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Trust me, it’s very easy to get confused about “which-card-does-what” in terms of travel. It may not seem like much (or maybe it DOES seem like much), but choosing the right one can make a big difference. Today, I’m comparing two popular Capital One cards—the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card—to help you decide which is the best fit for your travel goals.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

To start off, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card current welcome offer is enough to get you 2 round trip flights when redeemed by transferring miles to other travel partners. We’ll talk more about transferring miles later on. It can also be used simply to reimburse yourself for anything that you purchase that codes as travel – train tickets, Airbnb stays, rental cars, hotels, etc. It’s extremely beginner friendly.

Earned rates include 2x miles on every purchase, in addition to the 5x miles received on hotel stays booked through Capital One Travel.

More benefits include no foreign transaction fees (which is ideal for international travel), travel accident insurance, and rental car coverage for added security.

Now, I gotta be honest, there’s an annual fee of $95 with the Venture Rewards card, but the rewards are solid and easily make up for the fee if you utilize it to its best abilities!

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Similar to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the current welcome offer could also be redeemed for 2 round trip flights to Europe, but throw in a little airport lounge access in there.

The earn rates with Venture X are 2x miles on every purchase, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One, and 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One. I especially love booking rental cars this way because rental cars are one thing that are tricky to get covered with miles – so might as well earn some!

Although the annual fee is higher–$395–you have access to Capital One lounges and Priority Pass lounges for some lux airport time. This is actually the only card that I have added my husband as an authorized user, because each card allows us to bring in 3 guests to the Capital One airport lounge – allowing my family of 5 to enter!  You also receive $300 travel credit each year for bookings made through Capital One, and up to $120 reimbursement every four years with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit. The cherry-on-top is the comprehensive travel insurance, such as trip cancellation and/or interruption and lost luggage coverage.

Transferring Miles

To maximize your Capital One Venture Miles, simply go to your Capital One account and select “rewards.” Then, select “transfer miles” (crazy, right?). It’s that easy! From here, follow the prompts received to book flights and/or hotels from Capital One’s 15+ travel partners! My FAVORITE redemption of Capital One Venture Miles is by redeeming 85,000 miles to fly my family of 5 on AirFrance from Austin to Amsterdam (one way). Other great Capital One transfer partners are Emirates (hellooo biz flights), Singapore Airlines, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Red, Air Canada and more! 

Which Card is Right for You?

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Perfect if you want a straightforward rewards structure with a lower annual fee. The 75,000-mile welcome offer provides a solid start, and the 2x miles on every purchase mean consistent rewards on all spending. The flexibility to transfer miles to travel partners can also enhance the value of your rewards.

Capital One Venture X Credit Card: Ideal for frequent travelers who can capitalize on the extensive benefits such as travel credits and lounge access. With higher earning rates on flights and hotels, and the option to transfer miles to premium travel partners, this card is a premium choice for those who travel often and want to enjoy luxury perks.

Choose the card that best aligns with your travel habits and financial goals. Both cards offer excellent ways to earn and use travel rewards, so start earning miles and plan your next adventure with ease!

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“For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.”