World Unlocked: Amex Gold Vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred – Which Is Better?

Published on: 19 October 2023 Last Updated on: 26 July 2024

International travel is a popular contender in people’s bucket lists. Revenge travel post-pandemic has motivated several individuals to list countries they want to visit before they die. While immersing yourself in a different culture and enriching your wisdom with knowledge from other nations is exciting, it also comes with heavy financial considerations.

Travel expenses transcend flight tickets and hotel accommodations, though these take up a considerable part of the budget. The other crucial concerns that must be prioritized are food expenses, land transportation, activities, and even souvenirs. When traveling interstate, these may require a meager and fixed amount you can easily budget. Traveling to another country with their unique currency is a different story.

Some factors, including conversion rate and transaction fees, must be accounted for, especially when using credit cards. Using credit cards offers convenience, but their foreign transaction fees can eat into your budget, typically charging 3% of the purchase amount in foreign currency. Thus, the best way to optimize your travel expenses is to use credit cards designed for travel. They usually come with zero transaction fees for foreign currencies.

In this article, we will compare the two crème de la crème among all these no foreign transaction fees credit cards – Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred – and evaluate how they fare with their overall suitability for international travel.

The American Express Gold Card: A Culinary Approach to Travel

Coming in as a heavyweight contender in the premium credit card arena is the Amex Gold Credit Card. When traveling is a hobby you do only on special occasions, Amex Gold can give you so much more for your ordinary days. It shines with its generous 4x bonus reward points on your restaurant visits, takeout sprees, and everyday groceries.

On your travel days, Amex Gold also proves to be a reliable companion for your travel expenditures – especially for your gastronomic excursions. The whole American Express network has global recognition, with its card widely accepted worldwide. Using your card for your dining will even award you 4x bonus points and a 3x reward for flight tickets.

Beyond the global acceptance and generous award points, this travel credit card also offers a suite of premium travel benefits. From travel insurance, points transfer with their travel partners, and even a $100 credit for a minimum 2-night stay on their hotel collection to having access to their Global Assist® Hotline.

Their Global Assist® Hotline lets you enjoy your travel with peace of mind, knowing you will have safeguards for emergency situations. Their assistance covers a range of needs, including medical referrals, legal aid, and even lost passport replacement.

Here’s a link to a complete guide to all of Amex Gold credit card benefits:

https://fortune.com/recommends/credit-cards/american-express-gold-card-review/

With this solid range of convenience in your hands, it is only fitting that this credit card comes with a hefty annual fee and high APR for a pay-over-time feature. If you look forward to lounge access for your pre-travel experience, you will also be in for a big disappointment, as the Amex Gold card does not provide any lounge access.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: A Versatile Traveler’s Ally

Another premium travel card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred, enjoyed by many cardholders for its flexibility and generous travel rewards program. With their Ultimate Rewards Portal, you can earn 5x bonus points for your flights, hotel rooms, and other travel experiences. On some promotional periods, they even offer 5x bonus points on select theme park tickets available to purchase through the portal, including Universal Studios, Legoland, SeaWorld, etc. This is especially suitable for traveling families or those who enjoy theme park activities.

Nevertheless, on your off-travel days, you can still enjoy other perks, such as their 3x bonus points offer for online grocery purchases, subscriptions to streaming platforms, and even on your restaurant indulgence. Currently, the credit card also offers 5x bonus points on your Lyft rides, so be sure to maximize your commute.

The real perk that comes with the Chase Sapphire is its flexibility with transferring points. Their 1:1 transfer partners make all your earned bonus points worth the incurred expenses. Suppose your favorite hotel line is offering a great deal on premium suites with their hotels on a desired destination. They are offering it for a minimal price of 30,000 points plus applicable taxes and fees. With Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can convert your Ultimate Rewards Points into the rewards program of that hotel line to pounce on that great offer.

Find their comprehensive list of transfer partners in this article.

These great rewards also come with a price of $95 annual fee. They also do not offer any intro APR for new cardholders. Nevertheless, these financial sacrifices can be valuable with all the travel conveniences the card offers, which unfortunately can also be earned only when you book through their portal.

Overall, transaction fee concerns, although entirely erased by these cards, are just one aspect that completes the complexities of international travel. The overall cost-benefit analysis must be made on the basis of the card’s rewards program, annual fees, and other travel-related perks. The choice of a suitable credit card must be weighed on the basis of personal preferences, travel habits, and financial goals.

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Mony Shah

With an adept skill of curating content on multiple genres, Mony has harnessed success as a Content Writer quickly. Find her sharing profound thoughts and opinions on lifestyle, beauty, fashion, pets, and parenting.

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Three Amazing Travel Destinations in Africa

There are so many magical countries just waiting to be explored in Africa, each home to an array of wildlife, beautiful beaches, and diverse cultures that are interesting, fascinating and educational, exposing travelers to a whole new part of the world that they might not have known much about. In this article we are going to look at three of Africa’s incredible countries and what they have to offer travellers in terms of adventure, experiences and accommodation, hopefully helping you to choose where you want to go on your next yearly vacation. Take a look: Morocco: [gallery columns="1" size="large" ids="1398"] Ideal for the perfect summer adventure, Morocco is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and luxury beach resorts, making it the ideal place to go on a beach holiday at a luxury hotel and escape the hustle and bustle of your hometown (and stress from your job). Most of the beach resorts and beaches in Morocco offer a wide variety of water sports that will get travellers’ adrenaline pumping, as well as golden sand perfect for laying your towel down on and catching some warm rays. But that’s not all this incredible country has to offer travellers. This vibrant country has a number of cities that offer travellers different ways to gain insight into its culture, traditional cuisine, religion and history, including visiting historical monuments like the ruins of Volubilis, going to visit the Berber villages, experiencing the numerous souks (great for tasting traditional dishes) and taking a tour of the imperial cities. Read also: Why Should Ladakh Be Your Next Travel Destination? Botswana: If you’re looking for the best place to go on a safari holiday, Botswana is the place to visit. A beautiful landlocked country that is boarded by Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, Botswana is home to the Big Five (which includes the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and White/Black rhinoceros), the Okavango Delta (which is located within the Kalahari basin) and an array of flora, fauna and extensive birdlife. What’s more, travelers have the opportunity to learn about the country’s inhabitants and culture by visiting Tsodilo to see the cave paintings. Accommodation options in this breath-taking country are vast and vary depending on which city or area travelers are staying in. Some of the options include luxury safari lodges – including Chobe Game Lodge at Chobe National Park, one of the best locations to visit for a safari holiday – to a range of bed and breakfast options and hotels in the cities – including the Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone. Rwanda: With the nickname “Land of a Thousand Hills”, it’s no surprise that Rwanda is an outdoor adventurer and animal lover’s paradise with its green, mountainous landscape and the Volcanoes National Park (that is home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys as well as three extinct volcanoes and six active volcanoes). The Congo and Uganda border this breath-taking landlocked country, but there is plenty of fun to be had on the shores of Lake Kivu – one of Africa’s great lakes – including a range of water sports. What’s more, Rwanda is a sanctuary for both coffee and tea lovers, as it is the country’s biggest export, meaning that there are a number of tea plantations waiting to be explored. When it comes to accommodation, there are a number of incredible places travelers can rest their head – my favorite being the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge that you will find nestled at the bottom of Mount Sabinyo. If you’re looking for your next great adventure, why not go to one of the above-mentioned African countries on your next yearly vacation? There is no doubt that you will return home with a new perspective of the continent and with some incredible stories to tell you, friends and family, about. You won’t regret it! Read More: How To Travel With A Suit Like A Pro 5 Essential Tips For The Traveling Photographer 6 Reasons Why Every Woman Should Travel Solo

Top 5 Motorhome Tips

Going on a holiday in a motorhome is a very special travel experience as it allows you to explore and travel difficult to reach areas with other means of transport and, the best thing is that you have the accommodation insured. But travelling in a motorhome requires some precautions that it is important not to neglect. If you have always dreamed about an amazing adventure and a motorhome travel, you should definitely read this article and become more aware of many different possibilities. These are 5 tips to enjoy your trip in a motorhome and avoid unforeseen events that ruin your holidays! Evaluate the purchase of a motorhome If you do not own one and you don’t plan to buy used motorhome, you can consider renting it. This solution would avoid the maintenance of the vehicle and associated annual costs (taxes, insurance, parking, etc.). We advise you to evaluate the proposals of various motorhome rental sites. On the contrary, if travelling by a motorhome has always been your dream and you intend to do it on a frequent and regular basis, the purchase of this vehicle is a very important step that you should consider. Buying motorhome requires a considerable initial investment and, although the price ranges are in some cases very diversified, it also gives you the possibility of having it available at any time you wish. As it is a long-term investment, we recommend you calculate, along with the purchase costs, also the annual maintenance costs, and weigh the comforts of the vehicle that best suit your needs. 1. Prepare the motorhome In the case that you decide to purchase your own motorhome, you should not underestimate the maintenance aspect. Like any vehicle, the motorhome is also equipped with components that need revision or replacement. In particular, the wheels of your motorhome will require attentive care, without which the success of your trips could be risked. If you decide to buy a motorhome, we recommend that you never neglect any point related to its maintenance. Another outstanding aspect that will precede your departure will be to decide what you should or can take with you. The nature of the trip or the route chosen will greatly influence the choice of objects (for example, sports equipment may or may not be involved). However, one always valid advice is to take into account that a vehicle that is too heavy will have difficulties to travel many kilometres with reasonable fuel costs. In addition, the motorhome will be the space in which you will spend a lot of time, therefore, it must be sufficiently habitable and not excessively crowded. Make a list and do not forget to ask yourself: do I really need to take this article with me? 2. Plan the most important aspects of the trip Travelling in a motorhome allows greater mobility, will allow you to reach remote villages or without connections and move at any time of day or night. Therefore, we recommend that you procure maps and guides with the routes you will cover and remember to update your digital maps as well. Make a list (at least partial) of the most important stages of your trip. Finally, do not forget to look for information and contacts related to the parking areas. The most important aspect of travelling by motorhome is the area or area where you stop to rest or explore the territory or the chosen city. The camping areas are, in general, quite large and where, for a fee, you will have the possibility to stay for a variable period of time (from one day to several weeks) and have a variable number of services. Normally, a good camping area provides light, water, gas, toilets and showers, and Internet coverage. In some cases, activities are also offered for guests and common areas or equipment that facilitate their stay. 3. Choose your company wisely & store supplies Remember that a trip in a motorhome requires driving or spending many hours in the vehicle. Living in a small space requires a considerable spirit of adaptation and a desire to share. Therefore, make sure you choose the right travel companions. We also recommend that in the group, if necessary, there should be at least one person capable of replacing you in driving the vehicle. The lack of space inside the motorhome can be somewhat overwhelming at times, but cooking there can bring you some real pleasure if you will plan it well. The best idea is to store some basic products, which can be used to make many different recipes, such as eggs, milk or food in cans. You can also need an aluminium foil. It can be really handy in various situations. Also, a couple of gas will be essential if you want to prepare food on your own. You can easily recharge them at specialized spots. In case of emergencies, two essential needs must be considered for the entire trip. Bearing in mind that you may not find a gas station or a campsite nearby, we recommend that you foresee at least a couple of water and fuel reserves, to be used only in case of emergency. The motorhomes have a deposit of about 120 litres of water. For 4 people, this deposit lasts between 2 and 3 days, so it will be necessary to recharge it. There are more and more water recharge points. Motorhome can fit up to 8 people, so the organization is an essential point of travel. You only have to carry what is strictly necessary, especially when many people travel, and everything must be in the maximum possible order. In addition, the load must be distributed in a balanced manner and all well placed. 4. Do not forget the essentials: After water and fuel, there are other small objects that could be essential for driving or overcoming small emergencies. Among the most popular we recommend: a flashlight, a multipurpose cutter, gloves and rags for the most urgent cleaning (the emptying of the bathroom in particular), an umbrella, a blanket, some small appliances (kettle/kitchen camping/lamp Of gas). In addition, although maps are often sufficient, it would be ideal to also have a browser. Final Take Away Finally, always remember that what makes a special trip is the passion you put into it. You will need two basic ingredients: patience and enthusiasm. Patience to tolerate any unforeseen and enthusiasm to turn it into an opportunity and enjoy a truly unforgettable experience. Travelling by a motorhome can bring many magical moments into your life. Always remember to stay safe and wisely plan your trip. Read Also: 7 Travel Tips To Feed Your Wanderlust In Europe Three Amazing Travel Destinations In Africa

The Mouthwatering Foodie Tour to Mumbai

Savouring delicious food hits the list of every traveller who loves to gorge on good food. People do turn out to be travellers to witness the beauty of places, their culture and customs. Some even travel to discover the best of them, whereas some travel to taste the popular food of particular places. If you are one of such an avid traveller cum foodie, then indulge yourself in a gastronomic tour to the City of Dreams, Mumbai, and amaze yourself exploring the eating side of Mumbai. And wy to wonder about how to reach there? Where there is will, there is a way. You can check for a number of flights which land up in Mumbai and run from there. Chennai to Mumbai flights are quite ubiquitous, along with Delhi to Mumbai ones. There are also flights from every major city of India, and not only flights, if you are looking for a budget tour, then hop into a train which leads to Mumbai. There are several which run every day. So, choose the best mode which suits your pocket. Also, one can enjoy the bus or the car ride, and look for the taxi service which is available from all the nearby cities of Mumbai, like Pune, Nashik etc. So, once you reach Mumbai, make haste to devour the creme de la creme dishes of the place, and satiate your stomachs like never before. Here is a list of the categories you must go through while looking for food in Mumbai. SeaFood The Arabian Sea which embraces the land of Mumbai makes it a perfect paradise for seafood. Goan, Malwani and Mangalorean are the major Seafood types available in Mumbai. Savour the best seafood at Mahesh Lunch Home, which serves the creme de la creme Mangalorean food, of which ladyfish and pomfret are their signature dishes. Trishna is another popular place which served the best Hyderabadi fish tikka, crab delicacies and variants of jumbo prawns with green chillies and pepper sauce. The place is quite expensive, but who minds shelling out some bucks for a perfect feast of these scrumptious dishes! Soul Fry serves delicious prawns and Goan crab curries, that one can wolf down an entire meal. Try it out yourself. Desserts Experience the sweetness of Mumbai devouring its sweets and desserts. All those you have a sweet tooth, this is something which can elate them. The popular dessert here is the jalebis. Sold at every sweet shop dotted in Mumbai’s nook and corner, the mouthwatering, sugar soaked jalebis are the perfect sweet to complete a meal. Try out the best kulfis of the country at the New Kulfi Centre at the Chowpatty Beach, which serves a wide variety of yummy kulfis, like saffron, pistachio and mango. And it’s a sin to leave Mumbai without gorging on the famous faloodas at Badshah Snacks and Drinks. Street Food Mumbai’s street food is the most sought for throughout India. From spicy and scrumptious chaat and pav bhaji to bhel puri, samosa and vada pav, even the sight of these foods would leave you drooling. Try these lip smacking dishes and make your Mumbai trip memorable. Read More: 5 Irresistible Reasons To Embark On A Golden Triangle Tour The Most Famous Hotels In New York City Only 5 Famous One Planning For A Religious Tour? How About The Birthplace Of Lord Rama, Ayodhya?

World Unlocked: Amex Gold Vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred – Which Is Better?

The American Express Gold Card: A Culinary Approach to Travel

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Mony Shah

With an adept skill of curating content on multiple genres, Mony has harnessed success as a Content Writer quickly. Find her sharing profound thoughts and opinions on lifestyle, beauty, fashion, pets, and parenting.

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Three Amazing Travel Destinations in Africa

Top 5 Motorhome Tips

The Mouthwatering Foodie Tour to Mumbai

World Unlocked: Amex Gold Vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred – Which Is Better?

The American Express Gold Card: A Culinary Approach to Travel

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: A Versatile Traveler’s Ally

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With an adept skill of curating content on multiple genres, Mony has harnessed success as a Content Writer quickly. Find her sharing profound thoughts and opinions on lifestyle, beauty, fashion, pets, and parenting.

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Popular

Follow Us

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