The right credit card for your Trip to Australia
Read here to find out which credit card offers you the most benefits and perks in Australia.
Eine lachende Frau am offenen Campervan über einer australischen Meeresbucht verkörpert das freie, wilde Lebensgefühl einer unvergesslichen Australienreise. Für redaktionelle Inhalte im Magazin AMEXperience illustriert das Bild, wie American Express mit der Gold Card oder Platinum Card unterwegs Mehrwert schafft: bei Hotelbuchungen, Mietwagen, Restaurantbesuchen und kontaktlosem Bezahlen sowie mit Reiseversicherungen, Lounge-Zugang und exklusiven Vorzügen für anspruchsvolle Reisende, die Komfort und Abenteuer verbinden möchten.
Everything you need to know at a glance
A credit card is almost indispensable for a trip to Australia: for hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and contactless payments in stores. American Express is increasingly accepted in Australia. The Gold Card offers travel insurance, two free airport lounge visits per year, as well as rental car and hotel benefits.
The Platinum Card is primarily aimed at frequent travelers: it includes more comprehensive insurance coverage, free worldwide lounge access through “Priority Pass” membership, Loss Damage Waiver for Rental Cars, and exclusive hotel perks. Which card is right for you depends mainly on how often you travel and which benefits you’d like to use while on the go.
American Express: acceptance in Australia has risen significantly
In recent years, the acceptance of American Express credit cards in Australia has increased significantly. In 2024 alone, more than 610,000 new merchant locations were added across the continent. Using American Express is generally not a problem, especially at major hotel chains, airlines, online retailers, and many restaurants.
In general, card payments are widespread in Australia. According to the latest consumer survey by the Reserve Bank of Australia, cards are the most commonly used means of payment. Even for small local purchases, which used to be paid for in cash, debit and credit cards are now typically used.
Travelers in Australia often even rely on a credit card: some trendy restaurants no longer accept cash, and a credit card is often required for hotel check-in or as a security deposit at the rental car counter. In addition, the right credit card offers numerous other benefits while traveling.
Start reaping the benefits of American Express right from the start
When you embark on the long journey to Australia, you’ll need to arrive at the airport early and make at least one stopover. That’s where the American Express Platinum Card really shines: Thanks to its included “Priority Pass” membership, your Platinum Card gives you free access to more than 1,800 airport lounges worldwide. This also applies to additional cardholders.
At the airports in Zurich and Geneva, there are several lounges to choose from, as well as at potential layover destinations such as the major hubs in the Middle East or Southeast Asia. In the airport lounges, you can enjoy free food and drinks, relax, or work undisturbed.
The Gold Card also grants you lounge access; entry is free twice a year. A small fee applies for each additional visit.
Travel to Down Under with peace of mind thanks to a comprehensive insurance package
Dry cabin air and extreme temperature fluctuations can pose challenges on a trip to Australia, and accidents can happen quickly. To ensure you don’t have to worry about the high costs of a doctor’s visit or a hospital stay, the American Express Gold Card and Platinum Card include Foreign Travel Medical Expenses Insurance.
Both cards also offer Travel Inconvenience Insurance; the Platinum Card goes a step further with Travel Cancellation and Curtailment Insurance, baggage insurance, and Loss Damage Waiver for Rental Cars.
Interesting fact: Coverage extends not only to the cardholders themselves but also, as a rule, to spouses living in the same household and children up to age 25.
Secure hotel benefits in Australia
One of the most popular benefits of the Platinum Card is the wide range of hotel perks that come with booking through the Platinum Travel & Lifestyle Service. In Australia, there are 66 exclusive hotels that are either part of American Express’s “Fine Hotels + Resorts” program or part of The Hotel Collection (as of August 2026). These are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane, as well as in numerous smaller cities.
At these properties, you’ll enjoy attractive perks, such as a complimentary room upgrade (depending on availability), a hotel credit of at least USD 100, and early check-in and late check-out (depending on availability). In addition, at hundreds of other hotels in the Radisson, Hilton, or Marriott groups, you’ll automatically receive an elevated membership status without having to meet the usual requirements.
Interesting fact: With the American Express Gold Card, you’ll enjoy up to 30 percent off select hotel stays on Hotels.com.
Get a rental car at special rates
If you want to explore the vast expanses of Australia, a rental car offers the most flexibility. Here, too, the right American Express credit card can help: In addition to the comprehensive insurance mentioned earlier, which is included with the Platinum Card, Platinum Card and Gold Card holders enjoy valuable rental car benefits with SIXT, Avis, and Hertz – such as upgrades and discounts on standard rates.
As a Platinum Card member, you’ll also receive an annual SIXT ride credit for transfers and rides. For example, you can have yourself driven directly from the Sydney airport to your hotel so you can rest as soon as possible after arrival.
Which American Express Card should you take with you to Australia?
Shop and buy tickets with ease
Sydney and Melbourne are considered Australia’s shopping paradises. Whether it’s luxury fashion, clothing from local designers, or secondhand items: With the American Express Platinum Card or Gold Card, your purchases are insured against theft, burglary, robbery, and damage for 90 days after purchase.
Exclusively included with the Platinum Card is ticket insurance, which reimburses the ticket price if you’re unable to attend an event due to illness or an accident. This means you can treat yourself to an expensive ticket for a performance at the Sydney Opera House with greater peace of mind, without having to suffer a total loss in the event of illness.
American Express credit cards: the perfect companion for your trip to Australia
From your outbound flight to your return flight: American Express credit cards offer you a variety of benefits throughout your entire trip to Australia that significantly enhance your travel experience. With the Gold Card, you’ll receive, among other things, a comprehensive insurance package, two complimentary airport lounge visits per year, and car rental benefits.
The Platinum Card comes highly recommended, especially for frequent travelers. With it, you can visit one or more lounges for free at almost every major airport in the world, enjoy exceptional hotel perks, and take advantage of numerous benefits in your everyday life as well.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Whenever possible, always choose Australian dollars (AUD), as the conversion rate applied by your bank or card issuer is usually more favorable than the merchant’s conversion rate.
Yes, American Express is becoming increasingly accepted in Australia; especially at hotels, airlines, online retailers, and many restaurants, using American Express is generally not a problem.
American Express Cards are accepted worldwide. With the Gold Card or Platinum Card, you also receive numerous travel benefits, such as hotel perks and insurance benefits. For transactions in foreign currencies or abroad, a fee of 1.75 percent (with the Platinum Card) or 2.5 percent (with other cards) applies.
