American Express
AMEX is probably the best know card issuer among those of us travelling for free. While the AMEX cards in the US have significantly more benefits, the options available to residents are Spain, are not bad at all. On top on the points you earn for your spending there are many promotions during the year giving you extra points or cashback.
There are two main categories of cards available – personal and business. Understandably, the personal ones will be more relevant to all of us, while the business cards might benefit only some, but if you have a business I recommend to look into this as well. For now, we will focus on the personal cards here:
American Express Platinum
The Platinum card which now comes in sexy metal is the best credit card available in Spain. Full stop. With Platinum card you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per euro spent and you can later transfer those to many transfer partners like Iberia and many other airlines and Hilton, Marriott and many other hotels. When getting your first Platinum, you receive 200EUR back after spending 4.000EUR in the first 4 months. You also get unlimited access to airport lounges around the world with Priority Pass. There is also a great travel insurance, which includes full cover for car rental and extra protection for Covid cancellations now. You also have insurance on damaged good within 90 days from purchase and you can even claim things up to 90 days from purchase simply because you don´t like them.
Additionally, you will get Gold status with Hilton, Marriot, Radisson and Melia hotels giving you access to benefits like room upgrades or free breakfast. Plus, you get Hertz Gold status and Avis Preferred for car rental discounts and upgrades.
On top of that, there are several time-limited offers like this year I receiving 2 bottles of wine for free per quarter, some magazine, free golf lessons, targeted cashback on shopping and travel and much more.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE. The card has a monthly quota of 57,5EUR now and from January 2022 it will be 65EUR per month. This is definitely a lot but in my experience the benefits outweigh the cost by several times. To get the card approved you need to be a resident in Spain and have a minimum annual income of 30.000EUR.
The Platinum card which now comes in sexy metal is the best credit card available in Spain. Full stop. With Platinum card you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per euro spent and you can later transfer those to many transfer partners like Iberia and many other airlines and Hilton, Marriott and many other hotels. When getting your first Platinum, you receive 200EUR back after spending 4.000EUR in the first 4 months. You also get unlimited access to airport lounges around the world with Priority Pass. There is also a great travel insurance, which includes full cover for car rental and extra protection for Covid cancellations now. You also have insurance on damaged good within 90 days from purchase and you can even claim things up to 90 days from purchase simply because you don´t like them.
Additionally, you will get Gold status with Hilton, Marriot, Radisson and Melia hotels giving you access to benefits like room upgrades or free breakfast. Plus, you get Hertz Gold status and Avis Preferred for car rental discounts and upgrades.
On top of that, there are several time-limited offers like this year I receiving 2 bottles of wine for free per quarter, some magazine, free golf lessons, targeted cashback on shopping and travel and much more.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE. The card has a monthly quota of 57,5EUR now and from January 2022 it will be 65EUR per month. This is definitely a lot but in my experience the benefits outweigh the cost by several times. To get the card approved you need to be a resident in Spain and have a minimum annual income of 30.000EUR.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE
American Express Gold
The Gold card is literally the gold standard of AMEX having all the basics you need. You earn 1 Membership Reward point per EUR spent and you can transfer those to any AMEX transfer partners. With AMEX Gold you also get a welcome bonus of 100EUR if you spent 2.000EUR in the first 4 months. You also get 2 passes to airport lounges via Priority Pass. Finally, you also get a solid travel insurance and insurance for damaged good up to 90 days from purchase.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE
The card is free for the first 6 months and then the quota is 11EUR per month (which you can usually cancel by calling their customer service line and they will extend the free period). Also, to qualify for the card, you should be a resident in Spain with an annual income of minimum 25.000EUR gross per year – but often they will approve it regardless – sometimes they request to see your payslip or access your online banking or to see your bank statement, and something they will just approve without any questions.
The Gold card is literally the gold standard of AMEX having all the basics you need. You earn 1 Membership Reward point per EUR spent and you can transfer those to any AMEX transfer partners. With AMEX Gold you also get a welcome bonus of 100EUR if you spent 2.000EUR in the first 4 months. You also get 2 passes to airport lounges via Priority Pass. Finally, you also get a solid travel insurance and insurance for damaged good up to 90 days from purchase.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE
The card is free for the first 6 months and then the quota is 11EUR per month (which you can usually cancel by calling their customer service line and they will extend the free period). Also, to qualify for the card, you should be a resident in Spain with an annual income of minimum 25.000EUR gross per year – but often they will approve it regardless – sometimes they request to see your payslip or access your online banking or to see your bank statement, and something they will just approve without any questions.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE
American Express Renfe
The Renfe card comes from a partnership between AMEX and the Spanish train company Renfe. Instead of earning Membership Reward points, you earn Renfe points which you can use for purchasing your train tickets with a simple conversion of 10 points corresponding to 1EUR value. There is a welcome bonus of 1.200 points (so 120EUR) if you spend 2.000EUR in the first 6 months. Then you are earing 0,15 Renfe points per euro spent. Depending on your spending you can also reach all 3 loyalty levels that Renfe has – Silver, Gold and Premium. Finally, you also get a solid travel insurance and insurance for damaged good up to 90 days from purchase.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE. The card is free for the first 6 months and then the quota is 7EUR per month (which you can usually cancel by calling their customer service line and they will extend the free period). Also, to qualify for the card, you should be a resident in Spain with an annual income of minimum 25.000EUR gross per year – but often they will approve it regardless – sometimes they request to see your payslip or access your online banking or to see your bank statement, and something they will just approve without any questions.
The Renfe card comes from a partnership between AMEX and the Spanish train company Renfe. Instead of earning Membership Reward points, you earn Renfe points which you can use for purchasing your train tickets with a simple conversion of 10 points corresponding to 1EUR value. There is a welcome bonus of 1.200 points (so 120EUR) if you spend 2.000EUR in the first 6 months. Then you are earing 0,15 Renfe points per euro spent. Depending on your spending you can also reach all 3 loyalty levels that Renfe has – Silver, Gold and Premium. Finally, you also get a solid travel insurance and insurance for damaged good up to 90 days from purchase.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE. The card is free for the first 6 months and then the quota is 7EUR per month (which you can usually cancel by calling their customer service line and they will extend the free period). Also, to qualify for the card, you should be a resident in Spain with an annual income of minimum 25.000EUR gross per year – but often they will approve it regardless – sometimes they request to see your payslip or access your online banking or to see your bank statement, and something they will just approve without any questions.
To apply for this credit card you can use my referral link HERE.
American Express MeliaRewards Gold
The Melia card is also an option only available in Spain. While in most other countries AMEX has co-branded card with Marriott, in Spain they partnered up with the Spanish hotel chain Melia. With this card you earn MeliaRewards points which you can use in Melia hotel in Spain and abroad. There is a welcome bonus of 35.000 points (which can get you 1-2 night in many hotels) after spending 1.000EUR within the first 6 months. You earn 3 MeliaRewards points per euro spent, and 5 points per euro spent at Melia hotels. You also automatically receive a Silver status in Melia loyalty programme and you can reach Gold and Platinum status depending on your spending. You also get a solid travel insurance and insurance for damaged good up to 90 days from purchase.
The card is free for the first 6 months and then the quota is 8EUR per month (which you can usually cancel by calling their customer service line and they will extend the free period). Also, to qualify for the card, you should be a resident in Spain with an annual income of minimum 25.000EUR gross per year – but often they will approve it regardless – sometimes they request to see your payslip or access your online banking or to see your bank statement, and something they will just approve without any questions.
As always, for any questions or comments, feel free to email me at contact@spainonpoints.com.
The Melia card is also an option only available in Spain. While in most other countries AMEX has co-branded card with Marriott, in Spain they partnered up with the Spanish hotel chain Melia. With this card you earn MeliaRewards points which you can use in Melia hotel in Spain and abroad. There is a welcome bonus of 35.000 points (which can get you 1-2 night in many hotels) after spending 1.000EUR within the first 6 months. You earn 3 MeliaRewards points per euro spent, and 5 points per euro spent at Melia hotels. You also automatically receive a Silver status in Melia loyalty programme and you can reach Gold and Platinum status depending on your spending. You also get a solid travel insurance and insurance for damaged good up to 90 days from purchase.
The card is free for the first 6 months and then the quota is 8EUR per month (which you can usually cancel by calling their customer service line and they will extend the free period). Also, to qualify for the card, you should be a resident in Spain with an annual income of minimum 25.000EUR gross per year – but often they will approve it regardless – sometimes they request to see your payslip or access your online banking or to see your bank statement, and something they will just approve without any questions.
As always, for any questions or comments, feel free to email me at contact@spainonpoints.com.
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