I’ve just renewed my Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card for the third year, and surprisingly, I did it without a second thought.
Why? Well, it’s pretty straightforward. Each year, I essentially earn more than what I spend on this card, so it feels like a win.
This card has proven to deliver excellent value, even after the initial thrill of the welcome bonus has faded. I can see myself holding onto it for quite some time.
Why I Don’t Mind Paying the Annual Fee Again
Last year, I managed to snag nearly $800 worth of value through its perks while vacationing in Grenada. This included the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fees, which have saved me a lot of time navigating US airports.
As I reflect on my third year, here’s what I appreciate most about this card:
- Annual credit: Each year, cardholders get a $300 credit for bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal.
- Anniversary bonus: There’s a bonus of 10,000 miles for each account anniversary (starting from the first), valued at about $185 based on TPG’s latest valuation.
- Lounge access: Free entry to Capital One lounges as well as over 1,800 Priority Pass lounges for myself and two guests, though guest access will change in 2026.
- High earning rates: Earn 10 miles for every dollar spent on hotels and rental cars, and 5 miles for vacation rentals and flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
- Good everyday rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on regular purchases.
The combination of a $300 travel credit and 10,000 Anniversary Miles easily offsets the $395 fee each year. Plus, with lounge access and robust earning potential, I rack up a substantial amount of Capital One miles annually, on top of the bonus.
Venture X is My Default Card
I carry various travel credit cards, each with distinct perks and earning rates. Honestly, it can be a bit tricky remembering which one to use for particular purchases, especially in crowded places.
This card gives me 2 miles per dollar spent on all transactions, outpacing any other card I have, including well-known options. That’s why it’s my go-to in my Google Pay app.
My husband is an authorized user on all my cards. While he enjoys using points and miles to book things like business class on Qatar Airways, he isn’t quite as enthusiastic about the details of each card as I am.
To simplify things for him, he just defaults to the Venture card—no need to overthink it; just tap to earn 2 miles for every dollar.
Maximizing Benefits as a Third-Year Cardholder
Looking ahead, we’re planning a trip along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2026.
I plan to use the card’s $300 travel credit to help with hotel expenses in Lexington, where our journey will kick off. Given that we’ll be staying several nights, the hotel bill will likely surpass $300. However, for any costs beyond that, I can earn 10 miles for every dollar spent via the Capital One Travel portal.
Since I’m flying in from London to Cincinnati, I’ll transfer my 10,000 anniversary miles and the bonus miles from last year to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio to cover my flight.
I’ll also reserve a rental car through Capital One Travel for the drive to Lexington, which lets me earn those 10 miles again and provides a collision liability waiver.
Conclusion
The Venture X card remains my top choice because the benefits it provides far outweigh the annual fee.
If you’ve been thinking about applying for this card, now’s a great time—new applicants can earn an unprecedented 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in the first six months of account opening.
