Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: A Solid Choice for Casual Travelers


The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a straightforward option for those who want travel rewards without the fuss of bonus categories or airline restrictions. You earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase. This makes it a good fit if you're not always jet-setting but still want to earn miles towards your next vacation.

How the Rewards Program Works

With the Venture card, you can use your miles to pay for any travel purchase you make on the card. Think vacation rentals, plane tickets (no matter the airline), hotels, rental cars, and cruises. You simply redeem your miles for a statement credit to cover the cost. This is a great feature, as some travel cards tie you to specific airlines or hotel chains.

While it's a great card for everyday spending, the Venture card doesn't have all the fancy travel perks that some other cards offer. If you travel a lot, you might find a card with more travel benefits to be a better option.

Here's a breakdown of the rewards:

  • 5X miles: Earn on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked using Capital One Travel.
  • 2X miles: Earn on everything else you buy.

Sign-Up Bonus

Limited-Time Offer: Get $250 to use on Capital One Travel during your first year as a cardholder. Plus, earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account. That equals $1,000 in travel!

Other Card Details

  • APR: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee: \$95
  • Balance Transfer Fee: \$0 at the transfer APR, 4 percent of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
  • Cash Advance Fee: Either \$5 or 5% of the advance, whichever is greater
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: \$0

Is This Card Right for You?

Here's a quick look at the good and not-so-good aspects of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:

The Good:

  • Simple Rewards: You earn a flat rate on all purchases, making it a great, simple, all-around card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use it when you travel internationally without paying extra fees.
  • Flexible Redemption: Many ways to use your miles.

The Not-So-Good:

  • No Annual Perks: Unlike some cards, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, there are no annual credits to balance out the annual fee.
  • Mile Value: Miles are typically worth 1 cent each. To get more value, you need to transfer them to partner airlines.
  • Better Rewards Elsewhere: You might get more rewards with cards that offer bonus categories for specific spending.

Figuring Out the Card's Long-Term Value

This card's value is in its travel rewards program. The card offers a \$50 Lifestyle Collection hotel stay experience credit and the up to \$120 application fee credit you’ll receive every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

To make the \$95 annual fee worth it, here's roughly what you'd need to spend each year:

  • 2X miles: Spend at least \$4,752 per year to earn enough miles to cover the fee (if you redeem at 1 cent per mile).
  • 5X miles: Spend at least \$1,900 per year on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

The \$250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus 75,000-mile sign-up bonus (earned after spending \$4,000 during the first three months) is enough to help offset the annual fee for several years, even if you only receive 1 cent per mile in redemption value.

Here's a simplified view of what you can expect in terms of value: Benefits and Costs First-Year Value Ongoing Value (No Welcome Offers) Yearly Rewards +\$327 +\$327 Sign-Up Bonus +\$1,000 value (LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy \$250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles) - Perks (of Monetary Value) +\$30 (up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years) +\$50 (experience credit for eligible Lifestyle Collection hotel stays) +\$80 Annual Fee -\$95 -\$95 Total Value\$1,407\$312

These values are based on average spending habits.

Why Choose the Capital One Venture Rewards Card

If you want a travel card that's easy to use and rewards all your purchases, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is a great option. It's best for people who travel occasionally and aren't loyal to a specific airline or hotel.

Key Benefits:

  • Flat-Rate Rewards: Earn miles on every purchase.
  • Simple Earning: No need to worry about rotating categories or bonus spending.
  • Generous Bonus: A solid sign-up bonus to get you started.
  • Flexible Redemptions: Use miles for travel purchases, statement credits, or transfer to partners.

Other Options to Consider

While the Venture card has its advantages, it's not the only travel card out there.

Lacking Perks: The Venture Rewards card offers a \$50 annual credit applied to Lifestyle Collection stays. Other cards have better anniversary bonuses.

Before making a decision, compare a few cards to see which one best fits your spending habits and travel goals.

Real-World Experience

Jacqueline DeMarco, a Bankrate contributor, has been using the Capital One Venture card for seven years because of its simple rewards program.

Bankrate Staff Insights

I hate trying to figure out which spending categories will give me the most credit card rewards. I like that the Capital One Venture gives me unlimited 2X miles on everything. I use it for most big purchases, like upgrading my phone or buying clothes. If I spend \$1,500 in a month, I know I'll get 3,000 Capital One miles. It's easy to figure out.

Even with the \$95 annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is worth it for me. It gives me a simple rewards program, flexible flights, and protection.

How Bankrate Rates Credit Cards

Bankrate has a system for rating credit cards. They analyze different aspects of each card, including rewards, fees, and perks, and compare them to other cards in the same category.

Bankrate looks at over 150 of the most popular rewards and cash-back cards to see how they stack up in terms of value, cost, and benefits. The overall score is based on:

  • Rewards value
  • Rates and fees
  • Flexibility
  • Perks
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