Tarah Chieffi, a family travel reporter for The Points Guy (TPG), has embarked on a journey to explore the benefits of her first premium rewards card, The Platinum Card from American Express. This decision came after years of skepticism about the necessity of such a card due to its $695 annual fee.
Chieffi's exploration began with a trip to New Orleans, booked through the American Express Travel portal. By doing so, she earned 5 points per dollar spent and accessed additional perks associated with properties in the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts collection and The Hotel Collection. She chose The Eliza Jane hotel, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection, which was conveniently located near the French Quarter.
Upon booking, Chieffi received an unexpected email from Amex Travel containing a discount code for local tours and experiences. Although she did not use it during this trip, it remains valid until the end of the year.