This is super time-sensitive, so I’ll keep it simple:
Found a stack that turns a $350 Viator booking into nearly 10,000 Amex points and $35 back in your pocket. Takes about three minutes to set up.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Make a free Rakuten account
Rakuten’s been around for like 30 years, totally legit. Use my link and you’ll get 5,000 bonus points (or $50 cash, your call) just for signing up and spending $50.
If you need more details, I have a full Rakuten guide here.
Step 2: Switch your payout to Amex points
Once you’re in, head to your Rakuten account settings and change “how I get paid” from cash back to Amex Membership Rewards points. This is the move that unlocks the points-instead-of-cash earning.
Step 3: Search Rakuten for Viator
Find Viator on Rakuten and click through to their site from there. Viator’s a massive marketplace for tours, activities, boat trips, airport transfers, basically any travel experience you’d book on a trip. Pick whatever you want to book.
Today’s offer is 12% cash back, or 12x points per dollar (same thing depending on your cash out method!).

Step 4: Activate the Amex offer
Pop into your Amex offers in the Amex app or website and activate the current Viator offer for $35 cash back. Don’t skip this step or you lose a chunk of the value. Ps. You’ll find this under “Offers” not Benefits.

Step 5: Check out with your Amex
Use the same Amex card you activated the offer on. That’s it.
The Math on a $350 Booking
Let’s say you book $350 worth of stuff on Viator. Here’s what you’re earning:
- $35 statement credit from the Amex offer
- 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards from the Rakuten signup bonus
- 12x Rakuten points per dollar (today’s elevated rate) on your spend = 4,200 points
- 1x on your Amex for the net $315 charge = 315 points
Total: 9,515 Amex points plus $35 cash back on a $315 net spend.
For most people valuing Amex points around 2 cents each, that’s roughly $190 in value back on a $315 booking you were likely going to make anyway. Hard to beat.
The Rakuten elevated rate at Viator won’t last forever, so if you’ve got a trip on the books, this is the time to lock in your tours and transfers.
If you already have a Rakuten account, you won’t be eligible for the 5,000 point bonus, but you’ll still earn 4,515 with this offer!

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