5 Dream Trips You Can Book With Virgin Red in 2025 (And How To Earn Enough Points Fast)

Updated: May 8, 2025, 4:00pm CDT

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Table of Contents

Virgin Red vs. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
1. Embark on a Luxury Safari Getaway in Kenya
2. Relax in a Vineyard Retreat in South Africa
3. Visit Richard Branson’s Private Island in the Caribbean
4. Sail on a Virgin Voyages Cruise
5. Stay at Virgin Hotels in Major Cities
How To Earn a Ton of Virgin Red Points
Final Thoughts

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One loyalty program that often flies under the radar is Virgin Red, the all-encompassing rewards currency for the Virgin Group.

Launched in the U.K. in 2021 and introduced to the U.S. market later that year, Virgin Red offers everything from cruises to curated travel packages abroad.

Here’s how you can earn and redeem points with Virgin Red to unlock memorable adventures this year.

Virgin Red vs. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Before we start exploring the different ways to redeem Virgin Red points, it’s helpful to know how Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club differ.

These are technically separate loyalty programs, so you need to sign up for each individually. Despite this, they’re meant to work hand in hand. Once your accounts are linked, you can easily transfer points between the two, meaning points are interchangeable whenever it suits your travel plans.

To be clear, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points can be redeemed for flight bookings. Since Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, you’re not limited to just Virgin Atlantic flights — you can also use your points to book travel with partner airlines like Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and more.

You use Virgin Red points to book all other travel redemptions, which is the main focus of this guide today. For the most up-to-date redemptions, bookmark the “Spend Virgin Points” page.

1. Embark on a Luxury Safari Getaway in Kenya

Did you know you can use Virgin Red points to book a luxury safari in Kenya? I was surprised to find this out, too.

With your points, you can unlock an incredible stay at Richard Branson’s safari camp, Mahali Mzuri, in the Maasai Mara or the sister property, Finch Hattons, in Tsavo West National Park.

Mahali Mzuri 1 — Mahali Mzuri awaits. Image Credit: Virgin Limited Edition

The following rates are for 2 travelers. Each booking includes all meals and drinks (including alcohol), twice-daily game drives, and round-trip transfers to and from the nearest private airstrip:

Finch Hattons: 310,000 to 380,000 Virgin Red points for a 2-night stay. Additional nights can be added for 155,000 to 190,000 points per night.
Mahali Mzuri: 330,000 to 370,000 Virgin Red points for a 2-night stay, with extra nights ranging from 165,000 to 180,000 points each.

In 2025, Mahali Mzuri bookings are available from June 7 to 15 and November 1 to December 19. Finch Hattons offers a broader booking window, with availability from now through December 19, 2025.

Both luxury safari camps cost a pretty penny — you can expect to pay nearly $3,000 per night. Even at the top-tier redemption rate of 380,000 points for a 2-night stay, you could score an impressive value (over 1.6 cents per point!).

2. Relax in a Vineyard Retreat in South Africa

Wine lovers will definitely want to add a stay at the Mont Rochelle to their travel wish list. This stunning vineyard hotel, owned by Richard Branson, is located just an hour from Cape Town, South Africa, and the points redemption rates are impressive.

Mont Rochelle South Africa — A beautiful stay at the Mont Rochelle awaits. Image Credit: Virgin Limited Edition

Now through December 19, 2025, you can book a 2-night stay for as few as 60,000 to 110,000 Virgin Red points, depending on the season. Want to extend your visit? Extra nights range from 30,000 to 55,000 points each.

This fall (South Africa’s spring), rooms are priced at around $1,330 per night, including taxes and fees. If your travel dates are flexible, you might be able to snag one of the lower redemption rates. But even at the higher end, you’re looking at a rewards value of 2 cents per point (or more).

3. Visit Richard Branson’s Private Island in the Caribbean

If you’re sitting on a mountain of credit card points, why not put them toward an unforgettable getaway on a private Caribbean island? Right now, you can redeem 2,000,000 Virgin Red points for a 7-night stay on Necker Island — Sir Richard Branson’s ultra-luxurious retreat — with various dates available through the end of 2025.

Great House Room Necker Island — How’s this for an ocean view? Image Credit: Virgin Limited Edition

What exactly do millions of points get you? The rate covers 2 guests in a room with a private terrace and breathtaking ocean views. It also includes all meals, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and round-trip boat transfers from Beef Island/Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS).

For perspective, this same 7-night stay would cost $31,151 in cash, so you’d be getting excellent value at around 1.6 cents per point.

4. Sail on a Virgin Voyages Cruise

Virgin Group brings a fresh, playful twist to cruises in the best way possible. Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line, which is a departure from the family-focused atmosphere on many other ships. The goal? To create a space where grown-ups can unwind, have fun, and connect with fellow travelers in a more relaxed, social setting.

Most cabins (86%) come with private balconies, and the rooms are impressively spacious by cruise standards. Plus, they’re equipped with tech-forward features that make it easy to stay connected, whether you’re exploring onboard activities or planning your time ashore.

Virgin Voyages Room — Sea Terrace room on Virgin Voyages. Image Credit: Stella Shon

Virgin Voyages puts a strong emphasis on dining, offering a wide range of onboard restaurants that are both diverse and delicious. Whether you’re craving pizza, Korean barbecue, or a classic steakhouse experience, all meals (excluding alcoholic drinks) are included in your cruise fare.

You’ll want to check Virgin Red’s website frequently (or subscribe to our newsletter, where we inform you of the latest Virgin Voyages points deals). Just a couple of months ago, Virgin Red offered more than a dozen sailings with points and miles, with several under 200,000 points.

These 6-figure point rates might raise eyebrows, but there’s important context to consider. These rates cover 2 people sharing a cabin and include all meals and onboard activities, making it one of the best all-inclusive vacation deals you can book with points and miles. Even better, these points rates put you in a Sea Terrace room, not just an entry-level cabin.

Take the summer 2025 Mediterranean cruise as an example, which is one of Virgin Voyages’ most sought-after itineraries. During peak summer, paying cash would set you back $5,832.

Virgin Voyages August 2025 — Image Credit: Virgin Voyages

Most recently, we saw the same itinerary on sale for 385,000 Virgin Red points. As such, you’re getting about 1.5 cents per point in value, which is higher than our valuation of 1.4 cents per point.

Hot Tip:

In 2023, I sailed on a European Virgin Voyages cruise through Barcelona, Marseille, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca, and Ibiza — and the experience on board was nothing short of amazing. Using points for this experience makes it even more rewarding.

5. Stay at Virgin Hotels in Major Cities

You don’t need hundreds of thousands of Virgin Red points to unlock a memorable getaway. Thanks to Virgin Hotels (part of the broader Virgin Group), you can book stylish urban stays for as few as 25,000 points per night. This year’s available destinations include Chicago, Dallas, London, Nashville, New Orleans, and New York City, making this one of the standout sweet spots for Virgin Red redemptions.

Virgin Hotels London Shoreditch — Newest Virgin Hotel in London-Shoreditch. Image Credit: Virgin Hotels

To redeem Virgin Points for Virgin Hotels, you must be a member of The Know, which is Virgin Hotels’ loyalty program, link your Virgin Red account, and transfer your points to The Know when booking.

While the redemption values will vary depending on the season, you’ll want to do the math and make sure you’re scoring at least 1.5 cents per value to make these hotel stays worth it.

How To Earn a Ton of Virgin Red Points

Many of these luxury experiences require a hefty balance of rewards, but fortunately, it’s easy to rack up Virgin Red points.

To emphasize, the distinction between Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is also important because both programs are transfer partners of all the major credit card rewards programs. All rewards transfer to Virgin Red or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio, so there’s no math to calculate when moving points over.

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Program	Transfer Partner
American Express Membership Rewards	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Bilt Rewards	Virgin Red
Capital One Miles	Virgin Red
Chase Ultimate Rewards	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Citi ThankYou Rewards	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Wells Fargo Rewards	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red

Another great way to boost your Virgin Red points is by pooling them. This year, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club introduced the option to combine points with friends and family through a Household account. Once accounts are linked, Flying Club points are automatically shared.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Virgin Red points don’t pool automatically. However, you can still combine them by contacting customer service and requesting a manual transfer — making it easier to work toward your next redemption together.

This points pooling feature is especially handy since most of the aforementioned Virgin Red redemptions are designed for 2 travelers — and having 2 people collect points is always better than one.

Best Credit Cards To Earn Virgin Red Points

You can imagine how the potential Virgin Red points start to stack up, considering that all of the rewards earned on major credit cards can transfer over to the Virgin Red program.

While welcome bonus offers are the fastest way to get a huge haul of points quickly, maximizing rewards rates on existing cards simultaneously can be a good long-term strategy.

For example, if you wanted to redeem points for a 10-night cruise and need to accrue approximately 350,000 points, you could apply for a card or 2 and maximize existing rewards rates for dining, groceries, and other common household expenses for several months. Having your partner apply for several cards themselves can help you leap to the finish line.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Dining Restaurant Upgraded Points LLC — Turn everyday expenses into dream trips. Image Credit: Upgraded Points

That said, Virgin Red refreshes its rewards frequently. So if you don’t have enough points now, you can expect similar opportunities to appear in the future.

Here are some of our favorite cards from the programs listed above to get you ready for that future redemption:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
$199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
$695 annual fee.¤
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

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APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

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American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

$325 annual fee (rates and fees)
No lounge access

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Card Highlights

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

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Bilt Mastercard

U.P. Rating

Apply Now(at Bilt's secure site)

Bilt Mastercard

Welcome OfferNo offer available
No offer available

Annual Fee

APR

See Rate & Fees

Why We Like This Card

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt Mastercard, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

Of course, aside from rewards on rent, there are many other solid features that the card offers that add extra value to cardholders. In this guide, we provide a complete breakdown of everything the Bilt Card has to offer to help you decide whether the card makes sense for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 on dining
2x points per $1 on travel
1x point per $1 on rent payments, without a transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year (plus all other purchases)

Cons

Does not offer a welcome bonus
Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

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Card Highlights

$0 Annual Fee
Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
Earns 3x points on dining, 2x on travel, and 1x on other purchases
Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, credit card statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
Other features and benefits include: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Purchase Security, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Cellular Telephone Protection, and Trip Delay Reimbursement
Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Rate & Fees
Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

BEST BEGINNER CARD

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

$395 annual fee (rates & fees)
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

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Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Capital One Miles

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome OfferFor a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
$100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

$95 annual fee

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Card Highlights

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
$100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

U.P. Rating

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$900

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey^SM Card is an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around travel rewards card that offers bonus categories on hotels, airfare, travel, and dining, giving you the opportunity to earn points on these purchases quickly.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options including access to transfer partners, an annual statement credit with airfare purchase, and no foreign transaction fees.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Earn 5x points on hotels
Earn 4x points on airfare
Earn 3x points on other travel and restaurants; 1x on other purchases

Cons

$95 annual fee
List of transfer partners is smaller than competing programs

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Card Highlights

Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
$95 Annual Fee.
Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature^® Concierge.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

If you’re a big fan of the Virgin Red program, you may even want to check out its newly launched co-branded credit card. The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard^® offers a welcome bonus offer plus these additional perks for Virgin experiences:

Spend $15,000 in a cardholder year and receive 1 personal perk; spend $30,000 in a cardholder year and select 2 personal perks: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club reward voucher for a companion seat or cabin upgrade, free night stay or hotel suite upgrade at Virgin Hotels, or $300 bar tab credit or Blue Extras perks package on a Virgin Voyages cruise.
5,000-point anniversary bonus upon renewing the card.
Receive a third night free at Virgin Hotels after booking 2 consecutive nights, once per year.

Hot Tip:

Virgin Red also offers redemption opportunities for activities and tours, though we’ve found that these typically don’t offer great redemption value — less than 1 cent per point.

Final Thoughts

Virgin Red points can unlock amazing value on hotel stays, cruises, safari camps, and luxury getaways around the world. And with more transfer options than ever, your next dream trip might be closer than you think.