The Capital One Venture Rewards card is the best travel credit card for beginners, and new cardholders can earn $1,000 in travel rewards right now.
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Summer is in full swing, but it's already time to plan for fall and holiday travel.
If you could use $1,000 to help you travel to Grandma's for Thanksgiving dinner, look into getting the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
This popular card is Business Insider's top pick for beginners seeking a travel rewards credit card — and right now, new cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year. This is one of the most generous credit card offers we've ever seen, especially for a credit card with such a low annual fee ($95, ).
Capital One hasn't stated how long this offer will last. So if you've been thinking about getting a new credit card, it's a good idea to apply sooner rather than later.
Here's what's special about this two-part sign-up bonus, and how you can earn it in time to book travel before the year ends.
Many credit cards offer sign-up bonuses, also known as welcome offers. In most cases, you'll have to spend a certain amount of money to earn your rewards.
The current Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card bonus, however, comes with an automatic $250 welcome credit as soon as you open your account. This one-time credit can be used to book flights, hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars through the Capital One travel portal.
The other tier of this welcome offer is more traditional: 75,000 Capital One miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
These Capital One miles are even more versatile than your initial Capital One travel credit because they can be redeemed for travel outside of the Capital One travel portal.
You can use Capital One miles to cover travel expenses paid with your card, or continue to use them within the Capital One travel portal. You can also transfer Capital One miles to airline and hotel transfer partners to book first- and business-class flights for a fraction of their cash value.
Welcome bonus aside, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is Business Insider's top-choice travel credit card for beginners for many good reasons. This card comes with a statement credit of up to $100 for your enrollment fee in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck — programs that offer expedited security screening at the airport.
Travelers with TSA PreCheck get to go through the "fast lane" at the airport and keep their shoes on as well as their laptops in their bags. Meanwhile, Global Entry membership allows you to breeze through customs when returning to the U.S. Global Entry comes with TSA PreCheck as well, so it's almost always a better deal to apply for Global Entry.
This statement credit will be available to you once every four years. Since Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership lasts five years, your next credit will be available just in time for your re-enrollment if you continue holding this credit card.
Nothing ruins a vacation faster than finding out your luggage didn't make it. But if your airline loses or misplaces your bags on a trip you paid for using the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you may be eligible for reimbursement for up to $3,000 per trip.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card may be the best travel credit card for beginners, but its benefits also extend to home expenses.
With this credit card, you'll get extended warranty protection when you buy eligible items. This benefit doubles the duration of the original manufacturer's written U.S. repair warranty (up to one additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less). Coverage is up to $10,000 per claim, and $50,000 per cardholder.
And if an eligible new purchase gets damaged or stolen within the first 90 days, this card's purchase protection benefit will reimburse up to $500 per claim, and $50,000 per cardholder.
Capital One has its own entertainment portal, and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders often receive early or exclusive access to select shows and concerts. For example, Capital One has been the U.S. partner for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour since 2023, and cardholders received presale access to the best tickets.
