INTRODUCTION

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular travel cards in the mid-range category. It offers excellent flat-rate rewards, solid travel perks, and a leading sign-up bonus. 

The card offers access to Capital One’s full range of airline and hotel transfer partners—without the high annual fees of premium cards. This gives a good chance to get into the airline reward market – although note that Venture Rewards partners do not include the three main US legacy airlines. 

The Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a trade-up from the no-fee VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. The $95 annual fee may be worth it for the higher sign-up bonus, the increased ongoing earning, and the included perks. 

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MAIN CARD BENEFITS:

Mid-range annual fee of $95.

Sign up bonus of 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.

High earning rate of five miles per dollar on travel spend (hotels and car rental) through the Capital One Travel portal.

Earnings of two miles per dollar on all other spending. 

Access to Venture Miles and the 15+ transfer partners it offers. 

Capital One Miles can be used for a statement credit or transferred to hotel and airline programs for potential higher value. 

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, via a statement credit.

Complimentary Hertz Five Star status.

Receive a $50 experience credit and other benefits booking from the Lifestyle Collection.

Travel insurance coverage, including trip cancellation, interruption, rental car insurance, and lost luggage protection. 

No foreign transaction fees. 

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WHO IS THE CARD FOR:

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a popular choice for those looking to maximize earnings with a paid card, but without the expensive perks of higher fee cards. 

It is a good choice for the frequent traveler, who will earn the highest rates for travel purchases and wants to take advantage of higher value redemptions through transferring miles to partners. This is also a personal card, so there is no requirement to have a business or be operating as a sole proprietor to take out the card. 

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PROS:

Excellent sign-up bonus – among the highest for a personal card in this fee range. 

Very high earnings of five miles per dollar on travel (when booked through Capital One Travel).

Unlimited earnings of two miles per dollar in all categories, with no need to track spending. 

Access to 15+ transfer partners for miles. Miles are worth up to around 1.8 cents this way. 

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CONS:

No introductory 0% APR offer.

Premium travel benefits are limited—no lounge access or hotel elite status. 

The highest bonus earnings are only for travel booked through Capital One Travel.

Partners airlines do not include any of the main US legacy airlines (American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines).

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