Travel

Is Capital One Ventures X worth the annual fee?

Most frequent travelers can benefit from a premium credit card, such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. However, the high annual fee means it’s important to carefully consider how useful the card’s benefits will be to you.

The Venture X is easier to justify than many other cards in its class because its annual fee is only $395. That’s $200 cheaper than the next most affordable premium card from a major card issuer Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (See Rates and Fees).

The following are the advantages of Venture X worth buying.

Welcome offer

Venture

According to TPG’s November 2025 valuation, those miles would be priced at 1.85 cents per mile, making the bonus worth $1,850.

Points master

It’s worth noting that Capital One can be picky when approving credit card applications; banks are known to be very sensitive to information on your credit report, including the number of recent hard inquiries, new accounts, and accounts with other card issuers.

The value of this welcome bonus alone is enough to cover several times the card’s annual fee, but I personally don’t think a good welcome offer alone is enough to justify paying a premium annual fee. Luckily, the Venture X has a lot more to offer.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Credit Card Application Limitations

travel points

The easiest way to recoup most of the annual Venture X fee is through the $300 annual Capital One travel credit. That might not be enough to pay for a stay at a top hotel or a round-trip flight to Europe, but it’s a great way to pay for a long weekend getaway or a short stay at a boutique hotel.

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Screenshot from a travel booking website
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TPG people who hold Venture X often highlight this credit as one of the top reasons they keep the card year after year. TPG Senior Points and Miles Writer Ben Smithson used his Capital One Travel points from Venture X to purchase a flight from Miami to the Caribbean. Credit Card Contributing Editor Matt Moffitt uses his credit card to cover Hertz car rentals.

Related: How Capital One Venture X travel points can save you $300 on your next trip

Anniversary bonus miles

TPG members with a Venture

Venture X offers 10,000 bonus miles after each account anniversary. Based on our November 2025 valuation, it is worth $185. Of course, this assumes you transfer your miles to a Capital One travel partner.

Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get Capital One Venture Capital X?

Use the lounge

Venture

While Capital One’s lounge coverage isn’t as extensive as American Express’ Centurion Lounge network, if you live near an airport or frequently transit through an airport, having access to these lounges through Venture X can be significant.

Kyle Olson/Scoring Expert

Almost every valuable premium card comes with Priority Pass, but if you don’t already have a card that offers this feature, it’s a valuable perk.

The exact monetary value of lounge access is difficult to quantify because it depends on how often you visit the lounge and what you actually do while you’re there. I usually think of spending around $30 per lounge session because if I’m not in the lounge, I’ll most likely spend that money on a nice meal.

However, if you don’t eat much when you visit a lounge and don’t use other amenities that may be included, you may be reducing the value of each visit.

RELATED: The Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access

car rental deals

If you’d rather book your rental car through the issuer’s travel portal, Venture X is a great option. Earn 10 miles for every $1 spent when booking a car rental through the portal, one of the highest returns of any premium card.

Venture X cardholders also receive Hertz’s premier President’s Circle status*. Assuming you rent a car once or twice a year, this perk can provide tremendous value.

Car rental next to the Hertz President’s Circle membership sign
Scott Meyrowitz/Scoring Expert

When you sign up, you’ll get guaranteed upgrades, the widest selection of cars to start your lease, and free additional drivers (normally $13.50 per day, up to $189 during the lease).

*After enrolling through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will maintain that status level for the duration of the offer. Please note that enrollment through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (i.e., on hertz.com) does not automatically detect cardholder eligibility for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status level. Additional terms apply.

RELATED: Stack rental car benefits with Hertz and Venture X

Enjoy luxury hotel plans

Venture X cardholders have access to Capital One’s Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection hotel programs. Cardholders can book stays by paying cash or redeeming miles for 1 cent each.

Advantages of top Premier Collection hotels include:

  • $100 hotel credit to spend on dining, spa services and more
  • Free daily breakfast for two
  • Room upgrade (if available)
  • Free Wi-Fi during your stay

Lifestyle Collection hotels are mostly lower-end boutique properties, but they still offer useful perks to Venture

Since you’ll be booking through Capital One Travel, you’ll earn 10 miles per $1 spent when you pay for your stay with Venture X.

RELATED: Credit card issuers luxury hotel plans compared: American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citibank

Other key benefits

Venture X cardholders may receive reimbursement of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. This benefit is offered every four years and is worth up to $120. I recommend Global Entry to all frequent travelers because it comes with TSA PreCheck.

Parents packing suitcases with children
10,000 Hours/Getty Images

Cardholders also enjoy several travel and purchase protections when paying with their card:

  • cell phone protection
  • Extended warranty and return protection
  • Baggage loss compensation
  • Primary car rental insurance
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
  • Travel delay reimbursement

Related: 6 things to do after getting Capital One Venture X

Valuable authorized user benefits

One of Venture X’s biggest draws for many people is its wide range of authorized user benefits. Cardholders can add multiple free authorized users to their accounts, and these users can enjoy the following benefits:

Parents pushing their children on the swing
Leo Patriz/Getty Images

For comparison, the American Express Platinum Card® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (See Rates and Fees) $195 per authorized user (See Amex Platinum Rates and Fees).

Related: Why You Should Add Authorized Users on Capital One Venture X

bottom line

The Venture X is one of our favorite premium travel cards, and for good reason. If you can maximize the $300 in annual Capital One Travel points and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, you’ll easily get a great deal out of the $395 annual fee.

Plus, for a limited time, new cardholders have the chance to score the best deal ever. If Venture X has been on your wish list for a while, now is the time to apply.

To learn more, check out our full review of Capital One Venture X.


Learn more: Capital One Ventures X Rewards Credit Card


For the Capital One products listed on this page, some offers may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. Please see the appropriate benefits guide for details as terms and exclusions apply.

For American Express Platinum Card rates and fees, click here.

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