Getting started with travel rewards can feel overwhelming, but tow cards stand out for beginners in my opinion: Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Bothe offer exceptional value, flexibility and benefits to help you maximize your travel. Here’s a breakdown of their perks, so you can decide which one fits your lifestyle and travel goals.
Table of Contents
Chase Sapphire Preferred: A Classic for Beginners
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often considered the gateway to the world of travel rewards. It’s straightforward, yet powerful, making it perfect for beginners.
Key perks
- Generous Welcome bonus: earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, which can be redeemed for $750 in travel when booked through the chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Points are Worth More for Travel: Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (Chase Travel Portal).
- Flexible Redemptions Options:
- Transfer points to 11 airline and hotel partners, such as United, Hyatt, and Southwest.
- Use points for travel, cash back, gift cards, or statement credits.
- Bonus Categories:
- 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
- 2x points on other travel and dining
- 1x points on everything else.
- $50 Annual Hotel Credit: Get a $50 credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Ultimate Rewads.
- Low Annual Fee: Just $95, making it accessible for most beginners.
Why It’s Great for Beginners
The Chase Sapphire Preferred simplifies earning and redeeming points. The 25% travel bonus and the ability to transfer points to valuable partners make it easy to unlock significant travel savings without complicated strategies.
Capital one Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Premium Made Simple
If you’re looking for premium benefits but don’t want to get bogged down by complexity, Capital One Venture X is an excellent option.
Key Perks
- Generous Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, which can be redeemed for $750 in travel.
- Straightforward earnings:
- Earn 2x miles on all purchases-no need to worry about bonus categories.
- Earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- Annual $300 Travel Credit: Receive $300 in travel credits for bookings made with Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 Bonus Miles Every Year: That’s equivalent to $100 in travel, helping to offset the $395 annual fee.
- Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy Complimentary Access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges for you and two guests.
- Travel Protections: Includes rental car coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and more.
- Easy Redemption Options:Use miles to erase travel purchases or book travel through Capital One.Transfer miles to 15+ travel partners like Air Canda Aeroplan and Singapore Airlines.
Why it’s Great for Beginners
The Venture X’s 2x earnings rate on all purchases makes it ideal for those who don’t want to track bonus categories. Its annual travel credit and lounge access add premium touch, making it a fantastic introduction to luxury travel perks.
Which Card is right for you?
Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred if:
- You want a low annual fee
- You prefer bonus categories for travel and dining
- You plan to take advantage of Chase’s valuable transfer partners like Hyatt and United.
- You’re new to travel rewards and want a straightforward, cost-effective option.
Choose the Capital One Venture X if:
- You’re willing to pay a higher annual fee for premium benefits.
- You want lounge access and an easy 2 x earning rate.
- You value Capital One’s travel portal and its wide range of transfer partners.
- You’re looking for long-term value, with credits that effectively reduce the cost of the card.
Final thoughts
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture X are beginner-friendly, but they cater to slightly different needs. The Sapphire Preferred is ideal for those starting small, while Venture X offers premium perks at an accessible price point. Whichever you choose, both cards can help you travel more, spend less, and experience the world in anew ways.
Which card do you think fits your travel style? Let me know in the comments!
If you want to learn more about points and miles we recommend reading this post.