Looking for advice on next steps

Hi,

In 2021 I signed up the the Amex Gold card. Since then I used it as much as possible and just recently was able to use the points to upgrade my wife and I on a longhaul trip with Emirates. That exhaused most points, with around 30k remaining.

Given it took so long to arrive to that point, and without the signup bonus and a few big spend items (wedding!), I don't see it likely that I can repeat this any time soon. So thinking to change card.

I used the Deliveroo credit, but only really because it was there. Airport lounges on occassion, but there are lots of cards available.

What would everyone recommend switching to? I don't mind paying roughly the same as AMEX gold if the benefits are worth it, I just don't see the value in Gold ongoing.

Logic would be to continue to build points (but perhaps redeeming for short haul flights) and ideally lounge access.

I also use a barclaycard (free) due to the fact it's one of the few cards without a foreign transaction fee, with quite a lot of work expenses going on it, but I don't get any benefits from it.

Any thoughts welcome!