Travel credit cards are a popular choice for those looking to earn rewards and save money on their next trip. However, not everyone is willing to shell out hundreds of dollars in annual fees for premium cards. Luckily, there are plenty of options available for less than $100 a year that still offer lucrative rewards.
Two top contenders in this category are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Both cards come with manageable annual fees and require a recommended credit score of 670 or higher. Let’s take a closer look at how these two cards compare.
In terms of card details, both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards have an annual fee of $95. They also offer a similar sign-up bonus of 75,000 points or miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. However, the earning rates and bonus categories differ between the two cards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, and 2 points per dollar on all other travel. On the other hand, the Capital One Venture Rewards card provides 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
When it comes to redeeming rewards, both cards allow for travel redemptions, with the Sapphire Preferred offering a slightly higher redemption rate of 1.25 cents per point. Additionally, the Sapphire Preferred provides more travel benefits, such as primary auto rental coverage and trip cancellation insurance.
Overall, while both cards have their strengths, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes out on top for its higher redemption value, bonus categories, and travel protections. However, owning both cards can complement each other well, allowing cardholders to maximize their rewards and travel benefits.