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Capital One Venture X Card Review: Premium Travel Benefits

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review
KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a good fit for users who make frequent travel purchases and have excellent credit.
  • What we think: The luxury perks, high rewards rate and reasonable annual fee compared to other premium travel cards make the Venture X an enticing option for frequent travelers.
  • With the Venture X, you can earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars, 5 miles per dollar on most flights, and 2 miles per dollar on everything else.
  • The Capital One Venture X card has a $395 annual fee, so it’s important to weigh the cost against the potential rewards.
  • This card comes with a generous sign-on bonus, access to airport lounges, and various other travel benefits.
  • The Venture X card has no foreign transaction fee, making it perfect for traveling within and outside the U.S.
SUMMARY

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers valuable travel benefits at a lower cost than several competing cards, making it a worthy addition to your wallet or handbag.

It also gives you access to Capital One Shopping and Capital One Entertainment, putting product discounts and premium experiences right at your fingertips. 

Our Capital One Venture X card review has everything you need to know about this Capital One card, including how to get one, how to earn bonus miles, and how to redeem your miles. Settle in and discover how you can use this credit card to make your life a little easier.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases, transfers to international airlines, and more
  • Can qualify for hundreds of dollars in credits each year
  • Huge welcome offer

Cons

  • $395 annual fee
  • Large spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus
  • Excellent credit required
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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Key Information
Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. This card has a $395 annual fee.

Is the Capital One Venture X card worth it?

If you travel frequently, the Venture X card is definitely worth it. Unlike cards that give you a small amount of cash back on every category, the Venture X prioritizes travel benefits, making it easier to accumulate miles. 

Check out the pros and cons to determine if it’s the best credit card for you.

Pros
  • Excellent travel rewards: You get 10 miles per dollar when you use the card to book hotels or reserve rental cars with Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on most flights, and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases.
  • Good cost-benefit ratio: Using the card regularly can easily earn you enough rewards to cover the annual fee.
  • Anniversary benefits: Capital One gives you extra miles on your anniversary date. The first bonus shows up 1 year after you open your account.
  • Several redemption options: You can use your miles to make travel reservations, pay for past travel purchases, book premium experiences or get a statement credit. Capital One also allows you to transfer your miles to another cardholder.
Cons
  • Requires excellent credit: The Venture X is designed for consumers with outstanding credit, so it’s not a good fit if you’re building credit or repairing your credit after a financial setback.
  • Somewhat low rewards rate: Each mile is worth about 1 cent, which is one of the lower reward rates in the industry.
  • No intro APR offer: Some cards offer 0% interest or a low interest rate during your introductory period. The Venture X doesn’t come with this benefit.
  • Limited transfer options: Although you can transfer miles to certain airline and hotel loyalty programs, Capital One has few transfer partners. For example, you can’t transfer miles to Delta or United, two of the most popular domestic airlines.

Learn more about the Venture X Card

Capital One Venture X benefits

The Venture X offers benefits in several categories, including travel and consumer protection. 

Travel benefits

Capital One Venture X comes with a variety of travel benefits.

$300 travel credit

Once you open a Venture X card, Capital One gives you a $300 travel credit each card member year. For example, if you open an account on December 1, 2023, your cardmember year will run until November 30, 2024.

What’s special about this travel credit is that Capital One allows you to earn miles even when you’re using the credit to book your travel. For example, if you spend $250 on a rental car, you’ll earn 2,500 miles. Just remember to use Capital One Travel to make your reservation.

Additionally, Capital One allows you to use the credit multiple times until you use up the entire $300 value. For example, you can spend $200 in one transaction and $100 in another. Many companies force you to use these credits in one go, making the Venture X extremely flexible.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit

TSA PreCheck® and the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program expedite the security screening process when you travel through certain airports. If you use your Venture X card to pay the enrollment fee, you’ll receive a credit of up to $100.

Airport lounge access

The Venture X card gives you complimentary access to the Capital One Lounges at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. Both lounges offer high-speed internet, chef-inspired cuisine and a fully stocked bar, along with other amenities. Your card also gives you Priority Pass® lounge access.

Travel insurance

When you use your Venture X card to pay for travel purchases, you get complimentary travel insurance that covers a wide range of scenarios. This includes travel accident insurance, trip cancellation protection, trip delay coverage and coverage for lost or stolen luggage.

Luxury hotel access

In addition to the $300 annual travel credit, Capital One offers elite benefits at hotels in the Premium Collection. For example, you get a $100 experience credit for each stay, early check-in, complimentary room upgrades and late checkouts (when available).

No foreign transaction fees

Some banks charge a fee on every overseas transaction, increasing the total cost of travel. The Venture X card has no foreign transaction fees, so you can take that second honeymoon to Rome without worrying about extra charges.

Consumer protection benefits

Capital One offers multiple consumer protection benefits to Venture X cardholders:

1

Cell phone protection

If your phone is lost or stolen, Capital One will reimburse you up to $800, provided you use your Venture X to pay the cell phone bill.

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2

Extended warranty coverage

Capital One offers extended warranty coverage on certain items purchased with the Venture X card. This benefit extends the original warranty, giving you extra protection in case a covered item breaks. Extended warranty coverage is available on items that have original warranties of three years or less.

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3

Purchase protection

Your card comes with purchase protection, which pays to repair or replace covered items. This benefit kicks in if a covered item is stolen or sustains accidental damage.

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4

Return protection

Sometimes an item breaks shortly after you buy it, or it’s damaged on arrival. If a retailer refuses to refund a covered item, Capital One will reimburse you. Return protection lasts for 90 days from the date of purchase.

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Rental car benefits

With the Venture X, you automatically get President’s Circle status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards loyalty program. One benefit of this elevated status is that you can go straight to your car instead of waiting at the rental counter (in select locations). You can also add your partner as a second driver without paying an additional fee. Additional perks include guaranteed vehicle upgrades, a dedicated customer service texting number, and access to a large selection of vehicles.

Additional authorized users

You can add up to four authorized users to your Capital One Venture X account without paying a fee. Each user gets some of the same benefits you do, including a Priority Pass membership, President’s Circle status at Hertz, rental car insurance and some types of travel insurance.

Visa Infinite benefits

The Venture X is classified as a Visa Infinite product, giving you access to several premium benefits. For example, members qualify for personalized concierge assistance. A concierge can help you with everything from finding tickets to a sporting event to making reservations at a hot new restaurant.

Capital One Venture X rewards

Here’s where things really get interesting. The Venture X makes it easy to earn and redeem rewards, especially if you love to travel.

Earn Capital One Venture X rewards

Capital One is offering 75,000 bonus miles if you open a Venture X and spend $4,000 within three months. At a typical rewards rate of 1 cent per mile, this welcome offer is worth $750 right off the bat. You also get a 10,000-mile bonus for each card anniversary or approximately $100 in value. This makes the first year of membership worth at least $850 in benefits, which far outweighs the $395 annual fee.

You earn bonus miles at the following reward rates:

Here’s an example to help you understand how fast you can accumulate points. Imagine you’re taking a weekend getaway to New York City. You spend $297 on your flight and $422 on a hotel. While you’re in the city, you buy tickets to a Broadway show ($360) and eat at several restaurants ($342 total). You don’t bother with a rental car since you’re not comfortable navigating all that traffic.

You’d earn:

Remember, you have to use Capital One Travel if you want to earn 5X miles on flights and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars.

Redeem Capital One Venture X rewards

Although many cardholders use their miles for travel purchases, Capital One gives you seven easy ways to redeem your rewards:

Capital One Venture X card fees, rates & limit

Don’t forget about the fine print. Let’s take a look at the fees, rates, and limit for the Capital One Venture X card.

Capital One Venture X card fees

Capital One charges the following fees:

Capital One Venture X card interest rates

Before you commit to the Venture X, make sure you’re aware of the following rates:

Capital One Venture X card annual limit

The Venture X has a minimum annual limit of $10,000. Capital One doesn’t advertise a maximum limit.

Capital One is more than just a credit card issuer

The first step in growing and maintaining consistent savings is to understand your personal finances through checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and more.

If you want to save and grow your money, consider the following Capital One products:

Is the Capital One Venture X card for me?

This card may be right for you if you travel frequently enough to earn more than $395, which would allow you to break even on the annual fee. It’s an even better pick if you’ll use it often enough to get more out of the card than you spend to keep it in your wallet. If you’re looking for a balance of benefits, but more affordability the Capital One Venture card could be a better fit. Learn how these cards compare with our guide to Capital One Venture vs Venture X.

How do I become a Capital One Venture X card member?

You can apply for the Capital One Venture X card online. You’ll just need to enter the required information and submit your application.

Keep in mind that the Venture X credit card is marketed to consumers with excellent credit. Although Capital One hasn’t announced a minimum credit score, the card generally goes to people with scores in the high 700s and 800s.

How Venture X compares to other credit cards

One advantage of the Venture X over other cards is that you get 10X miles on hotels and rental cars when you book through the Capital One Travel portal. The Venture X also has a lower annual fee than some travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Check out our guide to Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve to learn more about how these cards compare.

One drawback is that you need excellent credit to qualify for this card. You also need to travel frequently enough to justify the annual fee. Otherwise, you may be better off with another rewards credit card that offers more miles or points for dining or groceries.

If you want to stick with Capital One but don’t think the Venture X card is for you, check out our other Capital One credit card reviews to see if any of these would be a better fit.

Advertiser Disclosure

Best for Premium Travel Rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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Up to 10X Reward Rate

Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.

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Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
Why we like it
There are numerous reasons to love the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, but it all starts with its excellent earning rate for travel purchases. Being a premium travel credit card, it’s also packed with benefits such as airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, Priority Pass Select membership, yearly bonus miles, and more.
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Card Details

More Card Info

  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Pros
  • Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases, transfers to international airlines, and more
  • Can qualify for hundreds of dollars in credits each year
  • Huge welcome offer
Cons
  • $395 annual fee
  • Large spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus
  • Excellent credit required
Bottom Line

With a lower annual fee than some premium cards and extremely valuable benefits, this card can easily be worth the annual fee for the frequent traveler.

Capital One Venture X FAQs

Who is the Capital One Venture X card for?

The Venture X is for consumers with excellent credit who travel often enough to benefit from 5X miles on flights and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars. Its rewards are as good as some of the best airline credit cards and hotel credit cards.

Is Capital One Venture X card hard to get?

This card is fairly hard to get because it’s aimed at users with excellent credit scores. Even if you have a high score, your application may be denied if you carry a large debt load or apply for several credit cards or loans in just a few months.

What credit score is needed for the Capital One Venture X credit card?

Capital One doesn’t advertise a minimum score for the Venture X card. However, an excellent VantageScore credit score ranges from 781 to 850. Since this card is for consumers with excellent credit histories, you should aim to have a score in this range before you apply.

How long does it take to redeem Capital One Venture X rewards?

It depends on the redemption method. If you want to cover past travel purchases, you have a 90-day window to apply your miles. For any benefit that results in a statement credit, it may take one or two billing cycles — about 2 months — to see the credit on your account.

What is the Capital One Venture X referral bonus?

Capital One has a referral program that gives you bonus miles every time someone uses your personalized link to open one of these cards:

You only get the bonus if your friend doesn’t already have a Capital One card and their application is approved.

Is Capital One Venture X Visa or Mastercard?

Capital One Venture X is a Visa card.

Do Venture X miles expire?

Your Venture X miles won’t expire as long as your account stays open and in good standing.

Leigh Morgan
Leigh Morgan Personal Finance

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last 5 years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

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