If you’ve ever looked into travel rewards credit cards in the uk, chances are you’ve come across the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card. And if you’re just getting into travel hacking or earning points, you’re probably wondering which option is the best beginner travel reward credit card.
I’ve been there—comparing welcome bonuses, eyeing up airport lounges I’d never otherwise pay for, and trying to get the most value without jumping straight into premium card fees. I’ve looked at every card available to us in the UK and can’t see any other card that is better to start with.
Here’s why I think the Amex Gold is the best beginner travel reward card in the UK.
Why Amex Gold is Great for Beginners
Annual Fee – You’ll see that the amex preferred rewards gold credit card is usually £195 per year. However, they usually offer a full 12 months absolutely free, with all the same perks.
High-value welcome bonus – You get a standard welcome bonus of 20,000 membership rewards points if you spend £3,000 in the first 3 months. They also often have enhanced sign up bonuses. When I signed up, the bonus was 38,000 points for the same spending.
Points Earning – You’ll earn 1x point per £1 on everyday spending, 2x points on flights booked direct with airlines or via Amex Travel and 3x points at select UK restaurants (limited-time offers so you should always check current details). They also offer an additional 2,500 points for every £5,000 spent through the year, although this is changing in October 2025.
Dining – The American Express preferred rewards gold card offer £5 off Deliveroo twice a month.
Lounge access – At the time of writing, the Amex preferred rewards gold card offers 4 complimentary lounge visits with Priority Pass. In my experience, lounges usually cost at least £25 for an hour, or at least £40 for 3 hours. If you can use these 4 visits fully, you could be saving over £160 just by having the card. If you use lounges a lot more than this, you can get up to 30% off Priority Pass membership.
Mid-level travel insurance (T&Cs apply) – You get travel inconvenience insurance for delays, missed departures and lost luggage, cover for medical emergencies abroad and access to emergency assistance services. Some things like winter sports aren’t covered so check the T&C’s and you have to book the travel on the card to be covered.
Refund and purchase protection – If a UK retailer won’t accept a return within 90 days of purchase, Amex may refund you. Also, if an item is stolen or accidentally damaged within 90 days of purchase, Amex may reimburse the cost, up to £2,500 per claim. Again, T&C’s apply.
Flexible Membership Rewards – you can convert them into Avios, Virgin Points, Emirates Skywards, or even hotel loyalty schemes like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. For anyone not sure where they’ll travel or which airline to commit to, that flexibility is a huge benefit.
The great thing about the Amex gold is that it is a mid-range, somewhat pricey credit card. But, you can try it, earn points, use the lounge passes, and if it’s not for you? Cancel before the fee comes in the second year. This is the main reason I think it’s the best beginner travel reward credit card.
What About Other Cards?
Some other popular American Express travel credit cards available in the UK are affiliated with British Airways. Here’s a comparison:
| Feature | Amex Gold | BA Basic | BA Premium |
| Welcome Bonus | 20,000 MR Points | 5,000 Avios Points | 25,000 Avios Points |
| Annual Fee | £195 (£0 first year) | £0 | £300 |
| Point Flexibility | Very flexible | Less flexible | Less flexible |
| Lounge Access | 4 per year | None | None |
| Companion Voucher | None | Yes – Spend £15,000 in a year (Valid for 12 months, economy only) | Yes – Spend £15,000 in a year (Valid for 24 months, any cabin) |
| Travel Insurance | Travel & purchase protections, flight and baggage delay, car rental cover | Public transport accident cover (£75k) & purchase/refund protection | Enhanced protection: flight and baggage delay, public transport accident cover (£250k) |
Personally, I think the Amex Gold wins as a first card because you’re not locked into one airline and you’re not committing to a hefty annual fee from day one. The BA Premium Plus only makes sense if you’re already collecting Avios and flying BA often AND can actually make the £300 annual fee worth it by making the most of the benefits. If you want to look at other cards, check the best UK travel rewards credit cards in 2025.
Downsides of Amex preferred rewards gold card
No card is perfect and the Amex gold card definitely has some downsides.
Acceptance – American Express isn’t accepted everywhere in the UK—though acceptance is improving. Personally, I’ve found that at least 80-90% of places do accept it. Usually you will only have problems with smaller establishments.
Annual fee – The £195 annual fee kicks in after year one, so remember to review before that renewal date. At this point you really need to work out if you can get enough value from the card to make it worth the fee.
Credit history – You usually need a decent credit history to be approved BUT you only need an income around £21,000 to start with.
Welcome Bonus – If you’ve had a personal Amex MR card in the last 24 months, you won’t be eligible for the welcome bonus. You also do have to meet the spending requirement, usually £3,000 in 3 months. So if you can’t meet this with your normal spending habits, it may not be worth it.
Points – Your American Express rewards points are only safe if you have an Amex card open. So, if you’re cancelling, you will need to transfer them to an airline rewards programme first.
Final Thoughts
This is a mid-range credit card with some great perks and with the first year being free, you get all this value for nothing. For anyone testing the waters of travel credit cards, this is ideal. You’ve got 12 months to earn, redeem, and see if the benefits actually fit your lifestyle. You can then simply cancel the card if you think the £195 annual fee isn’t worth it for you.
If you’re just getting started with travel rewards, the Amex Gold is a low-risk, high-reward first step. It gives you a good taste of the travel hacking world without tying you down or charging you upfront. You’ll earn flexible points, get a few lounge visits, and access extra perks.
I genuinely think this is the best beginner travel reward credit card. It’s the one I recommend to friends and the one I started with myself.
Quick Disclaimer
This post is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. Always read the full terms and conditions on the provider’s website, and consider your own circumstances or speak with a financial advisor before applying. I’m not FCA registered, and all views are my own.
I have many other articles on the site, whether you need inspiration, travel tips or itineraries.
