The Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card: A review

High-end travel rewards credit cards offer perks that those looking to travel in style may drool over: luxurious airport lounge access, flight upgrades, free nights in 5-star hotels, and more. But increasingly these luxury travel cards come with high annual fees. The Platinum Card® from American Express has a $695 annual fee (rates & fees) — though it’s still one of the best travel cards out there, and you can read our review here — and the Mastercard® Black Card™ an annual fee of $495.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card falls into this high-end rewards card bucket — but with an annual fee that’s less than its competitors (at $395).  “It’s simpler than many of its rivals, and its rewards have a higher baseline,” says Ted Rossman, chief financial analyst at CreditCards.com. 

Senitra Horbrook, credit cards editor at The Points Guy, adds: “Overall, I recommend having the Capital One Venture X due to the ease of earning miles, the easy transfer ability of those miles to redeem for flights and hotels and for the airport lounge access.” And reviewers at CreditCards.com says the “perks and annual bonuses alone easily cover [the] annual fee.”  Below, we also highlight (with links) what 10 of the leading financial sites have to say about this card.

Here’s what leading financial sites have to say about the Capital One Venture X:

“The perfect middle-ground” — if you don’t want to spend $500 on annual fees, though there are fewer specialized perks as some other elite cards, says Bankrate.

“Frequent travelers that can’t justify an elite card with a $500+ annual price tag and a bloated list of luxury benefits will find the Capital One Venture X the perfect middle-ground. Its annual fee is nearly offset automatically with yearly bonuses and it offers both flexible travel redemption and solid rewards on everyday spending,” Bankrate reveals.

Their review also mentions that the card doesn’t offer as many luxury travel or specialized perks as other elite cards do. “Capital One miles aren’t as versatile as a few other popular travel cards’ rewards, and it doesn’t offer much more rewards potential on travel-adjacent categories like dining or entertainment.” 

“More affordable than its main competitors,” says The Points Guy.

“The Capital One Venture X stole the limelight altogether when it launched in November 2021, thanks to a phenomenal sign-up bonus and some incredibly valuable perks. Plus, with an annual fee of just $395, the Venture X is more affordable than its main competitors,” the site notes.

“Easier to understand” — than other cards, says NerdWallet.

“‘Simple’ and ‘premium travel credit cards’ aren’t concepts that usually go together since the typical card in that category is widely complicated,” Nerdwallet writes. “But relatively, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is easier to understand than, say, The Platinum Card from American Express. By contrast, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card at its core retains the simplicity of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card by offering a flat rewards rate on all spending and lets you use rewards to pay for travel.”

“Packs a punch for consumers who want a credit card that focuses almost exclusively on travel perks,” though the annual fee is high, says CNBC Select.

“The Capital One Venture X packs a punch for consumers who want a credit card that focuses almost exclusively on travel perks. Other premium cards have made additions to their benefits in recent years that make each more of a lifestyle card than a pure travel card.”

Among the cons listed in their review is the high annual fee and no introductory 0% APR period. 

“Venture X is a winner” for those looking to “elevate” their travel experience, says Forbes Advisor, though it adds that it may not be the best card “if you want straightforward redemptions on U.S.-based airlines.

“For what it’s designed to do, which is elevate your travel experience while earning rewards on everything you buy, Venture X may be the one of the best cards we’ve ever reviewed. That may sound like hyperbole but see if you can disagree after you see all the features the card has with an annual fee significantly less than the closest competitor.” But, the site notes that “if you want straightforward redemptions on U.S.-based airlines, Capital One miles are not the best choice.”

“A good credit card for high-spending frequent travelers with excellent credit,” says WalletHub.

“The Capital One Venture X Card’s $395 annual fee can be worth it if you take advantage of its big initial bonus, attractive ongoing rewards and numerous other perks,” the sites writes. For example, cardholders get free airport lounge access, plus the opportunity to earn hundreds of dollars in statement credits each year. The downsides of this offer are its high annual fee, APR and credit score requirement. Although you can get your money’s worth from the annual fee if you use the card wisely, carrying a balance from month to month and racking up interest charges would decrease the card’s value considerably.”

“A strong competitor in the premium credit cards space,” says ValuePenguin.

“With a stellar earning rate, sign-up bonus and a multitude of luxury travel perks, this card could be one of the best.”

“The ultimate card for serious travelers,” says BuySide from The Wall Street Journal, though the sites adds that this is not the card for anyone who carries a balance.

“The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers premium travel perks and high rewards rates that don’t require a complicated spending strategy,” BuySide, which is owned by the same parent company as MarketWatch, writes. But it adds: “If you tend to carry a balance, a rewards credit card may not be a good idea for you. Monthly interest charges will almost certainly outweigh the value of any miles you earn.

“One of the best rewards rates available on a luxury travel card,” says CreditCards.com.

“Boasting a roster of valuable perks and annual credits and one of the best rewards rates available on a luxury travel card, the Venture X should offer terrific value for frequent travelers.”

“Benefits outweigh the annual fee by a mile,” says CreditKarma.

“The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has an estimated Total Benefit Value of $1,089 as of May 2022, based on Credit Karma’s calculation.”

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