I’m a sucker for a good travel rewards card. Over the years I’ve collected a handful — not because I enjoy juggling annual fees, but because the right cards can save you a lot on flights, hotels, and travel perks you’d otherwise pay for.
I have personal cards and a few for my business. One of my favorite business cards is the Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card. It’s Capital One’s top-tier business product. I like it because of a big welcome offer, lounge access to 1,300+ airport lounges, annual travel credits, and a simple 2x on all spending (so you’re always earning meaningful miles per dollar).
What is the Capital One Venture X Business Card?
The Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card is a travel rewards card from Capital One with a $395 annual fee — lower than many premium business cards. Core perks:
– 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 in the first 3 months
– 2 miles per $1 on all purchases
– 5× miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
– 10× miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
– $300 annual travel credit (through Capital One Business Travel)
– 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary
– Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass (after enrollment)
– Up to $120 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
– No foreign transaction fees
Using Your Capital One Miles
You can redeem Capital One miles several ways:
– Book through Capital One’s travel portal (required to use the $300 travel credit and to earn 5x/10x bonuses).
– Reimburse travel purchases within 90 days at a rate of 1 cent per mile. After 90 days, redemptions are generally 0.5 cents per mile for non-travel purchases (avoid this).
– Capital One Entertainment portal for tickets and presales (about 0.8 cents per mile).
– Best value: transfer miles to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners. Transfers often yield redemption values higher than 1 cent per mile and are done through your Capital One account.
Capital One’s travel partners include:
Accor Live Limitless; Aeromexico Club Premier; Air Canada Aeroplan; Air France/KLM Flying Blue; Avianca LifeMiles; British Airways Executive Club; Cathay Pacific Asia Miles; Choice Privileges; Emirates Skywards; Etihad Guest; EVA Air Infinity MileageLands; Finnair Plus; I Prefer Hotel Rewards; Japan Airlines Mileage Bank; Qantas Frequent Flyer; Qatar Airways Privilege Club; Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer; TAP Portugal Miles&Go; Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles; Virgin Red; Wyndham Rewards.
Pros of the Venture X Business Card
If you travel a lot for work, the Venture X Business card simplifies earning and improves airport experience. Key advantages:
– Flat 2x miles on everything: Great for spending categories that don’t earn higher multipliers on other business cards (dining, local transport, museums, etc.). Use this card for purchases that don’t get better category bonuses elsewhere.
– $300 Travel Credit: Applied to bookings through Capital One Business Travel (powered by Hopper). For regular bookers this effectively reduces the $395 fee to $95.
– Lounge Access: Capital One Lounges are modern and well-appointed (though limited in number); Priority Pass expands access to 1,300+ lounges globally.
– Anniversary Bonus: 10,000 bonus miles each year helps offset the fee (~$100 toward travel).
Should You Get This Card?
The Venture X Business is best for small- to medium-sized business owners who travel often and can meet the welcome offer’s $30,000 spend within three months. It’s a strong-value premium business card: simpler and less expensive than the Amex Business Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, with good lounge access and an easy-to-understand earnings structure.
I use it frequently for business purchases I can’t get better than 2x on elsewhere. If you travel enough to use the lounge access and the $300 travel credit, it’s easy to justify the fee.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
– Book Flights: Use Skyscanner to search sites and airlines worldwide for the best fares.
– Book Accommodation: Hostelworld for hostels; Booking.com for hotels and guesthouses.
– Travel Insurance: Protects against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. Recommended providers: SafetyWing (budget travelers), World Nomads (mid-range travelers), InsureMyTrip (seniors), Medjet (evacuation coverage).
– Travel Credit Card Advice: Cards let you earn points redeemable for flights and hotels. See guides on picking the right card and current favorites to start earning and redeeming efficiently.
– Rental Cars: Discover Cars is useful for international rentals.
– Activities and Tours: GetYourGuide lists tours, excursions, skip-the-line options, and private guides.
– Resources: Check travel resource pages for company recommendations and tools used by frequent travelers.
Stop paying full price for travel — learn to use points and miles effectively to save on trips and get better travel experiences.
