Graduation is right around the corner, friends! And if your brain can’t travel that far, spring break is even closer. Before you start the full-time grind, it's time to celebrate all of your hard work with a graduation trip.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card makes travel ridiculously easy, even if you're new to the points and miles game. With 2x miles on every purchase, easy redemption options, and solid travel perks, you can make your post-grad trip way more affordable. We’re talking stupid cheap.
And now’s the perfect time to grab it, thanks to its freaking awesome limited-time offer!
Here’s what we’re looking at: Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel. That’s equal to $1,000 in travel — which would mean a free flight, multiple hotel nights or a seriously upgraded vacation.
Here are five solid trips you could take before you start working full-time, plus exactly how to use your Venture miles to book flights, hotels and experiences!
Italy 🇮🇹
Few places scream "post-grad adventure" like Italy. Whether you're seeing the sights in Rome or eating your weight in pasta, Italy is the perfect mix of culture, food and fun! Sing to me, Paolo!
Where to Stay:
Budget: The RomeHello Hostel – One of the highest-rated hostels in the city, with dorms from $40/night.
Book with Venture Miles: Clarion Collection Hotel Principessa Isabella – Transfer Capital One miles 1:1 to Choice Privileges.
Use the Travel Credit: Book a budget hotel via Capital One Travel and apply your $250 credit.
How to Use Your Venture Card: Book flights with miles through Capital One Travel or transfer to Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) for better deals and offset your train and bus costs by redeeming miles at 1 cent per mile.
Thailand 🇹🇭
Maybe it’s the White Lotus effect, but Thailand could be the move. It might take longer to get here, but you can stretch your trip for a hot minute, all for a fraction of the cost of other destinations.
Where to Stay:
Budget: Les Fleurs Bangkok Hostel (Tini Kati Hostel) – A highly-rated hostel with dorms from $15/night.
Book with Venture Miles: Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok – Book via Capital One Travel and offset the cost with miles, or Ascott Thonglor Bangkok – Transfer Capital One miles 1:1 to Choice Privileges.
Use the Travel Credit: Book a mid-range hotel via Capital One Travel and apply the $250 credit.
How to Use Your Venture Card: Use miles to offset cheap budget airline flights within Asia, and book activities through Capital One Travel to earn 5x miles on experiences.
Costa Rica 🇨🇷
If you love being in nature and eating the freshest fruit known to man, Costa Rica could be the spot. It's the perfect mix of chill and not chill, from volcano hikes to ziplining through rainforests.
Where to Stay:
Budget: Selina Tamarindo – A beachy, social hostel with dorms from $25/night.
Book with Venture Miles: Quality Hotel Real San Jose – Transfer Capital One miles 1:1 to Choice Privileges.
Use the Travel Credit: Book a budget-friendly stay via Capital One Travel.
How to Use Your Venture Card: Rent a car and offset the cost with miles (highly recommended for exploring), and use Capital One Travel for hotels and earn 5x miles.
Japan 🇯🇵
Ok, so… who wouldn’t want to go to Japan? I feel like it’s on everyone’s list these days. You’ve got options, too — Tokyo, Kyoto and so many other great spots. It’s not the cheapest destination, but your Venture miles can make it way more affordable.
Where to Stay:
Budget: ＆And Hostel Akihabara – A traditional ryokan-style hostel with dorms from $35/night.
Book with Venture Miles: Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kanda – Transfer 1:1 to Choice Privileges.
Use the Travel Credit: Book a capsule hotel via Capital One Travel and apply the $250 credit.
How to Use Your Venture Card: Transfer miles to Singapore Airlines or Turkish Airlines for cheap award flights, and use miles to offset the cost of train tickets. Lowkey, you could also use your miles for a Tokyo Disney ticket.
U.S. National Parks 🚗
Not all epic trips require a passport! The U.S. has incredible national parks, and a road trip is the best way to see them all. As an added bonus, using the Venture Card makes gas, hotels and park fees way cheaper.
Where to Stay:
Budget: Campgrounds or Hipcamp rentals – Many sites are under $20/night.
Book with Venture Miles: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites near Yellowstone – Transfer 1:1 to Choice Privileges.
Use the Travel Credit: Book motels or budget-friendly stays via Capital One Travel.
How to Use Your Venture Card: Cover gas and rental car costs with miles (huge money saver!), use Capital One Travel for hotels and earn 5x miles, and offset park entrance fees and guided tours with miles.
Let’s Wrap This Up!
Ok, so no matter what trip you choose, whether it’s from this list or not, the Venture Card is your new best friend. Rack up miles on every purchase, use them to offset travel costs and enjoy perks like no foreign transaction fees — so you can spend less and experience more… before the big girl job starts.
Keep in mind that many of the stays I mentioned (for points bookings) are on the nicer side, so if you’re into budget travel or hostels, you could stretch your miles even further!
So, what are you waiting on? Start earning those miles, friend!
