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Capital One Venture X Card Review: Premium Travel Perks Without the Fuss

Review Updated
Brooklyn Sprunger
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

Plenty of premium travel credit cards promise "luxury," but what they actually deliver is a mess of hoops, fine print, and perks that require a spreadsheet to manage.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) takes a different approach. It keeps things simple and generous. You'll get strong rewards, annual travel credits that actually save you money, and a welcome bonus that packs a punch. All for an annual fee that's surprisingly easy to recoup, even for casual travelers.

It's sleek, easy to use, and offers impressive value for anyone who travels a few times a year while keeping your rewards game low-maintenance.

5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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= Fair
= Poor
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Excellent (740-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Excellent (740-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

2X-10X miles

Annual Fee

$395

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

75,000 Miles

  • If you want premium travel perks that easily justify their cost, this card delivers. You’ll get a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, plus 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (worth $100 toward travel) — perks that already offset the $395 annual fee.

    Add a 75,000-mile welcome bonus (worth $750 toward travel), unlimited 2X miles on everyday purchases, airport lounge access, and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credits, and you’ve got one of the strongest premium travel cards available today.

    • Big travel rewards bonus
    • High rewards rate
    • Travel credits
    • Easy-to-use miles
    • Annual fee
    • Other card issuers have more valuable travel rewards
    • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
    • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
    • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
    • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
    • Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
    • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
    • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
    • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates and 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.

Our highest-rated credit cards have:

  • ​​High value through rewards or 0% intro APR offers
  • Attainable welcome bonuses that make up for any annual fees
  • Low annual fees or a balance transfer fee of 3%
  • Top perks such as purchase and travel protections, no foreign transaction fees, travel credits, and status upgrades

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates and 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.

Our highest-rated credit cards have:

  • ​​High value through rewards or 0% intro APR offers
  • Attainable welcome bonuses that make up for any annual fees
  • Low annual fees or a balance transfer fee of 3%
  • Top perks such as purchase and travel protections, no foreign transaction fees, travel credits, and status upgrades

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

What I like about the Capital One Venture X Card

It's almost too easy to break even

Let's talk about math. The $395 annual fee (see rates and fees) feels like a deal when you factor in:

  • $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
  • 10,000 bonus miles every year starting on your first anniversary (equal to $100 towards travel)

That's $400 in value back each year. If you book just $300 in travel annually through the portal, you've already made your money back and then some. No monthly credits to remember. Just book travel, get rewarded, and move on.

Rewards you don't have to think about

While other cards try to win you over with 5X here and 3X points there (only on Tuesdays, and only if Mercury is in retrograde), the Capital One Venture X Card keeps it straightforward:

  • 5X-10X miles on travel purchases through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles on all other purchases

It's the kind of card you can use every day, not just when you remember which category is earning more this quarter.

A rare combo: flat-rate rewards and real travel perks

Most cards make you choose: either get solid travel perks or earn decent flat-rate rewards. Capital One Venture X Card says, "Why not both?"

You'll earn 2X miles on all other purchases outside the 5X and 10X categories -- putting it in direct competition with popular flat-rate cash back cards -- plus it gives you premium benefits like lounge access, annual travel credits, and transfer partners.

That dual identity makes it super versatile: It's a strong everyday card and a high-end travel tool in one.

Are these perks sounding right for you? Apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card today.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for long 0% intro APR
N/A N/A

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR

4.70/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases
25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5-3 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Downsides you should consider

You have to book through Capital One Travel to max out benefits

To get the $300 travel credit and earn 5X-10X miles, you must book through Capital One's portal. It's solid -- and improving -- but not everyone wants to use a third-party site instead of booking direct.

Transfer partners aren't as robust as competitors

Capital One has solid airline partners like Air France and Avianca, but no direct transfers to major U.S. airlines like Delta, United, or Southwest. If you're deep into the points-and-miles game, this could limit your redemption options.

Lounge access isn't what it used to be

Capital One's airport lounge access has been one of the biggest draws of the Capital One Venture X Card, and while it's still strong, it's getting dialed back. Starting Feb. 1, 2026, authorized users will no longer get complimentary lounge access.

You still get solid lounge access as the primary cardholder, but these changes take away a big chunk of the "bring-your-friends" value that once made this card feel like a steal.

Is it worth the annual fee?

For most travelers, absolutely. This is one of the few premium cards where the break-even point is so easy it feels like a cheat code. Book $300 in travel? Check. Get 10,000 miles every year? Done. That's $400 in value for a $395 fee -- and we haven't even factored in the lounge access, rewards, or welcome bonus.

If you're someone who travels even semi-regularly, this card delivers way more than it costs -- without making you work for it.

How to apply for the Capital One Venture X Card

You can apply right here from this page. You'll need excellent credit (typically 740+), but some applicants with slightly lower scores have been approved.

Click here to apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Final thoughts

The Capital One Venture X Card stands out because it doesn't overcomplicate things. You get premium travel perks, strong rewards, and an annual fee that's almost too easy to justify. No confusing benefit trackers, no juggling three cards to maximize rewards -- just great value with every swipe.

If you're looking for a top-tier travel card that delivers luxury without the learning curve, this one should be at the top of your list. Apply today and start earning.

FAQs

  • Nope. You can swipe this card abroad without worrying about extra fees -- perfect for international travel.

  • The 75,000 Miles are worth at least $750 toward travel, and potentially more if you transfer to airline partners. That's a strong return on a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months.

  • Yes -- and it's free to add them. They'll get their own Priority Pass membership, which includes airport lounge access, even when they're not traveling with you.

  • It's much better than it used to be. You'll find competitive prices, a user-friendly interface, and a price-drop protection feature -- but you may not always find the same deals you'd see booking directly.