit card processes the foreign charge and converts it to U.S. dollars. Banks will typically charge a fee for this service, called a foreign transaction fee.
You can call your bank to ask if your current credit card charges this fee or apply for a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Find the Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024
Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right travel credit card can not only earn you more rewards, but could also help you avoid unnecessary fees. Consider applying for a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee to steer clear of unnecessary charges and gain protections and comforts that could make your European trip even more enjoyable.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Source link : https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/best-travel-credit-card-europe/
Author :
Publish date : 2024-06-06 19:03:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
