Why the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card should be in your wallet
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards on the market, offering an unbeatable combination of simplicity, value, and flexibility. Whether you’re a seasoned points expert or just getting started, here are all the reasons why this card deserves a spot in your wallet. Scroll to the end to see how I would redeem these points for maximum value!
1. Massive Welcome Bonus
The Venture Card frequently offers elevated welcome bonuses after meeting the minimum spending requirement. The standard offer of 75,000 miles plus a $250 one-time travel credit is worth $1,000 towards travel or even more when transferred to airline and hotel partners!
2. Straightforward Earning Structure
Unlike some cards that have complicated earning categories, the Venture Card keeps it simple:
2X miles on every purchase, every day – no categories to track.
5X miles on hotels, rental cars, and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
3. Flexible Redemption Options
One of the best perks of the Venture Card is how easy it is to use your miles:
For beginners, using Venture Mles can be very simple:
Erase travel purchases – Simply book travel with your card, then use miles to offset the cost. As long as the purchase codes as travel, you can “erase” the cost at 1 cent per mile. $750 of travel expenses can be erased with 75,000 miles
Book directly through Capital One Travel and use miles instantly.
For getting the most value out of your points, we recommend transferring Venture miles to a travel partner. By transferring, you can get 2 cents or more per mile!
4. Access to Premium Travel Perks
Even though the Venture Card has a moderate annual fee, it comes with premium perks:
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (up to $120 every 4 years).
No foreign transaction fees – Perfect for international travelers.
5. Solid Airline & Hotel Transfer Partners
Capital One has expanded its transfer partners, making it easier than ever to maximize your miles. Some of the top partners include:
Air Canada
Aeromexico
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
Emirates Skywards
Etihad
Eva Air
Finnair Air Plus
Flying Blue- Air France/KLM
Jetblue
Qantas
Singapore Airlines
Tap Miles to Go
Turkish Miles and Smiles
Virgin Atlantic
All-Accor
Choice Privileges
Wyndham Rewards/Vacasa home rentals
6. Pair with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
If you’re looking for an even better premium travel experience, pairing the Venture Card with the Venture X can unlock additional perks like Priority Pass lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and 10X earnings on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel. You just need 6 months between applications, but you can hold both cards.
7. An Affordable Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture Card has a reasonable $95 annual fee, making it a great option for travelers who want premium benefits without the high cost of luxury travel cards. If you want to downgrade after one year, there could be option to switch to a no-annual fee card or simply close the card if it’s not right for you.
8. Refer friends and family
You can earn 20,000 referral points when you refer a new Capital One customer to the Venture Card. If they have held any other Capital One card in the past, you will not receive the referral points.
9. Share or transfer points to anyone
One of the biggest perks of earning Venture Miles is the ability to share them with any friend or family member. Just call customer service and request a transfer to their account— all you need is the full card number of the recipient. It’s a quick and easy process, making it ideal for families who want to combine miles and transfer them to travel partners for award bookings.
10. Earn the bonus every 48 months
Already have this card but looking to earn the bonus again? If it’s been more than 48 months since you last received the welcome bonus, you can either downgrade or close your card, wait 30 days, and then reapply. I recently chose to downgrade mine and was offered the no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card as an option.
Here are the top reasons to open the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card:
Big Welcome Bonus – Earn a large sum of flexible and valuable miles after meeting the minimum spend.
Low Annual Fee – At just $95 per year, the benefits and earning potential far outweigh the cost.
Simple, Flat-Rate Earning – Earn 2X miles on every purchase, with no need to track bonus categories.
Beginner-Friendly – A great choice for those new to points and miles, with an easy-to-understand rewards structure.
Flexible & Valuable Redemptions – Use miles to erase travel purchases at a fixed rate or transfer to airline and hotel partners for potentially higher value.
No Foreign Transaction Fees – Perfect for international travel, saving you money on every purchase abroad.
Great All-Around Card – Whether you’re just starting with points or want a reliable everyday travel card, the Venture Card is a solid pick.
Here are the top ways to redeem Capital One Venture Miles:
What Can You Do with 83,000 Venture Miles?
Once you meet the $4,000 minimum spend, you’ll have 83,000 Venture miles to redeem in a variety of ways:
Cover Theme Park Tickets – Purchase tickets from vendors like Theme Park Frog or Get Away Today, then use 83,000 miles to erase $830 of your purchase.
Cover Airbnb Costs – If you’re traveling to a destination with limited hotels bookable on points, use your Venture miles to erase eligible Airbnb stays. Ensure the charge codes as travel, then select “Cover Your Travel with Points” in your account.
Book One-Way Business Class Flights – Maximize value by transferring miles to airline partners. My top choices would be booking one-way business class on Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air France, KLM, or Turkish Airlines.
Book Round-Trip Flights on Virgin Atlantic – Transfer points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and book flights starting at 9,000 miles each way (or as low as 6,000 miles from the East Coast). Keep in mind that taxes and fees can be high. You could book round-trip flights for a family of six with this bonus!
Book a 5-Night Vacasa Stay via Wyndham – Transfer points to Wyndham Rewards and use 15,000 points per night to book a one-bedroom Vacasa rental (as long as the total cost is under $250 per night). Find availability on Vacasa’s site, call Wyndham to confirm, then transfer miles and book over the phone.
Book domestic flights by using airline alliances:
-Book United flights through Aeroplan & Turkish
-Book American through Qatar, British Airways, Qantas, and Finnair
-Book Delta flights through Virgin Atlantic or Flying Blue
Grab my complete guide to booking domestic flights with flexible points HERE
Flying Emirates Business Class with Capital One Miles
Final Thoughts
The Capital One Venture Card is a top choice for travelers looking for simplicity, flexibility, and great rewards. With a valuable welcome bonus, easy earning structure, and a variety of redemption options, it’s a fantastic addition to any points and miles strategy. Whether you want to erase travel purchases, transfer to partners, or stack it with other cards, the Venture Card makes earning and redeeming miles effortless.
Ready to apply? Use my link to get the best available offer and start earning miles toward your next trip!
Advertiser Disclosure: Melissa's Travel Addiction has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Melissa's Travel Addiction and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
