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The American Express Gold Credit Card has long been our top recommendation for anyone looking to get started in the world of hotel points and airline miles.

American Express bonus points aplenty, and free too – why we love the American Express Gold Credit Card

The American Express Gold credit card is widely seen as one of the very best value “travel-related” credit cards available in the UK.

The reasons are clear:

• It remains free for the first year, and you can cancel without quibble at the end of this year.
• If you spend £3,000 on it in your first 3 months, you will get 22,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points. These convert to 22,000 airline miles in a number of schemes, including Avios. Once travel restrictions are lifted, 22,000 Avios is more than enough for a return flight from the UK to destinations like Moscow, Istanbul and Malta – or one way in Business Class. Alternatively, you can trade 22,000 Amex Points for a £100 statement credit.
• You get two free airport lounge visits each year with the card (not immediately useful admittedly, but could certainly come in handy at some point!).

Please note that you will not be eligible for the sign up bonus if you hold or have held any personal American Express Cards in the past 24 months

If you want to earn 22,000 American Express bonus points (rather than the standard 20,000), sign up to the card via this link (we get some points too, so thanks!).