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I used to call the Capital One Venture X a "no brainer," but with the major changes coming in 2026, I now consider it more of a "full brainer." In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what is changing and helping you calculate if the card is still worth the $395 annual fee. I cover the solid benefits that remain that still help to offset the cost.

I’ll also walk you through the massive new limited-time welcome offer of 100,000 miles and share critical application tips, such as why you might want to freeze your Experian credit report before applying. Whether you are a current cardholder looking for a retention offer or someone trying to navigate the new family card eligibility rules, this deep dive will help you decide if the Venture X still makes sense for you.

ACTION STEPS:

• Check for Retention Offers: If you are a current cardholder, call Capital One when your annual fee posts to see if any retention offers are available.
• Activate Benefits: Ensure you have manually signed up for Hertz President’s Circle and Priority Pass if you haven't already.
• Evaluate the New Offer: If you don't have the card, check the limited-time 100,000 mile welcome offer to see if it fits your strategy.
• Plan Purchase Protection: Decide which card you will use for items that need return protection or purchase security (Venture X is a strong contender here).
• Check Eligibility: If you recently opened a Venture X, review the list of other Venture-earning cards to see if you can continue earning miles despite the new family language rules.

RESOURCES: 

• Venture X Guide: https://katiestraveltricks.com/venturex/ 
• Venture X Card (my affiliate link): https://katiestraveltricks.com/portfolio-items/capital-one-venture-x-rewards/ 
• Hertz Status Guide: katiestraveltricks.com/hertz_presidents_circle/ 
• Newsletter: katiestraveltricks.kit.com/news 
• Pros and Cons of Booking Portals: katiestraveltricks.com/pros-and-cons-of-booking-through-a-bank-travel-portal/ 

New Here?

Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

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Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...