Sweet Spot for Captial One Miles

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Capital One miles can be a bit more intermediate level.. but I’m going to show you 5 beginner friendly ways to use these miles!

First off - let’s talk about the Capital One Travel Eraser.

If you’re NOT transferring out points to a partner, you’re using the wonderful Travel Eraser, which will give you a 1 cent per point value on anything that codes as travel. I feel like this is the easiest way for newbies to use these miles.

When looking in your Capital One account, you’ll redeem miles and select ‘Cover travel purchases.’ Then a list pops up of anything that is eligible to be erased. There’s never a question if something can be erased, because it won’t even give the option otherwise.

5 common travel purchases

AirBNBs/Vacation Homes - There’s A LOT of people out there who prefer to have their family stay in a house, not hotel, and I get it! Super convenient. Well, these miles are the perfect solution for making those costs verrrryyy discounted!

  1. Rental Cars - After booking the rest of your vacation, I feel like a rental car is the LAST thing you want to spend money on. Well, now you don’t have to! Redeem miles for your rental car, turn, or even your Ubers!

  2. Disney Tickets - Tickets MUST be purchased from a third party to code as travel. (Tickets purchased via Disney code as Entertainment and you’ll be unable to redeem miles towards them) Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Purchase from Undercover Tourist here!

  3. Boutique/Off Brand Hotels - Sometimes we want a cutesy boutique hotel, others we are in the middle of nowhere driving across the country and staying at an off brand property.. either way, using miles for your hotel can steeply discount the trip.

  4. Boutique/Off Brand Hotels - Sometimes we want a cutesy boutique hotel, others we are in the middle of nowhere driving across the country and staying at an off brand property.. either way, using miles for your hotel can steeply discount the trip.

  5. Flights - Whether it’s a cheap Frontier flight, or an expensive flight to Phuket, these miles can help cover costs where transferring the miles simply doesn't work in your favor!

  6. BONUS - One thing I have done for smaller amounts, is put this card on file whenever I stay at a hotel. Then charge everything to the room, get 2x miles, and after the stay is over.. the entire purchase codes as Travel! Whether it was valet parking, room service, or the room rate itself. If I have a random 3500 miles.. then I can redeem $35 off the total costs for that stay. (I’d never do this with tens of thousands of miles! But, it’s a nice way to recover those random costs that add up!

CAPITAL ONE VENTURE REWARDS CREDIT CARD DETAILS

This card is a must-have for all travel lovers! The low $95 annual fee and the TSA PreCheck credit are a no-brainer alone. I’ll never not have this in my wallet.

  • Earn 2x miles per dollar spent

  • Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

  • Receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

  • $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection.

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CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X REWARDS CREDIT CARD DETAILS

This card comes in with a higher annual fee, $395 & may take some consideration.. but here’s my personal thought/justification: if you’ll book a rental car even once a year, odds are you can justify this. (or, if you will spend $300 cash on travel at all in a year.)

Capital One Lounge access and Priority Pass Lounge access are two other HUGE perks! Check your local airport and any airports you’re visiting within the next 12 months and see if this could benefit you, as well.

  • Earns 2x miles per dollar spent

  • Earn 5x miles per dollar on flights & vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel

  • Earn 10x miles per dollar on hotels & rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

  • $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices

  • 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary

  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300 lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network

  • $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection

  • Receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

  • Annual fee: $395

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Remember: the goal is to enjoy discounted vacations. At the end of the day, only you can decide what’s a ‘good value.’

If your goal is to make a trip for $0, and these miles can give you that freedom, do it!

To read more about trips I have taken using these cards, check out these blog posts:

5/24 RULE

Hyatt House Anaheim Resort/ Convention Center