Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review
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This article was last updated Aug 14, 2018, but some terms and conditions may have changed or are no longer available. For the most accurate and up to date information please consult the terms and conditions found on the issuer website.
Who the card is best for
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is best suited for people who spend over $12,668 a year or more. Here’s why: when you hit $4,750 a year, you will recoup the annual fee. Then, once you spend $12,668, you will have earned 15,836 miles. This number is significant because it surpasses the 15,835 miles you would earn if you had the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card. Those who spend less than $12,668 a year may be better of with the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card.
The foreign transaction fee is none, so those who travel abroad don’t have to worry about the typical 2 – 5 percent fee other cards charge.
Where this card stands out in its category
This card has a great rewards rate: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. This is the highest flat-rate rewards for a travel card in the CompareCards database. Some other travel cards only offer a high rate on select purchases like travel or dining, but not the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card — you earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
Where this card falls short in its category
This card does have an annual fee of $0 intro for first year; $95 after that. And although this is one of the lowest fees for travel rewards cards, you can find cards with no fee like the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card - 25,000 Bonus Points Offer — but be aware the rewards rate may be lower. There is also no 0% intro APR period, which is typical of travel rewards cards, but there are cards in the market that offer intro periods such as the Discover it® Miles with 0% for 14 Months on purchases and 10.99% for 14 Months on balance transfers (13.74% - 24.74% Variable APR, thereafter).
Additional card benefits
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card offers numerous additional card benefits since it is a Visa Signature® card:
- Visa Signature® Concierge: Access to 24/7 representatives available to assist you with a variety of concerns and requests such as finding tickets and booking travel, whether you’re at home or traveling.*
- Visa Signature® Luxury Hotel Collection: With over 900 properties, the Visa Signature® Luxury Hotel Collection offers access to premium benefits.*
- Fine Wine & Food: You can attend special dining and wine experiences, receive discounts or complimentary wine tastings at select places.*
- Lost luggage reimbursement: Your checked or carry-on luggage is covered up to $3,000 if lost or stolen.*
- Travel accident insurance: You can receive coverage for select accidents when you pay for your travel with your card.*
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Representatives are available to assist you with finding medical, legal, and travel services.*
- Roadside Dispatch®: Don’t worry if you get a flat or need a jump, towing and locksmith referral services are available 24/7 in the U.S. and Canada.*
* Certain restrictions, limitations, and exclusions apply
How to use it most effectively
Use this card for all spending to enjoy the great rewards rate — 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. This allows you to accumulate miles quicker, and as a result be closer to paying for travel with your miles. When traveling abroad, this is a good card to use since the foreign transaction fee is none. To increase your miles early on, fulfill the requirements of the New Cardmember Offer: One-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel.
Rewards breakdown
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card allows you to earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. Miles can be redeemed as a statement credit towards the cost of travel expenses via Purchase Eraser®, to book new travel on the Rewards Center, or for a check, account credit, gift card and more. Travel purchases eligible for Purchase Eraser® include: airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxi cabs, travel agents and time shares. Be aware that redemptions must be made within 90 days from the date your travel purchase posts to your account. There is a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel.
Compare it with the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Capital One offers two similar cards: the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card. These cards share more than a similar name, they both are great for traveling abroad and offer the same Visa Signature® perks. However, they differ in rewards rate and annual fee.
If you want to avoid an annual fee, the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card is a better choice with an annual fee of $0. This is compared to the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card with a $0 intro for first year; $95 after that annual fee.
Keep in mind that while the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee, you earn less miles per dollar than the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card. This is a good point to consider when deciding which card to apply for. If you spend $12,668 or more a year, you will be better with the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card because this is where it starts to earn more miles than the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card — this number factors in the annual fee charged after year one. Here’s a breakdown of the key features of each card:
| Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that | $0 |
| Purchase Intro Rate | N/A | 0% intro on purchases for 12 months |
| Balance Transfer Intro Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Balance Transfer Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Regular Purchase APR | 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) | 13.74% - 23.74% (Variable) |
| Rewards | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day | 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
| New Cardmember Offer | One-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel | One-time bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening, equal to $200 in travel |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None |
Bottom Line
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for travelers who spend more than $12,668 a year. This card will earn you the highest flat-rate on the market and you can benefit from Visa Signature® perks.
