A complete guide to Capital One's Lifestyle Collection for hotels
Editor's Note
Capital One launched its first luxury hotel program — the Premier Collection — in 2023, joining the ranks of well-established hotel programs by American Express, Chase and Citi.
Capital One Travel has since expanded this to include the Lifestyle Collection. This collection is open to a broader range of cardholders than the Premier Collection, allowing more people to book boutique hotels using their Capital One miles and enjoy benefits typically reserved for those with hotel status.
But should this program change the way you choose a hotel? Here’s what you need to know.
Related: How to save 10% on all hotels and 5% on all flights with Capital One
What is the Capital One Lifestyle Collection?
The Lifestyle Collection includes boutique properties in popular locations. These properties incorporate modern design and highlight local art and culture. They also feature quality dining and access to unique entertainment.
The Lifestyle Collection includes some known brands such as Virgin Hotels, The Standard, Design Hotels and The Line, as well as smaller boutique hotels like The Ludlow in New York City and The Lyle in Washington, D.C. However, many properties from major hotel brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and IHG are missing from the collection.
Related: Best Capital One credit cards
Which credit cards include Lifestyle Collection access?
The Lifestyle Collection is available to the following cardholders:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture X Business Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business
While the Lifestyle Collection offers a less impressive list of benefits than the Premier Collection, it offers hotel program access to some cardholders who may not be able to justify shelling out the higher annual fee for the Venture X or Venture X Business.
Related: Is the Capital One Venture X worth the annual fee?
What are the benefits of the Lifestyle Collection?
When you book a Lifestyle Collection hotel through a Capital One Travel portal, you’ll earn bonus miles on your purchase. Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders earn 10 miles per dollar spent, while Venture and Spark Miles cardholders earn 5 points per dollar spent, through their respective travel portals.
In addition to earning bonus miles, you’ll get these perks with the Lifestyle Collection:
- A $50 experience credit to use toward rooftop drinks, signature hotel restaurants, room service or other activities
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Room upgrades, when available
- Early check-in and late checkout, when available
Plus, there is no minimum stay requirement to book a Lifestyle Collection hotel, a notable difference from Amex’s The Hotel Collection, which requires staying at least two nights.
Free Wi-Fi and a (non-guaranteed) chance for early check-in probably won’t sway your decision when selecting a hotel for your next trip. Still, the $50 experience credit and ability to earn bonus miles on a boutique hotel stay could make booking via the Lifestyle Collection a better option than booking your stay directly through the hotel website.
Related: A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers: Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi
How to book Lifestyle Collection hotel stays
To book a hotel with the Lifestyle Collection, you must book through Capital One Travel.
Once logged in, you can click on the "Premium Stays" tab at the top right or "Hotels" to see both Lifestyle Collection and non-Lifestyle Collection accommodation options.
Search for your intended destination as you normally would.
If you've chosen the "Hotels" tab, you can filter for Premium stays in your location.
Scroll through the list to see highlights of the hotels, such as available amenities and pricing. Clicking on a hotel provides details about its offerings and location.
When making a paid reservation with these cards, you will earn 5-10 Capital One miles per dollar. Per TPG's October 2024 valuations, these miles are worth 1.85 cents apiece, meaning you would earn a healthy 9.25%-18.5% return on spending.
Finally, you have the option to pay cash or redeem your miles at 1 cent apiece to pay. (We recommend paying in cash as you can get better value for your Capital One miles on other redemptions.)
Related: How to earn, redeem and transfer Capital One miles
Can I pay for the Lifestyle Collection with my Capital One miles?
Yes. Since the Lifestyle Collection is through the Capital One portal, you can redeem your miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
This is a lower redemption value than TPG's October 2024 valuation of 1.85 cents that you could get by transferring your miles to transfer partners, but it’s a good option if you have a lot of miles or if this is a better fit for your plans than other options.
Related: Tips and tricks to get maximum value from your Capital One miles
Is the Lifestyle Collection worth it?
Since the available hotels aren’t exclusive to the Lifestyle Collection, you’ll want to do some research and compare prices before booking. You might be able to find a better price directly through the hotel’s site or via another third-party booking agency like Hotels.com.
Additionally, your hotel status may not be recognized, so you could sacrifice any additional earning potential and perks associated with your status.
Still, Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders can apply their $300 credit to a property in the Lifestyle Collection, so combining this credit and the Lifestyle Collection perks could make this a better option than booking anywhere else.
Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Capital One Venture X card?
Bottom line
The Capital One Lifestyle Collection is accessible to a wider range of cardholders than its Premier Collection but offers fewer perks. It can be a good way to enjoy some hotel benefits if you don’t want to pay a higher annual fee for a premium credit card and don’t have hotel status.
Related: 9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- 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 with 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. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $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.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- 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 with 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. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $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.
- Terms Apply.