Money expert Clark Howard added a credit card to his wallet for 2022.
Thanks to a welcome offer that he just couldn’t resist, Clark made the card_name the latest addition to his stable of credit cards.
It’s his first credit card from Capital One and it joins five other credit cards in his wallet including the popular Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer.
I spoke with Clark to understand why he added the card to his wallet and to get more information to help you decide whether you’d be wise to follow his lead.
Why Clark Signed Up for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The card_name is a travel credit card that comes with a hefty annual fee. In fact, with a price tag of $395 per year, some of you may have done a double-take when I revealed that Clark has agreed to pay for that card.
Clark admits that it’s not his “normal thing,” but he says he did his homework on the card prior to capitalizing on a generous welcome offer.
“It was one that I really noodled and noodled before deciding I was going to get it,” Clark says. “The sign-up bonus was just so compelling that I had to do it.”
To secure the welcome offer (which is currently 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening,equal to $750 in travel), Clark used the Capital One Travel portal to book travel. Using this method also earned him 10x miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals as well as 5x miles on flights.”
Those of you who have followed Clark’s credit card advice over the years know that he’s not a fan of making a long-term credit card decision based solely on a short-term gain with welcome offers.
But as an avid traveler with plenty of upcoming trips on his itinerary, Clark says a handful of the travel benefits this card offers will quickly offset the annual fee each year.
Clark says he already took advantage of the card’s reimbursement for his Global Entry subscription, and he’ll be taking advantage of a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit to recoup the annual fee cost (and then some).
Let’s next take a closer look at what Clark is getting with this card.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: The Basics
Annual Fee: $395
The card_name carries a $395 annual fee and does not offer a promotional 0% APR period on new purchases or balance transfers.
However, it has a welcome offer worth at least $750 and a couple of revolving cardholder perks that can be worth $400 each year. You’ll also get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Rewards Structure
Capital One rewards spending with this card through the accumulation of miles. You can earn these miles per dollar on everyday purchases, but the clear benefit is spending on travel-related purchases.
| Spending Category | Miles Multiplier |
| Hotels and Rental Cars via Capital One Travel | 10x |
| Flights booked via Capital One Travel | 5x |
| All other purchases | 2x |
Rewards Redemption
You can redeem your rewards earned with this card through the Capital One Travel portal.
But you’re not locked into booking travel directly through Capital One as your only means of redemption.
Capital One says: “Customers can use miles to book via Capital One Travel, they can transfer miles to 15 top-tier, travel loyalty programs, or they can redeem rewards for any recent travel purchase, including on purchases such as vacation rentals, flights, hotels, rideshares, cruises, and more.”
Other Perks Worth Considering
- Unlimited access for yourself and two guests to more than 1,300 lounges, which include Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit up to $100.
- There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases.
- Cell phone protection is included, up to $800, if you pay your wireless bill with the card.
You can read our full review of this card here.
Should You Follow Clark’s Lead and Apply for This Card?
If you’ve made it to this point of the article, you’re likely considering whether you should join Clark in taking the plunge with this high-end travel card from Capital One.
The answer is: Maybe — if you travel often.
Clark says this card is only a “situational player” in his wallet reserved for booking travel. He also says that cards with this type of annual fee are dangerous for people who are not serious travelers because they may not find they’re getting their money’s worth.
Bottom Line: This card is Capital One’s first major step into the high-end travel card market. It is meant to compete with card_name and the card_name, which offer lofty benefits packages at even higher annual fees. While this card does offer a cheaper annual fee, you may want to skip it if you’re not the type of traveler who would see clear advantages from the benefits and perks offered.
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured, please visit the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express: See Rates and Fees
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