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As much as Iâd love to personally chaperone all of us onto Kara and Nateâs flight, physics (and my legal team) would prefer we didnât attempt that.
That said⌠you can still travel for free. And the best part? Almost anyone can do it.
No, itâs not $10,000 in cash â but 100,000 miles is still a pretty amazing consolation prize.
So letâs talk about how to earn it⌠and just how far it can take you.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the only premium card Iâve seen people keep long term without needing a color-coded spreadsheet to manage.
Because we all know that premium travel cards have recently gotten⌠complicated, to say the least.
Huge annual fees. Credits you forget to use. Itâs enough to make you cling to your Chase Sapphire PreferredÂŽ Card and call it a day.
But the Venture X is different.
Itâs one of the very few premium cards that feels realistic and rewarding. And right now, itâs even more compelling thanks to its 100,000-mile limited-time welcome offer. Eeeek!
As if 100,000 miles werenât already enough, here are seven other reasons this card is worth adding to your wallet.
1. 100,000 miles (with six months to earn them)
Hereâs what weâre looking at: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel.
This is an unusually generous runway.
Six months gives most people enough time to meet the minimum with normal spending (travel planning, holiday purchases, anything youâve got).
Even if you do nothing fancy with those miles, youâre getting $1,000 toward travel through Capital One Travel or by covering eligible travel purchases at one cent per mile.
Start rocking with transfer partners, and those same miles can mean:
Business class to just about anywhere on Earth
Multiple economy flights, or
Entire family trips covered for 2026
2. A super manageable $395 annual fee
As much as I hate math, letâs talk numbers.
Yes, youâre paying $395 each year, but youâre already earning a $300 annual travel credit through the Capital One portal aaaaand 10,000 anniversary miles (which can be redeemed for a minimum of $100 toward travel).
Last time I checked, $300 + $100 = $400 (correct me if Iâm wrong).
So yeah, youâre already at $400 back without any crazy strategy, meaning if you travel at least once a year, youâre effectively ahead before even touching the lounge access or earning rates.
Compare that to other premium cards that require juggling six monthly credits and remembering to enroll in some random coffee subscription. đŤ
3. 2x minimum on every purchase
This is where the Venture X stands out for people who donât want to track every last bonus category.
The earnings here are stunningly simple:
10x on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2x on everything else
That 2x is key, yâall. Even if you arenât paying attention, youâre still out here earning double miles. This is good for people like me.
For a lot of Daily Drop readers, this becomes their default swipe even after theyâve earned the welcome offer.
And for those who are using a little more âcredit card strategy,â the Venture X plays nicely with other cards (but more on that in a second).
4. Lounge access, baby!
Primary cardholders receive access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass (after enrollment), unlocking over 1,300 lounges around the world.
If you travel even twice a year, this perk alone can take the edge off travel days.
â ď¸ Heads Up: Lounge guest policies are changing February 1, 2026 â so if you tend to bring kids/partners into lounges, check updated terms before depending on this perk. But for solo or occasional travelers, lounge access remains a major value driver here.
5. It works for newbies or seasoned pros
This is one of the only premium cards that works well whether youâre just dipping your toes into points and miles or ready to leverage sweet spots.
You can keep things simple by redeeming miles at a flat rate through the portal or covering travel purchases.
OrâŚ
You can start experimenting with transferring to 20+ airline and hotel partners once youâre ready to level up.
You can keep things basic or play the long game. Which is fun⌠and is what keeps us employed.
6. You donât have to babysit it
Unlike most premium cards:
No âuse-it-or-lose-itâ credits
No rotating rebate situation
Benefits tied to real life, not random calendar reminders
If you take a couple of trips per year and swipe this card on life stuff in between, it does its job.
Again, that simplicity is surprisingly rare in the premium space, and itâs why many readers feel comfortable keeping the Venture X long-term.
7. It plays extremely well with other cards
Whether youâre holding the Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture X Business, or even a smaller, no-fee card, the Venture X is an excellent teammate.
Think of it as:
Your easy-earn, easy-redeem base
Your premium perks pass
Your lounge access card
Your âI donât want to think too hard about thisâ option
It doesnât replace your card strategy⌠it supports it.
Bottom Line
If you travel even once or twice a year, this is one of the easiest premium cards to justify.
And if youâve been waiting for a golden, glowing sign â 100,000 miles and six months to earn them is that sign.
The Venture X is not the âflashiestâ premium card out there, but itâs certainly the most livable. And right now, thatâs worth a lot. Like a lot, a lot.
