This is why Venture X and Amex Gold are the only 2 cards in my wallet

Like many TPGers, I’ve been sucked into credit cards with annual fees, but when I’m out and about, I only use two credit cards in my day-to-day life.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card X and American Express® Gold Card are my top picks. So what is it about these credit cards that makes me loyal to them? Let’s dive into the reason.

Capital One made waves when it launched Venture X in late 2021. The issuer incorporated many of the premium travel interests of Platinum Card® from American Express And Chase Sapphire Reserve all in one card for a much lower annual fee of $395 per year.

Venture X earns 2 simple Capital One mile per dollar spent on most eligible purchases. That’s a 3.7% return in Capital One miles at TPG . latest valuation. You’ll also earn 5 Capital One miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per dollar on car and hotel rentals — but you must book through Capital One travel portal to earn these bonuses.

I usually use my Venture X on Daily catalog historically did not earn more than 1 mile per dollar. Examples include costs at pharmacies and home repair shops as well as the cost of car maintenance.

Outside of these purchases, most of my pocket money comes from groceries and restaurants. Amex Gold earns 4 Membership Rewards per dollar at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 annually) and restaurants worldwide — an impressive 8% return on Amex points at Valuation of TPG.

By using Amex Gold for groceries and restaurants and Venture X for everything else on the go, the days where I spend 1 point per dollar are over.

Related: Best travel credit cards

While no one likes to pay an annual fee, in my case the perks of Venture X more than justify the annual fee. You can consult Full list of benefitsbut here are my favorites (and a dollar figure for how much I rate each item):

• Credit statement: Up to $300 annual refundable statement credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel ($300).
• Commemorative Bonus: 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary, starting from your first anniversary ($185).
• Lounge access: Complimentary use of Priority Pass and Capital One lounges ($150).
• Authorized users: Up to four authorized users can be added for free; same cardholder access to Capital One Lounge and Priority Pass ($100).

I rate these four perks at over $700, clearly offsetting the annual fee. Other notable perks of the card include cell phone and travel protection beyond $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit (one time in four year).

Amex Gold has an annual fee of $250, here are my top fees benefits:

• Up to $120 annual food statement credit: Sword up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with your Amex Gold Card at participating dining partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment is required.
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: Sword up to $10 in Uber Cash monthly for Uber Eats and Uber rides in the US You must add the card to the Uber app to receive Uber Cash benefits. Enrollment is required.

I rate these benefits at $240, so even though I don’t appear as “green” as I would with Venture X, the annual fee is actually $10 with 240 credits dollars.

Related: A Complete Guide to Credit Card Annual Fees

This is an easy one, but it’s worth pointing out. Both of these cards are not available foreign transaction fees, which is important to me. Many sellers don’t accept Amex overseas, but Visa issues Venture X—a more reliable bet.

Compared to Venture X, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns extra points on dining and travel. However, if you’re willing to forgo that, the Venture X is a solid choice when traveling abroad.

Related: The best cards with no foreign transaction fees

A few months ago, I moved 63,000 Capital One Mile to Etihad Tourists to Australia on American Airlines Flagship First. The cash rate for this fare typically sells for over $10,000, representing excellent value for my miles.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. In November, American Express offers 25% transfer bonus with Air France-KLM flies green. Just by transferring 52,000 Amex points, I booked a one-way flight from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in business class on Air France.

After recent redemptions, I am currently working on building up my Amex points balance. i’m aiming redeem 55,000 points for ANA’s new first-class one-way flight to Japan. To book this reward, I will search and confirm the reward space, then transfer the destination Virgin Atlantic Flight Clubwhich offers this popular form of redemption.

For more inspiration, check out our guide to maximizing Capital One mile And American Express Membership Rewards.

Related: How (and why) you should earn transfer points

As two of the top rewards credit cards available, adventure X And Gold Amex are great cards to carry in your wallet. I use my Amex Gold at restaurants and grocery stores, and my Venture X is practically everywhere else. (I use a hotel co-branded card when staying at a hotel, but I’ll only bring one when I know I need it.)

You can earn an extra point or two at gas stations or when taking an Uber with other cards. However, the simplicity and generous earning rates that come with these two cards make a perfect match in my wallet.

For the Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Benefits Guide for details, where the terms and exclusions apply.