For those fresh to the points and miles hobby, it’s natural to wonder when you’ll be able to fund your first trip using points. Traveling is an adventure, and doing it for (almost) free makes it even more exciting.

However, the answer to the question depends entirely on what your travel plans are. For instance, the number of points and miles required for a domestic award trip is going to be lower than that required for an international award trip, all things remaining equal.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by MileValue.

All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card has been collected independently by MileValue. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Co-branded hotel credit cards can play an important role in your wider points and miles strategy. Among their many perks, free night awards offer some of the greatest value to cardholders.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by MileValue.

If you’ve traveled, you’ve probably stayed in a Hilton property.

With a portfolio of 24 brands spread across more than 7,600 properties in 126 countries, you’ll never be far from a Hilton.

And with some of the most luxury hotels on offer, having a co-branded Hilton credit card can unlock valuable perks, making award stays more frequent while earning you points on everyday spending.

If you’re looking for a solid, do it all travel card, then American Express Platinum Card® should be on your radar. This one card brings you great airport lounge access, hotel status, and more.

Let’s keep it short, because there’s a lot to get into with this great card and we’re going to take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the Platinum Card®.

The Basics of The Platinum Card from American Express

Before we dive deep into the perks of the Platinum Card®, we need to go over all the basics.

Anna’s note: Israel is still closed to tourists and only Israeli citizens are allowed to enter. Please check updated travel restrictions before making any plans.

Know the Entry Requirements for Each Country

As travel resumes, it’s paramount to know each country’s requirements, even if you are just transiting through and are there for a short layover. I like IATA’s Travel Regulations Map and Kayak also maintains a comprehensive list of travel restrictions by country. 

United has its own resource where you can check international travel requirements.

The American Express® Gold Card, with its high reward rate in certain spending categories, is one of the best rewards cards to hold for dining and travel lovers.

The card’s elevated welcome bonus is enough to book a flight in business class on multiple airlines.

I must admit, I’ve been to many countries throughout the world, but I’ve only been to Florida once in my life. So between the latest COVID-related travel restrictions that include testing before you can fly back to the U.S., and my need to escape the cold grey Midwest winter, I’ve decided that now is a good time to explore South Florida’s Gulf Coast. I was attracted by the wide, white sand beaches, mild February temperatures and opportunity to book some  very attractive properties with points.

For a while Hilton has offered all of the following co-branded credit cards:

Hilton Honors Card from American Express with no annual fee
Citi Hilton Honors Card with no annual fee
Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express with a $75 annual fee
Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card with a $95 annual fee

But that's changing tomorrow. We've known for a while that Hilton dropped its partnership with Citi in favor of an exclusive co-branding partnership with Amex.

The offers below have expired.

January 1, 2018, American Express and Hilton will begin an exclusive credit card agreement. That means only Amex Hilton cards will continue to exist and the Citi Hilton cards will not.

The offers on this page have expired.

Today and tomorrow, May 30 and 31, are the last days to take advantage of the limited time elevated sign up bonuses–the highest we’ve ever seen–on the Hilton Honors Card and the Hilton Surpass Card, both issued by American Express.

We recommend using Hilton points on lower tier Hiltons, as you tend to get a better value for your points. Aim for what used to be Category 1 - 3 Hiltons (priced at 5k to 20k points a night).