Why I’m signing up for the Capital One Venture X

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on Jan. 21, 2022.

As soon as the pandemic’s grip on travel eased, I gave in to my pent-up wanderlust. Since July 2021, I’ve gone on a trip every month.

But traveling is an expensive hobby, and I wouldn’t have been able to afford such frequent trips without credit card rewards and bonuses. For instance, I funded a lot of my travel in 2021 with my card earnings.

That’s why, when the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card launched in November 2021, I was so excited. I found this card to be a game-changer. Finally, here was a card that would allow frequent travelers on a budget to get into the premium travel card space.

Now, I’m ready to hit the apply button — and here are all the reasons why.

Generous sign-up bonus

The only reason I haven’t applied for the Venture X yet is that the timing hasn’t been right to earn the welcome bonus. The card currently offers 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, which is equal to $750 in travel. That’s more than $1,300 in spending per month, which is a bit higher than I’m comfortable committing to.

However, I’m moving across the country in June, and that comes with high costs like paying movers, arranging car transport, booking a trip for apartment touring and more. I’ve spent some time planning and saving for these expenses, but it’s time to start making things happen. Thanks to these expenses — and my patience for saving money and cash back — I’ll be able to knock off about one-fourth of the spend requirement in my first few days with the card. The rest should be relatively easy.

Saves me money

I’ve been looking for a more premium travel credit card with perks that make travel more comfortable. However, being budget-minded, I find popular luxury cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (with a $550 annual fee) and The Platinum Card® from American Express (with a $695 annual fee) to be too expensive for me at the moment.

Although their value justifies their cost, such a high single charge would mean I’d have to significantly cut my expenses for the month when the annual fee is due. In comparison, the Capital One Venture X has an annual fee of $395, and it has some of the same perks as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum.

Additionally, the Venture X more than pays for itself thanks to its up to $300 in annual statement credits for Capital One Travel purchases. It also offers 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary (redeemable through Capital One for travel at a 1-cent-per-mile value).

Plus, the Capital One Travel portal has some excellent money-saving features, including price prediction, price drop protection, price match guarantee and others. This is much more than what other issuer portals are currently offering and I can’t wait to use these features.

More comfortable travel experiences

I travel often, and sometimes I also travel far. My family lives in Russia, and I try to visit at least once a year. The last time I went, I had two layovers both ways, and one of them was longer than four hours. It was a bit of a nightmare. That’s why I’ve been dreaming about premium credit card perks that make travel more comfortable, like access to airport lounges and expedited airport security.

With the Venture X, cardholders will receive unlimited complimentary access for the cardholder and two guests to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide — including Capital One Lounges and participating Priority Pass lounges. The Venture X also comes with up to a $100 credit every four years to cover the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

I’ve been wanting Global Entry for a while. As you can imagine, the last thing I want after an 18-hour journey from Russia is to stand in a line to go through customs. Global Entry can help with just that. It’s a program designed to provide expedited entry through American customs for those who frequently travel outside of the U.S.

Hertz President’s Circle status

Although I’m partial to buses and trains, many cities leave a lot to be desired in terms of public transport. Uber and Lyft are convenient but get expensive quickly. So, when I travel in the U.S., I often end up renting a car.

Renting a car gives me the flexibility to move around freely and on my own time. But since I’m all about saving money, I usually pick an affordable option. I’ll then spend the trip missing my car’s leather seats, lane sensors, CarPlay and self-parking capabilities (a shameless parallel-parking hater here).

I’m hoping the Capital One Venture X can improve my rental experience. The card offers complimentary Hertz President’s Circle® status, which includes guaranteed upgrades and the opportunity to pick from a wide selection of cars. Plus, status is easy to register for through the link in your Capital One account*.

Regardless, I can’t wait to see how this works out in practice, and I’m looking forward to better car rental choices at acceptable prices.

The bottom line

I can’t wait to apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. I’ve been waiting for an affordable, premium travel card that provides both saving opportunities and luxury benefits for a while. Plus, my year looks like it’ll be full of expenses and exciting travel plans, and this card can help me with both. Wish me luck with my application!

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

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.