CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee, see rates and fees) is considered one of the best travel cards on the market. It comes with hundreds of dollars in various travel credits, top-tier airport lounge access, automatic elite status with various travel programs and more.
One of the card’s most overlooked features is up to $100 in annual Saks Fifth Avenue credits. You’ll receive $50 in Saks statement credits to be used between Jan. 1 and June 30 and another $50 in statement credits to be used between July 1 and Dec. 31.
At a fancy shop like Saks, you might think it’s difficult to find something worthwhile for under $50. But there are plenty of sub-$50 travel-related items you can get with your credits. Let’s take a look at a few.
If packing cubes aren’t an integral part of your packing process, explain yourself. Packing cubes go beyond simple organization; they turn your luggage into Mary Poppins’ bottomless bag. It’s incredible how much you can fit into a modestly-sized bag with packing cubes like the Thule Compression Packing Cube Bag. It’s got two compartments (which comes in particularly handy when you’ve got dirty clothes), and it features a secondary zipper that collapses your clothes to make them as compact as possible.
A garment packing folder can help you compress your shirts and jackets like a packing cube. It can also be a huge help for properly folding your clothes; inside is a rectangular plastic board that serves as a folding template. Just place it on your shirts and fold around the plastic for a perfect and wrinkle-free fold. It’s a must for frequent travelers who are on the road for more than a few days at a time.
More than just Instagram influencers pack media gear. If you’re passionate about capturing your trips, you’d do well with a phone mount that can serve as a stand as well as attach to other accessories for a more elaborate setup. The Pivo Smart Mount is a good place to start. Its universal clamp will hold any phone (and most cases) in either portrait or landscape mode.
This is a perfect charger for travelers: It’s small, it charges anything that’s wireless charging-capable, and it comes with its own travel pouch. And because it’s magnetic, it’ll stick to your phone when you pick it up without pausing its charge. Plus, it’s covered in designer-quality Belgian Linen — making it look premium.
Corkcicle offers many types of travel tumblers (including a really neat kid-focused one with a spill-proof lid). This 16-ounce option is triple-insulated stainless steel with a shatterproof sliding lid. Bring it with you to the airport, fill it up at the water fountain and you won't have to spend $7 on a single-use water bottle again.
Cable management is a big deal when you’re always on the go. Tumi's Alpha Electronic Cord Pouch is armored with ballistic nylon to help keep your cords safe (and your shiny laptop safe from your cords) during your commute. It fits into most laptop bags, so it’s a good complement to your current daily driver.
A highly underrated travel accessory is a “bathroom tumbler” that can hold things like your toothbrush, lotions, and other small instruments that can be easy to lose (or you simply don’t want to lay it on the bathroom counter). This nylon cylinder can be folded into various sizes, and it comes with a handy drawstring when it’s time to pack up.
Do you love being awakened on red-eye flights by the abrupt illumination of the cabin? If so, the Gingerlily Silk Eye Mask is not for you. It’s a blackout mask made of mulberry silk, with silk floss padding on the interior to create the softest sensation possible. If you’re unacquainted with mulberry silk, just know that it’s the best quality silk you can get.
The most powerful memories are evoked from scent. Homesick makes several dozen candles that are meant to embody specific destinations around the world (though only a few are available through Saks Fifth Avenue). Whether they’ve achieved that goal or they’re simply implementing a marketing tactic is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Clickherefor rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card.
Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards currently available.
