100,000-Mile Bonus and a $300 Travel Credit: Venture X Just Won Best Travel Card for 2026

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) just took home our award for Best Travel Card of 2026, and it's easy to see why. It offers high-value perks without any baggage. You don't need to keep track of a dozen credits that expire if you forget to use them. You just earn solid rewards, enjoy top-tier benefits, and pay a reasonable annual fee that's easy to recoup.

If that weren't enough, the card's limited-time welcome offer is massive.

Here are the details on our top travel card for 2026.

A huge new welcome offer

New Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card holders can earn 100,000 Miles (worth $1,000 in travel) when you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening. That's worth at least $1,000 toward travel booked through Capital One -- and potentially more if you transfer miles to one of Capital One's 15+ travel loyalty partners.

It's one of the most generous offers on any travel card right now.

Everyday earnings that don't take effort

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns:

• 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases

The flat 2X miles rate means you'll earn high rewards everywhere -- no need to think about what category every purchase falls into. That makes this card a great value for everyday spenders, not just jet-setters.

Perks that wipe out the annual fee with low effort

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card's annual fee is $395 (see rates and fees), but it's surprisingly easy to break even.

• A $300 annual travel credit applies to bookings made through Capital One Travel
• You'll also get 10,000 bonus miles each year after your anniversary (worth $100 through Capital One Travel)

Together, those two perks practically recover the annual fee -- before you even start earning miles.

Airport lounge access

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card primary cardholders get complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass™ lounges -- that's over 1,300 lounges worldwide.

This benefit alone can be worth more than the annual fee if you use it. You can relax before your flight with free food, drinks, and wifi -- and sometimes even fitness rooms and showers.

How it compares to other premium travel cards

Some premium travel cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and American Express Platinum Card®, offer a ton of value through statement credits -- but only if you spend money at the right places and at the right time.

Some of those statement credits expire every month, quarter, or six months. And in order to earn them, you need to spend money at certain hotels, restaurants, retailers, etc. Oh, and a lot of them require pre-enrollment, too.

These cards offer big savings for people who spend a certain way and don't mind putting in some effort. For the rest of us, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card keeps things simple: a few premium perks that are easy to use, and an annual fee that's easy to justify.

A premium travel card for ordinary spenders

If you book even one trip a year and want lounge access, travel protections, and a travel credit that nearly wipes out the annual fee, then the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a perfect fit. The 2X miles base rate makes it ideal for everyday spending, and the limited-time welcome offer adds serious upfront value.

To learn more and apply for our top travel card of 2026 before the limited time offer of 100,000 Miles (worth $1,000 in travel) when you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening disappears, read our full Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.