We get it. Credit card points, airline miles, and big annual fees can be intimidating and downright confusing. It's tough to know where to start.
And that's precisely why we think the *capital one venture card* is easily one of the best credit cards for beginners. It's got a low annual fee of just $95 a year and, most importantly, offers one of the easiest ways to earn a bunch of miles and redeem them simply toward travel – and not just flights, but hotels, rental cars, Airbnbs, and even excursions. It's also one of the best ways to get signed up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, programs that will save you a ton of time at the airport.
With a big welcome bonus and ongoing points earning identical to what you'll earn on the far-more expensive Venture Card's premium sibling, the *venture x*, this is the place to start if you're ready to dip your toe into the world of points and miles … but not quite ready to dive into travel rewards.
Read on as we make a case for the Capital One Venture Card being one of the best travel credit cards to start with.
Full Benefits of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership (worth at least $750 towards travel)
- Earn an unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase.
- Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- Fly on any airline or stay in any hotel with no blackout dates – or redeem miles for virtually any travel purchase
- Or transfer miles to nearly 20 airlines or hotel chains that are Capital One transfer partners
- Capital One Venture Miles never expire
- The card does not charge foreign transaction fees
- Annual Fee: $95
Learn more about the *capital one venture card*
A Welcome Bonus Worth $750 or More
The Capital One Venture Card currently offers 75,000 Venture miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of card membership.
That's identical to the welcome bonus you'll earn on the pricier Venture X Card. And since these miles can be redeemed for at least 1 cent each toward travel, it makes the welcome offer alone worth $750.
But by spending the required $4,000 in the first three months of card membership, you'll actually wind up with a minimum of 83,000 Venture Miles when you factor in earning at least 2x Venture Miles for every dollar you spend. And those miles are worth a minimum of $830 towards travel. Not bad for a card with a $95 annual fee, right?
You could easily get outsized value out of your Venture miles through Capital One's transfer partners. But at the very least, you're getting a ton of value upfront.
Earn 2x Miles on Every Purchase
The Capital One Venture card makes it simple. You'll earn a flat 2x Venture miles for every dollar you spend, making this a solid card for your everyday spending to keep racking up miles day in and day out.
That 2x return is tough to beat, especially when you consider that the Venture card earns the same amount of points as the Venture X Card. And the welcome bonus is identical, too.
If earning points is your primary concern, the Venture Card is the place to start considering it'll cost you $300 less upfront in annual fees.
Related reading: Capital One Venture vs. Venture X: Which Card is Best?
A Reasonable Annual Fee
The Capital One Venture Card has an annual fee of just $95.
Considering you'll be able to earn the 75,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first three months while also taking advantage of some of the other benefits offered by the card, you should be able to easily come out way ahead on that investment in your first year.
Read more: Do the Math, Don't Rule Out Credit Cards with Annual Fees
$100 Application Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
One of the great benefits of the Capital One Venture Card is the $100 application fee credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. It's one of the cheapest travel cards that covers the cost of enrolling in either program, in fact.
If you apply for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and pay with the card, the application cost will be reimbursed ($100 for Global Entry and $78 for TSA PreCheck). You can use this credit once every four years. Considering membership in both programs is good for five years, your Venture Card will have you set.
It's one of the most cost-effective ways to get enrolled in either program. A word of advice: Since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits, that should be your choice if you plan to do any international travel.
Related reading: Cheap Credit Cards That Get You Free TSA PreCheck & Global Entry
The Easiest Way to Redeem Your Miles
Don't have the time or patience to dive into the world of transfer partners and finding award availability? Just want an easy way to redeem your miles toward travel? Capital One has you covered.
Because of the way Capital One Venture miles work, you aren't tied down to using them with one airline or one hotel chain. In fact, you could use them to cover almost any travel-related expense you can think of.
All you need to do is pay for any travel-related expense with your Capital One Venture Card, and use the “Cover Travel Purchases” feature to remove the charge from your statement using your miles. Think airfare, hotels, cruises, Uber – you name it, your miles will cover it all.
From Airbnb stays to Uber rides, to flight and hotel purchases and even cruises – all of these count as “travel.” Every mile you've got is worth 1 cent. That means if you book a $100 car rental, you would need 10,000 Venture miles to cover the charge.
It's an invaluable way to save on practically any travel expense out there.
Related reading: A Step-By-Step Guide to Covering Travel Purchases with Capital One Miles
Valuable Transfer Partners, Too
If you're ready to learn about the best ways to maximize your points and miles, the Capital One Venture Card is a great starting point because Capital One gives you the best of both worlds.
In addition to an easy way cover almost any travel purchase, you can also transfer Capital One Venture miles to more than a dozen different airline partners and three hotels. These transfers are the key to unlocking maximum value from your miles with top-dollar redemptions like first or business class.
| Program | Type | Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Air France/KLM | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| British Airways | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles | Airline | 1:1 | Up to five business days |
| Emirates | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Etihad | Airline | 1:1 | Up to 1 day |
| EVA Air | Airline | 2:1.5 | Up to five business days |
| Finnair | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Qantas | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| Singapore | Airline | 1:1 | Instant |
| TAP Air Portugal | Airline | 1:1 | Same day |
| Turkish Airlines | Airline | 1:1 | Same day |
| Virgin Red | Other | 1:1 | Same day |
| Accor | Hotel | 2:1 | Up to two business days |
| Wyndham | Hotel | 1:1 | Same day |
| Choice Hotels | Hotel | 1:1 | Same day |
All but two transfer on a 1:1 basis, meaning transferring 1,000 Venture miles gets you 1,000 airline miles in your account. Transfers to EVA move on a poorer, 2:1.5 basis. Transfers to Accor are a worse deal yet, with a transfer ratio of 2:1.
But for the vast majority of the options at your disposal, transferring miles is an even trade. If you've got 75,000 miles stashed away from your Venture Card, you can easily get 75,000 miles with British Airways. Or 75,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points. Or 75,000 Turkish Airlines miles.
Never flown in a premium cabin before? With the welcome bonus alone, you could now book EVA Air and ANA business class flights for as low as 75,000 miles each way by transferring your points to Air Canada Aeroplan or book Lufthansa First Class between the U.S. and Europe for just 87,000 miles each way through Avianca Lifemiles.
Related reading: Capital One Transfer Partners: How & Where to Transfer Your Venture Miles
Bottom Line
The Capital One Venture Card is one of our favorites because of its simplicity.
The annual fee of $95 is fairly easy to swallow, yet that can also get you a ton of miles – and worthwhile travel benefits, too. But above all, Venture miles are incredibly easy to use toward virtually any travel purchase … with a path to transfer those miles to airline and hotel partners, if you're ready to take the next step.
Learn more about the *capital one venture card*