How We Use the AmEx Platinum Card + Rakuten to Turn Holiday Spending Into Travel for the New Year

Why We Got the AmEx Platinum Card

As two military-spouse couples who have a love for travel, flexibility, and occasional splurge-worthy stays — carrying The Platinum Card® from American Express is more than a “nice-to-have.” It’s actually become a key part of our travel and lifestyle strategy. While this card may not have been on our radar for far too long, we need to note that the annual fee is waived for military service members under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) or Military Lending Act (MLA). If you are good with maintaining low to non-existent carry over balances on your credit cards and you are a military service member (or family of one), then this is something you may want to look into. We hesitated getting this card - hence why we took so long to finally do it - but honestly it’s been so good and the benefits alone make it worth it for us.

Here’s what the updated 2025 version offers — and why it works for us:

• Annual Fee: $895 — yes, on paper it’s steep, and it’s been increased, sadly. But for frequent travelers, it can be more of an investment than a cost. We’re going to breakdown why we think that below, so keep reading.

• Estimated Annual Value: AmEx itself estimates the card provides over $3,500 in benefits annually, mainly through statement credits, travel upgrades, and lifestyle perks. You DO have to research what all they offer, and how you can best utilize these credits/perks. They don’t just come to you, so make sure you’re maximizing your informational research. The below works for US, but there truly is quite a bit more than that, and we still need to get our max benefits too!

What We Actually Use (and Why It Matters)

Below we’ve listed just a few of the “attractive” perks that our families have come to use over the years. Please know that there are a LOT of additional perks that we have not mentioned! So while the below is typically what we use and get the most value out of, there are other perks that make this even more valuable.

$600 Hotel Credit (prepaid stays at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection — $300 twice per year)
Great for staycations, weekend getaways between duties, or family travel — it can substantially offset or even cover a hotel stay.
$400 Dining Credit via Resy (up to $100 per quarter at 10,000+ U.S. restaurants)
Perfect for celebratory dinners, date-nights, or post-travel dinners — especially during holiday season or while traveling.
-Not going to lie — this one is new to us. We haven’t taken advantage of it yet, as I’m pretty sure it’s relatively new in general, but we are going to take advantage this month! For those slightly upscaled dining reservations, this is definitely a great use of a perk.
Uber / Rideshare & Transport Credits(Uber One + Uber Cash)
Handy for airport rides, base moves, or exploring a new duty station without renting a car.
Digital Entertainment / Lifestyle Credits (streaming services, wellness, lifestyle retail, etc.)
Helps offset “home base” costs — meaning more cash stays free for travel or experiences.
We use this to offset the cost of Disney+ — because, all things Disney, right?! It covers about 90% of the streaming package we have — as we also have Hulu and ESPN (this is all according to Shelby’s husband!)
Elite Hotel Status & Perks (upgrades, late checkout, breakfast, etc.)
When we travel — whether for a vacation or a base relocation — this gives us a little upgrade without paying luxury prices.

One of the best examples of the “Elite Hotel Status & Perks” happened to us just this summer! While our family does travel quite often, this was a first: being greeting VERY cordially by two different hotel managers and being upgraded in one of those hotels. Additionally, one of the hotels gave a VERY nice free breakfast for two (along with a dinner coupon, which we weren’t able to make use of) and truly … it was two of the most extravagant greetings and care we’ve ever been given on our travels. We honestly only knew that it was because of the American Express Platinum because a letter that we received by the manager expressed gratitude for our travels and use of the card! It was crazy. We invited my daughter’s friend to travel with us, and I swear she thought our family was WAY bougier than we actually are — this had literally NEVER happened before to such an extreme extent…let alone happening twice in as many days.

Expedited Security: CLEAR + TSA PreCheck / Global Entry Perks

One of the hidden gems of carrying the AmEx Platinum Card is the travel-security upgrades — via CLEAR Plus and TSA PreCheck / Global Entry.

With Platinum, you can get a statement credit for the cost of CLEAR Plus (up to roughly $209/year) — which covers the membership fee for CLEAR.
What is CLEAR? CLEAR speeds up airport security by using biometric verification (fingerprint / eye scan) so you bypass the standard security line and move to a much faster lane — a huge time-saver if you’re flying frequently.

If you prefer traditional hallway screening, AmEx also offers a statement credit toward the application fee for TSA PreCheck (or Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck) — typically covering the ~$78–$120 fee every few years.

For travelers like us — often flying for military moves, leave trips, or spontaneous getaways — the expedited security lines cut a lot of stress and hassle. Plus, add a college aged kid or two to the mix, and travel just becomes our new norm.

Bonus: you can combine CLEAR with TSA PreCheck (if eligible), for maximum speed through airport security.

Airport Lounge Access

Another major perk of the AmEx Platinum — and one we personally use often — is access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta the same day.

What you get:
Comfortable seating, high-speed WiFi, complimentary food + drinks (sometimes full meals), dedicated workspaces, and a calm place to unwind before flights. Check the guest rules — usually there is a charge for children/guests.

D.C. Area Note:

• DCA (Reagan National) currently has a Centurion Lounge.

• IAD (Dulles) does not yet have a Centurion Lounge, though AmEx has been expanding its network nationwide.

Lounge access is one of those perks that doesn’t sound major until you’re in the middle of holiday travel chaos — and suddenly having a quiet place to sit, snack, and recharge feels priceless.

Bottom line: When used intentionally — especially if you travel, dine out, or use ride shares even occasionally — the annual fee can quickly pay for itself. For us, the flexibility and perks make it feel less like a fee and more like a travel investment.

Don’t Miss the Sign-On Bonus

One of the smartest tricks: timing your application right.

Because of a 2025 refresh, sign-up bonuses for the AmEx Platinum Card are especially attractive — sometimes (and currently) up to 175,000+ Membership Rewards® points, depending on the current offer and spending requirement.

For someone who travels even a couple times a year, that bonus alone can fund flights or a round-trip — making the card’s value skyrocket from day one.

If you want to apply now, you can use our referral link — which may surface exclusive or enhanced offers:
👉 AmEx Platinum Referral Link

🔄 How We Stack Rakuten + AmEx Platinum for Maximum Points

What is Rakuten: A free cash-back platform that partners with thousands of retailers.

Our Strategy:

1. Use Rakuten for holiday shopping, gifts, travel gear, and everyday purchases.

2. In Rakuten’s “payout settings,” choose Membership Rewards® points (instead of cash) — $1 cash-back = 100 AmEx points.

3. Let Rakuten’s quarterly payout send points straight into our AmEx account.

4. Stack those points with the ones we earn directly on the Platinum Card (flights, hotel bookings, etc.).

That means — when done intentionally — normal spending becomes “travel fuel.”

Our Rakuten referral link (if you want to join too):
👉 Rakuten Referral – SHELBY30017

For those of you who live locally and use Giant — we’ve only had to “link” our AmEx and “activate” it once — and thank goodness! It racks up our points without us even having to think about it or remembering to hit that activate button, even for filling up on gas. Usually, when we shop online (Laura Geller, Shutterfly, Mpix, PetSmart, HoneyBook and others - legitimately you can visit hundreds of other partner stores) the “Activate” button appears and we click it; but just to be sure, keep Rakuten on your browser and you can see if you can find the store on the site to activate it when shopping. While we are out and about, we typically have to remember to go and “Activate” so that the points count. That said, we have been pleasantly surprised when points show up because of places like Taco Bueno or other smaller businesses we don’t generally think of for points in this way.

The key really is to be intentional — when you pull that card out to use it, be sure to check to see if Rakuten is a partner for where you are. Maybe put a purple Sharpie dot on the front (note to Shelby to DO this)! Before you know it, you’ll have hundreds, if not thousands of points saved, just for shopping as you normally do. And look for deals! Sometimes, stores you frequent (online or in store) may have 2% cash back normally, but during the holidays or just random times, that could be up to 10% or even 12% for a limited time.

Holiday Shopping Meets Travel Strategy

With the holidays here — between gifts, travel to see family, winter getaways and college kids flying home — this combo becomes especially powerful. Kids coming home and you’re purchasing the plane tickets — no problem. Head over to Expedia and get your cash back. Or, you can also go through American Express. Truly, tons of deals if you’re on the lookout.

We’ve already started shopping locally (we love to support small businesses), but for bigger purchases or gifts we’re doing online — always through Rakuten. If you go to the Outlet Malls, there are quite a few stores that will give in store purchase points! Adidas is one of our favorites (two athletic kiddos) — so we usually get some points that way.

If you’re entertaining family this year, and maybe the house is a little full, consider using that credit to gift a day or two of a hotel stay, so the house isn’t too overwhelmed. The American Express Platinum Card is fantastic for hotel bookings, flights, dining, and transportation — be sure you’re taking full advantage of what is offered.

If you do it just right, it might even feel good to know that your holiday spending isn’t just another expense — it’s part of building your next adventure.

Final Thoughts: Use It With Intention — Let the Card & Rakuten Pay for Itself

We don’t carry the Platinum Card for the flex (although to be honest, we do get some looks and maybe once a month someone comments on how heavy it is!). We carry it because it works — especially when used strategically.

Between:

• The 2025 sign-on bonus (right now, up to 175,000 points)

• $600 hotel credit

• $400 dining credit ($100 x 4 quarters)

• Uber & transport credits

• Everyday lifestyle perks

• And Rakuten stacking for purchases...

We’re able to turn holidays, shopping, and everyday life into future travel.

If you travel — even occasionally — this combination could be a game-changer. We hope that this has been informative and will be the game-changer YOU need to increase your travel in 2026 and the years to come.

Disclaimers

Affiliate Disclosure:
Shutter & Compass, LLC participates in affiliate and referral partnerships. Some of the links above are referral or affiliate links. If you choose to sign up or apply through these links, we may earn a small commission or bonus, at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support our travel content and keep the blog running.

Accuracy Disclaimer:
The information above is current as of November 29, 2025. Benefits, credits, annual fees, sign-on bonuses, and APRs can change. Always refer directly to the official websites for the most up-to-date details before applying or making decisions.

Travel Tuesday 2025: Best Deals, Smart Savings Strategies, and Planning for 2026 Travel

Travel Tuesday 2025: Our Guide to the Best Deals, Smarter Savings, and Planning for 2026 Adventures

If you’re anything like us—Shelby with her color-coded calendars (yes, multiple) and Megan with a suitcase that somehow stays half-packed year-round (yes, we enjoy travel, we do not enjoy tedious chores)—Travel Tuesday is practically a holiday of its own. We genuinely love travel, but we also love stretching our dollars so we can see more, stay longer, and say yes to the kinds of experiences that shape the heart of The Compass Journal. Each time we find a great deal or shave a little off a hotel rate, that savings always fuels something for the next trip—a sunrise excursion we wouldn’t have splurged on, a room upgrade, or a “why not?” detour that becomes the highlight of the whole getaway.

And in full honesty: we had hoped to share this guide earlier, but it’s been a wonderfully chaotic Thanksgiving weekend. So here we are—still on time for the deals, coffee in hand, ready to walk you through the best of Travel Tuesday 2025 and how to make it work for your 2026 travel dreams.

What Is Travel Tuesday—and Why It Matters for 2025–2026 Travel?

Travel Tuesday (sometimes called Travel Deal Tuesday) is the Tuesday after Cyber Monday, and it has quietly become one of the most consistently reliable sales days in the travel industry. Airlines, hotels, booking platforms, cruise lines, and tour companies use it to release some of their steepest discounts of the entire year. It’s not just hype—year after year, data shows price drops, last-minute flash deals, and incentives designed to push bookings for the upcoming year.

For travelers trying to plan ahead—or for those who simply want to squeeze the most value out of every mile—Travel Tuesday can make a surprising difference in how far your budget stretches.

Travel Tuesday 2025: Deals You Can Actually Grab — What’s Live or Expected

Travel Tuesday this year brings some of the most compelling hotel and travel discounts we’ve seen in a while - at least according to the internet. Platforms like Expedia and Hotels.com are leading the charge with major savings, and several cruise lines (including Virgin Voyages) have deals that could make a 2026 trip much more affordable.

Some of the highlights to watch for:

• Expedia and Hotels.com are offering up to 50% off thousands of hotels for bookings made between November 20 and December 2, 2025.

• On select properties during flash-deal windows (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday), some hotel stays drop as much as 75% off. These are limited-time, limited-room offers—and they go fast.

• The deals cover a wide range of accommodations: from urban boutique hotels and city stays to beach resorts, mountain rentals, and vacation homes. Many of these offers extend into 2026 travel dates, giving ample flexibility for planning.

• On the cruise front, Virgin Voyages is offering a strong holiday-sale package: 80% off for a second “Sailor,” plus bonus perks like free drink credits — a deal that could make your next cruise much more budget-friendly.

• That said, major theme-park operators (like big “bucket-list” resorts or entertainment-heavy destinations) have not publicly confirmed Travel Tuesday–specific packages or discounts as of this writing. We do however, want to note that while they do not necessarily subscribe to the “Travel Tuesday” verbiage, they may actually be cooking up some deals, so watch out for those if you have a Disney or Universal trip in mind. Always worth checking for those savings! Disney Parks Blog may share some promotions for Disney, as this has apparently happened in the past.

If you’ve got flexibility in dates or destination — or you’ve been dreaming of a trip and want to grab great value — this might be the time to act. We always, however, encourage keeping an eye on those “deals” … some look good up front or even during certain times of the year, but if you track trends, you may be surprised.

How to Maximize Savings: Layering Cashback, Points & Sale Discounts

One of the smartest ways to make Travel Tuesday work for you is by stacking discounts with rewards — and that’s where using cashback portals and credit-card points comes in handy.

By starting your hotel search on Expedia or Hotels.com through your Rakuten referral link (see link below), you can earn Rakuten cashback on top of the sale price. Then, paying with an AmEx card adds another layer — AmEx points or cash-back accumulate from the same purchase.

If you book a flexible or refundable rate, you lock in the discounted price but retain the option to rebook if something better comes along later or if your plans shift. The savings you collect — through discounts, cashback, or points — become extra travel “fuel”: maybe toward an upgrade, a spa night, a longer stay, or a dreamy add-on experience.

Because we know many readers asked for a walkthrough of this process, our next post will map out exactly how to combine Rakuten, AmEx rewards, and flash-sale pricing to squeeze maximum value from Travel Tuesday and holiday-season deals. Until then, feel free to start your search using our referral links below.

Rakuten Referral Link

AmEx Referral Link
(yes, my husband’s name is Marcus)

What to Watch Out For — Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

• Obviously, no sale is perfect. Some of the steepest discounts come with trade-offs. Many flash deals are non-refundable or carry blackout dates, which could be problematic if plans change. It’s essential to check all fees — resort fees, taxes, parking, extras — so you know what you’re really paying.

• Also, when stacking rewards: make sure your tracking is valid (Rakuten shows the click-through confirmed, and payment goes through the correct card). Loose tracking or incorrect payment methods can cancel your cashback or points — wiping out part of the savings.

• And flash deals don’t wait — hesitation might mean someone else snags the room or cruise before you make up your mind. If you spot a good match for your calendar and budget, act quickly.

What We’re Dreaming of for 2026 — Destinations We're Watching

The biggest reason we love Travel Tuesday is because it sets the tone for the next year of adventures. For 2026, we’re thinking about another Caribbean escape—maybe Barbados again, maybe a new island we haven’t documented yet. Las Vegas is also on our radar for a blend of luxury stays and photo-forward experiences, and of course our favorite close-to-home escapes throughout DC, Northern Virginia, and the Eastern Seaboard will keep us exploring throughout the year.

We love sharing the journey, but we also love showing how savings on today’s bookings create freedom for tomorrow’s adventures. Whether that’s a longer stay, a private excursion, a higher-category cabin on a cruise, or a curated photo session in a destination that deserves to be captured beautifully, these deals help build the experiences that matter most.

What’s Coming Next: A Deep Dive into Cashback & Points Strategy

Our next post will take you behind the scenes of how we personally use American Express and Rakuten to layer rewards onto travel bookings. It’s the strategy that lets us turn sales events like Travel Tuesday into meaningful long-term perks, and it’s one we think many travelers could benefit from. Stay tuned for the full breakdown.

Affiliate Disclosure & Accuracy Disclaimer

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you. All information—including pricing, dates, and availability—was accurate, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of writing. Travel policies, cancellations, and offers can change quickly; please verify final details directly with the travel provider before booking.

Affordable Adventures: Travel Tips That Won’t Break the Bank

Let’s bust a myth right away: You don’t have to be rich (or retired) to travel well. With a little intention and some strategic planning, you can enjoy incredible adventures without draining your savings account. From cash back tools to credit card perks to point strategies, here’s how we make travel work for our budget — and how you can too. We’re breaking down the practical and the lesser-known ways to save, plus real-life examples from our own trips.

1. Points Are Your Passport: Make Your Spending Work for You

One of the easiest ways to make travel more affordable is to earn points or miles on the money you already spend. Two of our favorite cards for this are the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the American Express Platinum.

• Capital One Venture offers 2x miles on every purchase. The real win? You can erase travel purchases using points, or transfer them to airline and hotel partners.

• Amex Platinum is ideal if you fly often and value perks like Centurion Lounge access, airline credits, hotel upgrades, and 5x points on flights booked through Amex Travel.

Real-Life Example: We booked round-trip flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico using American Express points, covering over $500 in airfare with points alone. I can’t remember exact flights at the moment, but I know we’ve used points for free airfare before we even started Shutter and Compass. So, If you aren’t using those credit cards in this way…here’s your sign to start. NOW!

Tip: Keep an eye on sign-up bonuses. These often range from 60,000–100,000 points when you meet minimum spending requirements — enough to cover one or two round-trip tickets!

2. Rakuten = Free Money for Travel

We try to use Rakuten every time we shop online. We’re getting better, but you can see that we have a long way to go to fully maximize it — but, we still believe every little bit helps! Rakuten is a cash back platform that gives you money back just for clicking through their site to see if where your shopping is a partner, before you buy from stores like Sephora, Walmart, or even travel sites like Expedia and Booking.com.

If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s our referral link to get started and score a welcome bonus:
👉 Rakuten Referral Link

Insider Tip: Link your Amex or Visa card to earn in-store cashback at places like Ulta and Walgreens, and if we just realized it works for Giant, too! So…all those groceries…Dominion Valley and Haymarket people, I’m talking to you…go ahead and link it for those points!

RAKUTEN POINTS

It’s not a ton, but honestly, we’re still excited we’re getting paid for literally our regular shopping trips.

If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s our referral link to get started and score a welcome bonus:
👉 Rakuten Referral Link

How we use it: When we started our Rakuten account in November, 2024, we earned 4,000 points just to start, and then we quickly added points, without even realizing it! From our regular purchases (some even in-store!) at Adidas, Giant (again - how cool!), Shutterfly, Madison Reed (because…hello, we’re in our 40’s) and legit, I JUST saw that my TACO BUENO purchases in Oklahoma earned me points…all because my American Express is linked. Like really, why would one NOT do this?! while you can convert the points to dollars, we actually send them right over to American Express to keep as points for our travel. I know that there’s a mathematical or better way to figure out what works best, but this is what we’re choosing for now. While I know I still need to thank her, I know I’ve read a lot of my travel credit card information from Jen Woodhouse - https://jenwoodhouse.com/category/travel/ - I’ve known Jen for somewhere around a decade, and she’s the real deal. Excited to hopefully connect soon (once she’s in the country for a hot minute from all of her travels) so we can learn more from her! But we highly recommend checking her site out — she is incredibly knowledgeable. Like really — not just in travel. She does it ALL!

3. Stack the Savings: Cashback + Points + Coupons

Combine these methods for serious savings:

• Use Rakuten (or a similar browser extension like Honey or Capital One Shopping).

• Book with a rewards credit card.

• Search for discount codes or use hotel loyalty programs (e.g., Hilton Honors).

Pro Tip: Book your hotel through Rakuten, use your Amex to pay, and make sure it’s a property you can earn hotel points on. That’s a triple win.

4. Fly Smart: Timing is Everything

• Fly midweek. Tuesdays and Wednesdays often have the best fares.

• Set fare alerts with tools like Google Flights or Hopper.

• Travel off-season or during shoulder seasons (e.g., late April or early October).

You can score $49 one-way fares on Southwest just by flying on a Wednesday in October — peak weather, low prices.

5. JGOOT: Just Get Out of Town

We’re just diving into JGOOT (Just Get Out of Town) — a subscription-based platform that teaches you how to use points and find mistake fares. So far, we’re impressed by how it encourages thinking differently about travel. Definitely legit, and depending on your needs, they can walk you through an amazing process for making your travel not only more affordable, and also getting you into those business class and luxury flights!

JGOOT teaches:

• How to book flights with fewer points by transferring to partners.

• How to find deals where points are valued 2-4x more than booking directly.

We haven’t booked a full trip using it yet, but we’ll report back when we do! It’s worth checking out if you want to level-up your points game.
https://www.jgoot.com

6. Look Local First

Adventure doesn’t always require a passport.

• Check your state’s tourism board for discounts and deals.

• Plan a short road trip to a nearby vineyard, historic town, or hiking trail.

• Search Airbnb Experiences or Groupon for things to do within 2 hours of home.

Some of our favorite days have been 45 minutes from our doorstep. If you’re in Northern Virginia, this is your healthy reminder that you are likely within an hour or two from our Nation’s Capital, Washington DC. There is always so much to see and do there. And what we’ve noticed is that a lot of people who have lived here the longest, STILL haven’t been to our Nation’s Capital. Y’all are missing out! BUT, no fear. If the DC traffic and city life are either intimidating or just aren’t your thing, there are so many beautiful wineries, breweries, restaurants, hiking trails, and so much more close by.

7. Use Travel Communities for Deals and Ideas

Facebook groups, Reddit threads (like r/travelhacks), and even TikTok are full of travelers sharing real-time deals, itineraries, and budget tips. Join the conversation, ask questions, and share what’s worked for you. And as always, hop on over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/shutterandcompass to share your thoughts and questions, or even share about your latest travels and awesome finds.

8. Create a "Travel Fund" Jar (Seriously)

Yes, we love points. But nothing beats cash.

• Start with $10/week.

• Add every time you skip a takeout meal or cancel a subscription you’re not using. Also, if you haven’t canceled those subscriptions you aren’t using…go do that!! You may be shocked by how much you’re not even realizing you’re spending. >>>ask us how we know<<<

We’ve funded everything from cruise excursions to a new carry-on just with what we stock l away over a few months.

You Can Afford to Go

Whether it's a luxe cruise booked with miles, or a weekend Airbnb funded by cashback and a travel jar, there are so many ways to make adventure more accessible.Start where you are. Use what you have. Learn a few new tricks along the way. And remember, a good hike, a free museum…those are still in our travel realm! Enjoy what you can, when you can. And remember: it doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Just go and make the memories. You’ll thank yourself (and us!) when you realize how much you love it.

XO,

P.S. We’re working on a future post specifically about how to maximize credit card points like a pro — so stay tuned! Let us know what questions you have so we can get some guest speakers lined up and so we can share more with you!

Disclosures: We may earn a small commission when you use our affiliate links, including Amazon and Rakuten. This comes at no cost to you and helps support future content for Shutter and Compass. Thank you for your support!