20 years ago American Express launched their Membership Rewards program. They were the first to offer points to their members that could be redeemed for rewards.
My husband has carried an American Express card since the mid 80s, yet we didn’t sign up for the rewards program.
I shudder to think how many points we have missed in those 20 years!
Today the AmEx Membership Rewards program is bigger and better than ever. The points can be redeemed for anything from Farmville and Amazon purchases to plane flights and hotel stays.

I have been tasked with the grueling chore of designing
a weekend getaway from Dallas using Membership Rewards points.
I know! I know!
It is pure torture!
I live 20 minutes from DFW airport and would like to come up with something fun, fabulous and a bit off the beaten path.
American Express is giving one of my readers a $100 AmEx gift card for a little planning assistance.
To enter simply leave a comment below answering…
Where should I go?
Should I travel by train, plan or automobile?
What should I do when I get there?
You may leave a new answer each day.
For an additional entry you can tweet:
I told @Texasholly to go *your answer here* with @AmericanExpress – http://bit.ly/reiObM for a chance to win $100 AmEx gift card
If you tweet, please leave a comment.
The giveaway ends July 16, 2011 at midnight CST and the winner will be selected randomly and notified via email.
I will be choosing my three favorite travel suggestions to explore further in future posts while bemoaning 20 lost years of rewards points…
She is Dallas info: The $100 AmEx gift card is being provided by American Express. American Express is also placing 150,000 Membership Rewards points in my newly opened rewards account to plan this trip. Thanks American Express!
I think you should definitely check out Austin, TX. I’m sure you’ve been there, even driven there, but have you been to SXSW? That would be so much fun and would make for an awesome post! I love music festivals and had a blast there. Some people have no idea it even exists (gasp!) and it’s amazing.
MANDATORY
I think you should take a plane Go to Cleveland OH One Day go to Cedar Point, One Day go to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame the next day take the Fairy to Put in Bay and ride bikes all over the island.
Fly to DC and visit the museums!
daily tweet http://twitter.com/#!/jennieyuen/status/90185638237835264
http://twitter.com/#!/DNatrlBeauty/status/90118870484008960
You have to fly to Kauai, Hawaii, and stay on the southern shore. You can bike around the coast, take a helicopter tour of the Na Pali Coast (unreachable by road), watch amazing sunsets from Poipu Beach, and enjoy perfect weather! It is uncrowded and has gorgeous scenery.
You should travel by car and go visit the sick and homeless and make a difference in your world…feed them, offer them friendship, give them a hug…heavensent1@yahoo dotcom
https://twitter.com/#!/mellanhead/status/90096892079378432
I think you should go to the local aquarium and learn all about aquatic life.
http://twitter.com/#!/eyewonit/status/90013377509859328