When I started traveling frequently, everyone told me I needed one of the best travel credit cards. But with so many options, I wondered: Would the rewards justify the annual fees? Would it actually enhance my travel experience? To find out, I tested three top contenders—Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X.

Each card came with its own strengths, quirks, and surprises. I’m sharing my honest, real-world experience with all three in this post. If you’re trying to figure out which travel card fits your style, this guide will help you make a more intelligent decision.

Card 1: American Express Platinum

The American Express Platinum was my first premium travel card. I was drawn to it because of its reputation as the ultimate luxury card for travelers.

💳 Points & Earning

American Express Platinum earns Membership Rewards points:

• 5x points on flights booked directly or through American Express Travel
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
• 1x on everything else

While the earning rates were great for flights and hotels, I quickly noticed that the card didn’t shine for everyday spending. Still, with the right strategy, the points I earned were incredibly

valuable, especially when transferred to American Express’s airline partners.

✈️ Travel Perks

This is where American Express Platinum blew me away:

• American Express Centurion Lounge access (still my favorite lounge network)
• Priority Pass Select membership
• $200 airline fee credit
• $200 Uber credit (split into monthly credits)
• $240 digital entertainment credit
• Hotel elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors
• Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits (complimentary breakfast, upgrades, late checkout)

Walking into a Centurion Lounge before a flight has become my favorite ritual — great food, excellent drinks, and a break from chaotic terminals. While Amex’s Centurion Lounges get most of the buzz, don’t sleep on Chase Sapphire Lounges or Capital One Lounges — both have been stepping up with beautiful spaces and great amenities at select airports.

💸 Fees & Drawbacks

• Annual fee: $695
• Credits require tracking and activation, which felt like extra work
• Few bonus categories outside of travel

⭐️ My Takeaway

American Express Platinum was my gateway to luxury travel. Although I used it for everyday purchases, which probably wasn’t ideal, it elevated my travel experience with lounges, hotel upgrades, and airport perks. If you love luxury, this card delivers.

Card 2: Chase Sapphire Reserve

⭐️ ⭐️ READ UPDATED 7/18/2025 BLOG POST⭐️ ⭐️

After a year with American Express, I realized I wanted a more versatile card that rewarded everyday spending and offered solid travel protection. Enter the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

💳 Points & Earning

Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program was a game changer for me:

• 3x points on travel
• 3x points on dining worldwide
• 1x on everything else

The points were easily redeemed and transferred to top travel partners like United, Southwest, Hyatt, and Marriott. The sign-up bonus alone (usually 60,000–80,000 points) scored me multiple free flights.

✈️ Travel Perks

Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a practical mix of perks:

• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass Select membership
• Primary rental car insurance
• Trip cancellation/delay insurance
• Global Entry / TSA PreCheck reimbursement

Chase’s travel insurance saved me on multiple occasions — from delayed flights to lost luggage, they handled claims smoothly.

💸 Fees & Drawbacks

• Annual fee: Currently $550 – the fee will increase to $795 effective October 26, 2025
• Authorized user fee: $75 (for their Priority Pass access)

With the travel credit, the net fee felt more reasonable, but it still only made sense if you traveled regularly.

⭐️ My Takeaway

With the annual fee increasing to $795 starting October 26, 2025, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is no longer a casual commitment—it’s an investment. But if you travel often, use the $300 annual travel credit, and tap into the card’s extensive protections and travel partners, the value can still outweigh the cost.

Starting June 23, 2025, Chase is sweetening the deal with new Peloton perks: cardholders can earn up to $120 in annual statement credits toward Peloton memberships, including All-Access for hardware users. You’ll also earn 10x points on eligible Peloton hardware and accessory purchases, capped at 50,000 points—a nice bonus if you’re upgrading your at-home workout game.

Between generous points on travel and dining, strong insurance benefits, and lifestyle partnerships like Peloton, the Sapphire Reserve remains the most well-rounded of the three cards—especially if you value consistency, flexibility, and premium perks that fit both airport and everyday life.

Card 3: Capital One Venture X

Finally, I wanted to test a card that promised simplicity without sacrificing premium perks. That’s when I tried the Capital One Venture X — the most recent addition to my wallet.

💳 Points & Earning

Venture X keeps earning simple:

• 2x miles on everything
• 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 10x miles on hotels + rental cars through Capital One Travel

I loved not having to memorize bonus categories. Plus, Capital One miles could be transferred to partners or used to erase travel purchases from my statement, which gave me flexible, easy rewards.

✈️ Travel Perks

For a lower-priced premium card, the perks were surprisingly competitive:

• $300 annual travel credit
• 10,000 bonus miles every anniversary (~$100 value)
• Priority Pass + Capital One Lounge access
• Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit
• Primary rental car insurance + cell phone protection

The Capital One Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth became one of my favorite lounge experiences. It has a modern design, quality food, and fewer crowds.

💸 Fees & Drawbacks

• Annual fee: $395
• Authorized users: free (with lounge access!)

With the travel credit and anniversary miles, the card’s effective cost dropped to about $95/year, making it a top contender for best value.

⭐️ My Takeaway

Venture X became my everyday spending card. It’s ideal for travelers who want great rewards without overthinking the points strategy. I recommend it more often than Chase or American Express to friends who are starting the travel card game.

Biggest Takeaways

After using all three cards, here’s what stood out:

• American Express Platinum → unbeatable for luxury, lounges, and hotel perks — but you often have to book through Amex Travel to earn 5x points on hotels, which can mean giving up elite hotel benefits or facing higher rates.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve → best all-around card for international travel, points flexibility, and strong insurance — but when redeeming points through the Chase portal, flight options can sometimes be limited or priced slightly higher than booking direct.
• Capital One Venture X → best value card with simple rewards and premium perks — but to unlock the highest earning rates (5x-10x), you must book through Capital One Travel, which sometimes has clunky searches, missing airlines, or less flexible cancellation policies.

One thing I discovered is that if you take advantage of the benefits, annual fees aren’t frightening. However, if you don’t make the most of benefits like lounge access or credits, the costs can quickly exceed the value.

The most important lesson is that there are trade-offs for portal benefits. Major points can be earned by making reservations through a card’s travel portal, but doing so may come at the expense of flexible airline policies, hotel loyalty benefits, or direct booking customer support.

My advice? check the portal and the airline or hotel website to see which gives you the best balance of rewards and flexibility.

Final Recommendations

Here’s how I’d match these cards to different traveler types:

✅ For luxury travelers who fly often: American Express Platinum

✅ For flexible, savvy travelers: Chase Sapphire Reserve

✅ For value seekers + simplicity lovers: Capital One Venture X

My current system looks like this:

• American Express Platinum → airport lounges + upscale hotels
• Chase Sapphire Reserve → international trips + points transfers
• Venture X → everyday spending + domestic travel

Venture X is the easiest to recommend if you’re just starting out because of its balance of value and perks. If you want luxury and fly often, the American Express Platinum shines. And if you want one card that does almost everything well, Chase Sapphire Reserve is your all-star.

📦 Reader Tip Box: Travel Insurance

💡 Reader Tip:

All three cards — Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X — offer some level of travel insurance, including trip cancellation, delay coverage, baggage insurance, and rental car protection.

However, Chase Sapphire Reserve stands out with the most robust and well-established protections. At the same time, American Express Platinum and Venture X have solid but slightly newer or more limited policies.

👉 Pro move: Always read your card’s benefit guide and pay for the trip using that card to ensure you’re eligible for coverage!

📦 Reader Tip Box: Companion Lounge Access — What to Know

✈️ Amex Platinum (Centurion Lounge)

• If you spend $75,000 per calendar year on the card.
• With free guest access without meeting the spend, guest fees are $50 per adult and $30 per child (ages 2–17).

✈️ Chase Sapphire Reserve (Priority Pass + Chase Sapphire Lounges)

• Includes free entry for you + 2 guests.
• Additional guests typically pay ~$32, depending on the lounge.

✈️ Capital One Venture X (Capital One Lounge + Priority Pass)

• Includes free entry for you + 2 guests. **NOTE** this is changing effective February 1, 2026.
• Authorized users also get their own lounge access + guest privileges.

💡 Pro tip: Always check the latest guest policies before your trip — lounge access rules (and fees!) can change, especially during peak travel seasons.

Conclusion

Travel rewards cards transformed my travel life. They’ve saved me money, elevated my airport experience, and helped me unlock hotels and flights I never thought I could afford. Each of these three cards—American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Capital One Venture X—earned its spot in my wallet at different points in my journey.

If you’re considering a travel card, consider your habits, spending patterns, and what perks matter most. The right match, a card isn’t just a payment tool—it’s your passport to brighter, smoother, and more joyful travel.