Maine Road Trip: How Two Friends Maximized Their Amex Gold Perks

Two friends embarked on an epic road trip to coastal Maine, putting their refreshed American Express Gold Card perks to the test.

The card, with a $325 annual fee, earned them bonus points on flights and saved them money on dining. They booked their airfare through AmexTravel.com, earning 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar, before flying from opposite sides of the country.

Upon arrival, they rented a car using Eric's complimentary Hertz Five Star status (enrollment required), which paid off with an upgrade to a Buick Encore SUV. He also earned 2 points per dollar on the prepaid car reservation by booking through AmexTravel.com.

The friends kicked off their trip at Two Lights State Park, where they enjoyed lobster rolls and heaped claw and tail meat plus a healthy dollop of mayo with a sprinkle of Old Bay. Eric ordered a whoopie pie for Summer to try this quintessentially Maine dessert on her first trip to the state.

Their next stop was the Portland waterfront, where they caught the Casco Bay Lines ferry for the half-hour ride out to Peaks Island and rented bikes to pedal around the island. After their ride, they stopped for lemonades at Jones Landing Bar and Restaurant, earning another round of points on dining purchases.

The friends stayed at the Press Hotel, Autograph Collection, a unique and charming hotel located in the former offices of the Portland Press Herald newspaper. As Amex Gold cardholders who booked prepaid stays through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App, they earned 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on their stay and received a $100 credit toward eligible charges.

The friends put their credits to good use, covering practical expenses like overnight parking and turning breakfast at Union into an easy splurge. With most of their incidental expenses disappearing, they checked out without paying anything beyond their prepaid stay.