best travel card canada

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• Best Travel Credit Cards In Canada

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Best Travel Credit Cards In Canada For April 2024

Updated: Apr 18, 2024, 1:18pm

Fact Checked

Beyond cash back , travel is the most valuable redemption category on any rewards credit card. If you’re a savvy cardholder who collects reward points strategically and pays off their card every month—not hampered by a growing balance, fees and interest charges—it’s possible to travel entirely for free just by redeeming reward points alone.

We’re talking free flights, hotel stays, cruises and vacation packages that can all be redeemed with points. Plus, while you’re getting all or part of your trip paid for, many credit cards have built-in perks designed to make the trip itself as stress-free as possible. These include benefits like  travel insurance, free checked bags, airport lounge access and priority designation through airport or border security. Yes, play your (credit) cards right and what once was a stressful experience can now be a breeze.

That said, with so many different travel programs to choose from, it can be difficult to know which program is the best choice to maximize your spending with.

With that in mind, Forbes Advisor Canada has researched the best cards and programs on the market and can guide you to its picks for the best credit cards for travel in Canada.

Featured Partner

Best travel credit cards in canada for april 2024, american express cobalt® card.

• CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card
• CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege

• WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
• TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum
• Alterna Savings Visa Infinite Card

WestJet RBC Mastercard

Here’s a summary of the best travel credit cards, methodology, best travel credit cards in canada, how travel credit cards work in canada, why get a travel credit card, travel credit card pros and cons, how to choose the right travel credit card, general travel cards vs. co-branded travel cards, travel points vs. cash back, types of travel credit cards in canada, additional rewards to look for in a travel card, using travel rewards, what are the different types of travel insurance, how to redeem travel credit card rewards, how to apply for a travel rewards credit card in canada, tips for maximizing your travel rewards credit cards, frequently asked questions (faqs), advertiser's disclosure.

• Best Credit Cards
• Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Aeroplan Credit Cards
• Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit cards

American Express’s Secure Website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points

$155.88 ($12.99 per month)

Regular APR

On RBC’s Website

Get up to 55,000 Avion points* (a value of up to $1,100†), that’s enough to fly anywhere in North America or the Caribbean

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

On TD’s Website

Up to $1200 in value†

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

20.99% / 22.99%

Best Overall Travel Credit Card

The  American Express Cobalt   also tops our Best Grocery Credit Cards   list, but it wins when it comes to travel too. This is thanks to its impressive yearly earnings (nearly $600 worth of points) and its extensive suite of travel perks, which includes seven types of travel insurance. Plus, this card earns even more points when you spend on travel too—2 points per dollar on travel purchases—and offers flexibility, since you can transfer Membership Rewards to several frequent flier and other loyalty programs.

• Competitive welcome offer worth up to $300.
• 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on groceries (up to $30,000 annually).
• 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and transit.
• Flexible redemption options for Membership Rewards points such as statement credits, and the ability to transfer points to leading frequent flier programs.
• An extensive suite of travel insurance coverages.
• A $100 USD hotel credit that can be used on dining, spa or other leisure activities at select hotels.
• High annual fee.
• Amex is still not accepted as widely as Visa or Mastercard.
• No interest-free grace period on cash advances.
• In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets
• Earn 5x the points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.
• Earn 3X the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada
• Earn 2X the points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas in Canada
• Earn 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online
• Earn 1X point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
• Enjoy access to hotel bookings, a room upgrade (when available), 12pm check-in and late check-out (when available), and up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities when charged to the room for a stay of 2 or more consecutive nights through The Hotel Collection from American Express Travel
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs
• Cobalt Cardmembers receive regular Perks such as bonus reward offers and access to great events
• Access Front Of The Line® Presale & Reserved Tickets to some of your favourite concerts and theatre performances and special offers and events curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment

Best Credit Card For Travel Points

35,000 Aventura Points

$139 (waived in the first year)

The Aventura Gold Visa card gives you an annual earnings value of over $400. Plus, it includes five types of travel insurance and flexible redemption options for your points. When redeeming points for travel, you’ll find yourself using fewer points when booking both long and short-haul flights compared to other loyalty programs.

• Flexible redemption options for Aventura Points
• $139 annual fee is waived in the first year
• Flight booking options that see you use fewer points on flights than with other frequent flier programs
• Five types of travel insurance
• Access to 1,200 airport lounges worldwide with four free visits annually
• $139 annual fee
• It costs $50 for an extra card
• Welcome bonus of up to 35,000 Aventura Points (earn 15,000 points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods)
• 2 Aventura Points per dollar when you make travel purchases through the CIBC Travel Rewards Centre
• 1.5 Aventura Points per dollar spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery and drug stores
• 1 Aventura Points per dollar spent on all other purchases
• Forbes Advisor estimates you can earn $444 worth of rewards value based on average Canadian spending, factoring in the annual fee
• Four complimentary airport lounge visits per year on the Dragonpass network of over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion Program
• Get a rebate on your NEXUS application every four years
• Link your CIBC Aventura Gold Visa to a Journie Rewards card for $0.10 per litre off at participating Ultramar, Pioneer, Fas Gas and Chevron gas stations
• Out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance
• Flight delay and baggage insurance
• Auto rental collision and loss damage insurance
• $500,000 common carrier accident insurance
• Hotel burglary insurance
• Mobile device insurance
• Purchase security and extended protection insurance
• Access to CIBC Pace It to pay off individual purchases in installments
• Make personalized travel booking arrangements at no additional fee with the Aventura Travel Assistant
• Optional credit card balance protection insurance

Best Credit Card For Premium Travel Perks

Cibc aventura® visa infinite* card.

Up to 60,000 Aventura Points

The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card earns over $600 annually in value per year, with the annual fee factored in. It has an almost identical offering to the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa with 12 types of insurance and the Visa network benefits that come with the Infinite designation.

• 12 types of travel and consumer protection insurance, including $500,000 in common carrier accident insurance and rare mobile device insurance.
• Luxury upgrades, tickets and tours through Visa Infinite benefits.
• 4 complimentary airport lounge visits per year through the Visa Airport Companion Program.
• A NEXUS application fee rebate every 4 years.
• A $139 annual fee.
• A $60,000 personal and $100,000 household annual income requirement.
• Welcome offer of up to 60,000 Aventura Points (up to $1,200 in travel value): 15,000 Aventura Points after making your first purchase, 20,000 Aventura Points after spending $3,000 or more in net purchases in the first 4 monthly statement periods and 25,000 Aventura Points after having at least $6,000 in net purchases posted to your account in the first 4 monthly statement periods
• $139 annual fee, rebated on your first year of card membership
• 4 complimentary airport lounge passes, valued at nearly $200
• 1 NEXUS application fee rebate, a $50 value
• $60,000 minimum income requirement, $100,000 household
• Earn 2 points for every dollar spent through the CIBC rewards centre
• Earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, drug stores and EV charging stations
• Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
• Points can be used for flights on any airline with points that don’t expire and cover airfare taxes and fees
• Built-in travel insurance, including emergency medical, travel accident, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay and baggage insurance.
• Includes rental car collision/loss damage insurance, mobile device insurance and hotel/motel burglary insurance.
• Access personalized travel booking and trip planning with no booking fees through Aventura’s travel assistant
• Visa Infinite concierge service, hotel collection, and dining and wine country program
• Offer is not available to residents of Quebec
• Terms and conditions apply

Best Airline Travel Credit Card

• CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points

$139 (rebate in the first year)

It gives you the usual Visa Infinite benefits, but with Air Canada specific perks as well. Also, you get over $500 worth of Aeroplan points per year and the insurance coverage is still valid, even on flights paid for with Aeroplan Points.

• Healthy welcome bonus
• Annual fee rebate in the first year for the primary cardholder and up to three authorized users.
• First free checked bag whenever you fly Air Canada for you, authorized users and up to 8 traveling companions
• Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner.
• Get a free checked bag whenever you fly Air Canada.
• $139 annual fee.
• A $60,000 individual and $100,000 household annual income requirement to qualify for the card.
• $50 for each additional credit card.
• Welcome bonus of up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (10,000 points with first purchase, 15,000 after four months of spending $4,000 or more and 25,000 as anniversary bonus)
• 1.5 points for every dollar spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly (with spending caps)
• 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases
• Car rental discounts of up to 25% at participating Avis and Budget locations worldwide
• This offer is not available for residents of Quebec

Best Travel Credit Card For Aventura Rewards

80,000 Aventura Points

The welcome bonus on this card is huge and you can get high value rewards of nearly $700 annually, with the annual fee factored in. Plus, you get a lot of supplementary benefits, including travel insurance.

• A high and generous welcome bonus
• 3 points per dollar when you book travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre
• Exclusive business class bookings
• Includes 6 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
• A $200 annual travel credit
• High $499 annual fee
• High $150,000 individual or $200,000 household income requirement
• $99 for each additional credit card for up to nine authorized users
• Get up to 80,000 Aventura Points in the first year (25,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 4 months, 25,000 points when you spend $6,000 or more in the first 4 months and 30,000 points as an anniversary bonus)
• 50,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more over your first 4 statement periods
• 30,000 Aventura Points as an additional account anniversary bonus
• 3 Aventura points per dollar on all travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre
• 2 Aventura points per dollar on all eligible dining, entertainment, grocery, gas and transportation purchases
• 1.25 Aventura Points per dollar on all other purchases
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $671.72 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in
• 6 complimentary visits to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion Program
• $200 annual travel credit
• 2 NEXUS application rebates every four years (a $100 value)
• An annual fee rebate is available for the primary cardholder every year if they have CIBC Smart Plus account
• Dedicated taxi and limo services, exclusive dining and wine experiences. Plus, VIP experiences at luxury hotels and more Visa Infinite benefits
• 25% off vehicle rentals when you pay with your Aventura card at participating Avis and Budget locations
• All cardholders receive a metal card
• Get $0.10 off per litre of gas at Chevron, Ultramar, Fas Gas and Pioneer gas stations
• Includes 8 types of consumer protection and travel insurance combined, including out-of-province emergency medical, common carrier accident, mobile device insurance, trip cancellation/trip interruption, rental car collision/loss damage insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, hotel/motel burglary insurance and purchase security and extended warranty insurance

Best Travel Credit Card For WestJet Flyers

Up to $450 in WestJet Dollarsǂ

Even if you’re not a frequent WestJet flier, this card provides enough excellent trip benefits to make it more than worth it when you do. You’ll also have access to their three partner airlines: Delta, Qantas and Air France, be able to redeem for much more than just flights and get annual earnings valued at over $300 a year.

• A generous welcome bonus worth up to $700.
• Flexible redemption options that include flights, vacation packages and with partner airlines.
• An annual companion voucher to anywhere WestJet flies starting at $119.
• Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 guests.
• Link this card with your Petro-Points card to save $0.03 per litre on gas and 20% more in bonus Petro-Points.
• Link this card with your Rexall Be Well membership and earn 50 Be Well Points per dollar at Rexall.
• High income requirement of $80,000 in personal annual income or $150,000 household income.
• Low base earn rate of 1.5% on all purchases.
• WestJet Dollars don’t cover airline taxes and fees.
• Increasing redemption minimums depending what you’re redeeming for (minimum $15 for one-way, $30 for round-trip and $50 for vacation packages).
• Get up to 450 WestJet dollars (a value of up to $450 off the base fare): – 250 WestJet dollars upon your first purchase – 200 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
• Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher every year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
• Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation
• Earn WestJet dollars 1.5% on everyday purchases and 2% on flights or packages with WestJet or WestJet Vacations
• WestJet dollars never expire. Use your WestJet dollars to book flights anytime so you can travel when and where you want.
• No blackout periods.
• Travel coverage including emergency medical insurance as well as trip interruption insurance, hotel burglary and rental car insurance. Even eligible purchases you make on the card are protected.
• Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to and instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada.
• Free Boingo Wifi for Mastercard holders at over 1 million hot spots
• Get $0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash^ Add your eligible RBC credit card to your DoorDash account to: – Get a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription± – a value of almost $120 – Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card
• Conditions apply

Best Travel Credit Card For Avion Rewards

Up to 55,000 Avion Points

An incredibly generous welcome bonus that can fly you anywhere in North America or the Caribbean on Avion Points. Plus, a very good selection of trip benefits and an annual earnings value of nearly $500 anchor this card for only a very average purchase interest rate and annual fee.

Learn more:  Read our RBC Avion Visa Infinite Review

• Avion Points can potentially be worth a lot on redemption (between $0.2 and $0.233 per point when you redeem through the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule).
• Flexible redemption options, including flights, merchandise, gift cards, charitable donations, RBC financial products, transfer to HBC Rewards and more.
• 4 different airlines to transfer points to, including Cathay Pacific, British Airways, WestJet and American Airlines.
• 12 different types of travel insurance and purchase protection, including the rare mobile device insurance policy.
• A huge welcome bonus that allows you to fly anywhere in anywhere in North America or the Caribbean
• High income requirements at $60,000 individual or $100,000 household annual income.
• Low redemption value for anything besides the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule and transferring to airline partners.
• A $120 annual fee.
• Get 35,000 Welcome Points on approval and 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months*. Apply by April 30, 2024.
• Earn 1 Avion point for every dollar you spend* and an extra 25% on eligible travel purchases.
• Avioners can book flights with points on any airline, on any flight, at any time, early or last minute, with no blackout periods or restrictions.
• Access to The Avion Collection of exclusive experiences, including red carpet events, rare tee times at exclusive golf courses and happenings involving dining and entertainment.
• Purchase and travel insurance options that include $1,500 of mobile device insurance, $500,000 on emergency medical travel insurance, $1,500 in trip cancellation, $5,000 in trip interruption, 90 days of purchase protection and 1 year of an extended warranty.
• Visa Infinite benefits, including front of the line event access and exclusive hotel or dining perks.
• Optional extras including RBC Road Assist, RBC BalanceProtector Max Insurance. Extra travel insurance that can be added on and identity theft and credit protection.
• †Terms and conditions apply. Refer to the RBC website for up-to-date offer terms and conditions.

Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Card

10,000 Aeroplan Points

The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card offers an annual earnings value of over $400,this card has a modest selection of insurance options, flexible rewards and the ability to add authorized users for free.

• Flexible rewards that can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards and entertainment in addition to flights.
• Rewards can cover taxes and fees on flights.
• A modest selection of travel and purchase insurance.
• No annual fee.
• Add authorized users free of charge.
• A $15,000 annual household income requirement.
• A low welcome bonus only worth $200.
• Earn 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase (a $200 value) enough for a short-haul, economy class flight within North America.
• 1 Aeroplan Point per dollar on gas, groceries and on Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada vacations.
• 1 Point per $1.50 you spend on all other purchases.
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $444 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in.
• Get $0.10 off per litre of gas with Fas Gas, Chevron, Ultramar and Pioneer when you link your Journie Rewards card.
• Earn points twice when you shop at over 150 Air Canada retail partners and over 170 online retailers through the Air Canada eStore.
• Earn Aeroplan Elite Status faster.
• Cover airfare taxes and fees with Aeroplan Points.
• Rental car collision theft. loss and damage insurance.
• $100,000 in travel accident insurance.
• Extended warranty insurance for one additional year past the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Purchase protection insurance for up to 90 days after buying an item.

Best Travel Credit Card For Aeroplan Rewards & NEXUS Rebates

Td® aeroplan® visa infinite privilege* card.

Up to 85,000 Aeroplan Points†

True to its name, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is exclusive and expensive, but brings to bear a broad array of perks and benefits, along with a surprisingly accessible credit score threshold.

• Extensive travel perks, insurance and consumer protections
• Low credit score threshold for such a powerful card
• The most expensive annual fee on the list
• Requires minimum personal income of $150,000 a year or $200,000 in annual household income
• Earn up to $2,900 in value† including up to 85,000 Aeroplan points (enough for a round trip to Honolulu†) and additional travel benefits. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†.
• Earn an additional 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 within 12 months of Account opening†.
• Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†.
• Share first free checked bags with up to 8 travel companions† and get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges†, including complementary access for one guest.
• Plus, primary card holders get 6 complimentary worldwide select airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program†.
• This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
• †Terms and conditions apply.

Best Low Annual Fee Aeroplan Rewards Credit Card

Td® aeroplan® visa platinum* card.

Up to $500 in value†

$89 (first year of annual fee rebated)

The TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card shares many lots of the same features seen in premium cards that cost five times the annual fee. However, it does lack a bit in the insurance department.

• Decent travel and consumer protection benefits
• Allows cardholders to earn Aeroplan Points twice
• Low annual fee that’s rebated the first year
• Lower insurance coverage than other Aeroplan cards
• Earn up to $500 in value† including up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† and no annual fee for the first year. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by September 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†.
• Earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of Account opening†.
• Get an annual fee rebate for the first year†.
• To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders by September 4, 2024.
• † Terms and conditions apply.

Best Credit Union Travel Credit Card

15,000 points

20.99% (fixed)

The Alterna Savings Visa Infinite card offers a small amount of rewards and a few perks.

• A welcome bonus worth $150 that you can redeem for gift cards, travel experiences and cash rewards in the form of statement credit
• 5 combined types of travel and purchase insurance
• A fixed interest rate
• Includes some Visa Infinite Benefits
• $120 annual fee
• A low welcome bonus
• $50 for an additional credit card
• 3 points per dollar on grocery purchases.
• 2 points per dollar on dining and entertainment purchases.
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $266.11 per year in rewards value with the annual fee factored in.
• Includes auto rental collision/loss damage insurance for up to 48 consecutive days.
• Comes with purchase protection for 90 days.
• Double the manufacturer’s warranty (up to one year) on eligible purchases.
• Includes mobile device insurance.
• Includes emergency travel healthcare coverage up to 60 days.
• Trip cancellation insurance up to $2,000.
• Includes unlimited trip interruption insurance.
• Includes lost or delayed baggage coverage.
• Visa Infinite benefits.

Best Low Annual Fee Travel Credit Card For WestJet Flyers

$150 WestJet Dollars

The WestJet RBC Mastercard is a low-annual-fee card that earns a decent amount of WestJet dollars and other perks, including an annual companion voucher.

• Low annual fee ($39).
• An annual round-trip companion voucher for $199.
• $0 delivery fees for 3 months at DoorDash.
• A low welcome bonus.
• A low earn rate.
• Additional fees for some benefits.
• $100 WestJet Dollars when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.
• Get 50 Be Well points per dollar spent on eligible products at Rexall.
• Save $0.03 per litre on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada.
• Unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more on DoorDash when you pay with your RBC credit card.
• A complimentary three-month DoorPass membership.
• Earn 1% in WestJet dollars for all other eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5% in WestJet dollars when you buy WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages.
• No blackout periods and no expiration on WestJet dollars.
• Extended warranty for an additional year.
• 90 days of purchase protection.
• $500,000 in travel accident insurance.
• $500 in baggage delay and lost or stolen baggage insurance.
• $2,500 in hotel/motel burglary insurance.
• Rental car collision loss/damage insurance.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With travel, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, travel points value, earn rate in various purchase categories, fees, welcome bonus, and other rewards and features. Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

The American Express Cobalt® Card is one of the most decorated and award-winning credit cards in the Canadian market, giving massive rewards value for travel and  groceries .

Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on groceries (up to $30,000 annually), 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada, 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on rideshares, transit and gas in Canada 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases and 1 additional Membership Rewards point for every dollar spent on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel.

Welcome Offer: In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 1,250 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 15,000 points in a year. That’s up to $150 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets

Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99 per month)

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Despite the annual fee and the fact that Amex is still not accepted in as many places in Canada as Visa or Mastercard , (though the Amex acceptance map is expanding) the American Express Cobalt remains arguably the most lucrative credit card in Canada. It dominates two categories (travel and groceries) with the value of its annual rewards. Plus, the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points at a one-to-one ratio to many loyalty programs makes it extremely versatile for frequent flyers.

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CIBC Aventura Gold Visa

The CIBC Aventura Visa Gold card is a good alternative to the Amex Cobalt with a slightly lower annual fee and slightly less annual rewards value, earning an estimated $444 per year with the annual fee factored in. It also has similar redemption flexibility to the Cobalt card and includes travel insurance options.

Rewards: 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Plus 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery and drug purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: 35,000 Aventura Points (earn 15,000 points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first four monthly statement periods).

Annual Fee: $139 (First year rebated)

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the $139 annual fee and the $15,000 personal annual income requirement could be considered drawbacks, a big benefit is the fact that one Aventura point is worth an average of $0.02 per point when redeeming for travel and they could be worth between 2.3 to 2.8 cents per point depending on the route you’re redeeming for. This means that the Aventura Gold (and any Aventura credit card) stretches your dollar even further than the typical points-based credit card loyalty program that keeps its points worth an average of $0.01 per point.

Basically the same offering as the Aventura Gold Visa Card with higher annual earnings and extra Visa Infinite benefits.

Rewards: 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. In addition, you’ll get 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery and drug purchases and 1 Aventura point per dollar for all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn up to 60,000 Aventura Points (up to $1,200 in travel value): 15,000 Aventura Points after making your first purchase, 20,000 Aventura Points after spending $3,000 or more in net purchases in the first 4 monthly statement periods and 25,000 Aventura Points after having at least $6,000 in net purchases posted to your account in the first 4 monthly statement periods. Terms and conditions apply. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.

Annual Fee: $139 (rebated in the first year)

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: You’ll get the network exclusives and benefits of the Visa Infinite banner, like special events and experiences, but you need to be making $60,000 as an individual and $100,000 as a household for the privilege.

A great card for Air Canada frequent fliers who also want Visa Infinite benefits. It also gives you annual reward earnings totaling $527.32 based on an average spend in a number of common purchase categories from Canadians.

Rewards: 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries and on Air Canada flights, including through Air Canada vacations. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases and you can earn points twice when you shop at 150 Aeroplan partners and 170 eStore online retailers.

Welcome Offer: A welcome bonus of up to 50,000 Aeroplan points (10,000 points with first purchase, 15,000 after four months of spending $4,000 or more and 25,000 as anniversary bonus). Terms apply. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.

Annual Fee: $139 (Get an annual fee rebate)

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though you’ll need at least $60,000 in annual individual personal income or $100,000 in household income to qualify for this card, it will give you supplemental benefits like a free checked bag and a full suite of travel insurance options. Plus, redeem for flights, merchandise, gift cards and more.

For a hefty annual fee, cardholders get every premium credit card benefit a traveller could want.

Rewards: 3 Aventura points per dollar on all travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Plus, 2 points per dollar on all eligible dining, entertainment, grocery, gas and transportation purchases. Finally, you’ll get 1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: 80,000 Aventura Points in the first year. This means 50,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more over your first four statement periods and 30,000 Aventura Points as an additional account anniversary bonus.

Annual Fee: $499

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card has a huge $499 annual fee and income requirements that will exclude most Canadians from applying for it at $150,000 individual or $200,000 household annual income. Still, if you can afford it, a world of luxury benefits is open to you like airport lounge access, dedicated taxi and limousine service, exclusive dining and wine experiences, a car rental discount, high dollar maximums on travel insurance and even a metal credit card for every successful applicant.

This card offers flexible rewards and generous trip and World Elite credit card network benefits, including insurance, for frequent WestJet fliers. However, it offers a modest annual rewards value at $311.69 according to average Canadian spending.

Rewards: 2% back in WestJet Dollars when you book WestJet flights and vacation packages. Plus, 1.5% back in WestJet Dollars on everyday purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn up to 450 WestJet dollars (a value of up to $450 off the base fare). Get 250 WestJet dollars after the first purchase and 200 WestJet dollars after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. Conditions applyǂ.

Annual Fee: $119

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the base earn rate of 1.5% can be beaten easily by other travel credit cards, the annual companion voucher, the free-checked bag, the World Elite benefits like membership in the airport lounge club, Mastercard Airport Experiences and 10 types of insurance, make a compelling case to any potential cardholder who likes flying WestJet.

Your dollar can go further per point with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite as long as you redeem for the right rewards.

Rewards: 1 Avion Point per every dollar spent and an extra 25% savings on eligible travel purchases.

Welcome Offer: Get 35,000 Welcome Points on approval and 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months*. Apply by April 30, 2024. †Terms and conditions apply. Refer to the RBC website for up-to-date offer terms and conditions.

Annual Fee: $120

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the RBC Airline Redemption Schedule gives you incredible value per point, other modes of redemption, though flexible, only give you 1% in value. The extra travel benefits like the Rexall Be Well points and Petro-Points are nice, but you have to decide if the extra perks and insurance are worth the high income requirements.

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa* Card

A great card if you want flexible rewards that cover taxes and fees on flights with a little bit of travel and purchase insurance for no annual fee.

Rewards: 1 Aeroplan Point per dollar on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada vacation packages. Also, get 1 point per $1.50 on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase ($200 in travel value).

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the base earn rate and welcome bonus are low, it’s still nice to get flexible rewards that can be redeemed for fights, gift cards and merchandise with a modest selection of travel and purchase insurance for no annual fee.

If you’re looking for every possible travel perk, reward and consumer protection a TD card has to offer, look no further than this one.

Rewards:  Earn 2 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations. Cardholders also earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries, travel and dining purchases, as well as 1.25 points on every dollar for other purchases made with your card.

Welcome Offer: Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Earn an additional 40,000 Aeroplan points† when you spend $10,000 within 180 days of Account opening. Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $15,000 within 12 months of Account opening.† Terms and conditions Apply. Not available for residents of Quebec. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

Annual Fee:  $599

Other Benefits and Drawbacks:  Cardholders need a minimum annual income of $150,000 individually, or $200,000 all together, so this card is beyond the means of most Canadians.

All of the features found in TD’s more expensive cards for under $100 a year.

Rewards:  Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Earn 1 point† for every $1.50 spent on all other eligible purchases made with your Card. Earn points twice when you pay with your Card and provide your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and at 170+ online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore (www.aeroplan.com/estore).

Welcome Offer:  Earn a welcome bonus of up to $500 in value† including up to 20,000 Aeroplan points†. Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card and an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening. †Terms and conditions Apply. Account must be approved by September 3, 2024. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.

Annual Fee:  $89 (Get a first-year annual fee rebate; account must be approved by September 3, 2024)

Other Benefits and Drawbacks:  This card’s insurance coverage is lower than other TD Aeroplan offerings, but it does allow cardholders to earn Aeroplan Points twice at certain participating retailers.

A cheap annual fee ($89) gets you quite the selection of travel perks, benefits and insurance.

Rewards: 3 points per dollar on grocery purchases, 2 points per dollar on dining and entertainment purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: A welcome bonus of 15,000 Welcome Points worth $150 that you can redeem for gift cards, travel experiences and cash rewards in the form of statement credit.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: There’s a low welcome offer and modest annual rewards but you do get a lot of travel benefits for only an average annual fee.

Welcome Offer: $100 WestJet Dollars when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months and make your first purchase.

Rewards: Earn 1% in WestJet dollars for every qualifying purchase you make on your card and 1.5% in WestJet dollars when you buy WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages.

Annual Fee: $39

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: It may come with a low annual fee and a good selection of insurances, but the welcome bonus and earn rate are modest. Still, with the lower barrier for entry thanks to an average qualifying credit score, it might be the window to collecting WestJet Dollars faster for the rest of us.

Credit card data research and analysis by Debra Toews and Tia Duncombe.

Generally, travel credit cards in Canada come in two distinct varieties: those that are specific to a particular airline, like WestJet or Alaska Airlines and those that belong to a loyalty program that offers travel rewards as one of their main features, like Aeroplan, Air Miles, Aventura, Avion or Amex Membership Rewards.

They also either follow a cash back or points model when it comes to earning points, dollars or miles towards travel rewards. What that means is, you’re either collecting a point from an airline or travel loyalty program or you’re collecting a percentage of a point with every purchase.

As for redemption, largely if you’re redeeming for flights—typically, the marquee reward on any travel credit card—when you’re flying, where you’re flying, what class you’re flying in and how far you’re flying all have an impact on how many points, dollars or miles flights can cost. As a result, the value of your travel rewards are not usually static or straightforward. Instead, it’s constantly fluctuating.

What Credit Score Do I Need to Get a Travel Credit Card?

Credit scores needed to get a travel credit card can vary, but the best ones usually require credit scores described as Very Good/Excellent (740-900). A more limited selection of travel credit cards with lower earn rates and fewer travel benefits or perks are available for credit scores classified as Fair/Good (580-739) or Good/Very Good (661-780). Meanwhile, travel credit cards aren’t available for those with Poor/Fair (0-580) credit scores.

The primary reason to get a travel credit card is the chance to travel the world for free (except maybe taxes, fees and surcharges). Not only that, but with the right credit card, flying goes from stressful to swanky and it starts from the moment you get to the airport.

From airport lounges to free checked bags and more, there are several reasons to get a travel credit card. Not just where you can go for free, but the perks you’ll get at the airport and on the plane.

Plus, while you’re abroad, several insurance protections that come with your travel credit card can cover you if you run into medical issues while on your trip or if your rental car gets in an accident. Some insurance options you might find on a travel credit card include emergency travel medical, common carrier accident, delayed or lost baggage, trip cancellation or interruption and rent car collision loss/damage insurance.

Along with several benefits, there are a few drawbacks to travel credit cards that you should be aware of. They are the following:

• You can collect points or miles on everyday spending so you don’t necessarily have to travel all the time to take advantage of potentially flying for free and all the extra travel perks that may come with it.
• You’ll often receive perks at the airport that will make flying a lot easier, including priority security screening, free checked bags, priority boarding, priority check-in and a dedicated parking spot when you arrive.
• You may be able to transfer your original points or miles to other travel loyalty programs either at an equal 1:1 ratio or, if you’re lucky, more than that. This way, your points will go further faster and you’ll be able to spend less of them than you do with your original travel loyalty program to get a free flight to a further destination.
• Travel credit cards often have large sign-up bonuses, so you’ll have enough points for a free trip somewhere right away.
• Usually travel credit cardholders pay high annual fees for the privilege of having all those travel benefits, perks and rewards.
• Redeeming travel points can be anything other than straightforward with the value of a point sometimes being worth fractions of a cent and fluctuating in terms of worth depending on where you’re flying, when you’re flying, what class of travel you want and how far you’re going.
• Redeeming points or miles for any other rewards besides travel, like gift cards or merchandise typically makes them worth less than they would be if you just redeemed them for travel expenses like flights or hotels.

If you’re picking a travel credit card, it’s important to evaluate them based on the following criteria.

You’re going to want a welcome bonus that is not only large and gives you enough points or miles for a free trip right off the bat, but a welcome bonus where the criteria for those points or miles is something you both can and want to achieve. Depending on your financial situation, spending $5,000 in three months and signing up for electronic statements may not be something you can easily do, so only sign up for cards where the welcome bonus is actually achievable and makes sense for your current situation.

Related: Best Credit Card Welcome Offers

With any travel credit card, you should look for a credit card with the highest possible earn rate so you can rack up as many points and miles with your spending to get to travel rewards faster. If the earn rate is too low, you may feel like a hamster on a wheel: always turning—or in this case, earning—but never getting anywhere.

High annual fees are customary when dealing with travel credit cards, especially when it comes to the most premium among them with long lists of perks and benefits. Since you’re likely going to be paying an annual fee in every case, a good general rule of thumb is, the more benefits the card has, the higher the annual fee and the lower the number of benefits, the lower the annual fee.

Further to that, a great way to decide if an annual fee is worth it when measured against the rewards and benefits is to see if the value of those rewards and benefits are greater than the annual fee itself. If you’re getting more value from your rewards and perks than the annual fee is costing you, then the card can generally be considered worth the annual fee.

Reward Flexibility

Reward flexibility is also a great quality to use when evaluating travel credit cards. Ask yourself, “Does this card give you reward points or miles only for travel or can you redeem them for something else as well?”

Often, travel rewards cards also allow you to redeem points or miles for merchandise, gift cards, statement credits and more. However, the value of your points or miles is usually less than if you just redeemed them for travel.

Still, if multiple redemption options are important to you, then look for a travel credit card with more reward flexibility.

Perks and Benefits

Beyond reward points, every travel card comes with perks and benefits like concierge service, lounge access, travel insurance, extended warranty, free first checked bags at the airport and purchase protection, among other things, so you’ll need to ask yourself, what supplemental benefits and perks are actually important to you and choose a credit card based on that.

General Travel Cards

General travel credit cards offer the ultimate flexibility. They are agnostic in the sense that they are not tied to a specific airline or frequent flyer program like Aeroplan , Air Miles and Avion Rewards. Generally, this is good news because it means you can transfer the points associated with your credit card into a variety of frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, which gives you access to enough airline or hotel variety that you can truly find the best value for your points and potentially fly further and stay longer for a cheaper price. The few things you need to note about general travel cards is that the points program on your card may not have the same value when transferred into an airline, frequent flyer or hotel loyalty program of your choice, so choose a transfer partner where you can get the most value for your points. Also, you may need to redeem through your credit card issuer’s own travel portal or travel agency. Sometimes when you book travel through such an online travel portal. your points automatically become more valuable just because of how you are booking.

The Best General Travel Cards

• American Express Cobalt
• CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card

Co-Branded Travel Cards

Co-branded travel cards are those affiliated with frequent flyer programs or specific airlines like Air Canada, WestJet, Cathay Pacific, Air Miles, Aeroplan, Avion or Marriott Bonvoy . If you have a favourite airline, hotel or frequent flyer program you collect points from on a regular basis through their various retail partnerships, a card featuring that brand is probably best to maximize the amount of points you can collect from that brand. Your loyalty will also be rewarded because as you collect more and more points you will usually get higher status with brand, which gives you perks like free checked bags on flights with a specific airline, late check-ins with specific hotels or the privilege of needing fewer points to redeem for travel arrangements with certain loyalty programs. The one thing that co-branded travel cards take away from you is flexibility. Once you choose one, your committed to only flying that airline or only staying in that hotel or only using that frequent flyer program. If you don’t, your points will go to waste and likely eventually expire due to inactivity.

The Best Co-Branded Travel Cards

• RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

If you travel a lot and find yourself spending a lot of money on flights and hotels, then a travel card is probably for you. Most travel cards allow you to collect points towards all your essential travel expenses, such as free flights, free hotel stays and even privileges and upgrades to make your flight or hotel stay more enjoyable. It’s recommended that if your spending would lean you towards a travel card, you should select one that’s brand agnostic, with no specific allegiance to any particular hotel, airline or loyalty program. This way, you can transfer your points to any of the leading travel loyalty programs according to which one gives you the most for your spending and collected number of points and you don’t have to fly with a specific airline, stay at a certain hotel or pick from offers available from a particular travel loyalty program.

However, if your spending takes you in a more general direction, not associated exclusively with travel, or if you carry a balance pretty often, it’s best to go with a cash-back card . Cash-back cards most often give you a certain percentage of cash back on specific purchase categories. Some cards offer flat-rate cash back that gives you the same percentage of cash back for all of your purchases, regardless of category, but all cash back can be redeemed for statement credit that you can put towards your balance to bring it down. Some cash-back cards allow you to redeem your cash back for gift cards, merchandise or cash, in the form of deposits into a savings account from the bank that issues the credit card.

There are different types of travel credit cards in Canada. They generally split into the following overarching varieties based on what kind of travel rewards you can redeem.

General Travel Rewards

General travel rewards are rewards that you can redeem for any kind of travel. In addition to flights, you’ll be able to redeem for cruises, vacation packages, hotel stays and other things besides travel, like merchandise and gift cards. Most people prefer these travel credit cards because they give you the most flexibility and don’t force you to use one provider when redeeming rewards.

Airline Rewards

Airline rewards are pretty straightforward. You’re most often redeeming for flights on that particular airline. Sometimes the airline also provides vacation packages you can book with rewards or the airline has its own portal for merchandise and other rewards outside of travel, like events and experiences.

Another aspect of an airline travel rewards card is the airline may belong to a wider partnership with other airlines, such as Star Alliance. In those cases, you’ll be able to transfer your points from your airline card and exchange them for points from another airline, giving you the opportunity to cast a wider net to look for flights and redeem them with your points at a potentially greater value with the other airline’s rewards program.

Hotel Rewards

Hotel rewards cards allow you to redeem points for free nights at whatever hotel your hotel credit card is linked to. You’ll often also be entitled to a free night on your birthday or the anniversary of the day you opened the credit card account. You might also be entitled to other benefits at the particular hotel in question, such as free Wi-Fi, a discount at the hotel restaurant and more.

Usually with a hotel credit card linked to that hotel’s rewards program, you can often achieve a higher status in that hotel’s loyalty program much faster simply by having the hotel credit card. As you rise in the ranks to gold, silver and platinum for example, this will entitle you to even more perks and special treatment at that hotel.

• Travel insurance. The best travel credit cards also include travel insurance , so if anything happens with your flight, bags or on your trip, you might be covered. Particularly if you suffer a medical emergency while on your trip, something happens to your rental car, your bags are lost or delayed or your flight is delayed or canceled for a covered reason.
• Free checked bags. This benefit offers a free first checked bag for a specified number of travel companions.
• Airport lounge access. A popular perk on travel credit cards is airport lounge access , which gives you membership and either pay or free access to a semi-private lounge where you can relax, freshen up, eat, work, have a meeting or charge your devices before your flight.
• No foreign transaction fees. Useful when you’re spending money on your credit card abroad, some travel credit cards come without the customary 2.5% foreign transaction fee , so all you’re paying is the currency conversion fee.
• Free or discounted companion fare on flights. With this benefit, one of your traveling companions travels with you for free or at a discounted rate.
• NEXUS application rebate. Get an application fee rebate, in the form of statement credit, for the NEXUS program, which helps you skip the line at the Canadian border and breeze through airport security.
• Extended warranty. An extended warranty extends the manufacturer’s warranty on any purchase made with the card for typically one year.
• Purchase protection. Gives you purchase protection against damage or theft on any item purchased with your card for a certain number of days.

To use travel rewards effectively and get the most benefit from your points, it’s important to understand how to use travel rewards credit cards effectively and it starts with their earn rate.

Understanding Travel Credit Card Earn Rates

The earn rate on a travel credit card is how many points or miles you earn for every dollar you spend. The more points you earn per dollar, the faster you’ll be able to rack up the points and the quicker you’ll be able to redeem them for a trip.

You obviously want a travel credit card with a large earn rate, but you should also be aware that certain purchase categories may have a larger earn rate until you hit a maximum dollar amount and then the earn rate will revert to what the base rate is for all purchases and this is usually a lot lower. This is why, along with the earn rate, you will want to know those spending caps as well.

How to Calculate the Value of Travel Credit Card Points

The best way to calculate the value of travel credit card points is to divide the dollar value of the points by the number of points required to achieve that dollar value. For example, if 50,000 points on a welcome bonus have a $300 value, that means that each point is with $0.006 (a fraction of a cent).

Be aware however, that the value of travel points or miles change based on where you are going, what class of ticket you want, what season you are booking in and whether it is a short-haul or long-haul flight.

Points also don’t often cover taxes, fees or airport surcharges. They also usually decrease in value if you are redeeming for anything other than travel, so a gift card usually will cost more to get per point, relative to the number of points you have, than a flight would.

Do Travel Rewards Points Ever Expire?

Typically, travel points do not expire as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing. However, some loyalty program points do expire if you do nothing with them and they sit idle for up to a year. It really depends on the program, but the vast majority of points in most travel rewards programs do not expire.

There are several different types of travel insurance policies that you may find included as part of the benefit package on a travel rewards card. Typically, the more types of insurance included, the better the card’s overall benefit package.

Out-of-province Travel Emergency Medical Insurance

This is insurance that pays out if you suffer a medical emergency while outside of your home province. Policy amounts are usually in the multiple thousands to millions of dollars. You will want to look at your credit card benefits guide to see what sort of medical circumstances are not covered by the policy and therefore not considered an “emergency travel accident.”

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

This is insurance that covers you in the event that the common carrier (train, plane, bus, car, etc.) you are traveling on gets in an accident and you are injured as a result. Amounts here are typically slightly less than emergency out-of-province medical insurance and are in the neighbourhood of several hundred-thousand dollars. Like all insurance policies, check the exclusions before making a claim.

Travel Interruption/Cancellation Insurance

Travel interruption insurance reimburses the lost portion of your trip and related travel expenses, like hotel stays, if your trip is interrupted for a covered reason. Trip cancellation provides a lump sum payment meant to reimburse you for travel expenses if you had to cancel your trip in advance for an unforeseen covered reason, such as the unexpected illness or injury of you and your traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel according to a licensed medical doctor.

Flight Delay Insurance

Flight delay insurance covers your expenses related to the fact your flight was delayed past a covered amount of time, such as four hours. Covered expenses can include meals, accommodations and other reasonable or necessary expenses that occur up to a certain length of the delay, like 48 hours.

Lost/Delayed Baggage Insurance

Lost or delayed baggage insurance covers expenses, up to the maximum amount of the policy, related to lost or delayed baggage. This can include replacement clothing, replacement toiletries and any other essentials covered by the policy.

Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance

Rental car collision/loss damage insurance covers a rental car in the event that it’s damaged in a collision or stolen after you rent it. In order to qualify for this kind of coverage on your credit card, you must decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) offered by the rental car company. This type of insurance usually comes in two varieties, primary and secondary.

Primary means it will overtake your own personal car insurance policy as the primary source of insurance in case coverage is needed and secondary means the policy will cover anything your personal car insurance policy doesn’t cover.

Also, rental car collision/loss damage insurance only covers damage or theft of the car, it doesn’t cover damage on the other car involved in a collision or any other property damage. In addition, it won’t cover any expenses related to bodily injury or death.

Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance

Hotel/Motel burglary insurance covers any covered personal items stolen from out of your hotel or motel room during your stay and reimburses you for the subsequent replacements up to a certain amount determined by the insurer.

There are various ways you can redeem the points or miles that come from travel credit cards and the style you encounter largely depends on the loyalty program you’re redeeming points or miles from.

Different Travel Redemption Models

Primarily there are three different travel redemption models you will see with a travel rewards credit card. They are the following:

Consistent Points

Consistent Points are points that are always the same value no matter what you’re redeeming for and where you are traveling. This is the most straightforward redemption model as you always know what points are worth and their value never changes.

Fluctuating Points

Fluctuating points are what you will find with most travel credit card loyalty programs, including the largest ones, Aeroplan and Air Miles. This is a model where the value of your points change according to where you’re traveling, when you are traveling, how far you are going and your class of ticket.

Typically, short-haul flights within North America are the cheapest, while long-haul flights to distant lands, such as Asia and Australia are the most expensive. Business class flights always cost more than flights in economy class and bookings during busy times always cost more than time periods that aren’t as busy.

Point Transfers

A third way to redeem rewards is through point transfers to other travel loyalty programs through other airlines. Some programs, like Amex Membership Rewards, allow you to redeem points at a ratio of 1:1 to a number of airline and travel reward loyalty programs. While sometimes point transfers decrease the original value of your points, sometimes transferring points to another travel loyalty program or airline will actually increase their value.

You can apply for a travel rewards credit card online or in-person at the issuing financial institution, the same way you can apply for any type of credit card.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a travel rewards card you likely need to be the age of majority in the province or territory where you are a resident. You must have the target credit score the issuing bank is looking for on a particular travel card. Plus, on certain cards, you will need to make a certain annual personal or household income.

Fill Out an Application

To fill out a travel credit card application, follow these steps:

• Review the terms, conditions, fees and rewards program details before applying.
•  Enter your personal and income information like date of birth, place of residence, annual income, employment status, phone number, email and more.
•  Provide your social insurance number (SIN).
•  Enter your debts and monthly expenses.
•  Verify your identity by providing photos of you and your government-issue identification.
•  Review your application, make sure the information is correct and submit your application knowing a hard credit inquiry could temporarily impact your credit score by taking it down a few points.
• Don’t carry a balance. The value of your travel rewards will go down the moment you have to pay interest and pay down a balance.
• Actually get your full welcome bonus. Make sure you don’t leave points on the table and reach your spending threshold to actually receive the amount of points and rewards that come with your welcome offer .
• Maximize the best earning rates. Always make purchases that earn you extra points and buy goods from the purchase categories that earn the most points per dollar on your credit card.
• Redeem for the rewards with the greatest value. Don’t redeem for rewards that cost the most points but provide limited value, like gift cards and merchandise, and instead save up your points and redeem for higher value items like hotel stays, flights and cruises or vacation packages.
• Pay attention to points expiration rules. Some points never expire, but some travel rewards programs will start eroding points due to account inactivity or if you don’t redeem your points fast enough, like by a certain date. If this is your situation, use them before you lose them.

What are three benefits of a travel rewards credit card?

You can earn rewards on everyday purchases, so even if you don’t travel very often you still have opportunities to earn points or miles towards hotel stays and transportation, especially flights. Travel rewards cards also give you an opportunity to fly for free or stay in hotels for free as well. Finally, a travel rewards card can protect you if something goes wrong at the airport with your flight or at your destination thanks to the insurance benefits they usually come with.

What should you look for in a travel credit card?

If you want a good travel credit card, you’re looking for a high earn rate, with a lot of perks and benefits and no spending cap for a low to modest annual fee. Of course, you’re likely not going to get everything, but if the insurance coverage is extensive, at least you’ll be protected should any unforeseen calamities or emergencies befall you while abroad.

What is the best travel credit card?

According to Forbes Advisor’s assessment, the American Express Cobalt gives you the most value of any other travel credit card on this list with nearly $600 worth of points on an annual basis, plus a bevy of perks and benefits along with the ability to find better value for your travel miles by transferring them 1:1 to other travel loyalty and airline programs.

Is it a good idea to get a credit card for travelling?

Yes, the rewards like free flights, hotel stays, vacation packages, merchandise, gift cards and more, are too good to pass up. Plus, the benefits you get like a NEXUS rebate, airport lounge access and a free first checked bag make actual traveling a lot less stressful. Plus, any travel insurance you get can help reimburse any expenses you may have if things go wrong on your trip. This is especially important because your provincial health insurance doesn’t cover you when you travel outside of your province of residence.

What’s the best credit card for international travel?

Because you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards to several different frequent flier programs around the world at a 1:! Ratio, the Amex Cobalt is probably best for international travel.

Is Visa or Mastercard better for travel?

Let’s be clear that Visa or Mastercard are only the payment networks that most credit cards work on (there’s also American Express , which issues its own cards). Visa and Mastercard do not issue their own cards, so most of the benefits a travel Mastercard or Visa may have should be attributed to the issuer of the card. That being said, more Visa cards appear high on this list, while the best branded travel cards on this list come from Mastercard. The split in terms of quality is pretty even, but Mastercard and Visa cards do have some network benefits that come with its Infinite and Infinite Privilege cards, in the case of Visa, and World and World Elite, in the case of Mastercard, so whether Visa or Mastercard is better may come down to which network benefits you might prefer.

Is it worth getting a travel card for overseas travel?

If you travel a lot you should invest in a travel card. If you get enough points, you can get a free flight overseas to the destination of your choice and with the right hotel card you might get a free hotel stay while you are there. Be aware though, that your points may have different value depending on when you book, where you are going and what class of travel you’d like to fly in.

Which Canadian credit card is best for travel in Europe?

If your already in Europe, you should pick a card with no foreign transaction fees , so that you aren’t charged them when you make purchases in Europe. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is a great option because you can put your Scene+ points towards even more travel and it offers a comprehensive list of travel insurance coverages along with rental car collision/loss damage insurance.

What is the best credit card to use while travelling?

Probably the best credit card to use while traveling is a bit of a toss-up between the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa or the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card because of their comprehensive travel insurance benefits, lounge access and exclusive perks. The major difference being that the Visa Infinite has exclusive Visa Infinite network benefits as well as income requirements to be eligible and the Aventura Gold doesn’t have those income requirements and doesn’t have as much travel insurance coverage. Other than that, it’s difficult to tell the two credit cards apart.

Our partners are not responsible for anything reported by Forbes Advisor. To the best of our knowledge, everything is accurate at the time of publishing as of the date posted. For full information and details, please visit the advertiser’s website.

Aaron Broverman is the lead editor of Forbes Advisor Canada. He has over a decade of experience writing in the personal finance space for outlets such as Creditcards.com, creditcardGenius.ca, Yahoo Finance Canada, Nerd Wallet Canada and Greedyrates.ca. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario with his wife and son.

By Nate Siegel

Fact Checked: Scott Birke

Updated: April 18, 2024

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Best travel credit cards in Canada for 2024

Just how far can your Canadian travel credit card take you? Whether you’re a bargain hunter, snowbird, frequent flyer or bonus surfer, we’ve handpicked the best credit card for travel points in Canada list to help you fly and stay for less (or for free!).

Methodology: How we chose the best credit card for travel points in Canada list

Money.ca rates travel credit cards on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best) and are based on the following criteria: rewards programs, sign-up bonuses, annual percentage rate (APR), annual fee, foreign transaction fee, customer service, security, acceptance, credit score requirements and additional features. For more, read Money.ca’s complete review methodology .

Different categories of cards are rated using different weightings and each card is rated according to its primary category. Money.ca’s business relationships have no effect on ratings.

Best travel credit card in Canada for Aeroplan points

Td aeroplan visa infinite.

• Rates & Fees

1.5 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®)†

1 point Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases†

2x Earn points twice with Aeroplan partner brands and on the Aeroplan eStore.†

50% Earn 50% more Aeroplan points at Starbucks when you link your card to your account.†

1 NEXUS application fee rebate every 48 months†

1st checked bag free for you and up to 8 travel companions†

$139 Annual Fee Additional cardholder is $75.†

20.99% Purchase APR APR for purchases 20.99%†

22.99% Cash Advance APR APR for cash advances 22.99%†

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate APR for balance transfers 22.99%†

2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee Foreign transaction fee: 2.50%†

Excellent Recommended Credit Score

$60,000 Required Annual Personal Income

$100,000 Required Annual Household Income

Welcome Offer Ends Jun 3, 2024

Earn up to $1,200 in value† including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

Why we chose the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card as the best Air Canada credit card

Aeroplan is the most popular travel reward program among our readers, and the Aeroplan card that currently brings the most value for its annual fee is the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card.

Key features of this travel reward credit card:

Earn rates: 1.5 Aeroplan points† for every $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, anddirect through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Every other purchase earns 1 point† per $1 spent.

Travel insurance: Up to $2M travel medical coverage for 21 days for those under the age of 65 (first 4 days if you or your spouse is aged 65 or older) with additional top-up coverage available†. Trip cancellation and interruption†, delayed and lost baggage†, and flight/trip delay insurance† also included.

Extra travel features: Free checked bag when flying Air Canada (share free first checked bags with up to 8 travel companions).†

TD Expedia travel: Be sure to book your travel with expediafortd.com to find amazing deals and offers exclusive to TD card holders

TD credit score: As a Visa Infinite card, you'll need your credit score to be in the "very good" range to increase your likelihood of approval.

Aeroplan estore login: Log in to the Aeroplan estore to find discounts and savings exclusive to Aeroplan members—save on flights, link to partners for better redemptions, and more.

More details:

• Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†

• Plus, share free first checked bags with up to 8 travel companions†

• You get travel† and car rental insurance†, included with the card as well as additional VIP perks such as a free first checked bag for the cardholder and travel companions (up to eight) on the same reservation for Air Canada originated flights† and more.

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here .

†Terms and conditions apply.

Best Canadian travel credit card for a big sign-up bonus

Scotiabank passport visa infinite.

3x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops and more

2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, eligible entertainment purchases and eligible daily transit options (including ride shares, buses, subways, taxis and more)

1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases

$150 Annual Fee

20.99% Purchase APR

22.99% Cash Advance APR

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate

5.00% Balance Transfer Fee

0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee

Good Recommended Credit Score

Welcome Offer Ends Jul 1, 2024

Earn up to $1,300* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived

Why we chose the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card comes with a great welcome offer. But this big sign-up bonus is also backed up by other value-added travel features, like complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership plus six complimentary lounge visits per year, no foreign transaction fees, and a well-rounded travel insurance package.

Key features of this travel card:

Regular earn rates: Earn 3X Scene+™ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland & Participating Co-ops, and more eligible grocers.¹ Earn 2 Scene+™ points on every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more), and earn 1 Scene+™ point on every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.

Travel insurance: Full suite of travel insurance, including rare coverage for senior citizens

Extra travel features: Visa Airport Companion Program membership + 6 free lounge entries annually

No foreign transaction fees

Learn more by reading our complete Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card review . You can also use our guide to compare more credit card offers and sign-up bonuses .

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.

Best Canadian travel credit card for lounge access

Bmo ascend™ world elite®* mastercard®*.

5x 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases*

3x 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments*

1x 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else*

23.99% Cash Advance APR

23.99% Balance Transfer Rate 21.99% for Quebec residents

2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee

$80,000 Required Annual Personal Income

$150,000 Required Annual Household Income

Welcome Offer Ends May 31, 2024

Get up to 90,000 points and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.*

Why we chose the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*

Those who appreciate comfy furnishings, free Wi-Fi and good food and drink during a long flight layover might be inclined to drift into an airport lounge—but lounging gets pricey if you don’t have free access privileges. First, there’s the per-entry fee, usually around $30 or so. And many airport lounges require you to pay an annual membership fee as well. Frequent travellers/loungers can avoid these ballooning costs by using the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*, which grants complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass,* with four annual complimentary passes. That feature alone is worth as much as the card’s annual fee.

Why we like the card:

The lounge access feature has high real-world value: entrance with DragonPass will normally cost $32 USD each, and the BMO card’s four annual passes can be used either for the cardholder or a guest. And DragonPass isn’t some obscure program with a few random hole-in-the-wall lounges at airports you’ll never stop in. It’s one of the largest lounge networks in the world, with about 1,300 lounges worldwide.

Lounge access aside, the card also offers a number of other features that are a godsend to travellers, like a thorough set of travel insurance* and very respectable sign-up BMO reward bonus points*.

Earn rates: 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases,* 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments,* 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else.*

Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance*

Airport lounge access: Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass,* with four annual complimentary passes.

Additional benefits: Access over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots around the world – all at no added cost, and no added fees or roaming charges*; special cash back opportunities with participating global merchants*

Learn more by reading our complete BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®* .

*Terms and conditions apply

Best card for travel points in Canada with accelerated earning

American express cobalt.

5x the points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery. Spend cap applies.

3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada

2x the points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas in Canada

1x additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online

1x point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else

$100 USD up to $100 USD hotel credit to use on amenities when charged to the room for a stay of 2 or more consecutive nights through The Hotel Collection from American Express Travel

$155.88 Annual Fee 12.99/mo

21.99% Purchase APR on purchases

21.99% Cash Advance APR

Fair Recommended Credit Score

$0 Required Annual Personal Income

$0 Required Annual Household Income

Earn up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points

Why we chose the American Express Cobalt card

Earn rate: Earn 5x the points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (think cafes, restaurants, bars, and more), earn 3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada (e.g. Apple TV+, Crave, Disney+, Netflix, Spotify and more), earn 2x the points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas in Canada (think taxis, flights, subway, trains, etc.) and earn 1 point per dollar spent on everything else (plus 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online).

Insurance: Out of province/country emergency medical insurance, travel accident, flight delay, lost luggage, hotel burglary, rental car insurance and more—the Cobalt comes packed with travel insurance. It'll even pay up to $1,000 for mobile device insurance in the event of theft, loss, or accidental damage anywhere in the world (you just have to have bought your phone with the card within 2 years from date of incident).

Learn more in our Amex Cobalt review .

Read more: Best American Express cards in Canada

Best travel rewards credit card for no foreign transaction fees

Scotiabank gold american express® card.

6x Scene+ points on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more

5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery and other eligible grocery stores. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions.

5x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agency stores.

3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options. Includes ride shares, buses, subway, taxis and more.

3x Scene+ points for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services.

1x Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.

$120 Annual Fee $29 for each supplementary card

Very Good Recommended Credit Score

Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points.

Why we chose the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

The lustre of a huge sign-up bonus tends to dim down after the first year ends, and it’s not worth holding onto a card if it doesn’t have long-term value. That’s what makes the Scotiabank Gold American Express® card stand out: Its regular, daily earn rates are so high that it gives permanent value far and above its annual fee.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® card rewards spending in the categories that the average person drops most of their money on, like 6X Scene+™ points on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, and more eligible grocers.¹ Plus, earn accelerated rates at restaurants, other eligible grocery stores, bars and food delivery in Canada (5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent); and eligible gas, select streaming services, and transportation (3X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD) in Canada. There are two fine-print details that really make the card’s earn rates stand out:

• Unlike many American Express cards, these high earn rates are valid for both stand-alone stores *and* chain stores

• Aside from earning huge rewards domestically, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® card is also a big asset for spending overseas, because it waives foreign transaction fees while still earning 1X Scene+ point for every $1 on purchases made in a foreign currency.

Key features of this travel rewards credit card:

Earn rates: Earn 6X Scene+™ points on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, and more eligible grocers.¹ Earn 5X the Scene+™ points for every $1 CAD spent on other eligible grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments (including food delivery and food subscription services), as well as on eligible entertainment purchases (movies, theatre, and ticket agencies). Plus, you’ll get 3X the Scene+™ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible gas, daily transit, and eligible select streaming purchases, and 1X point per $1 spent on every other purchase.

Travel insurance: The card includes a range of travel insurance coverage, earning it a place on our list of the best credit cards for travel insurance.

No foreign transaction fees: The usual 2.5% fee on foreign currency purchases is waived

Flexible point redemption policy: Book flights, hotels and a wide variety of other travel services through Scotiabank, or order through another travel platform and then apply the points you’ve earned after the charge shows up on your card statement. Points can also be redeemed to cover travel taxes and booking fees, which is a rarity among Canadian travel credit cards.

Learn more by reading our complete Scotiabank Gold American Express® card review .

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card to learn more.

Best Canadian travel credit card for no-fee rewards

American express® green card.

1 MR point Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent.

1 bonus point Earn 1 additional MR point for every dollar charged to your card with Amex Travel Online.

$0 Annual Fee No annual fee

Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points1*

Why we chose the American Express® Green Card

If you’re looking to earn travel rewards but aren’t ready to commit to a credit card with an annual fee, the American Express® Green Card is an excellent place to start. As we mentioned, this credit card has no annual fee, and you can request up to 9 supplementary cards for additional cardholders to supercharge your earnings rate. When you use this credit card, you’ll earn one point per dollar spent on everything. There are no complicated rewards schedules or earnings categories, making it easy to calculate your expected rewards within a year.

You can redeem your membership points in a variety of ways, not just travel. You can use your membership points to pay for purchases on your credit card statement, book travel with American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, buy merchandise, gift cards or make purchases directly through Amazon.ca .

On top of this card's generous welcome offer (see above), cardholders have access to American Express invites, allowing exclusive access to a wide variety of exclusive opportunities, including early and reserve ticket sales, early access cinema screenings, and priority lines and bar access at major Canadian theatres.

• Earn rates: 1 point earned per dollar spent with no maximum earning limit.

• Point transfers: Change points to other popular travel reward programs, like Aeroplan and Avios, at a 1:1 transfer rate.

• Extra features: Zero liability, 24/7 customer service, American Express presale ticket access, reserved ticket access, Front of Line E-Updates, American Express Experiences – Cardmember Offers and Events, additional special access for all members

• Annual fees: $0

Learn more in our Amex Green Card review.

Best travel card for USD cash back

Rogers™ world elite® mastercard®.

3% Earn 3% unlimited cash back on purchases made in U.S. dollars.

1.5% Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on everything else.

$0 Annual Fee To maintain eligibility, you must spend at least $15,000/year.

19.99% Purchase APR Increasing to 20.99% April 2024

$25 Welcome Bonus in cash back rewards upon first card purchase within 3 months of receiving your card2

Why we chose the Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard®

Foreign transaction fees—the 2.5% penalty that credit cards charge every time you make a purchase in a non-Canadian currency—are a huge waste of money for Canadian travellers. Unfortunately, most Canadian credit cards still charge this fee, and technically the Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® does as well. But the Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® more than makes up for that by giving cardholders 3% in cash back rewards on all U.S. dollar purchases. This not only makes up for the 2.5% fee, but it also results in a 0.5% cashback surplus on your U.S. travels.

The Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® is a more appealing option for frequent U.S. travellers than other no foreign transaction fee cards in Canada because most cards in that category merely waive the foreign transaction fees without giving the extra cash back on top. And aside from giving cash back on U.S. dollar transactions, the Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® also yields 1.5% in cash back rewards on purchases in CAD$.

It’s unusual for any credit card to offer this much cash back on all purchases, both foreign and domestic, but this is all the more impressive given that the card has no annual fee. Plus, it offers some travel insurance protections, as well as complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass granting access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide at $32 USD per person per visit.

• U.S. currency cash back: 3% cash back rewards on all U.S. dollar purchases

• Local cash back: 1.5% cash back rewards on all purchases in CAD$ (unlimited)

• Paid access to airport lounges

• Some travel insurance

Learn more by reading our complete Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® review .

Expert tip: Look past the welcome bonus to compare the best travel credit cards

Don’t get caught up on just the welcome bonus when considering travel credit cards. Consider things like transfer partners and spending categories to ensure you get the most from your travel credit card. Travel credit cards can be incredibly lucrative when you pick the right one. Not all travel cards are equal and it’s important to consider several factors before deciding on the right one for you. Most of us get caught up in the draw of high earn rates and welcome bonuses but you will also want to look the different spending categories, the value of the rewards, whether the rewards can be transferable to other partners (and at what rates), if there are spending caps and limits on how many points you can earn, and of course any added perks and benefits such as travel insurance, lounge access, or discounts with certain brands and companies.

— Hannah Logan , Money.ca credit card, saving and travel expert

Compare the top travel credit cards in Canada

This offer for TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is not available for residents of Quebec. Please see  Quebec residents, please  click here .

How to choose the best travel credit card for you

When comparing one travel credit card to the next, be mindful of the card features that are most relevant for your particular lifestyle and spending habits. Do you regularly fly to all corners of the globe? It might be worthwhile to get a card with free airport lounge access, so you can relax during long layovers. Do you prefer to travel with your partner? You might single out cards that offer a free annual companion fare.

There are credit card features purpose-built for all lifestyles. The benefits listed below are common for many of the most competitive travel cards in Canada, and it’s a good idea to review them before applying for a new card.

Compare each travel credit card's sign-up bonus

A large, lump-sum bonus of miles or rewards points is a great reason to apply for a new credit rewards card.

Just keep in mind that many sign-up bonuses are contingent upon the cardholder spending a certain amount in the first few months of cardmembership. But it’s usually worthwhile to try to meet this minimum spending requirement, as a big sign-up bonus might be enough for a short or long-haul flight.

Some sign-up bonuses might also waive the card’s first year annual fee, so those looking for value upfront should prioritize this feature.

Read:  Best credit card sign-up bonuses  

Compare earn rates for travel credit cards

One of the most important features of any travel credit card, and the feature with the most longevity, is the card’s earn rate. Look for a card that earns miles or rewards points rapidly, and in the categories where you most frequently spend (e.g. groceries, gas, etc.).

You might also want to keep your eye out for a card with a high ‘flat’ earn rate, meaning it earns rapidly on all spending you do, not just in specific categories.

Read:   Best rewards credit cards

Consider the redemption flexibility for each travel rewards credit card

Some travel credit cards earn miles and membership reward points quickly, but the process of redeeming those miles and rewards might be a headache.

For instance, what if you can only redeem within one rewards program, which has a limited flight selection? Or what if you can redeem rewards for the core price of a flight, but not for additional flight taxes and fees?

When selecting a credit rewards card, it’s important to pay attention to the rewards program’s flexibility when redeeming. It’s equally important to understand the real-world value of points or miles depending on what you’re redeeming them for.

Read:  The Canadian loyalty program bible

Compare annual fees

Paying an annual fee for the privilege of using a credit card can be annoying, so depending on your perspective you may want to prioritize travel credit cards with no fee, or those with perks that you know deliver equivalent or greater value to the card’s annual fee.

There’s a range of great travel cards in both camps, from cards with a $0 fee that still earn some miles or rewards, to those with fees reaching $900, but that come with an enormous amount of built-in value, justifying the high annual fee.

We don’t feature cards that can’t justify their annual fee, and when issuers increase a card’s annual fee without a commensurate increase of a value package, we call them out on it.

Read:   Best no fee credit cards

Foreign transaction fees

This feature is appreciated most by travellers who often fly abroad or shop online at sites that don’t process CA$.

Foreign transaction fees are typically 2.50% of any purchase not in CA$, and they are charged by the vast majority of Canadian credit cards. Paying with one of the rare credit cards that waive these fees can save quite a bundle throughout a trip.

Read:   Best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Compare travel credit cards' lounge access

It’s no fun to suffer through uncomfortable airport benches, spotty Wi-Fi and expensive food for hours on end. Access to an airport lounge, of which most airports have at least one, will save these pains and more—and are worthwhile even for a short time.

Membership programs like Priority Pass and LoungeKey offer access to worldwide lounges, over 1,000 each, and they come for free with a number of travel cards. Some cards even grant a set number of free lounge entry passes each year.

Those who spend a lot of time in airports, or who simply detest the crowds, should look for this perk.

Read:  Best credit cards with lounge access

Does it come with travel insurance?

Your Canadian health insurance is useless once you travel overseas—and much of it won’t be applicable if you even travel outside your home province. That’s why it’s essential to make sure you have special insurance to cover you in the event of illness or injury while travelling.

You can buy a policy individually from an insurer (see our guide to the  Best Travel Insurance in Canada  if you opt for that route), or you can look for a credit card that comes with a fleet of travel insurance covering overseas medical emergencies, flight cancellations, interruptions, delays, baggage, rental cars and more.

Read:  Best credit cards for travel insurance

Companion fare

Travellers who like to fly with a spouse, friend or relative on trips can use a companion fare or voucher to discount the price of that companion’s second ticket. This might be an annual perk, giving a credit card substantial value over time.

Companion fares are usually secondary perks on upper-tier travel cards with other appealing features as well, like a good earn rate, a large introductory bonus, or insurance.

Read:   Best credit cards for companion tickets

Compare processors and acceptance

A card’s payment processor—Visa, Mastercard, or Amex—can influence where and how the credit card can be used.

For instance, Amex cards often feature superior travel rewards and privileges, but some merchants might accept only Visa or Mastercard. The  best Amex cards  are often designated as ‘charge cards’ rather than credit cards, meaning that a cardholder must pay off the card’s balance in full every month, lest they be charged a very high penalty.

We recommend readers get an Amex card for its superb earn rates and features, but to always carry a Visa or Mastercard as well to pay at merchants that don’t accept Amex.

Travel credit card vs. hotel credit card: What’s the difference?

A hotel credit card is a credit card that focuses on maximizing your rewards for your favourite hotel chain. This means that you’ll be earning points towards free hotel stays, meals offered through on-site restaurants, and complimentary late checkouts.

However, some hotel credit cards give similar perks to travel credit cards, in the way that you can transfer your points to several participating airline rewards programs. So, while travel credit cards will likely offer a better conversion rate for points to travel rewards, you still have the potential to earn many of the same travel perks with a hotel card.

Our favourite hotel credit card is  The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card . Not only can Marriott Bonvoy® reward points be redeemed at more than 7,000 hotels worldwide with no blackout dates within the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Delta families, but you can also transfer your points to more than 40 participating airline rewards programs.

What happens to your points if you cancel a travel credit card?

Say you’ve spent a good amount of time accumulating your travel points over the past several years, and are now ready to cancel your travel credit card—where do your rewards points go? Will you lose them or are they yours to keep and store for future use?

While the answer to this question can vary depending on the terms of your credit card and the credit card provider, your airline rewards are usually safe. Usually, your rewards are deposited in a frequent flier account, which is separate from your credit card, should it close for whatever reason.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that you can lose access to your points if you don’t use them fast enough. Some frequent-flier programs will expire your points if there isn’t activity in your account for a long period of time, so check the fine print that came along with your account.

FAQs: Best travel credit cards in Canada

Which travel credit cards are accepted worldwide.

The generalization that Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than Amex is not necessarily the case abroad like it is in Canada. American Express carries a lot of prestige and has a large network in foreign countries, and before travelling it’s best to check on a country-by-country basis about which card processors are most widely accepted. Merchants in some areas may inexplicably tend to support Mastercard over Visa, for example. For more, read our guide on where Amex is accepted in Canada .

Which travel credit cards offer the best travel insurance?

Out-of-province medical coverage is what most refer to when they say they want the best insurance that their credit card can provide. Medical coverage is measured by the amount of time it covers you while you’re travelling and the maximum age limit that it covers. Aside from out-of-province medical coverage, it’s also good to have insurance for delays and interruptions, your baggage, rental car and other potential liabilities. The best cards combine all into one, like the Desjardins Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard or the Scotiabank Gold American Express® .

Can I get a travel card with low/bad/fair credit?

There are travel cards in Canada accessible to applicants with credit scores in the mid-600 range or higher. These travel cards designated for those with average/fair credit scores likely won’t feature the most sought-after travel perks, like lounge access or extensive travel insurance, but they should at least earn some travel rewards or miles for regular spending. Keep in mind that your credit score will also affect your credit limit. For more read our best credit card for fair credit guide.

Will applying for multiple travel credit cards ruin my credit score?

It’s best to minimize the number of credit card applications you make within a period of a few months. Each credit card application review will typically require a hard credit check, and many hard credit checks in a short period could damage your credit score and suggest to a potential lender that you aren’t creditworthy.

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.  BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

About our author

Nathan Siegel has a professional and educational passion for finance. He follows trends in the Canadian banking sector, compares competing products, and pores over fine print to make personal finance choices easier for Canadian consumers. In his spare time he loves running, swimming, and dogs of all kinds.

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The best travel credit cards in Canada for 2024

From points to perks, a good travel credit card can make your trip more affordable, more comfortable and even more secure.

Why trust us

MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our  advertising and trusted partners .

The best travel credit cards in Canada by category

By Keph Senett on April 2, 2024 Estimated reading time: 22 minutes

There are numerous travel credit cards in Canada to choose from, but you can get the best value by selecting one that pairs a strong earn rate for rewards along with perks like lounge access, travel credits or rebates, superior insurance coverage and the flexibility to transfer points between cards. Ultimately, choose your card based how you like to travel, your spending and credit card habits and travel perks that fit your lifestyle. To help you pick the perfect card, we’ve come up with a list of Canada’s best travel credit cards.

MoneySense insight

Brim credit cards are getting a serious downgrade. Starting May 18, the Brim Mastercard, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard will no longer offer no foreign exchange fees. Cardholders will be charged 1.5% on all foreign currency purchases (which is less than the 2.5% typically charged, but a full 1.5% more than existing cardholders are used to). If you’re searching for an alternative no-forex card, the Scotiabank Gold Amex —our runner up for the overall best travel rewards card—is a good option. Or you can check out our list of the best no-forex cards in Canada .

—Justin Dallaire, senior editor

Best overall travel rewards credit card

At a glance: With outstanding earn rates in broadly-defined, popular spending categories, the American Express Cobalt card is a travel rewards beast. Points are easy to redeem and flexible, and you can increase their value by transferring them to other travel loyalty programs. It comes with a comprehensive insurance package, so you travel carefree.

American Express Cobalt

• Annual fee: $156
• Earn rate: 5 points per $1 spent on dining and groceries; 2 points per $1 spent on transit and gas; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: You can earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
• Annual income requirement: None
• Point value: 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers
• Recommended credit score for approval: 725 or higher
• Interest rates: 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• At 5 points per dollar spent on eats and drinks, 3 points per dollar on streaming services, and 2 points per dollar on travel and transit, this card has some of the highest earn rates around. Plus, the high earn rate on food and groceries is capped at $2,500 per month, and no limits are applied to other categories.
• The boosted spend categories are very broadly defined so you’ll earn more points for more of your purchases. For example, “eats and drinks”  includes everything from grocery stores to coffee shops to food delivery, and everything from gas to rideshares to flights falls under “travel and transit”.
• Amex points are flexible and lucrative. Redeem points the simple way at a flat rate of 10,000 points for $10 towards any travel expense—or, if you’re a savvy points collector—boost your point values by using Amex’s Fixed Point chart or transferring points to another program like Aeroplan.
• Although American Express is accepted at tens of thousands of businesses across the country, it’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
• The annual fee is charged monthly which slightly obscures the fact that the total is $155.88 per year, a bit more than the $120 charged by some comparable cards.
• The travel insurance package lacks Trip Cancellation protection which covers you in case of a sudden illness.

Honourable mention

At a glance: With a lower annual fee and no foreign exchange fees, the Scotiabank Gold American Express gives the Amex Cobalt a run for its money. You’ll enjoy strong earn rates, easy and flexible redemptions, and one of the best travel insurance packages on the market. Frequent customers of Sobeys-affiliated stores like Safeway, FreshCo and Thriftys will especially appreciate the extra points boost on grocery purchases there.

Scotiabank Gold American Express

• Annual fee: $120
• Earn rates: 6 points per $1 spent at Sobeys-affiliated stores; 5 points per $1 on dining, entertainment and groceries; 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and streaming; 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn up to $650 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points. Must apply by July 1, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: $12,000
• Point value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners
• Recommended credit score   for approval : 700 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• With 5 points per dollar on entertainment, restaurants, food delivery and groceries (plus an extra point at Sobeys stores).
• Redemptions are simple and super flexible–especially for travel where 10,000 points is equal to $10 in value on any airline. In fact, you can apply points for travel purchases retroactively for up to one year by applying them in your app or online. 
• There are no foreign exchange fees when you use this card to pay in a foreign currency (most cards charge 2.5% on all foreign currency purchases).
• The card’s travel insurance package is excellent and includes up to 25 days of travel emergency medical for those under the age of 65.
• Like all American Express cards, this one won’t be accepted at some retailers such as Loblaws banner stores. 
• Supplementary cards are $29 each, unlike with our winning card, the Amex Cobalt, where they’re free.
• As a fixed-rate program, Scene+ points are always valued at 1 cent per point as opposed to some dynamic programs where you can get better value during certain time periods. 
• You’ll only earn the base rate of 1 point per dollar on foreign currency transactions regardless of whether they are in a bonus category or not.

Best airline travel credit cards

For aeroplan.

At a glance: Although you could use our number one travel card, the Amex Cobalt, to transfer Amex points to Aeroplan, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite tops our list of best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for its easy redemptions and extras like the $100 Nexus fee rebate. Plus, if you frequently spend on Ubers or are a regular at Starbucks, you could stretch your rewards even further with this card.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• Annual fee: $139
• Earn rates: 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and purchases made directly through Air Canada (including vacation packages), and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Welcome bonus: You can earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card; earn 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.  
• Anniversary bonus: Earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of opening the account. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
• Point value: Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average
• Recommended credit score for approval : 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99 % on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• You can earn Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases so you advance in Aeroplan status faster. The higher you go, the better the perks, like priority boarding, discounts on flights and priority seat selection.   
• Card holders and up to eight travel companions travelling on the same reservation get their first checked bag free when your trip starts on an Air Canada flight. 
• In addition to being able to redeem for Air Canada flights, you can redeem your points on a dozen Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa and United. 
• This card has valuable extras like a $100 Nexus fee rebate every two years. 
• The included insurance package is competitive, and includes emergency medical travel coverage for longer than some competitors (21 days, or 4 days for those 65 and older).
• If you’re looking for the absolute best way to get as many Aeroplan points as you can, using the Amex Cobalt and transferring your points at a 1:1 ratio is a better option, but this is our choice for a simple, Aeroplan-specific card.
• Aeroplan is a dynamic chart-based program which means point values can fluctuate based on where and when you’re flying, so it may not be the right program for cardholders looking for simplicity. 
• This card has a slightly higher annual fee ($139) than some other cards in its category.

Best Aeroplan alternative

If you’re currently a CIBC customer, you might find the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite card to be quite comparable. It shares almost identical earn rates and many similar perks (excluding the Nexus rebate). The insurance offerings are quite similar, though the CIBC card provides $5 million in emergency medical coverage, compared to the $2 million offered by the TD card. However, it’s important to note that CIBC’s coverage is limited to 15 days (or 3 days for those 65 and older). CIBC offers a supplementary card for $50, which is $25 less than the TD card.

For WestJet 

At a glance :   With a 1.5% base rate and 2% back on WestJet flights or vacation packages, this card gives travellers a solid tool to take the sting out of the cost of airfare. Add to that competitive perks like an annual round-trip companion voucher and a free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions, and you’ve got a card WestJet flyers will want to consider.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $119
• Earn rate : 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacations packages and 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to $450 in WestJet dollars with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
• Annual income requirements : Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Point value: 1 WestJet Dollar = $1 CAD when redeemed for eligible flights or vacation packages
• Recommended credit score: None specified
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances
• Get one round-trip companion voucher to anywhere WestJet flies annually, which lets you book a companion fare at a reduced rate when you also book a full fare. Or, you can exchange the companion voucher for four airport lounge passes.
• Receive up to three $500 Status Lifts annually, which get you to the next rewards tier faster. The higher your tier, the more benefits you’ll get, like lounge access.
• The WestJet rewards program is simple, without confusing charts or blackout periods. One point equals 1 cent in savings on Westjet flights. 
• You get rewarded for your loyalty—earn 2% on WestJet flights or vacations, which is a higher earn rate for travel bookings than other cards on this list.
• When you use a round-trip companion voucher, the discount only applies to the base rate of the fare. Taxes, airport fees, and air transportation charges remain the same—and these can be quite hefty. 
• WestJet dollars are not transferable to any other airlines or airline programs.

Best no-fee travel credit card

At a glance: One of our best no-fee cards in Canada , the American Express Green Card earns you points on your everyday spending that you can redeem for statement credits, gifts, cards, merchandise or travel, and like the Cobalt, they’re transferable at a 1:1 ratio to other frequent flyer or rewards programs. This is notable because by transferring to a program like Aeroplan, you can boost the value of your points significantly. 

American Express Green Card

• Annual fee: $0
• Earn rate: 1 point for every $1 spent on all purchases and 1 additional point for every $1 spent on hotel or car bookings made on americanexpress.ca.
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your card in the first three months of cardmembership.
• Points values: 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers.
• Recommended credit score for approval: 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• You’ll earn a flat rate of 1 point per dollar on all of your everyday spending with no spending limits, and this will be doubled for hotel or car rental bookings made through Amex Travel Online. 
• When you transfer your points to another program, like Aeroplan, you can double their value to 2 cents apiece. A 1.5% to 2% return on your spending is rare for a no-fee card.
• Amex Membership rewards like Experiences allows you to take advantage of curated dining, shopping, and entertainment events, while Front of the Line gets you advance access to tickets.
• There is no included travel insurance nor travel-related perks like lounge or Wi-Fi access with this card, but that’s not unusual for a no-fee card.
• American Express cards are accepted at tens of thousands of locations across Canada and abroad, but there are limitations–mostly in the grocery sector. In Canada, you cannot use an Amex at Costco or Loblaws banner stores.

At a glance: This no-fee travel card offers accelerated earn rates on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases, giving you lots of ways to earn points through your everyday spending. Plus, the birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your annual earnings in points. Points are worth $0.01 each when you redeem for travel, and they never expire.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

• Earn rates: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible groceries, restaurants, digital media, membership and household utility purchases ($10,000 max annual spend) and 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 bonus points ($50 in cash back value). Plus, get 4 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days.. (Not available for residents of Quebec.)
• Points values: 1 MBNA Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 24.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• This card comes with an impressive five bonus categories, giving you many opportunities to rack up points. 
• Unique birthday bonus perk returns 10% of your yearly earnings in points so you’ll get an annual boost.
• Includes $1,000 in new mobile device protection.
• The point redemption process isn’t super intuitive or flexible. You have to redeem points on MBNA’s travel portal and can’t transfer points.
• The annual cap on the bonus categories, such as groceries, is $10,000 per category. Any purchases beyond that amount will earn at the base rate of 1 point per $1 spent.
• Unlike a lot of other travel credit cards, this card doesn’t include travel insurance but that’s to be expected in a no-annual-fee card.

Best hotel credit card

At a glance : You’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy points on every purchase you make at the world’s largest hotel conglomerate, redeemable at more than 30 hotel chains (from Marriott and St. Regis to The Ritz-Carlton) in 130 countries. Get service upgrades like free Wi-Fi, spa treatments, dining experiences, or free hotel stays. Points are also transferable to around 40 other airline programs like Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

• A nnual fee:  $120
• Earn rates:  5 points per $1 at Marriott properties, 2 points per $1 everywhere else
• Welcome offer:  Earn up to 80,000 points. Offer ends May 6, 2024.
• Point value: 1 Marriott Bonvoy point = $0.0117 on average when redeemed for eligible flights or hotel stays.
• Recommended credit score for approval : 725 or higher
• Interest rates:  20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• You can treat yourself to hotel-related upgrades, services and free nights at hotels, including St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and Westin, or for other travel-related expenses like flights or car rentals. Bonvoy points are flexible—you can also use them for merchandise and experiences.
• The base rate of 2 points per dollar is quite good, but your points will really rack up when you earn 5 points per dollar spent on your Marriott hotel stays. 
• This card comes with some valuable perks like one free night’s stay at a Marriott property every year and 15 Elite Night Credits to help you achieve the next level of status.
• If you reach $30,000 in total annual spending on the card, you’ll be upgraded to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and unlock perks like room upgrades, savings on points redemptions for hotel stays and more.
• As an Amex card, this package gets you Amex benefits like Front of the Line and dining, retail and wellness experiences.
• The value of Marriott Bonvoy points can fluctuate based on a mix of factors—from the hotel you’re staying at to the time of the year—meaning maximizing points and transfer options isn’t always straightforward to newer point collectors. 
• Points are worth less for airline transfers at a 3:1 ratio, meaning you’re missing out on maximizing value for anything other than hotel bookings.
• American Express is less widely accepted than Mastercard or Visa.

Best credit card for premium perks

At a glance: The Amex Platinum gives new meaning to the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” In this case, the $799 annual fee pays for itself through a smorgasbord of incredible perks. Your travel experience will be transformed with unlimited airport lounge access, partnerships at Fine Hotel + Resorts properties, and priority treatment at Toronto Pearson Airport. The many perks—like several hundred dollars worth of annual travel and dining credits and a Nexus fee rebate—go a long way toward offsetting the price tag.

American Express Platinum

• Annual fee: $799
• Rewards: 2 points per $1 on dining and food delivery; 2 points per $1 on travel, plus 1 additional point on purchases booked through Amex Travel Online; 1 point per $1 on everything else.
• Welcome bonus: You can earn up to 100,000 rewards points ($1,000 value). Conditions apply.
• Recommended credit score: 760 or higher
• Interest rates: N/A (as a charge card, you’re required to pay off your balance in full every month)
• You’ll get a $200 travel credit each year that can be redeemed towards a travel purchase made through American Express Travel Online. Spend your additional annual $200 dining credit at select restaurants around the world, including 100 in Canada.  
• Get access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection composed of more than 1,300 lounges in over 140 countries, including American Express Centurion Lounges, Plaza Premium and Delta Sky lounges. Cardholders may have unlimited free visits and companion passes at no additional cost, depending on the lounge.
• Automatically achieve the higher tier in the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel programs.
• Obtain personalized assistance through Platinum Concierge service. The concierge can make restaurant reservations, obtain tickets to special events, book services for you, and more—at no additional cost to you. 
• Because the Platinum is a charge card, high-volume spenders are not restricted by a conventional credit limit.
• Additional cards cost $250 each annually. 
• Given the annual fee, the travel medical insurance is lackluster. Whereas some cards offer 20 days or more, this card only covers you for up to 15 consecutive days and doesn’t offer any insurance to those who are 65 or older.
• Charge whatever you want to the card (there’s no credit limit), but because it’s a charge card, you’re required to pay off the balance in full every month.

Best travel credit card for students

At a glance: The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students bundles the ability to earn Aeroplan rewards with a few travel benefits and student-friendly perks to deliver a competitive package for no annual fee.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

• Earn rates: 1 point per $1 spent on gas and EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases, and 1 point per $1.50 on everything else
• Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase ($200 value).
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances
• You can use your points on any available Air Canada seat and there are no blackout dates. Plus, you can use your points with any of Aeroplan’s many partners such as United and Aer Lingus.
• Aeroplan points are worth a lot compared to those of other programs, and they can be redeemed for flights with multiple airlines, not just Air Canada. 
• You can often get preferred pricing so you can often book flights using fewer points and you can pay for flight rewards with a combination of points and cash.
• A free SPC membership is included, giving you access to discounts and giveaways, and you’ll save up to 10 cents off per litre when you buy gas at participating stations with Journie Rewards.
• You’ll have common carrier accident coverage, car rental collision and loss damage protection and purchase protection.
• Unlike other Aeroplan cards, you won’t earn Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases. 
• The Aeroplan points program isn’t the most intuitive to understand, especially for first-time card holders, because point values fluctuate based on a regional chart.

At a glance: The no-fee TD Rewards Visa combines the ability to earn flexible travel rewards points with other student-friendly perks like bundled banking services. Although TD Rewards points are worth less than some other loyalty programs, the earn rate is fairly generous across everyday spending categories giving you lots of opportunities to earn.

TD Rewards Visa Card

• Earn rates: 4 TD Rewards points per $1 spent on travel purchases made through Expedia for TD , 3 points per $1 on groceries and at restaurants, 2 points per $1 on recurring bill payments, and 1 point on all other purchases
• Welcome offer: You can earn a value of $50 in TD Rewards Points to use on eligible Amazon.ca purchases, plus no annual fee. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Point value: 1 TD Rewards point = $0.005 when redeemed for travel via Expedia For TD or $0.004 when redeemed through other providers and websites
• Recommended credit score: 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and 22.99% on balance transfers
• You can quadruple your points by simply booking travel through Expedia for TD, but bookings made elsewhere still earn at a rate of 1 point per dollar and there’s no limit to how many points you can earn on travel.
• In addition to travel rewards like flights or hotels, you can redeem your points for Amazon purchases, or put them towards statement credits to cover your balance. 
• You’ll enjoy student-friendly perks and discounts at partners including Amazon, Starbucks, and Uber.
• Point values are easy-to-understand: 200 points always equals $1 in travel rewards booked on Expedia. 
• The boosted spending categories for grocery and restaurants, and recurring bill payments are capped at a $5,000 annual spend so after that, you’ll earn at the 1 point per dollar base rate.
• Travel insurance isn’t included with this card, so you’d have to pay extra to cover yourself.

How we determine the best travel credit cards

Our editors apply their credit card expertise and knowledge of Canadians’ financial goals to come up with selection criteria that matches the needs of the intended cardholder. For travel credit cards, your return on spending is a key consideration, because it represents the value of the points you are earning with every purchase. We consider annual fees and eligibility criteria (for student cards), perks and insurance (for premium cards) and other factors, specific to the category. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about our selection process and about how MoneySense makes money .

Frequently asked questions

The best travel credit card will depend on your needs, travel habits and how you intend to use the card. The American Express Cobalt , for example, is our pick for the best overall travel rewards credit card because you have the ability to earn rewards at a high rate across everyday purchases. The Scotia Gold Amex is a close second, because of its high earn rates and strong insurance package.

The most common types of travel points programs are consistent or chart-based. With consistent rewards programs, the value of the points is always the same. For example, BMO Ascend World Elite users earn BMO Rewards points, for which 150 points equals $1 in travel rewards. Point values in chart-based programs depend on variables like the destination, ticket price and time of travel. Points redemption for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite are based on Aeroplan’s dynamic redemption chart. Consistent points programs are ideal if you want a simple redemption process. Chart-based programs are more complex, but potentially more valuable.

Different types of travel credit cards 

Generic travel rewards credit cards.

Some credit cards offer you the ability to earn rewards on everyday purchases and other purchase categories, which can be redeemed towards a wide variety of things, including travel. This means you are not necessarily limited to booking through certain airlines when redeeming your points on flights. You may also be able to transfer your credit card points to an airline rewards program, such as with the American Express Cobalt .

Airline rewards credit cards

Some travel credit cards offer rewards with specific airlines where your points’ redemption values may vary, such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card. When you accumulate enough points, you can book a flight or vacation package with affiliated airlines like WestJet or Air Canada. Keep in mind though that the value of your points can depend on the date of your flight and your destination. 

Hotel rewards credit cards

Hotel rewards credit cards offer you the ability to redeem your points towards a hotel stay, and to earn points when you book at affiliated hotels like Marriott or Delta, or earn perks such as room upgrades or free breakfasts when you book eligible hotel stays. If you frequently book hotels for work or travel, consider a hotel rewards credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy American Express .

Travel credit card features 

Some important features to look out for in travel credit cards, besides points value and your booking redemption options (flights, hotels, cars), include: 

• Travel insurance coverage for medical issues or trip delays. Most credit card travel insurance programs cover you up to 15 days and tend to be more limited for those over the age of 65, but there are exceptions. (Read about how to know if your credit card comes with enough travel insurance coverage .)
• Airport lounge access for free or discounted lounge passes through Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion Program, Dragon Pass and others. 
• Hotel discounts, like discounts at Marriott hotels. 

Whether the card charges you foreign transaction fees while you are abroad, on top of regular exchange rates. These fees can be as high as an added 2.5% on every purchase.

What travel points program is best?

Not all travel reward programs are created equal. So how do you choose the right one for you? 

First, it’s important to understand that travel rewards programs can be broken down into two basic types: Consistent and chart-based.

It’s worth noting that in rare cases, like the American Express Membership Rewards Program, you might get to choose to redeem points for travel based on either a consistent system or as a chart-based system.

Many of the big banks offer consistent points travel reward programs. They’re aimed at people who want to operate within a simple program that has an easy-to-understand redemption process; people who dislike complicated programs will appreciate these. Chart-based programs can be considerably more complicated—but also potentially more valuable. Since the number of points needed to redeem for a flight isn’t consistent, using the rewards chart strategically can help you stretch the value of your points and net a higher return when flying on certain routes, or even when booking premium seats or business class. These programs are more popular with personal finance enthusiasts and left-brain thinkers.

Compare travel credit cards rewards points values 

How many travel rewards points do you need for a flight , how many avion points you need for a flight.

Premium Avion cardholders need at least 15,000 points for a flight within or near your province or territory, at least 35,000 points for a flight within North America, 65,000 points for a flight to Europe and 100,000 points for other destinations around the globe. 

How many Amex points you need for a flight 

Using the American Express Fixed Points Program, you’d need at least 15,000 points for a short flight within North America, 20,000 points for a flight from a Canadian province or territory to a nearby U.S. State, 40,000 points for a longer North American route, 50,000 points for a vacation destination and at least 60,000 points for Europe or 100,000 points for other continents. 

How many Aeroplan points you need for a flight

Aeroplan’s chart system uses Miles to measure the minimum point redemptions. For shorter flights within North America, you’d need at least 6,000-22,500 points for an Economy flight, 35,000-70,000 points for North America and Atlantic zones, and so on. 

How many Scene points you need for a flight

1 point is worth 1 cent. For a $300 airline ticket, you’d need 300,000 Scene points. 

How many BMO Rewards points you need for a flight

You can redeem your points for a statement credit towards flights. 1 BMO Rewards point is worth 0.7 of a cent in travel rewards.

How many TD points you need for a flight

You need a minimum of 200 points for a redemption through Expedia for TD. 1 TD Rewards point is worth 0.5 cents in travel rewards. 

How many MBNA rewards points you need for a flight

You can redeem a minimum of 10,000 points for a $100 statement credit on travel. 

Do travel credit card points expire? 

Some travel rewards points expire after a certain period of inactivity, while others do not. For example, Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity, and Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months, while WestJet dollars generally do not expire, unless they were earned during certain promotions or other circumstances. To avoid having your points expire, you can book hotels with your points, buy products through the loyalty program’s store, transfer points from another program or to a family member, in some cases, and more.

Back to menu

More of Canada’s best credit cards :

• Best credit cards in Canada
• Best rewards credit cards
• Best cash back credit cards
• Best no fee credit cards
• Best low interest credit cards
• Best balance transfer credit cards
• Best student credit cards

Table of contents

• Compare travel cards at a glance
• Best travel cards by category
• About travel cards
• Also read: Best cash back cards

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About Keph Senett

The best travel credit cards in Canada

The options may differ from those in the United States, but Canadians with wanderlust have no shortage of rewards-earning credit cards. Whether you're looking for cash back, nearly-free flights or hotel stays, there are credit cards that can help you accomplish your travel goals.

There are other options to consider as well. Are you looking for a card with no annual fee or are you willing to pay a fee to get premium perks like lounge access at airports?

The best travel credit cards — in Canada or anywhere else — should come with a welcome bonus after completing a spending requirement and should offer benefits that justify keeping that card in your wallet year after year. Let's look at the best options for Canadians and highlight what we like about each of these cards.

Comparing the best travel credit cards in Canada

Before getting into the details of each card, below is a summary of the cards we think are worth considering. Here's an overview of the cards' key perks, annual fees and potential earnings:

^ The information for these cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. # The figures in the table above and in the discussions below are quoted in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Details on the best travel credit cards in Canada

American express cobalt card.

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 30,000 bonus points during your first year as a cardmember by earning 2,500 bonus points for each billing period in which you spend $500 or more on purchases.

Annual fee: No annual fee but a monthly fee of $12.99.

Why we like it: Cardmembers can earn valuable Membership Rewards points , which can be redeemed with airline programs like Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue and hotel programs Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, you can access several American Express benefits like Amex Offers and The Hotel Collection without the higher fees attached to premium credit cards.

American Express Aeroplan Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 50,000 bonus Aeroplan points. Earn 35,000 points after spending $3,000 or more on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. Plus, earn 2,5000 bonus points for each billing period in which you spend $500 or more on purchases during the first six months of cardmembership.

Annual fee: $120.

Why we like it: A free checked bag for 10 people (you and up to nine companions) could easily cost more than $120, so using this perk once a year could easily justify the annual fee. Additionally, those pursuing Aeroplan elite status can accelerate through progress by spending on the Amex Aeroplan card. Cardmembers also get access to valuable American Express perks.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 85,000 bonus Aeroplan points. Cardmembers can earn 55,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. Plus, earn 5,000 bonus points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 or more on purchases during the first six months of cardmembership.

Annual fee: $599.

Why we like it: Those looking for premium perks with Air Canada can find them in the Amex Aeroplan Reserve card. Benefits like lounge access, priority check-in and priority boarding are complemented by reimbursement for application and renewal fees to Nexus. There are additional perks with the Rocky Mountaineer, such as bonus earning rates, seat upgrades and even room upgrades on train packages that include a hotel. There's also the ability to earn a companion pass for someone to join you on an economy ticket flying with Air Canada or its subsidiaries, but you'll need to spend $25,000 on your card to earn this benefit.

BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn 2,000 bonus Air Miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, the annual fee will be waived during the first year. This offer ends July 31, 2023.

Why we like it: Those looking for a card with a moderate annual fee and points that can be redeemed in myriad ways have found that combination in the BMO Air Miles card. Plus, if you apply before July 31, 2023, the annual fee on your card will be waived during the first year.

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points. Get 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases during the first three months after account opening. Also, earn 2,500 bonus points during each month in which you make at least $2,000 in purchases on your card — valid for 12 months after the introductory three-month period.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $150.

Why we like it: Earning rates are strong, offering 5 points per dollar on a broad travel category and 3 points per dollar on dining, entertainment and recurring bill payments — categories in which many people spend regularly. Additionally, there are premium insurance perks to help in case something goes wrong during your trip, and you'll also get four free visits per year to airline lounges. The points your earn are flexible, allowing you to redeem points against a wide range of travel purchases or redeem your points for a deposit into a BMO savings or investment account.

BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Get up to 10% cash back in your first three months from account opening and a waived annual fee during the first year. The 10% back rate applies to the following limits: $500 on groceries, $300 on transit, $300 on gas and EV charging, $500 on recurring bill payments and up to $1,000 on other purchases. This offer ends July 31, 2023.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $120.

Why we like it: Not everything can be paid for with frequent flyer miles; using a cash-back rewards card can help you offset purchases where you can pay with points and miles. With an annual fee waived during the first year and strong earning rates in common spending categories, this can be a great card to round out your earning and your redeeming.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points and enjoyed a waived annual fee during the first year. Get 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Receive an additional 2,500 bonus points for each subsequent month in which you make at least $2,000 in purchases — valid for the next 12 months.

Why we like it: Earning 5 points per dollar on groceries, gas transit, dining out and ordering in is quite the combination. But you can boost your earnings to 5.5 points per dollar by adding an authorized user to your account. Bonus earning rates will apply to purchases made by both the primary account holder and the authorized user, meaning your rewards pile up even faster.

Business Platinum Card from American Express

Current welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.

Annual fee: $499.

Why we like it: The Canadian version of the Amex Business Platinum Card offers numerous perks and is one of the best travel credit cards in Canada regarding business spending and business travel. Along with access to numerous airport lounges, you'll get elite status with rental car programs and Marriott Bonvoy for hotel stays as well as premium travel perks at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) . That's on top of the card having no preset spending limit, meaning it adapts to your purchasing and payment behaviors, which can be great for businesses that spend a lot of money on the card.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus Aeroplan points after making your first purchase on the card.

Annual fee: $0.

Why we like it: There's no annual fee, but cardholders earn rewards with Canada's biggest airline loyalty program. Other perks include access to award flight deals exclusive to Aeroplan credit card holders and discounts on gas, which can be extremely valuable for those who spend a lot on fuel.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 80,000 bonus Aventura points during the first year. Get 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first four monthly billing periods. Get an additional 30,000 bonus points as an account anniversary bonus for keeping your account open the second year.

Why we like it: Those looking for flexible travel perks have a quality combination of these benefits in the CIBC Aventure Visa Infinite card. The $499 annual fee is offset by $200 in travel credits available each year, up to $100 in Nexus fee credits available every four years and six complimentary airport lounge visits per year. Other perks include savings on gas purchases and discounts on rental cars; these perks can be extremely valuable for those who use them often to save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. Plus, you earn Aventura points, which you can use on flights for free (or heavily discounted) travel.

CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card

Current welcome offer: Get up to 10,000 bonus Aventura points. Earn 7,500 bonus points after your purchase and another 2,500 points after completing five activities within 60 days of account opening: Share your email address with CIBC, sign up for electronic statements, add an authorized user to your account, have a CIBC checking account and add your card to an eligible mobile wallet.

Annual fee: $35.

Why we like it: Canadians who frequently travel to the U.S. or shop with U.S. retailers will love a card that avoids currency conversion and foreign exchange fees on purchases. There is a modest welcome bonus and a modest annual fee starting in the second year for the CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura card. Plus, Aventura points can be used to pay for flights and can be moved between your Aventura-earning accounts to allow you to add up to the points needed for your next redemption.

HSBC World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 80,000 bonus points plus an annual fee rebate during the first year. Receive 20,000 bonus points on account opening and another 40,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within 180 days of account opening. Receive another 20,000 bonus points on your account anniversary.

There is a different offer for Quebec residents: Earn up to 110,000 bonus points during the first year. Receive 20,000 bonus points on account opening and another 70,000 bonus points after you keep your account open and active for 180 days. Then, receive another 20,000 points on your account anniversary.

Annual fee: $149.

Why we like it: Points are worth 0.5 cents each and can be redeemed against any travel purchases on your card, providing great flexibility. The annual $100 travel credit provides value against incidental expenses during your trip, and the anniversary bonus points are worth $100. These benefits easily provide positive value over the annual fee on the card.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.

Why we like it: Marriott Bonvoy. has a global footprint, so earning points with this hotel program can help you earn free nights at hotels on your next trip. It should be easy to get more than $120 in value from your annual free night award (worth up to 35,000 points), plus the card has built-in perks to help you reach higher status tiers with Marriott Bonvoy if you want additional perks during hotel stays.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn 5,000 bonus points after spending $500 or more on purchases during the first 90 days from account opening and another 5,000 points after enrolling for paperless statements within 90 days of account opening.

Plus, earn up to 10,000 additional bonus points by receiving 4 points per dollar on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during your first year. This is limited to the first $10,000 of combined purchases in these categories during the first 90 days from account opening, then 2 points per dollar.

Why we like it: The MBNA Rewards Platinum card has no annual fee but provides discounts on car rentals. If you rent cars often, it could be worth holding this card just for that perk and for the anniversary bonus points each year.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points in the first year. Receive 30,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within three months of account opening and another 10,000 points if you sign up for Mastercard credit card payment insurance for a minimum of three months. Receive another 20,000 bonus points on your first account anniversary if you spend at least $12,000 on purchases during the first 12 months from account opening. This offer ends Jan. 13, 2023.

Why we like it: The National Bank World Elite Mastercard provides up to $150 in annual travel credits, which is the same dollar amount as the annual fee. That means all other perks and points provide positive value, such as lounge access, points on purchases and the welcome offer during the first year.

RBC British Airways Visa Infinite

Current welcome offer: Receive up to 60,000 bonus Avios during your first year. Get 15,000 Avios on account approval and another 35,000 bonus Avios after spending $6,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Receive another 10,000 Avios on your account anniversary. This offer ends Feb. 28, 2023.

Annual fee: $165.

Why we like it: The earning structure on this card isn't great, but the companion award can provide incredible value when redeeming Avios and bringing a companion along with you. You'll pay the taxes and fees on this ticket (which can be hefty), but you won't pay any Avios for this person to join you. This is valid on British Airways flights only and can provide serious value in business or first class.

RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum

Current welcome offer: Receive up to 40,000 bonus Asia Miles. Get 15,000 bonus miles on account opening and another 25,000 miles after spending $7,000 on purchases within three months of account opening.

Why we like it: This is the only credit card in Canada that earns Asia Miles directly. Asia Miles (the rewards program of Cathay Pacific) has some incredible sweet spots for redemptions with its Oneworld alliance partners. The RBC Cathay Pacific card comes with a moderate annual fee and perks that can save you money on gas and food delivery while earning Asia Miles on purchases.

Rogers World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Earn a $25 bonus after making your first purchase within three months of account opening.

Why we like it: For a card with no annual fee, the Rogers World Elite Mastercard provides numerous shopping and travel protections. If you don't have these on another credit card, putting purchases on this card to protect your belongings and your vacations could be a smart move — especially since it costs you nothing to keep this card in your wallet.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points during the first year. Receive 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Receive another 20,000 bonus points after spending $7,500 on purchases during the first year from account opening. This offer ends April 30, 2023.

Why we like it: The Scotiabank Gold Amex has a quality earning structure, earning up to a 6% return on grocery purchases and 5% return on entertainment. Points can be redeemed for past travel purchases up to a year after the fact or to pay for travel bookings in the rewards center, and there are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside Canada.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first year. Get 30,000 bonus points by making at least $1,000 in purchases within three months of account opening. Receive another 10,000 bonus points on your account anniversary after spending $40,000 on purchases during the year. This offer ends April 30, 2023.

Annual fee: $150.

Why we like it: The earning structure isn't overly exciting, but the $150 annual fee can be offset easily by the value received from six complimentary lounge visits and car rental privileges. If you use these frequently, finding value in the Scotiabank Passport Visa can be easy. Those who don't rent cars often may struggle to justify the $150 annual fee.

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 70,000 bonus Scene+ points. Receive 50,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Earn another 20,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 on purchases within 14 months of account opening. This offer ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Annual fee: $399.

Why we like it: The Scotiabank Platinum Amex offers great travel benefits without needing to track bonus categories on spending. You'll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and not needing to track rewards programs is a bonus for people who want simplicity from their credit cards.

TD Business Travel Visa Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 150,000 bonus TD Rewards Points and up to $247 in annual fee rebates. Receive 30,000 points after your first purchase and another 60,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within three months of account opening. Earn 5,000 bonus points each month in which you spend $2,500 on purchases — valid for the first 12 months from account opening. Also receive an annual fee rebate for the primary cardholder and up to two additional cardholders during the first year. This offer ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Why we like it: Cardholders can redeem points against travel purchases or for bookings with Expedia for TD or redeem points as a statement credit, providing flexibility after earning points in some interesting bonus categories. For businesses with travel expenses or purchasing goods in other currencies, this card can help you rack up many points.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 145,000 bonus TD Rewards points plus waived annual fees during the first year. Get 20,000 bonus points after making your first purchase within three months of account opening and another 115,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases within 180 days of account opening. Receive a birthday bonus of up to 10,000 bonus points (equal to 10% of the points earned in the previous year, up to 10,000 points maximum). This offer ends May 28, 2023.

Annual fee: $139.

Why we like it: The TD First Class Visa offers a wide range of travel protections to help if you encounter problems during a trip, so making travel purchases on this card could be a smart idea. The card has a robust earning structure, car rental discounts and easy paths to offset the annual fee through travel credits and birthday bonus points.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 105,000 Aeroplan points during the first year. Get 20,000 points after making your first purchase within 90 days of account opening. Receive another 30,000 points after spending $3,000 within 90 days of account opening. Plus, receive 55,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 within 12 months of account opening. This offer ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Why we like it: Regular flyers with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners who want premium perks during their trips will find them in the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card. You'll get access to Maple Leaf lounges, priority benefits at the airport to help you avoid lines and reimbursement for Nexus application fees. Plus, you can earn a companion fare after spending $25,000 on purchases during your cardmember account year. This perk can be extremely valuable when bringing a companion on a flight for just $99 plus taxes and fees.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 55,000 bonus Aeroplan points. Get 10,000 points after making your first purchase within 90 days of account opening and another 20,000 points after spending $1,500 on purchases within 90 days of account opening. Earn another 20,000 bonus points after spending $7,500 on purchases within 12 months of account opening. Plus, enjoy no annual fee during the first year. This offer ends Jan. 4, 2023.

Why we like it: Avoiding checked baggage fees is a key perk for travelers, and you'll find that on the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. There's a modest annual fee of $139, but you may save more than that on checked bag fees for you and your companions each year. You can also receive reimbursement for your Nexus application fee, providing further value.

The Platinum Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Earn another 20,000 bonus points after making a purchase between 14 and 17 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $699.

Why we like it: Those looking for a premium travel experience should look no further. The Canadian version of The Platinum Card is easily one of the best travel credit cards in Canada for its many benefits. They includes lounge access, Nexus fee reimbursement, up to $200 in travel credits and elite status with three different hotel programs. You'll also earn Membership Rewards points, which you can use with multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs .

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business

Current welcome offer: Receive 25,000 bonus points automatically on your first billing statement.

Annual fee: $175.

Why we like it: Points can be redeemed at a flat rate of 1 cent per point to pay for purchases, so you never have to worry about whether you're getting good value on your redemptions. Redeem points for statement credit, pay for in-store purchases or pay for travel. You can attain even better value by transferring points to WestJet Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club and Asia Miles since these transfers are available through the Avion Elite status offered to cardholders. Transfers are at a 1-to-1 ratio, except for American Airlines; this transfer has a 1-to-0.7 transfer ratio.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Current welcome offer: Get 250 WestJet dollars after your first purchase and another 200 WestJet dollars after spending $5,000 on purchases and setting up pre-authorized bill payment transactions within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $119.

Why we like it: This is a great card for fans of Canada's second-largest airline. The companion pass can provide great savings, depending on how you use it. Plus, the free Wi-Fi benefit from Boingo can provide savings to those who use public Wi-Fi and need to use more than their free allowance.

Bottom line

Whether you're looking for a card with premium perks or no annual fee, there should be something for everyone as you review the top travel credit cards in Canada.

From the chart above and the reasons why we like each of these cards, look for cards that offer the benefits you want while charging an annual fee acceptable to you. It's also worth looking for cards that earn bonus points or extra cash back in categories where you spend regularly. Once you find a card (or cards) to match your travel style, travel goals and spending habits, read the details before applying.

Also, ensure you understand how to earn the welcome bonus since you don't want to lose out on that.

Additional reporting by Nancy Carr.

• Book Travel
• Credit Cards

Canada’s 10 Best Travel Credit Cards

No matter how often you travel or what your style is, travel credit cards are great for earning rewards, making points bookings, and enhancing your travel experience with elite benefits.

Read on to learn more about our recommendations for the best travel credit cards in Canada.

Best Travel Credit Cards

Best overall travel credit card.

• Earn 70 ,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  30,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• Also, earn 2x MR points on all dining and travel purchases
• Also, receive an annual $200 travel credit
• Also, receive an annual  $200 dining credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for daily expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $799

For premium rewards and benefits, the American Express Platinum Card reigns supreme.

Like its counterpart for business owners, the personal Platinum Card earns Membership Rewards points , the most flexible transferable rewards in Canada. You can get a strong welcome bonus when you apply through a refer-a-friend link.

In particular, Canadians can transfer MR points to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, supplementing the points earned on other credit cards which carry the Aeroplan label. The best long-haul premium cabins on Air Canada’s partners can cost quite a few points, and cards with such a big welcome bonus are few and far between, so the Platinum Card is a great way to get you there more quickly.

If you spend a lot on dining and travel, you’ll earn 3 and 2 MR points per dollar spent, respectively, along with 1 MR point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

However, perhaps moreso than everyday spending, the Platinum Card truly shines when it comes to airport lounges . You’ll get unlimited visits to Priority Pass lounges for you and one guest, as well as Plaza Premium lounges and American Express Centurion Lounges for you, your spouse, and two children under the age of 21 or one travelling companion.

For an elevated hotel experience, the card grants automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, Hilton Honors Gold status and Radisson Rewards Gold Elite status.

This would be useful if, say, your priority is the Marriott Bonvoy program and you maintain a higher status there like Platinum or Titanium, but you like to ensure a few token benefits for those odd stays at other hotel brands.

Finally, the Platinum Card is among the best-in-class for travel insurance , offering higher payouts and wider-ranging coverage than most other credit cards.

Best Travel Credit Card for Business Owners

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  40,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
• Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
• Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is another top choice for anyone looking to use the power of their credit cards to reach their travel aspirations.

The card often comes with the biggest welcome bonus in Canada, typically in the ballpark of 100,000+ MR points, which can offer incredible value when transferred to an airline’s frequent flyer program. American Express has transfer partners in each of the three major airline alliances, so you’ll be able to fly to pretty much any destination.

For everyday spending, the card doesn’t have the same category bonuses as the personal Platinum Card. Instead, it offers a stronger  1.25 MR points per dollar spent on all purchases, that’s an awesome base rate for the types of purchases that are likely to constitute the bulk of your business expenses.

Furthermore, if you’re collecting points with a spouse or other family members, the Business Platinum Card is the best card to start with. For every referral you make, when the applicant is approved for an American Express business credit card, you’ll receive an additional 20,000 MR points.

You’ll also get most of the same premium travel benefits as the personal Platinum Card, including automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, access to Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts program , and unlimited Priority Pass airport lounge access for yourself and a guest.

And the best part is that you don’t need to be a business owner in the traditional sense to qualify for the card. You can apply as a sole proprietor, using your own name as the business name. As long as you don’t display abnormal spending patterns, Amex is unlikely to ask for a business registration document.

American Express also doesn’t have a minimum income requirement for this card, or any of their cards, so the only barrier to the incredible bonus and perks is your ability to meet the spending requirement.

Best Visa Card for Earning Frequent Flyer Miles

• Earn 20,000 Aeroplan points † upon first purchase
• Plus, earn an additional 40,000 Aeroplan points † upon spending $10,000 in the first 180 days
• Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points † when you spend $15,000 within 12 months of account opening †
• Earn 2x Aeroplan points † on eligible Air Canada ® purchases, including Air Canada Vacations ® †
• Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points † on eligible gas, groceries, dining, food delivery, and other travel purchases †
• Aeroplan preferred pricing, free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada flights †
• Unlimited Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge † access
• DragonPass membership † with six free lounge visits per year
• Minimum income: $150,000 personal or $200,000 household
• Annual fee: $599
• Application must be approved by June 3, 2024 to receive this offer

If you’d prefer to avoid the challenges of Amex’s limited acceptance, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card is another great choice.

New cardholders can receive a very competitive welcome bonus, often on par with the Business Platinum Card from American Express. However, with lower or more drawn-out spending requirements, you’re at less of a risk of missing out entirely in case your spending fluctuates or you accidentally miss a deadline.

Beyond that, you’ll earn 2x Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights and vacations, 1.5x Aeroplan points on gas, groceries, dining, food delivery, and travel, and a strong base rate of 1.25x Aeroplan points on all other purchases.

As for perks, the card has all of the same premium Aeroplan benefits as the American Express Reserve cards, with the added benefit of a DragonPass membership with six free lounge visits per year.

If the $599 annual fee is too steep, consider the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card instead. It has a first-year annual fee waiver for a good welcome bonus, but you’d have a lower earning rate, fewer Aeroplan benefits, and weaker insurance.

Best Travel Credit Card for Aeroplan Benefits

• Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $7,500 in the first three months
• Plus, earn 25,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $2,500 in month 13
• Always earn 3x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases
• Aeroplan preferred pricing, free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada flights
• Unlimited Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America
• Bonus Aeroplan points for referring family and friends
• No minimum income requirement

All of the premium Aeroplan co-branded cards come with the same Air Canada perks, but the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card stands out thanks to its bigger incentives for cardholders.

Among other benefits, you’ll get unlimited Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access , free checked bags on Air Canada flights, priority treatment at the airport, and opportunities to spend your way to Aeroplan Elite Status.

If you most often travel on points, you’ll get the best preferred pricing for Aeroplan flight rewards on Air Canada flights. If instead you purchase a lot of cash fares or vacation packages from Air Canada, you’ll earn 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent, the highest return you’ll find on any credit card in Canada.

You’ll also get impressive earn rates on dining and uncategorized spending, putting this card at least on par with other premium Aeroplan credit cards in that regard, if not above them.

Plus, with additional perks from American Express such as regular rebates throughout the year and cash signup incentives, you can reduce or even eliminate the hefty $599 annual fee. Not to mention, you’ll get all of the standard Amex lifestyle benefits like Front of the Line ticket presale and exclusive event invites.

Best Travel Credit Card for Hotels

• Earn 70,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn an extra 3 Bonvoy points per dollar spent on eligible travel and gas purchases in the first six months, up to 15,000 points
• Also, receive an annual Free Night Award worth 35,000 Bonvoy points  starting in your second year with the card
• Also, receive 15 elite-qualifying nights every year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
• Bonus Bonvoy points for referring family and friends
• Annual fee: $120

If you’re looking to enhance your hotel stays, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is your best choice. The card offers great value even beyond its welcome bonus.

Starting in your second year with the card, you’ll get an annual Free Night Award for a single night priced at up to 35,000 Bonvoy points. That’s enough to cover a night at most mid-tier hotels. For longer stays, you can combine this with additional points or cash nights.

Also, when you have at least one Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card, you’ll automatically get 15 elite qualifying nights every year. Think of this as a leg up on your progress towards Platinum Elite status . Normally requiring 50 qualifying nights, you’d only be 35 away every year.

If that’s still out of reach, you’ll get Silver Elite status just by being a cardholder. You can also achieve Gold Elite status by staying 10 nights, or spending $30,000 per year on your Marriott Bonvoy credit card.

No matter your travel tastes, Marriott Bonvoy is a great hotel program. They have over 7,000 properties across 30 brands, a full range of accommodations from ultra-luxury to ultra-budget, and a comprehensive global footprint. With the ability to score some free stays on points, there’s something for everyone in this program and its co-branded credit cards.

Best No Fee Travel Credit Card

• Earn 10,000 MR points upon spending $1,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn 1x MR points on all purchases
• Transfer points to airlines or hotels
• Amex Offers and cardholder benefits
• Annual fee: $0

If you prefer to avoid paying annual fees, the American Express Green Card is the way to go. The card awards 10,000 MR points upon first purchase. There’s no easier or cheaper way to get started towards your travel dreams, and even students can qualify for the card.

That said, you might not earn points as quickly as you would with a premium card. Still, for everyday spending, it’s hard to beat 1 MR point per dollar spent for no annual fee.

Also, as long as you remain a cardholder, your MR points won’t expire. If you have a big points balance with a premium card but no travel plans on the horizon, it’s a great way to avoid other more costly methods of keeping your rewards active.

Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners

• Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points † upon first purchase †
• Plus, earn 20 ,000 Aeroplan points † upon spending $6,000 in the first 180 days of account opening †
• Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points †  when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of account opening †
• Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points † on eligible gas, groceries, and Air Canada ® purchases, including Air Canada Vacations ® †
• Preferred Aeroplan pricing and free checked bags on Air Canada ® flights †
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $139

If you’re just getting started with credit card rewards, you might prefer to start with a mid-tier option like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card .

The card has a first year annual fee waiver, and an easy welcome bonus to achieve, with a low spending requirement up front and a long deadline to achieve the full bonus. It’s a good choice as you begin to grasp how to best use your travel rewards.

As for perks, you’ll get preferred pricing on Air Canada flight redemptions, your first checked bag free for your entire travelling party, and insurance on Aeroplan award tickets when you use the card to pay for fees and taxes. Also, your hard-earned points won’t expire as long as you remain a cardholder, so you can take your time figuring out the best way to redeem them.

Best Travel Credit Card for Daily Spending

• Earn a total of 15,000 MR points upon spending $750 in each of the first 12 months
• Earn 5x MR points on groceries, restaurants, bars, and food delivery
• Earn 3x MR points on eligible streaming services
• Earn 2x MR points on gas, transit, and travel purchases
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan, Avios, Flying Blue, or Marriott Bonvoy
• Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
• Monthly fee: $12.99

The best card for daily spending always depends on which categories you tend to spend the most on. For many people, the American Express Cobalt Card is a great way to maximize your points on everyday purchases.

The card earns 5 MR points per dollar spent at grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and food delivery. If those make up a large chunk of your expenses, the sheer number of points you’ll earn is unbeatable.

Membership Rewards points are very flexible, too. You can use them for flight redemptions with Aeroplan and other programs, hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy , the Fixed Points Travel Program at a rate of up to 2 cents per point, or redeem for statement credit at a rate of 1 cent per point.

Alternatively, if you spend more than $30,000 per year in the 5x bonus category, you might instead consider the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.

However, the Scotiabank card doesn’t have transferable points – the best you’ll do is 1 cent per point as statement credit for any travel purchase.

Best Travel Credit Card for Buying Business Class Fares

• Earn 35,000 RBC Avion points when you get approved for the card
• Plus, earn 1.25x RBC Avion points on all purchases
• Use your rewards for any business class or First Class flight with no restrictions on dates, seats, or airlines
• Transfer points to one of four airline partners
• Qualify for the card with a registered business
• Annual fee: $175 (rebated in the first year)

If you buy a lot of premium airfare, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business offers a unique way to get more value for your points. You can redeem Avion points at a flat rate of 2 cents per point for any paid business class or First Class fare.

You could also choose to transfer your points to a frequent flyer program instead, but you’d be limited by airline partners and award availability. With a direct redemption through RBC Rewards, you can book any seat on any airline in business class.

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege also allows the same flat rate of 2 cents per point. Both cards earn 1.25 Avion points per dollar spent, a solid rate for a flexible points currency. The Infinite Privilege card also occasionally offers an elevated welcome bonus.

However, the Visa Infinite Business card has a lower annual fee of $175, compared to the Visa Infinite Privilege’s cost of $399.

You can qualify just by being a sole proprietor (although you’ll likely be asked for registration documents), rather than meeting the more exclusive requirement of a household income over $200,000 for the personal card.

Best Travel Credit Card for Travel Insurance

• Earn 5 x rewards points on grocery and restaurant spend
• Get travel insurance on award travel, as well as medical coverage on longer trips for ages up to 75.
• Receive $150 in annual credits for airport parking, baggage fees, seat selection fees, lounge access, and airline ticket upgrades
• Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
• Annual fee: $150

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is uniquely positioned as the best credit card for travel insurance, thanks to two standout features.

First, the card offers insurance coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, and baggage issues as long as you partially pay for your travel arrangements with the card. That means that you can use the card to pay the taxes and fees on a points booking , and you’ll be insured.

Most other credit cards don’t do this – instead you’d have to pay the full fare with the credit card, which isn’t possible when points are involved.

Second, the card offers emergency medical coverage for out-of-province trips up to 60 days long. That’s an exceptionally long period of time to be covered; other cards tend not to exceed 31 days, and 15 days is even more common.

Also, seniors are often excluded from credit card medical insurance. With the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, everyone up to the age of 75 will be covered for trips of at least 15 days – the same maximum coverage that other cards offer for younger people.

Travel Credit Cards: What You Need to Know

When choosing a travel credit card, you should familiarize yourself with what benefits a travel credit card can offer, what features to look out for, and how travel credit cards can fit into an optimized overall credit card strategy.

Why get a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards are the best choice for globetrotters, because the rewards can easily be redeemed above their face value.

Many rewards programs charge a fixed number of points for a wide range of redemptions, so you can increase the value you get for each point by maximizing the program’s sweet spots.

Not every traveller flies on points all the time, and there are plenty of situations where you’ll have to pay cash. Many travel cards give extra rewards on purchases on things like flights, hotels, vacation packages, tours, and other activities.

Even if travel isn’t a major part of your lifestyle, these cards may still be a good choice. Travel cards usually have the biggest signup bonuses, so even if you “cash out” the points for statement credit, they can still be worth more than getting a cash back credit card.

Also, travel cards tend to target the luxury market more than cash back cards. If you’re looking for premium service with your credit card, you’re more likely to find it on a card that earns travel rewards.

What should you look for in a travel credit card?

Not only will you earn points to use for flights and hotels, but good travel cards also come with many perks to enhance the overall travel experience.

Some cards offer ways to improve the ground experience at the airport. These benefits can be used regardless of which airline you’re flying with, or your class of service:

• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling
• Free NEXUS application

In particular, many premium travel cards come with complimentary airport lounge access:

• All Visa Infinite Privilege cards come with a DragonPass membership and six annual vouchers for free lounge visits
• All World Elite Mastercards come with a DragonPass membership, although the number of annual passes varies
• American Express Platinum cards offer a comprehensive lounge package, including unlimited visits to Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, and more
• All premium Aeroplan cards come with unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
• Other cards come with access to the issuing bank or co-branded airline’s flagship lounge

On airline co-branded cards, keep an eye out for airline-specific perks such as:

• Free checked baggage
• Discounted award pricing
• Two-for-one flights, usually in the form of a companion fare
• Easier paths to elite status qualification

These benefits might be a limited-time welcome bonus or achievable every year, possibly with a spending requirement.

In addition, some credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, or have higher rewards on foreign purchases to offset the transaction fees. This saves you up to 2.5% on all of your spending while abroad!

Finally, premium travel credit cards provide a very useful package of travel insurance. Depending on the card, you’d be covered for situations like emergency medical assistance, personal injury in a common carrier accident, trip cancellation or interruption, flight delays or lost luggage, and rental car damage.

What’s the optimal strategy for travel credit cards?

If you’re a dedicated traveller who wants to see as much of the world as possible by maximizing your credit cards, travel credit cards will naturally play an all-important role in your wallet.

Since travel credit cards typically come with more powerful welcome bonuses and benefits compared to other types of cards, you might choose to hold multiple travel credit cards in their wallet at any given time, as long as you’re confident that each card’s bonuses and benefits outweigh their annual fee and are helping you get closer to your travel goals.

Which specific travel credit cards are the best fit for you will depend on your preferred style of travel.

If you’re looking to jazz up your trips in the form of airport lounge access, business class seats, and upgraded rooms and suites at your hotel, then a premium travel credit card will typically deliver enough bonus points, benefits, and elite status opportunities to justify its annual fee.

You could also aim to maximize more than one premium travel credit card at a time, or shrewdly switch up your cards every now and then depending on the best offers on the market. This way, you can scale your earnings and empower an elevated travel lifestyle at a far greater value than the annual fees you’re paying.

On the other hand, even if you’re a budget traveller who doesn’t want to spend too much money, or if you travel infrequently and can’t justify paying annual fees for a travel credit card, you can still make travel credit cards work for you.

You could go with the limited set of benefits on a no-fee credit card , or you could also adopt a strategy like cashing out some of your points on a premium travel credit card to offset the annual fees, and then using the remaining points to fund your travel expenses.

This way, you’re never paying more out-of-pocket than you need to, and you’re using your pure “net winnings” from your credit cards to make your travels go further.

If you travel as a family, then your travel periods are likely limited to peak season in the holidays, and it can be tough to find enough award availability for the whole family to fly on the same flight.

As a result, you might be more interested in credit cards with family-oriented benefits like companion vouchers or perks that extend to supplementary cardholders.

By combining these family-oriented travel strategies with the points you earn from welcome bonuses, you can often book a family trip on a combination of points, cash, and vouchers that save you thousands of dollars compared to paying for everything outright.

As you can see, no matter what type of traveller you are, travel credit cards can help you optimize your travel experience in a way you might not have thought possible before. It’s all about finding the right combination of cards and strategy for maximizing these cards that works the best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions we frequently hear from readers about the best travel credit cards in Canada.

When do I receive my points on a travel credit card?

Co-branded cards won’t show credit card rewards in your loyalty account until after your monthly statement generates, or a few days later. Meanwhile, with most issuers, in-house rewards show up a day or two after each transaction posts to your account, although you might not receive the bonus points until later.

How do I register for DragonPass?

You can enroll for DragonPass on the Visa Airport Companion website or with the Visa Airport Companion mobile app. Create an account by providing an eligible credit card number. You’ll get a digital membership card with immediate access to participating airport lounges.

Can I transfer my points from one airline to another airline?

No, once your points have been transferred from the bank into an airline’s loyalty program, they’re stuck there until you use them to book a flight. That’s why transferable currencies are so coveted – not just for their value, but for their flexibility.

My plans changed and I won’t be travelling, can I redeem my points for cash back?

It depends on which type of travel points you have. Hotel and airline points can’t be converted to cash, but some programs may let you use your points to buy gift cards or merchandise. Bank programs are more flexible, often with options to also use your points for a cash statement credit. However, all of these redemptions are almost always at a lower rate compared to their potential travel value.

What happens to my points if I cancel a travel credit card?

It all depends on whether the points in question are part of an in-house points program operated by the credit card’s issuing institution, or a third-party loyalty program associated with a co-branded credit card.

Examples of in-house points programs include American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Avion, TD Rewards, Scotia Rewards, etc.

In these cases, your points account is typically associated with one particular credit card, and if you were to cancel that card, your points will typically be nullified as well unless you were to transfer them out or use them up beforehand.

On the other hand, you have third-party programs that partner up with a financial institution to issue points-earning credit cards. Examples include Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Marriott Bonvoy, etc.

For these loyalty programs and their co-branded credit cards, your points are typically transferred to the third-party account with every monthly statement.

If you were to cancel the credit card, nothing would happen to the points you’ve already earned, since they’re now sitting pretty within your loyalty program’s points balance and not associated with your credit card or financial institution in any way.

Why do you say, with respect to the AM Business Card, “The card comes with the biggest welcome bonus in Canada, an unparalleled 120,000 MR points, when you apply via a refer-a-friend link” yet when I click on the referral link you provide, I only get 90,000 MR points?

I had the same question. The referral link didn’t check out for me either.

For the AMEX Platinum personal, if I want to use the $200 CAD Annual Travel Credit, but then I have to cancel my trip – will this credit be clawed back? If so – will I be able to use it again this calendar year? Is there a way to keep that cash anyway? In the past, this credit was renewed every January, meaning you could use it twice in your first year. Is it still so? Thanks.

Hi Alex, you’ll be able to keep the credit, and it’s renewed per cardholder year.

I benefited from the summer promotion for an AMEX Aeroplan credit card (thank you!) Can I benefit from the welcome points for the TD Visa Aeroplan as well or I can’t have two Aeroplan credit cards? It’s not clear and I wish to add a new card to my wallet 🙂

Read above that the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card would give you 6 lounge passes annually. Understood this perk would no longer be available as of July 1, 2021. Is this the case?

My newest Scotia Passport VISA Infinite booklet on Features & Benifits dated February 2022 states very clearly it still includes a free Priority Pass annual membership and 6 complimentary passes

Why do I see so many “mixed cabin” flights. If I book business I expect business all the way!

Maybe they don’t have seats available in particular cabin or no such seats in a particular aircraft ie Dash 8 not having business class.

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The 14 Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for 2023

By Meagen Seatter | Published on 28 Sep 2023

Planning your next adventure around the world is always exciting! Of course, going on a trip involves a lot of expenses. Whether it’s organizing luggage, finding travel insurance , getting foreign currency, finding a flight or booking hotel rooms , the list of things to think about is never-ending.

Don’t throw out those plans in frustration! There are credit cards that can make your life easier. In fact, many travel credit cards offer rewards programs that help you travel with your points while others include comprehensive travel insurance. Our team has rounded up the best credit cards in Canada to make your search easier. If you want to make sure you choose the card that best suits your needs, use a credit card comparison tool . It’s a completely free tool that allows you to get suggestions based on your financial reality.

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard – Best Travel Credit Card Overall

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is by far the best travel credit card on the market. It has a generous earning rate, with up to 5x the points for travel-related purchases and 3x the points for eligible dining and entertainment purchases and reoccurring bill payments. For all other purchases, points are awarded at a rate of 1 per $1 spent.

With an annual fee of $150, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is an investment, but a worthy one. Cardholders get automatic comprehensive travel and medical insurance and access to the Mastercard Travel Rewards Program, which rewards you with rebates just for dining and shopping all around the world. Best of all, this card comes with an annual free membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass and 4 free lounge passes.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite – Best Travel Credit Card for Travel Insurance

With the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite , you’ll travel in style! This card is incredibly efficient at earning reward points. You earn 8 TD Rewards points per dollar spent when you book with Expedia for TD, 6 points at grocery stores and restaurants, 4 points on recurring bill payments set up in your account and 2 points on all other purchases you make with your card. You’ll also receive an annual birthday bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards points!

Let’s talk about travel insurance since it’s one of the great advantages of this credit card:

• Medical Insurance: Up to $2,000,000 for the first 21 days (or 4 days for seniors age 65 or over).
• Flight/Travel Delay Insurance: Up to $500 per insured person if your flight/travel is delayed more than four hours.
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Up to $1,500 of coverage per insured person, for a total maximum of $5,000 for all insureds. In the case of trip interruption, the total maximum is $25,000 for all insured people taking part in the trip.
• Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance: Up to $500,000 of covered losses while travelling on a common carrier (for example, bus, ferry, plane, train or rental car).
• Emergency Travel Assistance Services: Toll-free telephone assistance in the event of a personal emergency.
• Delayed or lost baggage insurance: Up to $1,000 aggregate coverage per insured person for essential purchases.

With coverage provided by the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card , you probably won’t need to purchase additional insurance to protect yourself while on vacation.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite – Best for Travel Within Canada/North America

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite credit card is ideal if you travel frequently within North America. It’s particularly great for saving you money on flights across Canada. This credit card also comes with generous travel cancellation, interruption and medical insurance.

You earn 1.25 Avion points per dollar spent on travel, then 1 Avion point per dollar on everything else. In addition to airline tickets, these points can be redeemed for merchandise, for points in other loyalty programs, or used to pay off your credit card balance.

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card also gives you exclusive access and discounts on its collection of experiences . These will be particularly appealing to golfers and skiers.

BMO AIR MILES Mastercard – Best Travel Credit Card for Earning AIR MILES

The BMO AIR MILES Mastercard is a popular credit card among fans of the AIR MILES Reward Program. The card has no annual fee and no minimum income requirements, and AIR MILES rewards can be used for travel purchases or cash rewards.

With the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard , you will earn 3 miles for every $25 in purchases made at participating AIR MILES partners and 2x the miles at eligible grocery stores. For all other purchases you make with your card, you earn one mile for every $25 in purchases. With the AIR MILES program, you can choose to earn Silver Miles or Dream Miles. If travel is the goal, you’ll benefit more from Dream Miles.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite – Best Premium Travel Credit Card

The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite card is one of BMO’s most popular options. As part of the BMO Rewards program, cardholders receive a wide range of benefits without paying a high annual fee. To qualify, the minimum income is $60,000 per person or $100,000 per household.

With the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite credit card , you earn 5 points for every dollar you spend on transportation, groceries, restaurants, and gas. For all other card expenses, you earn 1 point for every dollar spent. However, you have the opportunity to earn 10% more points if you add a second cardholder to the account. The best way to use your BMO points is to redeem them for travel because the value of your points is the highest. Use the calculator on their website to estimate how many points you would need to make the trip of your dreams!

Scotiabank Gold American Express – Best Travel Credit Card for Foreign Spending

For starters, the Scotiabank Gold American Express credit card is a classic known to many globetrotters because it is a major bank that does not charge a 2.5% currency conversion fee.

In addition to not having a 2.5% currency transaction fee, there are several other benefits for travel enthusiasts. Among other things, Scotiabank Gold American Express cardholders can use their points to redeem flight tickets and have access to an exclusive discount for membership in the Priority Pass program, which provides access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world. Finally, there are several travel insurance plans included which cover lost luggage, travel accidents, hotel theft, and more, so you never have to worry about unfortunate circumstances ruining your trip.

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card – Best Travel Credit Card for Everyday Spending

The Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card is a free credit card that has good earning potential. Scene points are awarded at a rate of 2x for every $1 spent at eligible grocery stores, home improvement stores, and Cineplex cinemas. All other eligible purchases earn 1 Scene point for every $1 spent. Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

With the Scene+ Rewards program, points earned are incredibly flexible and can be used to redeem travel rewards, plus dining, merchandise and more. Movie lovers can use their points to pay for movie tickets, snacks or seat upgrades at Cineplex theatres in Canada and the US.

While it doesn’t come with any travel insurance packages, it’s a free card that continues to earn points abroad and can end up saving you a bundle in foreign currency conversion fees.

Rogers World Elite Mastercard – Best Travel Credit Card for USD purchases

Another no-fee travel credit card, the  Rogers World Elite Mastercard offers 3% cashback on all eligible purchases in U.S. dollars. It will quickly wipe out the fees associated with currency conversion! You’ll also earn a significant 1.5% cashback on all other purchases, no matter the currency.

This Rogers card offers an attractive range of insurances for travellers. For instance, you’ll be covered for out-of-province and out-of-country emergency medical care, trip interruption and trip cancellation. You’ll also receive a free subscription to Mastercard Travel Pass, giving you access to 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for $32 USD per visit.

KOHO Travel Mastercard – Best Prepaid Travel Credit Card

If you want to travel but don’t want to open a new credit card for whatever reason, the KOHO Travel Mastercard is perfect for travelling. With the free Easy plan and the $48 per year Essential account, you have a currency conversion fee of only 1.5%, which is lower than most credit cards. Even better, with the $9/month (or $84/year) Extra account or the $19/month Everything plan, the currency conversion fee is completely waived! Plus, with these accounts, you get one free international withdrawal.

You also get these travel perks:

• 6% cash back when you book through Booking.com and pay with your KOHO card
• 5% cash back when you book through Contiki.com and pay with your KOHO card
• Up to 2% cash back when you dine out or buy groceries abroad (and at home!)
• Lower or no foreign transaction fees, depending on the KOHO plan you choose
• Stress-free spending with Mastercard’s Zero Liability Policy

The KOHO Prepaid Mastercard offers many other benefits. Among other things, you are entitled to cash back on purchases and interest on your savings of up to 4.5%, depending on the plan you choose. You also have access to a credit-building feature . If you chose the KOHO Travel Mastercard because you had bad credit, this feature may allow you to access other cards on this list.

BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard – Best Cashback Travel Credit Card

Earn cashback while you travel with the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard . Thanks to Mastercard’s globally accepted network, cardholders can earn cashback rewards on purchases like groceries, gas and other everyday expenses while they travel.

Cashback is awarded at a rate of 5% on groceries, 4% on transit, 3% on gas, 2% on recurring bill payments, and 1% on everything else. Best of all, unlike some cashback cards that require you to meet minimum cashback rewards or wait til the end of the month to claim your rewards, you can redeem your cash rewards for as little as $1, whenever you want.

Finally, with the CashBack World Elite Mastercard , you’ll get BMO Concierge services, the benefits of the Mastercard Travel Rewards Program, complimentary roadside assistance and excellent insurance protection on everything from purchases to trip interruption.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite – Best Aeroplan Card

If you’re a loyal Air Canada customer, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* card is for you. It allows you to quickly earn Aeroplan points that can be redeemed on Air Canada flights, for hotel reservations, car rentals and merchandise or gift cards. With this card, you earn 1.5 Aeroplan points for every eligible dollar spent on gas, groceries and with Air Canada, and 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases.

There are several benefits that come with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card. That includes complimentary concierge service and access to exclusive events. You’re also entitled to savings on checked baggage fees. Plus, there’s a range of travel insurance included, including travel medical insurance, trip cancellation or interruption insurance and flight delay insurance.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card – Best Travel Credit Card for Lounge Access

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card , not only do you travel better, but you also go to the movies, out to eat and have fun, thanks to your Scene+ points. You earn 3 Scene+ points for every $1 you spend at participating grocery stores, 2 points at restaurants, movie theatres, ticket offices, on public transit (bus, metro, cab, carpool, etc.) and on all purchases at other grocery stores.

When it’s time for a vacation, you can book with any supplier and redeem Scene+ points to cover the cost of your trip. Best of all, you’ll be travelling in comfort thanks to a complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership and 6 free lounge passes to use yourself and your travel companions.

Also, when you use your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card , either abroad or online, you pay no currency conversion fees. Only the exchange rate applies.

American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card – Best Business Travel Card

Business owners can earn points that can cover the cost of a yearly getaway with the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card . New members are incentivized to sign up with a bonus reward of 70,000 points just for spending $5000 within the first 3 months. Not only that but if you spend at least $20,000 in net purchases per quarter, you can earn an additional 40,000 points per calendar year.

With a yearly cost of $200, the American Express Business Gold Rewards Card packs a pretty powerful punch. You’ll get comprehensive travel insurance, purchase protection, mobile device protection, and employee card misuse protection. You’ll also have access to tools that benefit your business, like 55 interest-free days on select purchases, expense management reports and flexible payment options for large purchases.

And if you want options when you travel, American Express Membership Reward points can easily be transferred to other frequent flyer and loyalty programs, including Aeroplan, which is a huge bonus for Canadian business owners.

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students – Best Travel Card for Students

Students can sign up for the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students with no minimum income requirements and start collecting Aeroplan points that can be used for an awesome vacation once exams are done. Primary cardholders can add up to 3 additional users at no extra cost and earn points faster by pooling them in an Aeroplan Family Sharing account.

With the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students, you’ll earn 1 Aeroplan point for every $1 spent on gas and electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores, and purchases made directly from Air Canada. You’ll also earn 1 point for every $1.50 spent on everything else. Start building your credit history while earning your way toward an unforgettable Spring Break vacation with the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for students .

FAQs About Travel Credit Cards in Canada

The best travel credit card in Canada can vary according to individual needs, which is why it’s important to read blog posts on the topic and compare credit cards .

Among the best rewards credit cards in Canada are the American Express Cobalt and the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite, both of which have been named among the best travel credit cards on several occasions.

To find out if your credit card comes with travel insurance, you can read the card’s informative documents (on the company’s website or received by mail). If in doubt, contact your credit card issuer for details of your card. Their telephone number is usually on the card itself.

Credit card travel insurance generally works by providing coverage for certain types of incidents such as trip cancellations, flight delays, lost baggage and medical emergencies, subject to the card’s specific terms and conditions. For example, there might be a limit to the number of people insured and a maximum amount you can claim. Compare travel insurance policies and don’t stop at those offered by credit cards.

You are not usually allowed to combine travel points from different credit cards, as the points are linked to rewards programs specific to each card. A good strategy is to use a single card as much as possible, but some people prefer churning credit cards .

Yes, American Express credit cards often offer travel insurance, but details and coverage may vary depending on the type of card. Always refer to the information specific to your card.

TD credit cards often offer travel insurance, but details and coverage may vary depending on the type of card. The two cards mentioned in this article do have travel insurance: TD Visa Infinite Ultimate Travel Class and Aeroplan.

If you travel frequently and enjoy benefits such as reward points, airport lounge access or travel insurance, they may be worth it. Always take the time to simulate the rewards you could earn, and factor in annual fees.

It’s the card issuer (rather than Visa) that can specify whether travel insurance is included. To find out if your Visa credit card comes with travel insurance, consult your card’s information documents or contact the issuer directly (e.g. your bank).

You don’t necessarily need a credit card to travel, but it can be useful to facilitate payments and enjoy additional benefits such as travel insurance and rewards. If you don’t have a traditional credit card, you can opt for a prepaid card .

Some BMO credit cards offer travel insurance, but details and coverage may vary depending on the type of card.

You may have coverage for travel accidents on common carriers and baggage delays, but since Capital One credit cards aren’t designed for travelers, coverage remains limited.

Yes, in general, your credit card’s travel insurance coverage extends to your immediate family (partner and children) if you are traveling together. However, it’s important to check your card’s specific terms and conditions to confirm the exact coverage.

Meagen Seatter