daria

Hello wise travelers,

I need to get a new rewards credit card as I am tired of the limited use of the United Mileage Plus Visa. I am seriously considering the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. My question is, do most businesses take this card?

We currently use our card for basically all purchases at places like grocery stores, drug stores, doctor, dentist, school events/PTA fundraisers, Target, Amazon, etc. I'd never heard of this Capital One card until I started looking into this issue, so I was wondering how common it is and whether its use will be limited?

Also, is this card useable in Europe? I like that it has no foreign transaction fees, but I can also get another card if necessary.

Thank you!

Katie7

Hello:

We have used this card for several years. It' s a regular Visa card, so you can use it anywhere that takes Visa, including Europe (have used it in the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Italy. We have the no annual fee version and have earned enough points to get two free hotel nights in the Netherlands. We use our Delta Amex the most and use the Capitol One only if the retailer won't take Amex (want Skymiles).

We initially got this card for no foreign transaction fees, but now Amex no longer charges fees. Visa is also more widely accepted than Amex.

Our card has a chip for security.

Christina

Yes, it's a regular credit card, the "venture rewards" is just their marketing name for the type of rewards program it is. I think it's a Visa Signature credit card. YOu can tell because the terms say you get the Visa Signature benefits. I don't think Capital One really has their own credit card like Discover does.

A friend of mine has one and has used it all over Europe, even, without a problem.

I don't like those kind of cards myself, I jut want cash back unless I'm getting miles on a specific airline, unless of "points". YOu know Capital One isn't an airline so they can't really give you miles, even though they claim they can. So if you want to get an airline ticket, you have to go through them. No thanks.

What do you mean the limited use of a United Visa? It's a Visa card, where can't you use it?

Christina

oh, I have an AMEX, and they still do charge fees. Maybe some kind of Amex cards have no transaction fees, but AMEX as a whole doesn't dispense with fees the way Cap One does. The only AMEX cards without foreign transaction fees, you have to pay for, I believe. I have one that is cash back (Blue Everyday Cash or something) that costs me nothing, and it has a 2.7 pct foreign transaction fee.

Cap One doesn't charge them on any of their cards, even free ones, as I have a free one of theirs that also gives me cash back.

Kathie

I also don't understand what "limited use of the United Mileage Plus Visa" means. There are many different kinds of United Mileage Plus visa cards, all are useable anywhere that accepts Visa. What you want is one of the cards that does not charge for foreign exchange.

If you are a frequent flier on United - or another airline - you are likely better off with the airline visa card than the Capitol One.

Katie7

Yes, My Amex charges a annual fee but no foreign transaction fees. We use it a lot, so the airline miles make up for annual fee. We live near an airport that really only Delta serves, so had to go with Amex

However, if you only want one card, I'd use a Visa/MC since some retailers don't accept Amex.

DebitNM

Chase Shapphire Preferred is a really great card and is highly recommended by travel bloggers. The points can be converted on a 1:1 basis to several airlines and hotels. You earn 2x points on travel (related) purchases, which are pretty widely interpreted . They have a 40,000 point sign up bonus now (with 5,000 more for an additional cardholder. First year fee is waived, then $95 and you must spend $4000 in first 3 months.

I just got the card and am looking forward to using it. We have used Southwest card almost exclusively for several years, but since these points will transfer TO SW, no need to have both cards.

daria

Thanks all. What I meant by "the limited use of the United Mileage Plus Visa" is that the miles are just for use on United flights. I would prefer a card with points that I can use for any airline or travel. I am also considering the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but the annual fee is a lot. I may get one and cancel before the year is up, if that is possible.

By the way, I am used to a card that awards miles (instead of points) and am curious what the exact value of points are. In other words, if I have 1,000 points, how much credit does that get me in dollars?

Thank you!

isabel

I have the cap one venture card and use it for absolutely everything (gas, groceries, etc.). You get two points for every dollar spent. You redeem the points easily by going on the web site and you can use them for any airline ticket, hotel, car rental, etc. purchase with any company, any time. You actually buy your ticket (or book your hotel or car) (using your card to rack up more points) and then you "erase" the purchase. The annual fee is $59 and there's no foreign exchange fee. I've never had it refused anywhere in the US or Europe. Just go to their web page for the exact details.

My only complaint is they don't have a chip and pin card so I got an AFCU card for that reason but I rarely use that one except for things that require it while traveling (e.g. train ticket kiosks in Italy, etc.). Apparently cap one and everyone else is starting to issue chip and signature cards so we'll see.

DebitNM

What the points are worth depends how/where you use them, especially true for Shappire cards.

The annual fees vary; I had been paying $99 for my Chase Southwest card, so the $95 is ok for me.

Yes, you can cancel before the fee has to be paid next year. You can then apply for a different card and perhaps get a sign up bonus. I don't think Cap One has sign up bonuses. If you aren't planning on applying for a big loan (house mortgage, car loan etc) you can -with good credit scores - learn how to churn credit cards, but make sure you understand the ins and outs for how that works.