I travel internationally at least two times a year and I recently got this card. The membership fee for my venturex card is $395 annually but they give you $300 in travel credit and 10k points every year so you actually net something like $5 back in a year. The points I'd make by paying bills, flights, and hotels in a year is enough to cover a significant portion of a trip.Just wondering if any other anons have experience pointsmaxxing
>>62444100Yes, but caveats:>For most people the real benefit is in a juicy sign up bonus>If you are not flexible or do not travel lots the benefits are minimal>If you hate learning how to navigate the system this is not a great hobby, get a basic 2% card and forget about the rest >If you are a poorfag who doesn't spend that much to begin with this is generally bad because you need to have enough expenses to hit these thresholds for flights and redemptionsAnyways, I took a job in DC but I live in a major city around 500 miles away. 4500 alaska airlines points buy a one way ticket on American Airlines and availability is good so I need to buy flights basically never thanks to Alaska card signup bonuses and putting my rent and Lyft on my summit card.
>>62444100I'm just starting out with travel cards, because I recently have personal reasons to travel abroad I'd rather not get into here. I want that particular card sooo bad, because I can guarantee I'll fly abroad at least once per year, and it'd be "free" unlimited lounge access. But even with an 800 credit score they keep rejecting me for having too many new-ish cards open. Closing won't remove them from my credit report. Anyone have some tips?My general thoughts about Venture X:>$300 must be used in their travel portal exclusively. It doesn't look like they'll overcharge, but always a future possibility.>That $300 spent on travel could be earning points on another card. If you know you'll travel, and you have other travel cards, you'd be losing out on 3-5% of that, so +$5 but then -$9-15 for a net loss of $4-10.>2x points on uncategorized spending is nice>I understand points can only be redeemed for travel without cutting value in half (2 points for 1 cent).>Capital One charges the annual fee as soon as you start using the card, while other annual fee cards give you the first year for free, so the sign-up bonus is really bluntedMy best general advice with travel cards in general is to carefully review the benefits (e.g. Chase and Amex premium cards are SUPER restrictive with them), and confirm if they fit within your lifestyle. If you already pay for everything they offer, which is kinda rare, then the annual fee amounts to moving your expenses around. If you have to change your lifestyle to fit with their program, then the banks won. Most bonuses are tied to a specific company (e.g. Lululemon), who cut a deal with the bank, so it's basically a glorified coupon book you pay $600+ a year for. The merchant you got freebies from still makes money off you, and the bank still has money from your fee leftover.
>>62444233I think C1 got rid of the lounge access a few months ago, you have to pay an extra annual fee now :(Would have been nice on my 5 hour layover in dallas in 2 months.
>>62444300From what I've read, VX still gives lounge access, but you can't bring any guests for free. You might be able to pay an extra fee for additional cardholders to get access. That was understandably poorly received, but still works for me because I travel alone.
>>62444233I've read a bit on it. I'm pretty sure they offer price matching and price drop refunds on the travel portal.
My advice is just get any 2% cash back no annual fee card you pay for most things with and fuggetaboutit.Check for new cards every 6 mo for sign up bonus $, but don't overthink it and just get the 2% back as a general use card.
>>62444307you're right anon, my mistake
>>62444402Enjoy your lounge visit in Dallas!
>>62444233>But even with an 800 credit score they keep rejecting me for having too many new-ish cards open. Closing won't remove them from my credit report. Anyone have some tips?You just have to wait and let them age out to 6 months, 12 months, (2 years they fall off entirely), see what has happened to others. Research card issuers/cards in advance to decide who is most inquiry sensitive, then prioritize those cards when your inquiries drop back down, applying for cards that are less sensitive afterwards.Also be picky, do your homework and make sure an offer you see is the best currently/ever to make those inquiries count.
>>62444100You give me 30 minutes in the Amex lounge at any airport and I've already value drank my way past the 1000 dollar annual fee. You have to know how to play these games to make it worth it.
ITT: goyim falling for financial scams
>>62444481kek, based anon
>>62444481What's the best stuff to get your money's worth with?
>>62444100Planning to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve soon. Currently have a RHG card that I use the 3% back on general purchases, a Verizon Visa that I use the 4% on restaurants, groceries, and gas. A Prime Visa that I use the 5% back for all Amazon purchases. All I need now is a decent travel card and I think this one is it. Lounge Access for you and two guests is nice, and since I travel for the military alot the free Platinum Club upgrade for IHG Hotels stacks quite well. The travel credits are alright and the $300 dining reimbursement works for one or two fancy dinners a year. The rest of the perks are fine, and the flat 8x points on all travel through Chase Travel is pretty solid. $795 annual fee isn't too bad for all the perks.
>>62444643Booze I assume. Complimentary cocktails are different from the premium ones that actually cost money. I was a guest once and I think I drank like 10 mimosas and a little fruit. It's no pampered lifestyle, but I would take it over having to sit around at a terminal with my thumb up my ass. If you travel alot it would not be hard at all to get your money back on the lounge alone compared to going out drinking..
I'd say if you own a business and run a lot of google ads or anticipate a shit ton of adspend, it can be pretty OPI've racked up a shit ton of points from AMEX plat's welcome offer + the bonus they give if you hit X spend within 90 days + another bonus of X spend within 365 days the juicy redemptions in terms of retail $ value would be international 8+ hour flights in business/first class e.g. NA -> EU or NA -> Asia but to be considering those you gotta be accumulating like 200k+ points . .
>>62444481That only works if the benefits fit within your lifestyle. If you don't drink (yeah, I know, I'm a loser) then alcohol in the lounge is of little value. If you use lounges to mooch free food from the airport, and otherwise make the fee pay for itself, there's at least some value in it.
>>62444673Now you only need to tell us how we get to owning a profitable business
>>62444659Robinhood gold is awesome. I heard they also have a platinum, which is way better.Apparently it's invite only though, no idea how that works
>>62445513I've seen the Platinum and it's... fine? Honestly it's very similar to any deluxe or platinum card like AmEx or Sapphire. I feel it's non-travel perks are a little more obscure, and for some reason it doesn't give you at least 3% back on everything. You get 10% back on travel booked with Robinhood and 5% from restaurants. But standard 1% back on everything else. I would say the Chase Sapphire Reserve is currently better, especially since you can get $2,000 in travel credits for spending $5,000 in 90 days. Platinum is invite only as well, but you can apply none the less. I would still keep the gold card though.
I rotate cards, points max is mostly a waste of time, the big bonus comes from opening bank accounts and new cards, i normally make 3-5k a year doing nothing but filling out forms and moving money around. Open an account, dump the money, collect the reward in 3-6 months, close account, rinse and repeat.
