Best Travel Credit Cards for International Travel in 2025: Why Venture X Beats Sapphire Reserve

Last updated on October 4th, 2025 at 02:13 am

Travel credit cards are constantly evolving, and in 2025 one card stands above the rest: the Capital One Venture X. With premium perks, flexible redemptions, and one of the best annual fee-to-benefits ratios in the industry, it has overtaken the Chase Sapphire Reserve as the best international travel credit card for most travelers. In this guide, I’ll break down why Venture X is my #1 pick, where Sapphire Reserve still holds value, and the best travel card combos to maximize your rewards both abroad and at home.

Figure Out Which Rewards Matter Most

Choosing the best travel credit card in 2025 starts with knowing where you spend the most money and which perks actually matter for your trips. Travel rewards are not one-size-fits-all—someone who flies business class once a year has very different needs than a slow traveler living abroad for months at a time.

For me, the most valuable perks are airport lounge access, Global Entry credits, and strong rewards in everyday categories I use while slow traveling:

• Flights
• Hotels & Airbnb Stays
• Restaurants
• Groceries

Why Venture X Beats Chase Sapphire Reserve in 2025

When comparing two of the biggest premium travel cards out there, Capital One Venture X now has a very strong case for being the better choice—especially for frequent international travelers. Below, I break down where Venture X shines, how Sapphire Reserve has changed for 2025, and why I believe Venture X is the superior card for most people.

What changed: Sapphire Reserve’s big update

• As of June 2025, Chase increased the annual fee for Sapphire Reserve from $550 to $795. 
• The reward structure has also shifted:
  Chase now offers 8x points on travel booked through Chase Travel. Hotel and flight bookings directly still earn bonus points, but many other travel purchases have reduced multipliers.  
• While the card has added new credits and benefits—like hotel credits, dining credits, and lifestyle perks—the increased fee demands more usage to “break even.” 
• Some of the new perks are valuable but require active optimization and may not benefit casual travelers. 

Because of these changes, Chase’s premium card still has advantages, but its value proposition has shifted, making Venture X more attractive for many users.

Why Venture X is now better for many travelers

1. More consistent value and simpler benefits structure:

• Capital One Venture X provides $300 annual travel credit (when booked through Capital One Travel), which directly offsets its annual fee, and 10,000 anniversary miles every year. These perks significantly reduce the “net cost” of holding the card.

2. Lower barrier for rewards and redemption.

• Venture X offers flat 2× miles on all purchases (beyond its higher multipliers on flights and hotels via Capital One Travel), giving you rewards even when you’re not making “travel purchases.”
• No foreign transaction fees makes it ideal for international use, without worrying about extra costs.

3 Perks & flexibility that are easier to use

• Lounge access via Capital One lounges + Priority Pass (which is strong value for many travelers).
• Easy price matching and protections, virtual card creation, and strong fraud protection.
• Simple redemption and fewer restrictions compared to cards that require booking through portals or limited categories.

4. Better “all-around” value for most people

• Even though Sapphire Reserve has stronger travel partner transfer networks, Venture X gives excellent usability, rewards, and lounge perks without requiring the high spending or optimization that Reserve demands.
• With the new $795 fee and changes, Reserve users must spend more or use more benefits just to “break even,” making Venture X the smarter pick unless you truly need every Chase partner advantage.

Where Sapphire Reserve still holds its ground

Capital One Venture X	Chase Sapphire Reserve
$395 Annual Fee	$795 Annual Fee
$300 Travel Credit (used through its portal)	$300 Travel Credit can be used on any travel-coded transaction.
10,000 Annual Bonus Miles	None
10x Points On Hotels & 5x Airlines in Travel Portal	8x on Chase Travel bookings• 5x on flights (Chase Travel)• 3x on dining & broad travel• 1x on everything else
Price Matching on Travel Portal	Limited
$395 Annual Fee – $300 credit -$100 bonus = $-5 (net positive)	$795 Annual Fee – $300 credit = $495 (net)

• Chase Sapphire Reserve still offers strong transfer partners, especially for airline and hotel loyalty programs, which can yield high-value redemptions in certain scenarios.
• The revamped Reserve also includes new credits for hotels via The Edit, dining, entertainment, Lyft, etc. — but these credits often have conditions and require active use.
• For people who travel often, book premium flights or hotels often, and want elite status perks, Reserve might still make sense—but only if you use all the credits and benefits thoroughly.

Bottom line: For most travelers, Venture X is Better

Between a lower “net cost” when factoring in credits and miles, easier usability abroad, and robust perks, Capital One Venture X delivers more value for the majority of travel-oriented users. Chase Sapphire Reserve remains powerful, but with its higher fee and a steeper learning curve to maximize benefits, it’s less universally beneficial post-2025 changes.

The Perfect Complement: Capital One Savor Card

If you’re serious about maximizing rewards, the Capital One Savor Card is the ultimate sidekick to the Venture X. While Venture X dominates travel rewards, the Savor Card fills in the everyday gaps—especially when it comes to dining, entertainment, and groceries.

Why the Savor Card Works So Well with Venture X

• 3% cashback on dining, bars, food delivery & entertainment – perfect for eating out abroad, grabbing street food, or catching a concert.

• 3% cashback on groceries & streaming services – covers day-to-day living at home or while slow traveling.

• 1% cashback on everything else.

This makes the Savor Card one of the best cashback cards to pair with a travel rewards card in 2025.

Pairing Venture X + Savor = Maximum Rewards

Using the Venture X for travel expenses (flights, hotels, car rentals through the Capital One portal at 5x–10x) and the Savor for dining, groceries, and lifestyle purchases ensures every dollar earns top-tier rewards. Even better, both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, so you can swipe confidently anywhere in the world.

Whether you’re sipping coffee in Paris, eating sushi in Tokyo, or shopping at a night market in Bangkok, the Venture X + Savor combo ensures no purchase goes unrewarded.

👉 Together, they form one of the best international credit card combos in 2025—offering premium travel perks, simple redemptions, and everyday cashback that keeps rewarding you long after your trip is over.

Best Travel Credit Card with No Annual Fee

Wells Fargo Autograph: A Top No-Fee Travel Rewards Card

Not every traveler wants to pay $400–$800 a year in annual fees. That’s where the Wells Fargo Autograph Card shines. As one of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards in 2025, it offers surprisingly strong earning potential in everyday categories that matter for both domestic and international trips.

Key Benefits of the Wells Fargo Autograph:

• 3x points on dining, travel, gas stations, transit, streaming services, and phone plans.

• 1x points on all other purchases.

• No foreign transaction fees—rare for a no-fee card, making it a reliable option for international travel.

Why the Autograph is Perfect for Budget-Conscious Travelers

The Wells Fargo Autograph is ideal for anyone who wants to earn solid travel rewards without paying an annual fee. Its broad 3x bonus categories cover nearly all the essentials of travel—airfare, hotels, dining, and even your Netflix subscription—making it much more versatile than typical entry-level cards.

Whether you’re booking a flight, grabbing dinner abroad, or paying for rideshares, the Autograph ensures your purchases always earn points. Pairing it with a premium travel card like the Venture X creates a powerful combo: you get premium perks on travel while the Autograph quietly racks up rewards in everyday categories—all without extra costs.

👉 For budget-conscious travelers, the Wells Fargo Autograph is hands-down the best no-fee travel card in 2025.

What About Amex Platinum?

The American Express Platinum is still a strong contender for luxury travelers who want access to the world’s best lounge network (Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Clubs) and don’t mind managing multiple lifestyle credits. But with a $695 annual fee, it only makes sense if you travel frequently in premium cabins and can fully use the perks. For most travelers in 2025, the Capital One Venture X combo provides better overall value at a much lower cost.

Conclusion: The Best Travel Credit Card Strategy

When it comes to international travel, the Capital One Venture X stands out as the best all-around card in 2025. With generous travel credits, strong rewards rates, and no foreign transaction fees, it delivers unbeatable value—especially when paired with the Capital One Savor Card for dining and groceries. For travelers who want rewards without annual fees, the Wells Fargo Autograph rounds out the perfect combo. Together, these cards form a powerful, cost-effective strategy for both everyday spending and global adventures. And once your wallet is set, don’t forget your global medical insurance—the other essential travel companion.