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If you’re looking to upgrade your travel with luxury rewards, two perennial Kiplinger credit card favorites are the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the American Express Platinum Card. We like both because they elevate everyday trips into something truly special.
How? By giving you access to exclusive airport lounges to relax amid the hustle and helping you indulge in luxury hotel stays, with late checkouts, free breakfasts and room upgrades awaiting you.
But each card caters to a different kind of traveler. Do you place more emphasis on simple rewards, or do you want access to elevated perks and are willing to pay a higher annual fee for them? Since both cards have different travel philosophies, you must determine which one matches yours.
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Capital One Venture X: Simplicity meets incredible value
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The Capital One Venture X card appeals to the value-conscious traveler who also enjoys simplicity. It is perfect if you travel regularly throughout the year and want occasional access to airport lounges.
You also earn generous miles back on travel bookings. On purchases made through the Capital One travel portal, you’ll earn:
- 10 times the miles on hotels and rental cards
- 5 times the miles on flights and vacation rentals
You’ll also earn double the miles on every purchase. That’s simplicity that can add up miles in a hurry.
Now, the card imposes a $395 annual fee, but there are ways to offset this. First, you’ll receive an annual travel credit of $300 to use through the portal. And on your card’s anniversary, Capital One gifts you 10,000 bonus points — a $100 value. These two perks alone can make that annual fee easier to stomach. Also, you can pool your miles and transfer them to participating partners, such as British Airways, Virgin Red and more, with most redemptions at a 1:1 conversion ratio.
What I like about the card is that it gives you access to Capital One and Priority Pass airport lounges. That’s a nice boon for travelers, since Priority Pass alone opens up access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide.
There are things to consider before signing up for the card. If you only travel once or twice a year, then there are better travel cards, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Card with a lower annual fee and great perks.
Also, if you’re looking for a travel card that combines generous miles back with shopping, dining and streaming perks, there’s a better card to consider.
American Express Platinum Card: The card for the ultimate benefit seeker
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While the Venture X offers a robust set of perks, it pales in comparison to the American Express Platinum Card’s offerings. On the travel end alone, you’ll qualify for:
- 5 times the points on flights and hotels when booked through Amex’s travel portal
- 1 point per dollar charged on all other purchases
- $200 in Uber Cash ($15 statement credits, $20 in December)
- $200 airline credit for incidentals (baggage fees, drinks, WiFi)
- $600 hotel credit ($300 biannually) when you book through Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection
- Access to the Global Lounge Network of over 1,550 lounges worldwide (the most of any credit card program)
- Transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to Hilton Honors, Delta Airlines, Air France — KLM Flying Blue and many more
This is just a sampling of all the credits the card packs. These benefits make the card perfect for frequent jet setters who want to indulge in the finer things in life at every turn.
To demonstrate, American Express’s Fine Hotels and Resorts program features luxury stays at some of the world’s top hotels, where you’ll receive late checkouts, free breakfast for two and upgraded rooms when available.
On top of this, the $400 Resy dining credit (paid out in $100 statement credits quarterly) allows you to sample some of the finest restaurants in the U.S. For the traveler who wants the best in everything, these perks alone make the $895 annual fee seem reasonable.
But there are things you should consider before signing up for the card. First, the card’s annual fee is pricey. In some cases, it might force you to use services you would never use to justify the card’s fee. Also, some of the perks come with restrictions. The Uber monthly credits don’t roll over, so if you don’t use them one month, you’ll miss out on that perk.
Ideally, this card works best if your lifestyle already accommodates it. If it doesn’t, you might find this card to be nothing more than an expensive coupon book.
Which card fits your travel profile?
So, now that you know each card’s philosophy, which one works best for you? Here are a few straightforward cases:
|
What you want |
Best card |
|---|---|
|
Access to ample airport lounges |
American Express Platinum |
|
Lower annual fees |
Capital One Venture X |
|
Many travel partners for point conversions |
American Express Platinum |
|
Simplicity in rewards |
Capital One Venture X |
|
Cheaper travel portal costs |
Capital One (per the Points Guy) |
|
Shopping/dining perks |
American Express Platinum |
Ultimately, both are exceptional cards. Which one you choose depends on your lifestyle needs. Personally, I lean towards the Capital One Venture X because the simplicity in rewards, access to airport lounges and lower travel portal costs appeal more to me. But if you want the best of everything, then the Platinum card gives you perks for the life you already enjoy.
