Best American Express Travel Cards of July 2026

Miles and points can easily save you thousands of dollars in travel expenses and enable you to enjoy luxurious experiences that you otherwise might not be able to afford. A good travel credit card (or a few) is a tool that all financially responsible travelers should be using. However, knowing which travel credit card(s) to apply for can be confusing. Below you will find every card from American Express, ranked by what we believe to be the best offers and long term value.

Personal Cards

🏆 Best for Restaurants

Annual Fee: $325

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
As high as 100kBonus Points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
🏆 Best for Luxury Benefits

Annual Fee: $895

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
As high as 175kBonus Points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
🏆 Best for Hilton Gold Status

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
130,000Bonus Points
Enjoy a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 and earn 130,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.
🏆 Best for Families
As high as $200Bonus Points
As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.

Annual Fee: $250

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
85,000Bonus Points
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
🏆 Best for Groceries and Streaming

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
As high as $300Bonus Points
As High As $300 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
🏆 Best Entry-level Hilton Card
100,000Bonus Points
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a $100 Statement Credit after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.
🏆 Best for Marriott Loyalists

Annual Fee: $650

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
100,000Bonus Points
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
🏆 Best for Delta Loyalists

Annual Fee: $650

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 07/15/2026.
🏆 Best for Frequent Delta Flyers

Annual Fee: $350

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 07/15/2026.
🏆 $0 Intro Annual Fee

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card, and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card, both within your first 6 months. Ends 07/15/2026.
10,000Bonus Miles
Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Annual Fee: $150

40,000Bonus Points
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
🏆 Best for Hilton Loyalists

Annual Fee: $550

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.

Business Cards

🏆 Best Luxury Business Card

Annual Fee: $895

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
As High As 300,000Bonus Points
Apply to find out your offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
🏆 Best for Flexible Bonus Earning

Annual Fee: $375

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
As High As 200,000Bonus Points
Apply to find out your offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
‍🏆 Best Hilton Business Card

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $195

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Limited Time Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/2026.

Annual Fee: $125

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
150,000 points + $125 statement creditBonus Points
Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points and a $125 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/15/26.
$250Bonus Points
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership.

Annual Fee: $650

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after spending $15,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
🏆 Best Delta Luxury Card

Annual Fee: $350

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
🏆 Best Delta Flight Credit

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150

Rates & Fees|Terms Apply
Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
15,000Bonus Points
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

Which Card is Right for You?

With so many American Express cards to choose from, finding the right one depends on your spending habits and goals. If you love travel, the Amex Platinum gets you lounge access, hotel perks, and plenty of points. On the other hand, the Amex Gold is perfect for foodies with bonus points on dining and groceries. Not into fees? The Blue Cash Everyday is a no-annual-fee option with cash-back on essentials like groceries and gas. Think about how you spend, then pick the card that matches your lifestyle.

Other Ways to Earn

Beyond swiping your Amex card for purchases, you can rake in even more points through Amex Offers, which give you bonus rewards or statement credits on select deals. Plus, don't forget about referrals. You can earn extra points by inviting friends to apply for an Amex card. You can also book travel through American Express Travel®, where you earn points and sometimes even get exclusive deals. It’s all about making the most of your card, even beyond your daily purchases.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Premium perks like lounge access, travel credits, and concierge services

Membership Rewards points are flexible and transferable to travel partners

Tons of bonus categories for earning points on everyday spending

Cons

High annual fees on premium cards like the Amex Platinum

Not all merchants accept American Express

FAQs

What credit score do I need for an American Express card?

Most Amex cards require a good to excellent credit score.

Are American Express cards worth the annual fees?

If you take advantage of perks like travel credits, lounge access, and bonus categories, the rewards can easily outweigh the fees.

Can I transfer Membership Rewards points to airlines?

Yes! Amex partners with over a dozen airlines, including Delta and British Airways, for point transfers.

Is there a limit to how many Amex cards I can have?

You can generally hold up to five Amex credit cards at once, but check with Amex for their current policies.

What’s the best way to redeem Membership Rewards points?

The highest value usually comes from transferring points to travel partners, but statement credits and gift cards are other options.

Do American Express Membership Rewards points expire? 

Nope! As long as your account is active, your Amex points are safe and sound.

Why Trust Daily Drop?

At Daily Drop, our editorial team is made up of seasoned travel and credit card experts who have spent years mastering travel rewards and testing the best strategies firsthand. Founder Nate Buchanan, of Kara and Nate, has personally earned and redeemed millions of points and miles over the past 10+ years, saving tens of thousands of dollars on travel. Our team shares similar hands-on experience, ensuring our recommendations are practical, tested, and built on real-world knowledge. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.

Our independent reviews break down rewards, perks, fees, and overall value to help you make informed decisions. We also analyze audience data, considering reader engagement and trends, so our recommendations reflect what actually matters to you.

While we may earn a commission if you apply for a card through our site, our opinions are our own — based solely on expert analysis and firsthand experience, not influenced by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Our goal is simple: helping you maximize your rewards and travel smarter.

Read our full methodology for more information.

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