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Forgetthe Amex Platinum This Is My Favorite Travel Card Now

Why I'm Ditching the Amex Platinum for This Superior Travel Credit Card

For years, the Platinum Card® from American Express has been hailed as the ultimate premium travel credit card, a status symbol for frequent flyers and luxury seekers alike. With its hefty $695 annual fee, it promises a suite of elite perks like airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and substantial travel credits. I've been a loyal Amex Platinum cardholder myself, relying on it for everything from Centurion Lounge visits to statement credits that offset the cost of airline incidentals and Uber rides. But recently, I've made a surprising switch. Forget the Amex Platinum – my new favorite travel card is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Let me explain why this under-the-radar gem has completely won me over, and why it might be the better choice for many travelers looking to maximize value without the sky-high fees.

First off, let's talk about the elephant in the room: the annual fee. The Amex Platinum's $695 price tag is no joke, and while it comes with credits that can theoretically bring the effective cost down (think $200 airline fee credit, $200 Uber credit, $240 digital entertainment credit, and more), you have to actively use them to justify it. Not everyone flies the same airline every time or remembers to use those credits before they expire. In contrast, the Capital One Venture X clocks in at a much more palatable $395 annual fee. But here's where it gets even better – it includes a $300 annual travel credit that's automatically applied to bookings through Capital One Travel, plus 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary (worth about $100 toward travel). When you factor those in, the effective annual cost can drop to just $95 or less for many users. That's a game-changer for anyone who doesn't want to jump through hoops to "earn back" their fee.

Rewards earning is another area where the Venture X shines. The Amex Platinum offers 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per year) and 5X on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. That's solid, but outside of travel, it's just 1X on everything else, which feels lackluster for a premium card. The Venture X, on the other hand, earns 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X on flights booked the same way, and a generous 2X miles on all other purchases. That 2X baseline means you're racking up rewards on everyday spending like groceries, dining, and gas – categories where the Amex Platinum falls flat. Plus, Capital One miles are incredibly flexible. You can transfer them to over 15 airline and hotel partners (including Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, and Wyndham) at competitive ratios, or redeem them for travel at a flat 1 cent per mile through the Capital One portal. No need for the sometimes-complicated Amex Membership Rewards ecosystem, where point values can vary wildly depending on how you redeem.

One of the biggest draws of the Amex Platinum is its lounge access, and I'll admit, the global network of Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and Priority Pass Select is impressive. But the Venture X isn't slouching here either. It provides unlimited access to Capital One Lounges (which are expanding, with locations like Dallas-Fort Worth already open and more on the way), plus Priority Pass Select membership for over 1,300 lounges worldwide. You also get two complimentary guest passes per visit to Capital One Lounges, and the card extends lounge access to authorized users at no extra cost – something the Amex Platinum charges $175 per additional user for. For families or those who travel with companions, this adds up quickly in favor of the Venture X.

Travel protections and perks are where these cards go head-to-head, but again, the Venture X pulls ahead in practicality. Both offer trip delay insurance, baggage delay coverage, and rental car insurance, but the Venture X includes up to $100 credit every four years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, matching the Amex. However, the Venture X sweetens the deal with a massive welcome bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, which is worth $750 in travel. The Amex Platinum's welcome offer is 80,000 points after $8,000 spend in six months (valued at around $1,600 if transferred optimally), but that higher spending requirement and the complexity of redemptions can make it less appealing for some. Moreover, the Venture X's miles don't expire as long as your account is open, and there's no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international trips.

What really sealed the deal for me was the ease of use. The Amex Platinum requires you to enroll in programs, track credits, and often book through specific portals to maximize value. It's powerful, but it's work. The Venture X feels more straightforward – book travel how you want, earn miles everywhere, and redeem simply. For instance, if you book a flight directly with an airline, you still earn 2X miles with Venture X, whereas Amex might limit you to 1X unless it's through their portal. This flexibility suits my travel style better, especially as someone who mixes budget and luxury trips.

Don't get me wrong; the Amex Platinum still has its place for high-spenders who love the Fine Hotels + Resorts program, with perks like room upgrades and late checkouts at over 1,000 properties. It also offers elite status with Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold, which can be valuable. But for most people, the Venture X provides comparable benefits at a lower cost. It even includes lifestyle perks like a $100 experience credit for lifestyle collections (think unique dining or wellness experiences) and access to Premier Collection hotels with similar upgrade potentials.

In the end, after crunching the numbers and reflecting on my own usage, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has become my go-to for travel. It's not as flashy as the metal Amex Platinum, but it's more efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly. If you're tired of the Amex's high fees and want a card that rewards you broadly without the hassle, I highly recommend giving the Venture X a serious look. It might just become your favorite too. (Word count: 928)

Read the Full The Motley Fool Article at:
[ https://www.fool.com/money/credit-cards/articles/forget-the-amex-platinum-this-is-my-favorite-travel-card-now/ ]