- I got my first travel credit card before a 33-hour journey between Denver and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
- The Capital One Venture X card has a $395 annual fee but comes with lounge access.
- After one long travel day, I felt like the credit card fee was worth it.
When I landed in Tanzania, fellow travelers, lodge staff, and safari guides were amazed I had traveled all the way from Colorado.
They were even more stunned when I mentioned that the trip took over 30 hours.
I was shocked, too. While I’ve crossed oceans and continents to reach destinations like Japan and New Zealand, getting to Tanzania was an entirely new feat.
It was my longest travel day yet, with three layovers and four flights. I bought a new travel pillow, downloaded podcasts and shows, and wore comfy outfits.
But the best thing I did to prepare was get a travel credit card.
My credit card came with airport lounge access
For years, I thought travel lounges were exclusive places for rich, first-class travelers. My first lounge experience was with a business-class ticket to New Zealand, where I spent a seven-hour layover filled with the comforts of prosecco, ramen, and comfy seating.
It initially felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford, but after some quick girl math, I realized that gaining airport lounge access is much more affordable than I originally thought.
I eyed my travel credit card options and ultimately settled on the Capital One Venture X card. Not only would the card give me access to Capital One lounges, but I also get an annual Priority Pass membership, including 1,700 lounges worldwide.
The card’s annual fee is $395. One perk is a $300 travel credit. Since I travel often and know I’ll use the credit, I felt I needed to justify a $95 fee instead of $395.
I ate $100 worth of food on my trip to Tanzania
My 33-hour journey started with a flight to Washington Dulles International Airport. Once I landed, I had a five-hour layover before my next long-haul flight.
When I arrived, I opened my Priority Pass app and looked at nearby lounges.
I had three to choose from and ended up at the Etihad Airways Lounge. Without the card, entrance into the lounge would have cost $75.
I had a breakfast spread of smoked salmon, bao buns, pastries, coffee, and access to a full bar. I also had comfy seating — much nicer than the leather benches at my gate.
If I had purchased a similar breakfast of coffee, food, and a morning mimosa, it would’ve cost at least $50. Bistro Atelier, a restaurant at the same airport, for instance, charges $19 for salmon benedict and $14 for a mimosa, which doesn’t include taxes, tips, or the coffee I had in the lounge.
As I left the Etihad lounge, I felt like I had a remaining $45 of a credit card fee to justify.
Thankfully, I had two more lounge stops to reach my savings goal. When I landed in Ethiopia, I grabbed two water bottles, a Coke, and a quick snack at the airport lounge. On my way to the gate, I noticed a nearby fast-food chain selling bottled water for $3, Cokes for $4, and fries for $7. I estimated I saved about $20 by stopping at the lounge.
By the end of my third lounge visit — where I had another meal and grabbed more water — I felt like I easily would have spent $100 on overpriced airport food during the 33 hours. In my mind, the credit card fee was completely paid off.
This didn’t even factor in the priceless perks of lounge access. In Ethiopia, for example, the airport’s public bathroom had a line that stretched around the corner of the building, while my lounge bathroom had no lines. When I made it to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a lounge worker notified me when my flight started to board, which eased my flight anxieties.
While this one trip justified the fees in my mind, now that I’m back home, the perks continue. I have access to luxury hotels, a Global Entry statement credit, and plenty more lounge trips ahead.
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