Best Travel Credit Cards: How I Maximize Rewards with Capital One Venture X & Chase Sapphire Preferred -

If you love to travel as much as I do, having the right credit card (or two!) can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve tested different travel credit cards, and two of my absolute favorites are the Capital One Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Preferred. These cards are like my travel sidekicks, helping me rack up rewards, enjoy airport lounges like a VIP, and book dreamy vacations without breaking the bank.

In this post, I’m spilling all the details on what makes these cards so great, how I use them to maximize every point, and how you can start traveling for free (yes, really!). Oh, and if you’re thinking about signing up, I’ve got a referral link that’ll get you a massive sign-up bonus—because who doesn’t love free travel?

Capital One Venture X: My Go-To for Everyday Spending & Lounge Access

I originally got the Venture X because I wanted a premium travel card without the crazy high annual fee of some other luxury cards. The earning structure is so simple, and it comes with some serious travel perks at an annual cost of $395, however the perks can actually mean you gain $5 at the end of the year!

Why I Love It

Earn 2x miles on literally everything. No need to think about bonus categories—I just swipe away and let the miles pile up.
If you book through Capital One Travel, you get 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights. I always check their portal before booking because sometimes the deals are actually great.
Every year, I get a $300 travel credit, which I easily use on flights, bringing the effective annual fee down to just $95.
Free airport lounge access, which is a total game-changer. I love sipping on a latte in a comfy lounge instead of fighting for an outlet at the gate.
Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit
10,000 bonus miles every anniversary. That’s an extra $100 toward travel just for keeping the card.
No foreign transaction fees, so I never get hit with sneaky extra charges when I’m abroad.

How I Use It

I put almost all my non-travel, non-dining purchases on this card since it earns 2x miles no matter what. Think groceries, Target runs, and those late-night Amazon orders I probably didn’t need but convinced myself were necessary. I also use this card for lounge access whenever I travel because who doesn’t love free snacks and a cozy spot to recharge before a flight?

Chase Sapphire Preferred: My Favorite for Dining & Travel Redemptions

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is my other travel bestie. This card is incredible for earning extra points on travel and dining while also unlocking access to some of the best airline and hotel transfer partners.

Why I Love It

3x points on dining, which includes restaurants, takeout, and delivery services. I’m talking everything from fancy dinners to my weekly Chipotle obsession.
5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (usually I’m booking a rental car through here, hotels and airlines can have bad transfer values!), and 2x points on all other travel purchases.
A $50 annual hotel credit when booking through Chase, which is basically free money toward a stay – here are some of my favorite hotels you can take a look if they are on the app.
Primary car rental insurance, so I never stress about rental coverage – I use this towards all my rental car bookings.
The real MVP: Chase’s transfer partners (more on this below!)

How I Use It

Whenever I go out to eat, this is the card I grab first. Those 3x points add up fast, especially if you eat out often. I also use this card for any travel purchases that don’t make sense on my Venture X, like Airbnb stays or boutique hotels that aren’t part of Capital One Travel.

The Secret Sauce: Transferring Points for Maximum Value

Okay, let’s talk about the best way to use your points. If you’re booking travel through Chase or Capital One’s travel portals, you’re doing it all wrong! Seriously, never use your points this way because you’re losing out on so much value.

Instead, both Capital One and Chase allow you to transfer points 1:1 to travel partners, which is where the magic happens. This is how you turn your points into insane travel deals, like a one-way, nonstop flight to London on Virgin Atlantic for under 14,000 points—yep, that’s a real redemption!

Some of my favorite transfer partners:

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Hyatt (for luxury hotel stays) has incredible values, and the Flying Blue airline group.
Capital One Venture X: Turkish Airlines (hello, cheap business class seats), Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and British Airways for short-haul flights.

This is how I’ve booked crazy cheap flights and even some luxury travel experiences without spending a dime. If you love the idea of traveling for free, transferring points is the way to go!

Should You Get Both Cards?

If you’re serious about maximizing your travel rewards, having both the Venture X and Sapphire Preferred is a winning combo. I use my Venture X for everyday spending, travel perks, and lounge access, while my Sapphire Preferred is my go-to for dining and maximizing point transfers.

And the best part? Right now, both cards are offering huge sign-up bonuses!

Capital One Venture X: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months (worth at least $750 in travel, but likely way more!). Sign up here
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months (worth $750+ when transferred to partners!). Sign up here

Let me know if you have any questions—I love helping people find ways to travel smarter (and for free!). See you in the lounge! ✈️