If you’ve got a holiday party (or date night with someone special), don’t forget your American Express Cobalt Card. After all, you’ll probably need to pick up things like a new outfit or accessories. Then, there are drinks or dinner if you’re planning on picking up the tab – not to mention paying for an Uber to get home.
Long story short, a night out adds up! Soften the blow of checking your credit card statement the next day by earning rewards with all your purchases. We’ll show you how the American Express Cobalt Card helps you do that (and highlight a great Visa credit card option).
Key Takeaways
- Use your Amex to pay for a new outfit, purchase a meal out, and grab a ride home – all while earning rewards.
- The American Express Cobalt Card gives you up to 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants, plus 2 points per $1 on transit.
- Redeem your points for travel, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits, and charitable donations, or transfer them to travel partners.
Never miss an amazing deal again + get our bonus 250+ page eBook for FREE. Join 50,000 other Canadians who receive our weekly newsletter – learn more.
The perfect companion to a night out: The Amex Cobalt Card
If you don’t like the idea of using 5 different credit cards for all the purchases you’ll make over the course of the night, choose the one that gives you the best rewards over the most spending categories: the American Express Cobalt® Card.
Here’s what you’ll earn:
- 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $2,500 spent per month).
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services.
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases.
- 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Rewards are great, but so are other benefits and perks that add value. The American Express Cobalt Card gives you access to memorable events through the Front Of The Line advanced ticket sales service. You might even snag deals for your evening out through personalized Amex Offers. If your night involves travel, check out the 10 types of insurance coverage included with the card.
You can easily take advantage of the American Express Cobalt Card to earn some serious rewards and save money in the long run.
Find the perfect holiday party outfit
The first thing that needs to be sorted before going out:
What am I going to wear?
A night out with your special someone or attending a party with friends might call for a new outfit. Fortunately, there are a few ways to hack your rewards so you’ll earn points for your shopping trip.
Use your points on Amazon.ca
The cool part about having a card with Amex Membership Rewards in your wallet is Amazon.ca’s Shop with Points program. This means that you're able to link up your Membership Rewards account to Amazon.ca during the enrollment process and use your points to pay for Amazon purchases.
So, you won't even have to leave your house or dish out any money to get a new button-up shirt or party dress.
Plus, American Express often has limited-time exclusive bonus offers for its Cobalt cardmembers when they shop on Amazon.ca.
Use a grocery store gift card hack
If you have a bit more time to get a new outfit, swing by the grocery store first and buy gift cards to your favourite retailer. Since you’re buying them from the grocery store, the cards are categorized as "Groceries," so you’ll earn an impressive 5 points per $1 (instead of just 1 point per $1).
You may even be able to snag gift cards to restaurants and cosmetics retailers. Take your new gift card to the clothing store and shop to your heart’s content, knowing you’re maximizing rewards points with your purchase.
Take a glance at how quickly points can add up if you try this hack:
Membership Rewards earned per spending category
| Gift card amount | Points earned – Grocery category | Points earned – Retail category |
|---|---|---|
| $50 | 250 Membership Rewards | 50 Membership Rewards |
| $100 | 500 Membership Rewards | 100 Membership Rewards |
| $150 | 750 Membership Rewards | 150 Membership Rewards |
Eat, drink, and be merry
Spending time with all your loved ones and eating delicious food is really what enjoying a night out on the town is all about.
The
So, whether your night out looks like cocktails with your date or takeout with a group of friends, Amex has you covered with points for days.
Did we mention that this is the highest earn rate possible for this spending category on the Canadian credit card market right now?
It's important to note that some Canadian credit cards that offer rewards on restaurant purchases often exclude bar purchases. Fortunately, with this card, you'll know for sure that you're getting the maximum points for each dollar spent, no matter where your night-out plans might take you.
Don't drink and drive – save money on transit
Something very important to mention – although relaxing with friends and family while enjoying drinks and good food is what it's all about – if you're indulging, don't drink and drive.
It's never worth it to get behind the wheel when you've had a few too many.
Amex gives you a good reason to just take a cab instead. You’ll earn 2 points per dollar spent on transit purchases, which happens to include rideshare services. So, whatever method you choose to get home safely earns you bonus Amex points.
Enjoy a concert or movie
Who doesn’t like heading to the movies or a performance at the end of a long week? Maybe your idea of a night out on the town is catching the latest blockbuster or seeing an exclusive concert at a cool venue.
Either way, Front Of The Line, offered through Amex, gives you personalized access to advanced ticket sales, reserved seating, and even advanced screenings to the newest hit movies.
Check out your flexible redemption options
Your memorable night out might be over, but the benefits of using your American Express Cobalt Card are just beginning. We already mentioned that you can use your Amex Membership Rewards points for Amazon purchases, and you can do the same for ticket purchases on Ticketmaster.ca.
You can also redeem your Membership Rewards for:
- Gift cards and merchandise through membershiprewards.ca
- Transfer points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy
- Charitable donations
- Flights through the Fixed Points Travel Program
- Statement credits against any purchase made with your card
The possibilities are pretty endless, and it doesn't really get any better than that.
Other reasons to love the Cobalt card
Aside from all the amazing rewards and cool perks, there's still a lot to love about this card.
Instead of a large annual fee, Cobalt offers bite-sized $15.99 fees paid monthly instead. If you earn at least 1,599 points per month, that more than covers the fees.
Plus, you'll get 10 different kinds of purchase and travel insurance:
American Express Cobalt® Card
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,000 |
| Travel Accident | $250,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | $5,000,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
And if that wasn't enough, you'll also be awarded up to 15,000 welcome points after spending $750 every month for the first year. That can be worth up to $300 in travel when transferred to Aeroplan.
A Visa alternative
If you’re still hesitant about the Cobalt because it’s an American Express (which some smaller retailers don’t accept), we do have a Visa option for you to consider: the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card.
It also earns plenty of points on purchases:
- 5 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, restaurants, and transit
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
In addition to the hefty rewards you earn, you’ll also get an annual $50 lifestyle credit. This credit is applied to your first purchase of $50 or more. And, you’ll earn 10% bonus rewards when you add an authorized user to your account.
This card has an annual fee of $120, but it’s waived for the first year.
$150 GeniusCash + Up to $1,200 in first year value + 5x points on gas & groceries.*
GC: $150
The bottom line
The American Express Cobalt Card is one of the top cards to have in your wallet if you're planning a date night, holiday party, or just want an excuse to go out with a group of friends.
Whether you’re updating your wardrobe, buying tickets, paying for dinner, or grabbing a ride home, you’ll earn Amex Rewards points all night long. Is it any wonder this card earned the title of best credit card in Canada 8 years in a row?
And with so many redemption options available, you won't feel trapped with thousands of points and nothing to redeem them for. It's a win-win all around.
FAQ
Can I get a credit card to pay for a holiday party?
You can charge a holiday party to the American Express Cobalt Card and earn 5x the points if the venue is at a restaurant. Otherwise, you could charge the food and beverages you buy from the grocery store for the same reward rate.
What is the best credit card for the holidays?
We’ve made a strong argument that American Express Cobalt Card is your best holiday card. You’ll earn rewards for Amazon purchases, restaurants, transit, and more. Plus, your redemption options allow you to cash in points for travel.
How much does it cost to host a Christmas party?
The price you pay to host a Christmas party depends on a lot of factors: how many people are invited, the food you serve, the venue, your location, and whether or not you have music or entertainment.
What are the benefits of American Express Cobalt in Canada?
You’ll earn lots of rewards points that you can redeem in a number of ways, but you’ll also have access to exclusive events and restaurants and enjoy personalized discounts through Amex Offers that you load to your card.
Is Amex Cobalt still the best?
Yes, it’s hard to beat the high earn rate of the American Express Cobalt Card. While the card has an annual fee, we love that it’s charged out monthly. And with no income requirements, many Canadians can qualify.
Is Amex Platinum better than Cobalt?
It’s true that the American Express Platinum Card has more luxurious benefits than the American Express Cobalt Card, but with a steep annual fee of $799, we tend to think the American Express Cobalt Card is a great travel and everyday credit card for most Canadians.
creditcardGenius is the only tool that compares 126+ features of 228 Canadian credit cards using math-based ratings and rankings that respond to your needs, instantly. Take our quiz and see which of Canada's 228 cards is for you.
GC: 
Comments
Leave a comment
Required fields are marked with *. Your email address will not be published.
Showing 1 comments