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18 Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for May 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.

Our picks for Canada’s best travel credit cards include top cards across numerous categories to help you earn discounts, perks and rewards before your next trip.

Best travel credit cards in Canada

• How we evaluate cards
• Summary of our selections

How travel credit cards work in Canada

American express cobalt® card.

Welcome Offer: Earn up to 15,000 points (up to $150)! 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. Earn 5X points on eligible Eats & Drinks. Earn 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions. Earn 2X points on Travel and Transit. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada from Our Partners

Best overall.

Best overall travel card

Scotiabank platinum american express® card.

• Earn up to $2,100* in value in your first 14 months, including up to 60,000* bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends October 31, 2024.
• You will not pay 2.5% foreign transaction fees on any foreign currency purchases, including online shopping and when travelling abroad. Only the exchange rate applies.
• Earn 2X Scene+™ points for every $1 CAD you spend on all your eligible purchases.
• Scene+ points can be redeemed for travel purchase, merchandise and other non-travel rewards such as gift cards and prepaid cards.
• You must redeem a minimum of 5,000 points per travel-related rewards redemption, equivalent to $50 in travel savings. Points must be redeemed within 12 months of the purchase date.
• $399 annual fee.
• Redeem points for any flight, any time through Scene+ Travel, a full-service travel agency. Plus, take advantage of a best price guarantee on airfare.
• Get a Hertz #1 Club Gold membership for special privileges and rental car benefits at over 8,500 locations in 147 countries.
• Enjoy culinary events and experiences, entertainment, luxury fashion, tours, and more through American Express benefits, including American Express Invites, Platinum VIP offers and access to 24/7 premium concierge services for restaurant reservations, show tickets, and gift purchases.
• Lounge access at over 600 VIP airport lounges around the world with a complimentary Priority Pass membership, which includes 10 free visits per year.
• 12 types of insurance provided, including 31-day travel medical benefits — up to $2 million in coverage — for you, your spouse and any dependent children under the age of 65. 10-day coverage available for those over the age of 65.
• Preferred rates: 9.99% for purchases, 9.99% for cash advances.
• To be eligible, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
• Terms and Conditions Apply. Click ‘Apply Now’ for complete details.

If this card doesn’t seem like a good fit for your wallet, take a look at NerdWallet’s selection of the  best credit cards  to help find the right option for you.

Best for: Expedia bookings

Td first class travel® visa infinite* card.

• Earn up to $800 in value†, including up to 100,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†.
• Earn 80,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Earn a Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†.
• 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.
• To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder by June 4, 2024.
• Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†.
• Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants†.
• Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†.
• Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card† plus earn an annual Birthday Bonus† of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points.
• No travel blackouts†, no seat restrictions† and no expiry† for your TD Rewards Points as long as your account is open and in good standing.
• Each year, you will receive one $100.00 TD Travel Credit on your first Eligible Travel Credit Purchase of $500.00 or more made with Expedia For TD and posted to the Account in a calendar year.
• Interest Rates: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.
• Go Places on Points: Your Points are worth more when you redeem through Expedia® For TD: Search over a million flights, hotels, packages and more! When you’re ready to book, you can redeem† your TD Rewards Points towards your travel purchase right away.
• Redeem your TD Rewards Points towards making purchases at Amazon.ca with Amazon Shop with Points. Conditions apply.
• Shop online through TDRewards.com Redeem your TD Rewards Points for great deals on a wide selection of merchandise and gift cards.
• Option to purchase TD Auto Club Membership†: and be covered 24 hours a day for emergency roadside assistance services in case something goes wrong when you are out on the road.
• Travel Medical Insurance†: Up to $2 million of coverage for the first 21 days. If you or your spouse is aged 65 or older, you are covered for the first 4 days of your trip. Additional top-up coverage is available.
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance†: For Trip Cancellation, up to $1,500 of coverage per insured person, with a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons, and for Trip Interruption, up to $5,000 of coverage per insured person, with a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
• To be eligible, $60,000 (individual) or $100,000 (household) annual income is required. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
• †Terms and conditions apply.
• This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
• The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.

Best for: Airport lounge access

The platinum card® from american express.

• Unlock special experiences with the Platinum Card®.
• Earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points – that’s up to $1,000 towards a weekend away.
• New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 70,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
• Plus, earn 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership.
• Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases.
• Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit through American Express Travel Online or Platinum® Card Travel Service.
• Enjoy a $200 Annual Dining Credit at some of Canada’s best restaurants.
• Unlock $200 or more in additional value with Member extras. You can earn statement credits for qualifying purchases with participating brands.
• Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge Collection™ which unlocks access to over 1300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience.
• Enjoy flexible ways to use your points such as statement credits for any eligible purchase charged to your Card, new travel purchases booked on American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, and eligible flights through the Fixed Points Travel Program.
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs.
• Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $600 USD at over 1,500 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts
• Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities.
• Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport.
• You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Hertz and Avis.
• Interest applies in accordance with your Cardmember Agreement, Information Box, and Disclosure statement if the total New Balance is not paid by the Payment Due Date each month. All payments must be received by the Payment Due Date shown on the monthly statement.
• 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, NerdWallet may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Best for: Aeroplan points

American express® aeroplan® reserve card.

• New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points.
• Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months.
• Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13.
• That’s up to $2,600 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits.
• New Offer: Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 consecutive hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points. Offer ends December 31, 2024.
• Highest Air Canada earn rate on an Aeroplan payment card in Canada: Earn 3X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®*.
• Standard Earn Rate: Earn 2X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada and earn 1.25X the points on everything else.
• Get through the airport quicker with Air Canada Priority Check-In, Air Canada Priority Boarding and Air Canada Priority Baggage Handling.
• Enjoy access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges™* and Air Canada Café™ in North America for you and a guest, with a same day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight.
• Enjoy your eligible first checked bag free for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada flights.
• Roll over any unallocated Aeroplan Elite™* Status Qualifying Miles and unused eUpgrade Credits to the following year to enjoy during your travels.
• Get access to more than 1,200 Priority Pass™ airport lounges and enjoy an oasis of comfort before your flight, regardless of your airline or cabin class.
• Insurance Coverage: whether you’re shopping nearby or travelling abroad, you can feel confident knowing you can be taken care of.
• 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, NerdWallet may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Best for: Hotel rewards

Marriott bonvoy® american express®* card.

• New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after you charge $1,500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership. Subject to change at any time
• Earn 5 points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
• Earn 2 points for every $1 in all other Card purchases.
• Receive an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide every year after your first anniversary.
• No annual fee on Additional Cards.
• Redeem points for free nights with no blackout dates at over 7,000 of the world’s most desired hotels.
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status membership.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card. These can be used towards attaining the next level of Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
• Enjoy an automatic upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card each year or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your card.
• 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. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, NerdWallet may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Best for: British Airways flyers

Rbc® british airways visa infinite‡.

• Intro offer: Get Up to 60,000 Aviosˆ: Receive 15,000 Avios as welcome bonus upon approval. 35,000 bonus Avios when you spend $6,000 CAD in the first 3 months. Another 10,000 bonus Avios after your first yearˆ.
• Earn 3 Avios for every $1 CAD spent at British Airways and British Airways Holidays
• Earn 2 Avios for every $1 CAD spent on qualifying dining spend
• Earn 1 Avios for every $1 CAD spent on all other qualifying net purchases
• Earn a companion voucher when you spend $30,000 CAD annually. You can either take a companion with you or fly solo instead for a 50% Avios discount on the cost of one reward seat ticket. Plus, you’ll have the flexibility to pay a lower, flat fee to cover taxes, fees and carrier charges and a fixed Avios amount when you make a Reward Flight booking.
• Eligible members who spend a minimum of $30,000 CAD on qualifying purchases on their card in a calendar year (“calendar year” refers to the time period starting from January 1 and ending December 31) will receive a maximum of one Companion Voucher for that calendar year. See ba.com/rbc-visa for full terms and conditions.
• 10% off British Airways flights when you book and pay with your card∞
• Redeem for flights and more – you can spend your Avios on all of the travel things you love, including cabin upgrades with British Airways or reward flights with British Airways and any of the oneworld partner airlines to almost 1,000 destinations worldwide**
• Comprehensive Insurances including 31–day out of country/province emergency medical insurance¹, flight delay insurance², hotel burglary³ and rental car⁴ insurance. Even eligible purchases you make with the card are protected³.
• Luxury Visa Infinite benefits⁵ such as first in line service for exclusive events and hotel and dining exclusives via www.visainfinite.ca
• Complimentary 24/7 Concierge Service⁵.
• Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada stations and earn 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points
• Get $0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
• Link your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card with a Rexall Be Well account and get 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall. Redeem Be Well points faster for savings in store on eligible purchases where 25,000 Be Well points = $10
• Eligibility: This card requires a minimum personal income of $60,000 or a minimum household income of $100,000. Must also be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory of residence.
• Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.

Best for: AIR MILES rewards

Bmo air miles®† world elite®* mastercard®*.

• Welcome offer: Get 2,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and we’ll waive the $120 annual fee for the first year.*
• Get 3x the Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners and 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*.
• Earn 1 reward mile for every $12 in credit card purchases, everywhere you spend.*
• Get valuable benefits and offers for digital everyday services from a variety of on-demand apps and subscription services.
• Use your card at Costco.*
• Extended Warranty.
• Access over 1 million Wi-Fi hotspots around the world – all at no added cost, and no added fees or roaming charges.*
• Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass.*
• Use less Miles with our exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year.*
• BMO AIR MILES World Elite Travel and Medical Protection.*
• BMO Concierge Service.*
• Unlock Mastercard Travel Rewards cashback offers when you travel and shop outside of Canada.
• *Terms and 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.

Best for: Newcomers to Canada

Scotiabank passport™ visa infinite* card.

• Earn up to $1,100+ in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived on your first supplementary card. Offer Ends January 3, 2024.
• The only major bank credit card offering you no foreign transaction fees, including for shopping online or abroad.
• Your Award Winning Card For Travel.
• Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more).
• Earn 1 Scene+ point on every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.
• You’ll earn 3X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés TradItIon, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Airport lounge access through complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership, plus six complimentary lounge visits per year from the date of enrollment, providing you with access to 1,200+ airport lounges globally, including participating Plaza Premium Lounges.
• Visa Infinite* benefits including Visa Infinite Concierge, Visa Infinite* Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Infinite* Dining Series, and Entertainment & Lifestyle Offers.
• Access to Scotia SelectPay™.
• To be eligible, $60,000 (individual) or $100,000 (household) annual income is required, or a minimum assets under management of $250,000. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

If this card doesn’t seem like a good fit for your wallet, take a look at NerdWallet’s selection of the best newcomer credit cards to help find the right option for you.

Best for: Cash back

Bmo cashback® world elite®* mastercard®*.

• Welcome offer: Get up to 10% cash back in your first 3 months and the $120 annual fee waived in the first year.*
• Earn more cash back on the categories that mean the most: 5% on groceries.* 4% on transit including ride sharing, taxis and public transportation.* 3% on gas and electric vehicle charging.* 2% on recurring bill payments like your monthly phone bill or favourite streaming service.* 1% unlimited cashback on all other purchases.*
• Get the highest cash back earn rate on groceries in Canada.†
• Extended Warranty Plus.*
• Purchase Protection Plus.*
• Complimentary membership in Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey.*
• Complimentary Roadside Assistance Program.*
• BMO CashBack World Elite Travel and Medical Protection.*
• †Statement based on a comparison of the non-promotional grocery rewards earn rate on Canadian cash back credit cards as of January 4, 2023.

Best for: WestJet flyers

Westjet rbc world elite mastercard.

• Get up to $450 in WestJet dollars¹ with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard. Plus, get a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 CAD³ (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC).
• Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation⁴
• Earn WestJet dollars 1.5% on everyday purchases and 2% on flights or packages with WestJet or WestJet Vacations⁸
• WestJet dollars never expire¹⁰ 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 insurance²⁰ as well as trip interruption insurance²¹, hotel burglary¹⁸ and rental car insurance¹⁸. 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 fuel¹² and always earn 20% more Petro-Points¹³ at Petro-Canada.
• Free Boingo Wifi for Mastercard holders¹¹ 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.
• Eligibility: This card requires a minimum personal income of $80,000 or a minimum household income of $150,000. Must also be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory of residence.

Best for: Aventura points

Cibc aventura® gold visa* card.

• Earn up to 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in value) during your first year. Receive 15,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods.
• Get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each): over $189 value.
• Enjoy 4 complimentary visits with the Visa Airport Companion Program.
• Plus, get a NEXUS Application Fee rebate: a $50 value.
• Offer applies to newly approved card accounts only.
• 2x for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre.
• 1.5x on for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores, up to $80,000 annual spend.
• 1x for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• 1x for every $4.00 spent on a CIBC Global Money Transfer, through June 30, 2022.
• Redeem points for airline tickets, merchandise, gift cards and more.
• Apply points to your CIBC Aventura card balance or select CIBC financial products.
• $139 annual fee.
• Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges across the globe. Priority Pass membership with 4 complimentary lounge visits a year. Zip in and out of the country with a rebate on one NEXUS™ application fee every 4 years.
• Fly any airline with points that don’t expire.
• Use Aventura Points to cover full airfare including taxes and fees.
• Link your Journie Rewards card to save on every fill-up at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stationsabout the features of this card.
• Visa’s Zero Liability Policy and Fraud Alerts.
• Valuable insurance included: 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, Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance, Hotel Burglary Insurance and Mobile Device Insurance.
• Access to installment plans through CIBC Pace It.
• Preferred rates: 20.99% for purchases, and 22.99% for cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents).
• To be eligible, a $15,000 individual annual income is required and you must be a Canadian resident that has reached the age of majority in your province.

Best for: Students

Cibc aeroplan® visa card for students.

• 1x Aeroplan points per dollar on gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and Air Canada travel purchases, up to $40,000 annual spend.
• 1x Aeroplan points per $1.50 spent on all other purchases, including gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and Air Canada travel purchases that exceed the $40,000 threshold.
• Earn points twice at over 150 Aeroplan partners and 170+ online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore.
• Aeroplan Points never expire and can be redeemed for a variety of travel, merchandise, gift card, and other rewards offered by Aeroplan’s participating partners and suppliers.
• $0 annual fee.
• Get three free months of Uber Pass for discounts on rides, meals and more. Offer ends September 8, 2022.
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point for every $6 spent on CIBC Global Money Transfer, with no transaction fees or interest as long as you pay your balance on time. Offer ends June 30, 2022.
• Maximize your points by adding up to three additional cards and giving them to your spouse or other family members. Points can be shared with other Aeroplan members in your household.
• Earn points by using your CIBC Aeroplan Visa to automatically make recurring bill payments.
• Receive preferred pricing when paying for flights with your Aeroplan points.
• Save up to 25% on car rentals at participating Budget and Avis locations worldwide when paying with your card.
• Save up to 10 cents per litre at participating Chevron, Ultramar and Pioneer gas stations if you link your card with Journie Rewards.
• Use the CIBC Pace It feature to make installment payments on large purchases.
• Four types of insurance are provided: auto rental collision and loss damage insurance, purchase security, extended protection insurance, and $100,000 in common carrier accident insurance.
• Preferred rates: 20.99% for purchases, 22.99% for cash advances.
• To be eligible, you must have full-time status in a college or university.

Best for: Businesses

Td® aeroplan® visa* business card.

• Earn up to 60,000 Aeroplan points¹, with no Annual Fee in the first year¹. Conditions Apply. Account must be opened by June 3, 2024.
• Earn 2 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada, including Air Canada Vacations.
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on eligible travel, dining and select business categories, such as shipping, internet, cable and phone services.
• Earn 1 Aeroplan point for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn points twice when paying with a TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card and providing an Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and more than 170 online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore.
• Points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, merchandise, gift cards and more. They can also be used to pay down the card’s balance.
• Linked cards earn 50% more Aeroplan points and Stars at participating Starbucks stores.
• $149 annual fee — rebated in the first year.
• Free first checked bag for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada flights.
• One free one-time guest pass to Maple Leaf Lounges for every $10,000 in net purchases. Maximum of 4 passes a year.
• Reach Aeroplan Elite Status more quickly by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in net purchases.
• Access online reporting, review business expenses, managing existing credit limits and apply spend controls through the TD Card Management Tool.
• Visa SavingsEdge program: save up to 25% on eligible business purchases.
• Travel benefits: travel medical insurance (up to $2 million in coverage for the first 15 days for those under 65; coverage lasts for 4 days for those 65 and older); common carrier travel accident insurance (up to $500,000 for covered losses), trip cancellation insurance (up to $1,500 per insured person; maximum of $5,000), trip interruption insurance (up to $5,000 per insured person; maximum of $25,000), flight/trip delay insurance (up to $500 if a flight or trip is delayed for longer than 4 hours), delayed and lost baggage insurance (up to $1,000 of overall coverage per insured person), auto rental collision/loss damage insurance (covers the full cost of a car rental for up to 48 days), hotel/motel burglary insurance (up to $2,500), mobile device insurance (up to $1,000 in coverage).
• Toll-free emergency travel assistance services.
• Receive a rebate of up to $100 on NEXUS enrolment application/renewal fee costs once every 48 months.
• Save a minimum of 10% on the lowest available base rates in Canada and the U.S., and a minimum of 5% on the lowest base rates internationally on qualifying car rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations.
• Visa Zero Liability protection, Verified by Visa and instant alerts to prevent fraudulent card use.
• Purchase security and extended warranty protection.
• Minimum credit limit of $1,000.
• Interest rates: 14.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.

Best for: USD purchases

Rogers™ mastercard®.

• No annual fee.
• 10% cashback on eligible purchases for the first three months, up to $1,000 spend.
• 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw.
• For cardholders who don’t have a qualifying service, earn 2% unlimited cash back on U.S. dollar purchases and 1% unlimited cash back on all other eligible purchases.
• 1.5x More cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases – that’s a 3% cash back value.
• Get five free Roam Like Home days in 185 destinations for talk, text and data.
• Pay your bill using your mobile phone device.
• Transaction monitoring and fraud alerts.
• Balance protection insurance helps pay your minimum payment in the event of illness, disability or job loss.
• To apply, you must be the age of majority, be a resident of Canada, and have not filed for bankruptcy in the last seven years or have worked with a trustee under a formal Consumer Proposal.

Best for: Rewards on travel spending

Td® aeroplan® visa infinite privilege* credit card.

• 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†.
• Earn 2 points† for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®).
• Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, travel and dining purchases.
• Earn 1.25 points† for every $1 spent on all other 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.
• Global Airport Lounge Access†: Receive a complimentary membership to the Visa Airport Companion† Program hosted by Dragonpass International Ltd. and take advantage of six lounge visits included for each Cardholder per membership year at over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. Enroll through the Visa Airport Companion App or through visaairportcompanion.ca
• Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge† : On-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Visa Infinite Concierge can help with any Cardholder request — big or small, to help you get the most out of life whenever you travel, shop and use your Card.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection†: Receive seven exclusive benefits when you book your stay through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 of the world’s most intriguing properties. Enjoy an additional 8th benefit at over 200 properties, exclusively for Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders.
• Travel Medical Insurance†: Up to $5 million of coverage for the first 31 days. If you or your spouse is aged 65 or older, you are covered for the first 4 days of your trip. Additional top-up coverage is available.
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance†: For Trip Cancellation coverage of up to $2,500 per insured person, with a maximum of $5,000 for all insured persons, and for Trip Interruption coverage of up to $5,000 per insured person, with a maximum of $25,000 for all insured persons on the same covered trip.
• Flight/Trip Delay Insurance†: Up to $1,000 in coverage per insured person if your flight/trip is delayed for over 4 hours.
• Delayed and Lost Baggage Insurance†: For delayed baggage over 4 hours, up to $1,000 of coverage per insured person for the purchase of essentials, such as clothing and toiletries. For lost baggage, up to $2,500 of coverage per insured person.
• Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance†: Up to $500,000 of coverage for covered losses while travelling on a common carrier (for example, a bus, ferry, plane, train or auto rental).
• Save time at the border with NEXUS: Enroll for a NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate (up to $100 CAD)†. Additional Cardholders can also take advantage of this NEXUS rebate.
• To be eligible, $150,000 annual personal income or $200,000 household annual income is required. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Best for: NEXUS rebates

Cibc aventura visa infinite card.

• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre.
• Earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores, up to $80,000 annual spend.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other purchases or on category spending in excess of the $80,000 annual limit.
• Earn 1 Aventura Point for every $4.00 spent on a CIBC Global Money Transfer. There are no transaction fees, and you won’t be charged interest as long as you pay your balance by the payment due date.
• Use Aventura Points to cover full airfare, including taxes and fees.
• To redeem your points for hotel stays, vacation packages, cruises, merchandise, gift cards and one-of-a-kind activities, visit the CIBC Rewards Centre.
• Use your Aventura Points to help pay down your credit card balance or contribute them to select financial products.
• Enjoy an annual fee rebate every year for the primary cardholder of up to $139 if you have a CIBC Smart Plus Account.
• Out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance.
• Flight delay and baggage insurance.
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance.
• Auto rental collision and loss damage insurance.
• $500,000 common carrier accident insurance.
• Purchase security and extended protection insurance.
• Hotel burglary insurance.
• Mobile device insurance.
• Kick back in a comfortable lounge before boarding and enjoy your four complimentary visits with the Visa Airport Companion Program. Zip in and out of the country with a rebate on one NEXUS application fee every four years.
• Score luxury upgrades, tickets and tours through Visa Infinite Exclusive Offers.
• Fly any airline with points that don’t expire. Access personalized travel booking and trip planning with no booking fees through the Aventura Travel Assistant.
• Link your Journie Rewards card to save on every fill-up at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.
• To be eligible, a $60,000 individual or $100,000 household minimum annual income is required.

Best for: Premium travel perks

Cibc aeroplan® visa infinite privilege card.

• Get up to 110,000 Points: You’ll receive 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase, another 30,000 points if you spend $6,000 or more during your first four monthly statement periods, and 60,000 more points as an additional anniversary bonus if you have at least $25,000 in net eligible purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods. This offer only applies to newly approved card accounts.
• 2x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Travel Vacations.
• 1.5x Aeroplan points on gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, travel and dining, up to annual $100,000 spend.
• 1.25x Aeroplan points on other purchases.
• Earn points twice by providing your Aeroplan number at over 150 Aeroplan partner brands and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore.
• Points can be redeemed for flights, car rentals and hotel stays, as well as complete vacation packages like cruises and all-inclusive resort visits. Points can also be redeemed for gift cards and merchandise sold through the Aeroplan eStore.
• $599 annual fee, which can be reduced by up to $139 each year if you have a CIBC Smart Plus account.
• An annual Worldwide Companion Pass, worth up to $599, to any destination in the world that Air Canada flies when you spend $25,000 on your card.
• Exclusive access to Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Program, Visa Infinite Dining Series and the Visa Infinite Wine Country Program.
• Reach Aeroplan Elite status sooner by earning 1,000 Status Qualifying miles and one Status Qualifying segment for every $5,000 you spend on eligible purchases.
• Save up to 25% on car rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations.
• Authorized users can access travel benefits when travelling without you by linking their Aeroplan number.
• Access to CIBC Pace It, an installment plan designed to help you pay off large or unexpected purchases over time at a lower interest rate.
• 13 types of insurance provided, including 31-day travel medical benefits (10 days if you’re 65 or older on your departure date) — worth up to $5 million in coverage per insured person.
• To be eligible, $150,000 (individual) or $200,000 (household) annual income is required. You must be a Canadian resident who has reached the age of majority in your province or territory and who hasn’t made a bankruptcy claim in the last seven years.

Best prepaid card

Eq bank card.

• Customers who set up direct deposit on their EQ Bank account will also get a bonus interest on recurring pre-authorized debits.
• Here’s how to get the bonus interest: (a) Set up $500/month or more in either direct deposit for your pay or recurring pre-authorized debits. (b) Applies to your Savings Plus Account, Joint Savings Plus Account and EQ Bank Card¹ balance. (c) Once set it up, they’ll be eligible for the increased rate of 4.00%* for 12 months! (d) Those who already set up the above automatically qualify for bonus interest!
• Free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada.***
• Earn 0.50% cash back on every purchase.***
• Earn 2.50% interest right up until you spend.
• No FX fees, monthly fees, or other hidden fees.
• Use your card anywhere in the world where Mastercard® is accepted.
• Open and fund an EQ Bank Savings Plus Account to start.

Methodology: How we evaluate cards

NerdWallet Canada selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travellers. Factors in our  evaluation methodology  include each card’s annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earning rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, insurance offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access.

Summary of the best travel credit cards

Travel rewards credit cards earn points or miles as a reward for making eligible purchases. The type and rate of rewards you earn depends on the travel credit card you have. Additionally, how you can use those rewards may depend on the loyalty program associated with your card.

Why get a travel credit card?

Travel rewards credit cards account for 22% of credit cards in Canada, according to a 2021 report by Payments Canada. Outside reduced travel costs, travel cards can offer travel insurance, airport lounge access , baggage fee discounts, no foreign transaction fees and more. The right travel credit card can help you plan trips and access upgraded services that may have once been out of reach.

Types of travel credit cards in Canada

Generally speaking, there are three different categories of travel rewards credit cards. Knowing how they differ will help you determine what card is best for you.

General travel rewards credit cards

If you’re not loyal to one specific airline or hotel chain, then a general travel rewards program is something that will interest you. The points you earn can typically be used for any type of travel redemption, such as airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and even vacation packages. Since your points don’t belong to one specific program, you have more options.

Some general travel rewards credit cards only allow you to use your points when booking travel through their online portal, while others let you use your points for any travel purchases you charge to your card.

Airline rewards credit cards

Airline credit cards allow you to earn points or miles for a specific airline. What’s interesting about airline credit cards is that the points you earn can usually be used on any airline that’s part of their network.

For example, Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada. Even if you don’t have one of the best Aeroplan credit cards, you can redeem your points for a flight on any carrier that’s part of the Star Alliance network. There are also some general travel rewards programs, such as Air Miles , that also earn miles and can offer some additional value.

Depending on the tier of your airline rewards credit card, you may get additional perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding and increased status. Having an airline credit card is highly lucrative if you frequently fly with one airline or network.

Hotel rewards credit cards

While some people love the idea of free flights, getting a luxury stay at a nice hotel appeals to other people. Some would argue that hotel rewards are better than airline rewards since some hotel chains have a greater reach. For example, Marriott has over 7,000 properties in 130+ countries, so no matter where you’re travelling, it won’t be hard to find a room where you can use your points.

Hotel rewards credit cards will also typically include benefits that will make your stay more comfortable. For instance, you could get early check-in and late check-out. You could also get free high speed WiFi or enhanced status.

Additional rewards to look for in a travel card

Besides the main rewards categories that come with travel credit cards, consider the additional perks that are included. These extra perks can often be the thing that helps you choose one card over another.

Consider the following benefits that often come with travel rewards credit cards:

• Free checked bags. Airlines charge anywhere from $30-$60 per checked bag, each way, so getting free checked bags can save you a fair amount of money.
• Airport lounge access. Some credit cards include airport lounge access , plus free annual lounge passes. These benefits could easily have a value of over $300, so it can offset any annual fee you might pay.
• Travel insurance. An extensive travel insurance package is included on some credit cards. This could cover things such as medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and more.
• No foreign transaction fees. Many credit cards charge a 2.5% fee when you make a purchase in any currency that’s not Canadian dollars. You simply pay the straight exchange rate if your card has no foreign transaction fees .
• Extended warranty. Many credit cards will lengthen your warranty up to one additional year as long as you charge the full cost of the purchase to your card.
• Price protection. If you find a lower price after making a purchase, some credit cards will give you back the difference if it falls within a specific period.
• Concierge service. A credit card concierge can help you with basic tasks such as booking travel, ordering fits and securing event tickets.

As you can see, the list of additional benefits you can get with your travel rewards credit cards can be pretty extensive. Some of the best travel credit cards in Canada will have many of the above benefits, but not all of them. Always prioritize the perks that are important to you when applying for a credit card .

Travel credit card pros and cons

• Earn points or miles to reduce travel costs, like discounted flights and hotel stays.
• Get additional perks, like travel insurance, discounted baggage fees, airport lounge access and more.
• Earn introductory bonus points when you sign up for certain travel credit cards.
• Some cards let you transfer points to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Many travel credit cards carry annual fees.
• Blackout periods may restrict when you can redeem your points.
• Introductory bonus offers may require you to spend a large sum of money in a short period of time.
• Some travel rewards points expire if you don’t use them quickly enough.

Using travel rewards

Understanding travel credit card earn rates.

The earn rate on a travel credit card is the number of rewards points or miles you earn on each dollar spent.

Some cards offer a flat rate, meaning you earn the same rewards on every purchase. For example, you may earn 2 points for every $1 you spend with your card.

Most rewards credit cards have a tiered rewards structure when making purchases. The type of structure can vary quite a bit between cards. For example, you may have an accelerated earn rate on purchases made in certain categories, such as travel, groceries, gas and drugstores. All other purchases will use the lower base earn rate.

Ideally, you want to choose a credit card with an accelerated earn rate that is aligned with your spending habits.

“You have to make sure the loyalty program is going to let you do what you want,” says Laura Scheck, vice president of credit cards at Scotiabank. “Or else you’ll end up with points that you can’t necessarily use. And no one wants to be in that situation. Points are fun!”

Additionally, travel credit cards may deliver additional points or miles when you make purchases with their main partner, if they have one. For example, an Aeroplan credit card gives you an accelerated earn rate on Air Canada purchases. Some loyalty programs even have a network of partners where you can earn additional points or miles.

How to calculate the value of travel credit card points

Knowing how to calculate the value of your points or miles is essential since not every redemption value is the same. By establishing a baseline value for your points, you can decide if specific redemptions are worth it — even if you’re not getting the maximum value.

The formula used to determine the value of one point is as follows:

Cash value of the redemption x 100 / number of points required = Cost per point

Let’s say you want to fly from Vancouver to Toronto, and it’s going to cost $585 in cash, or 25,000 Aeroplan points, plus $75 in taxes. You would use the following formula. Note that since you have to pay $75 in taxes, you’d have to subtract that amount from the cash value for an accurate assessment.

$510 x 100 / 25,000 = 2.04 cents per point

This formula can be applied to any redemption regardless of the loyalty program. For example, let’s say you want to redeem 13,400 points for a $100 gift card. Your formula would be the following:

$100 x 100 / 13,400 = .75 cents per point

The flight is a better bang for your points if these redemption options are available with the same program.

Do travel rewards points ever expire?

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a loyalty program member or how many points you’ve accumulated; you can lose everything if you’re not paying attention.

Generally speaking, most loyalty programs that belong to an airline or hotel have a defined expiry date of 12 – 18 months. However, that only applies if there’s been no account activity in your account during that time. If you earn or redeem just one point during that time, your clock would reset. Even if you’re not travelling anytime soon, you could make a small redemption or donate some points to ensure you don’t lose the rest of your points.

When it comes to bank credit card rewards programs, it’s unlikely your points will expire as long as your credit card account is in good standing. Your account would only fall out of good standing if it becomes delinquent or your credit card is used for fraudulent activity.

How to redeem travel credit card rewards

Some credit card rewards programs only let you redeem points or miles through their rewards portals. Others allow point redemption for any eligible purchase you make with your credit card.

Rewards programs offered through banks typically have their own website where you can make redemptions. They often have separate tabs where you can choose from travel, gift cards, merchandise, and financial rewards. While this can be handy, you’re typically limited to their offerings — what you see is what you get.

Airline and hotel loyalty programs will almost always allow you to redeem your points or miles directly on their website or mobile app. When searching for flights or hotels, you’ll likely see a box that says “use points.” The prices displayed will be in points, so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need to make a redemption.

Knowing where to go to redeem your points is important, but you may also want to familiarize yourself with the different point redemption systems.

Travel reward point redemption options

Not all rewards programs are created equal, especially when it comes time to cash in your travel points. These three redemption models tend to be the most popular among travel credit cards:

Consistent points

Consistent points hold a constant value, regardless of season or travel destination. This point redemption model is the most transparent and user-friendly of the three.

Fluctuating points

The value of fluctuating points can be impacted by several factors, including travel destination and time of year. A point may carry less value when travelling during peak season instead of in the off-season. This model can make it challenging to determine the value of your points when trip planning. Look for any provider-issued charts or tables that outline what factors impact the value of your points.

Point transfers

Point transfers let you transfer points to affiliated rewards programs. This model may be useful for those trying to take advantage of multiple rewards programs. The catch? The value of your points may be different once they’ve been transferred, which means you’ll need to figure out the transfer ratio before you make a decision.

What to know about credit card travel insurance

For many, travel insurance is essential — especially when venturing outside Canada. While it’s likely the last thing you want to worry about when on vacation, medical emergencies happen. And your federal, provincial and territorial health plans may not cover the medical expenses you incur while travelling. That’s where travel insurance comes in.

Not only does travel insurance help cover medical expenses, it can also offer trip cancellation coverage, vehicle damage insurance, flight delay insurance and more.

You can get travel insurance from a third party, like a travel agent or insurance provider, but many travel credit cards offer it , too — and at no added cost to the cardholder.

Out-of-province travel emergency medical insurance

Travel medical insurance isn’t only for those travelling outside Canada; it can also provide coverage for those exploring another province or territory. Your provincial plan may not extend to emergency medical expenses incurred out of province. Out-of-province medical insurance can provide coverage for a range of medical needs and services, from prescription medication to emergency evacuations and hospital stays.

If your travel card offers out-of-province medical insurance, ask your provider about coverage limitations. Your medical expenses may not be covered if they’re the result of a pre-existing medical condition or high-risk activity, like bungee jumping or motorized racing.

Travel accident insurance

This type of insurance can be useful in the event of accidental injury or death while travelling on public or ticketed transportation, sometimes referred to as a common carrier. Some policies only cover accidents that happen on airplanes while others encompass a wider range of common transports, like trains, ships and buses.

Travel interruption/cancellation insurance

Trip cancellation coverage reimburses non-refundable travel expenses if your trip gets cancelled. Eligible cancellation circumstances may include dangerous weather conditions, pregnancy complications or the death of an immediate family member.

Trip interruption coverage activates once you’ve departed and reimburses non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is cut short. Again, not every circumstance will qualify for trip interruption coverage. Covered reasons for heading home ahead of schedule are often similar to those that qualify for cancellation coverage.

Flight delay insurance

Flight delays are frustrating, but they happen. If your flight is postponed and you need to book a place to stay or grab a bite to eat while you wait, flight delay insurance may reimburse those costs.

Lost/delayed baggage insurance

If your bags are delayed, this type of insurance will cover the cost of essential items you may need to purchase — like clothes or toiletries — while you wait for your bags to arrive. And if your bags are lost outright, you may be covered up to a predetermined amount for your lost property.

Rental car collision/loss damage insurance

If you plan to rent a car on your next trip, collision and damage insurance may come in handy. This insurance covers costs associated with theft or damage to your rental car. But it doesn’t replace liability insurance — the insurance that provides coverage if you injure someone or damage another vehicle on the road.

Your personal auto insurance policy may come with liability insurance that extends to rental vehicles, but contact your insurance provider to confirm you’re covered before you hit the road.

To take advantage of your credit card’s collision and damage insurance, you’ll need to decline coverage offered by your car rental company.

Hotel/motel burglary insurance

If your hotel or motel room is broken into while on the road, this coverage will reimburse you for the loss of stolen goods up to a set amount. Not all stolen items may be eligible for reimbursement.

How to choose the right travel credit card

Every credit card is good for at least one thing, so deciding on which card is best for you can be difficult. Here are some important criteria you can use to compare different travel credit card options.

Welcome bonus

If you’re trying to decide between several travel cards with similar rewards, the tiebreaker can often be the sign up bonus. Some credit cards offer a generous welcome offer that covers the annual fee or jumpstarts your rewards collection with thousands of free points or miles.

Every credit card has a base earn rate, but many of the best travel credit cards in Canada have an increased earn rate for specific bonus categories — like the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, which offers up to 8x the points per dollar spent on travel through its online Expedia portal.

If you have a general travel credit card, you could earn extra points on categories such as groceries, gas, pharmacies and more, like the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card , which offers 2x the points on food, drink and groceries . The earn rate is essential since choosing a card that lines up with your spending habits can quickly increase the number of points or miles you earn.

If you’re firmly against paying an annual fee for your credit card, you’ll instantly narrow down your choices. That said, there are some instances where an annual fee is worth the cost . Travel credit cards with a yearly fee typically have more benefits than their fee-free counterparts.

Reward flexibility

Having a lot of points is meaningless if it’s hard to redeem them. Look for a loyalty or rewards program where you know you’ll be able to use your points without much trouble. This means programs with no blackout dates and multiple redemption options.

You’ll also want to consider whether the program has any transfer partners, as that’s another way to use your points. Additionally, knowing if and when your points expire is key to ensuring you don’t lose your hard-earned rewards.

Perks and benefits

Besides the type of rewards, welcome bonus and earn rate, additional perks may sweeten the deal and sway your decision.

“Lounge access is always very important,” says Scheck. “It’s nice to have as you’re catching your flight. It’s a little bit quieter — a bit of an oasis from the rest of the airport.”

Another make-or-break consideration? Foreign transaction fees. Scheck says they can really add up, especially if you’re making a lot of transactions while travelling. A card with no transaction fees, like the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card , can help you save in the long run.

Scout for travel card perks when comparing your options: 

• Seat upgrades.
• Room upgrades.
• Premium lounge passes.
• Entertainment ticket presale access.
• Car rental discounts.
• Priority check-in and boarding.
• Various types of credit card insurance.

How to apply for a travel rewards credit card in Canada

Make sure you’re eligible.

Different travel credit cards have different eligibility criteria, so check whether you meet a card’s requirements before you begin the sign-up process. Here are some general eligibility criteria you may encounter when applying for a travel credit card:

• Canadian resident with a Canadian credit file.
• Age of majority in the province or territory where you live.
• Minimum annual income thresholds.

Fill out the application

When you apply for a credit card , you’re typically able to follow an online application process that can be completed from the card issuer’s website. Here’s a general rundown of the application process:

• Review the card’s details, terms and conditions.
• Enter your personal information, including your full name, date of birth, residential address and mobile phone number.
• Enter your Social Insurance Number.
• Enter your financial information, including your annual income and monthly expenses.
• Verify your identity by submitting photos of your original government-issued ID, like your passport or Driver’s Licence.
• Review the information you’ve supplied and submit your application.

Keep in mind that applying for a credit card may impact your credit score .

Tips to maximize your travel credit card rewards

If you’ve decided that a travel credit card is for you, follow these few tips to ensure you get the most out of your credit card rewards .

• Pay your bills in full and on time, so you don’t pay any interest.
• Make sure you meet the minimum spending requirement to get your welcome bonus.
• Pay attention to your earn rate and use your rewards card on purchases that earn extra points.
• Research your rewards program so you know what you can do with your points or miles.
• Calculate the value of your points before making a redemption.
• See if your loyalty program has a partner network where you can earn additional points.

Although choosing a travel credit card may require you to do some research, the value you get is often worth it. Getting free stuff on points feels great, especially if it’s something you’ve been saving a long time for.

FAQs for Canada’s Travel Reward Credit Cards

Yes, travel credit card rewards can expire. Most loyalty programs that belong to an airline or hotel have a defined expiry date of 12 – 18 months. However, that only applies if there’s been no account activity in your account during that time. If you earn or redeem just one point during that time, your clock would reset.

When it comes to bank rewards programs, your points may never expire as long as your credit card account is in good standing. Of course, your account would only fall out of good standing if it becomes delinquent or you use your credit card for fraudulent activity.

In most cases, a good credit score — generally 660 to 724 — is required to get the best travel credit cards. However, some secured credit cards and prepaid options offer rewards, and are more suitable for people with lower credit scores.

About the Author

Shannon Terrell is a lead writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet, where she writes about credit cards and personal finance. Previously, she was a writer, editor and video host for financial…

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Best Rewards Credit Cards In Canada For May 2024

Updated: May 3, 2024, 11:29am

The best rewards credit card is the one that effortlessly earns you points on every purchase you make. Having one of these cards in your wallet can be the key to earning vacations, flights, merchandise, statement credits and more. In fact, these cards can actually be so valuable that many Canadians have even turned collecting rewards points into a hobby.

That said, with so many rewards cards to choose from, it can be overwhelming to try to find the best one for you. You need to consider everything from earn rates and spending categories to annual fees, interest rates and whether the card has any other useful benefits, like travel insurance or airport perks. With this in mind, Forbes Advisor has done the legwork for you and ranked the 10 best rewards credit cards in Canada. Use this list of the best rewards credit cards in Canada to narrow down your search and see how the top cards align with your needs.

• Feature Partner

Best Rewards Credit Cards in Canada for May 2024

Rbc ion+ visa card.

• MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card

• American Express Cobalt

Scotiabank Gold American Express

• TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card
• The Royal Canadian Legion MBNA Rewards Mastercard

PC World Elite Mastercard

• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Here’s a Summary of the Best Rewards Credit Cards in Canada

Methodology, best cash back credit cards in canada, what is a rewards credit card, how to redeem for general credit card rewards, how to maximize your credit card rewards, types of rewards credit cards, popular credit card rewards programs in canada, how to pick the right rewards credit cards, other benefits of rewards credit cards, pros and cons of rewards credit cards, should you have multiple rewards credit cards, how to get a rewards credit card, frequently asked questions (faqs), how do i transfer rewards points, how do i minimize fees when redeeming points, advertiser's disclosure.

• Best Credit Cards
• Best Travel 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

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American Express Cobalt® Card

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Scotiabank gold american express® card.

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Up to 40,000 Scene+ Points

Tangerine World Mastercard

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Up to 7,000 Avion Points*

$48 ($4 paid monthly)

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

20.99% / 22.99%

This card offers a wide variety of spending categories to earn Avion points in and has a very low annual fee.

• Generous welcome bonus
• Low annual fee ($48)
• Typical RBC benefits, including savings on fuel at Petro-Canada and 50 Be Well Points per $1 spent at Rexall
• Includes three types of insurance
• Get a three month complimentary DoorDash subscription (almost a $30 value)
• Monthly fee rebate when you have an RBC Signature No Limit Banking or RBC Advantage Banking for students account
• A low number of insurance varieties
• Lower redemption value than other RBC Avion credit cards
• $10 redemption minimum for Avion Rewards earned through this card
• Get 3,500 Welcome Points on approval and earn 3,500 bonus points when you spend $500 in your first 3 months.*
• Grocery, Dining & Food Delivery – Satisfy your taste buds by earning points on groceries, dining out, food delivery.
• Rides, Gas & EV Charging – Enjoy earning points on gas, rideshare, daily public transit, electric vehicle charging.
• Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions– Stay entertained while earning points on streaming, gaming, eligible digital subscriptions, eligible digital downloads, and in-game purchases.
• Earn 1 Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases
• Annual Fee $482 ($4 charged monthly)
• Redeem your Avion points to pay bills, your credit card balance or even send money to friends with Interac e-Transfer. Minimum redemption is only $10, so you can use your points where you need them most.
• Automatically become an Avion Rewards Premium member when you get the RBC ION+ Visa. Download the Avion Rewards app to access points, cash back deals, and savings all in one program. Plus, download the Avion Rewards ShopPlus browser extension to save with cash back deals right where you shop online from 1,900+ retailers.
• Save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more points when you pay with a linked RBC card.
• Earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at Rexall when you pay with your linked RBC card and scan your Be Well card.
• Get a 3-month complimentary DashPass subscription – a value of almost $30
• Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on qualifying orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card. See how to save with DoorDash.
• Enjoy a Monthly Fee Rebate
• Get a $4 rebate each month ($48/year) on the monthly fee of your credit card when you have an RBC Signature No Limit Banking or RBC Advantage Banking for students account.
• Get 2 years of coverage up to $1,000 in the event your mobile device such as your cell phone is lost, stolen, accidentally damaged or experiences mechanical failure when you purchase your mobile device with this credit card.
• Automatically protects eligible card purchases against loss, theft or damage within 90 days of purchase, and doubles the manufacturer’s original Canadian warranty by up to one additional year, to a maximum of five years.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

Up to 10,000 bonus points††

19.99% / 24.99%

For a no-annual-fee card , the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® has one of the best reward earn rates available in a variety of purchase categories—and that’s perfect, since there are a variety of redemption options, including travel, merchandise and gift cards. You also get bonus points on your birthday equal to 10% of the points earned during the previous calendar year. Plus, you’re entitled to three types of insurance, including the coveted mobile device insurance.

• Generous welcome bonus for the first 90 days (10,000 points).
• A high earn rate on grocery, restaurant, digital media and household utility purchases.
• Points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, gift cards, charitable donations and cash back.
• No annual fee.
• Three types of insurance, including mobile device insurance.
• Bonus points for going paperless.
• Bonus points on your birthday are valued at 10% of the points earned during the previous year.
• High value redemption options for travel, merchandise and gift cards.
• Poor redemption value on cash back and charitable donations.
• Annual $10,000 cap on purchase categories.
• One of only two cards that collect MBNA Rewards points.
• Highest earn rate only applies to the first 90 days of the account.
• Earn 4 points†† for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days, and 2 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible purchases in those categories thereafter – in both cases, these earn rates apply until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category. 1 point‡ for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• 5,000 bonus points†† ($25 in cash back value) after you make $500 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening
• 5,000 bonus points††($25 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening
• Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 10,000 Points
• Redeem points‡ for cash back, brand-name merchandise, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations, and travel.
• Standard Annual Interest Rates of 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers✪ and 24.99% on cash advances
• Mobile Device Insurance*** With Mobile Device Insurance, you’ve got up to $1,000 in coverage for eligible mobile devices in the event of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical breakdown
• No annual fee
• This offer is not available to residents of Quebec
• ‡, ††, ✪, ***, Terms and Conditions apply

10,000 Aeroplan Points

This card doesn’t just offer over $400 worth of rewards potential per year, it also boasts the flexibility to redeem points for merchandise, gift cards, entertainment and travel. Travel redemptions cover taxes and fees on flights, too—which is a reason in and of itself to pick this card. But, you also can add additional cardholders for free and you get four types of insurance, including rental car insurance and travel accident.

• Welcome bonus has a $200 value (enough for a short-haul flight within North America).
• Redemptions cover taxes and fees on flights.
• Combine Aeroplan points with another Aeroplan member in your family to redeem flights faster.
• Redeem flight rewards with a combination of Aeroplan points and cash.
• Flexible redemption for flights, merchandise, gift cards and entertainment.
• Low earn rates on common purchase categories.
• No travel insurance beyond travel accident insurance and rental car insurance.
• Travel earnings are relatively low.
• Earn 10,000 Aeroplan Points (a $200 travel value) after your first purchase.
• 1 point per dollar spent on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations.
• 1 point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases, including CIBC Global Money Transfer with no transaction fees.
• Earn double the points when you make purchases at over 150 retail and 170 online eStore Aeroplan partners.
• Based on average Canadian spending, Forbes Advisor estimates this no-annual-fee card could earn $444 in rewards value per year.
• Includes one year extended warranty insurance.
• Includes 90 days purchase protection insurance.
• $100,000 in common carrier travel accident insurance.
• Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance.
• Add extra cardholders at no additional charge.
• Access to CIBC PaceIt to help you pay for purchases in installments at a lower interest rate.

The American Express Cobalt features the second highest annual earnings on this list at $750.40, which translates to a net earnings value of $594.52 minus the $155.88 annual fee (billed as $12.99 monthly). Not only does it also have high earn rates in a variety of common purchase categories, but it also has a high welcome bonus in the first year and Membership Rewards carry a high value, especially since they can be transferred 1:1 to a large number of hotel and airline loyalty programs.

• High net annual earnings value at $594.52.
• High earn rate on dining, drinks and groceries.
• Transfer points 1:1 to hotel and airline loyalty programs.
• Tons of exclusive benefits and perks.
• High welcome bonus (averages a $300 value).
• Membership Rewards are high in value.
• High annual fee.
• Amex is not accepted at as many places as Visa and Mastercard.
• 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

With over $800 worth of rewards potential per year—and that’s with the annual fee factored in—this is the highest earning card on our list. It also gives you some of the highest earn rates at select grocery stores, on dining and movie theatre purchases—and its flexibility for redemption is excellent. Plus, it’s one of the few cards in Canada that doesn’t charge foreign exchange fees and it includes 13 types of insurance. In fact, the only reason it didn’t rank higher up on this list is because of that pesky annual fee and a few minor drawbacks.

Learn more:  Read our Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review

• Earns Scene+ rewards on every purchase
• No foreign transaction fees
• Built-in travel insurance
• American Express perks like Amex Front Of The Line
• $120 annual fee
• Amex is not accepted at all locations
• Welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Scene+ points (Earn 20,000 points by making at least $1,000 in the first three months, get 20,000 points when you spend at least $7,500 in your first year). Must open card by July 1, 2024 to qualify.
• Earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at select grocery stores including Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and Foodland.
• Earn 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent at other grocery stores, restaurants and on food delivery and entertainment.
• Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, transportation and streaming services.
• Earn 1 Scene+ points per dollar spent on everything else.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• American Express perks like Amex Front Of The Line.
• Comprehensive travel insurance covers emergency medical, trip interruption, flight delays, travel accidents, rental car collision and hotel burglaries.
• Includes mobile device coverage up to $1,000.
• Includes purchase security and extended warranty protection.

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.
• This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
• † Terms and conditions apply.

The Royal Canadian Legion MBNA Rewards® Mastercard

Up to 5,000 bonus points

This niche card still makes the list, thanks to its surprisingly decent earn rate in a variety of categories and a generous birthday bonus, consisting of 10% of the MBNA Rewards you earned over the course of the year.

• Advocate for the care of Canadian veterans and their families with each purchase.
• 5,000 MBNA Rewards welcome bonus (a $25 value).
• Birthday Bonus Points equal to 10% of the total number of Points the account earned in the 12 months before your birthday month to a maximum of 10,000 points.
• Redeem points for cash back, merchandise, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations and travel.
• The MBNA Payment Plan allows you to pay for purchases of $100 or over at a different interest rate with monthly payments of six, 12 or 18 months.
• Few insurance benefits and other perks.
• Might only be enticing if you’re already a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
• Low welcome bonus value.
• Earn 2,500 MBNA Rewards ($12.50 in cash back value) after your first eligible purchase within the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn an additional 2,500 MBNA Rewards ($12.50 in cash back value) when you’re enrolled for e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until you hit the $10,000 spending cap in each category.
• 1 point per every dollar spent on all other purchases.
• Based on average Canadian spending, Forbes Advisor estimates this no-annual-fee card could earn $439.59 in rewards value per year, with the annual fee factored in.
• The redemption value for travel is 100 points per dollar, while cash and charity donations are 200 points per dollar.
• Merchandise & gift cards point value are disclosed in the rewards catalogue.
• Includes 90-day purchase assurance after you’ve bought an item.
• Includes extended warranty for one year after the original manufacturer’s warranty expires.
• $1,000 in mobile device insurance.
• Get 10% off base rates on rental cars in Canada and the U.S. and 5% off base rates for international rentals at Avis and Budget Rent a Car.

The average annual earnings value on this card is $429.24 at Loblaws, which is pretty good for no annual fee. However, that amount is significantly lower if you do not shop atf Loblaws at earning only $278.52 in annual earnings value, so be aware of that.

Learn more: Read our PC World Elite Mastercard Review

• Great if you frequently shop at Loblaws-owned stores
• The card is associated with the PC Financial app, which can give you personal offers with even more PC Optimum points.
• Low minimum redemption rate.
• Can only be redeemed at Loblaws-owned stores.
• High income requirements.
• Higher than average interest rate.
• No other perks and benefits, including minimal insurance.
• Earn 30 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Loblaws banner stores,
• Earn 45 PC Optimum points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart.
• Earn 30 points per litre at Esso.
• Earn 30 points per dollar at PC Travel.
• Earn 10 points per dollar everywhere else.
• Based on average Canadian spending, Forbes Advisor estimates this no-annual-fee card could earn $429.24 in rewards value per year, with the annual fee factored in.
• High income requirements of $80,000 in personal income or $150,000 in household income per year.
• $1 million in travel emergency medical insurance
• Includes auto rental collision/loss damage insurance for 31 consecutive days.
• Identity theft assistance
• 24/7 concierge service

CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points

$139 (rebated first year)

It gives you the usual Visa Infinite benefits, but with Air Canada specific perks as well, like a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights. You’ll also earn Aeroplan points on all your spending and get great travel insurance coverage—which even applies to flights paid for with your 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 eight travel companions
• Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner
• $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
• Terms and conditions apply

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With rewards, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, earn rates and categories, fees, welcome bonus, and other rewards and features. In the event of a tie, credit cards are ranked according to their annual reward value in dollars. 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.

RBC ION+ Visa

If you’re looking for redemption versatility, a welcome bonus that’s easy to acquire and a low annual fee, the new RBC ION+ Visa does the job quite handily.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on groceries, dining out, food delivery, rideshares, gas, public transit, electric vehicle charging, streaming, digital subscriptions and gaming, including in-game purchases. Plus, earn 1 Avion Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: Get up to 7,000 Avion points. Get 3,500 Avion points on approval and earn 3,500 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months.*

Annual Fee: $48 (Paid as $4 per month).

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Despite this card having an annual fee, it is low and charged in installments of $4 per month. The earn rate in a number of categories is quite decent and this is perhaps the only card on the market where you can earn on gaming purchases. There aren’t a lot of insurance options to speak of despite the annual fee, and the travel redemption value is quite low, too (unless you’re transferring your points to WestJet Rewards).

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This card gives you some of the best earn rates on common purchase categories and great value on redemption for travel, merchandise and gift cards—all for no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 4 points†† per dollar on restaurant , grocery, digital media, membership and utility purchases for the first 90 days (2 points‡ per dollar in those categories thereafter). Plus, 1 point‡ per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: 10,000 MBNA Rewards (5,000†† once $500 is spent on purchases and another 5,000†† when you switch to e-statements).

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: For no annual fee, the fact that you can earn 4 points per dollar in so many categories is a win. That said, the fact that it’s only for the first 90 days of having the account open is a drawback. However, the remaining earn rate of 2 points per dollar is still quite high and the $10,000 purchase cap still leaves a lot of room for great earning potential.

††, ‡, Terms and conditions apply. This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.

This card gives a decent earn rate for Aeroplan points with no annual fee. When it comes to travel, Aeroplan points cover taxes and fees and can redeem flights with a combination of points and cash. Aeroplan points can also be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards and entertainment.

Rewards: 1 point per dollar spent on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations. 1 point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases, including CIBC Global Money Transfer with no transaction fees. Plus, earn double the points when you make purchases at over 150 retail and 170 online eStore Aeroplan partners.

Welcome Offer: Earn 10,000 Aeroplan Points (a $200 travel value) after your first purchase.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Despite flexible redemption offers and the opportunity to redeem for flights faster by using cash with your points, the earn rates on common purchases and the annual earnings value on travel are relatively low compared to other travel credit cards .

The darling of the Canadian credit card market, the American Express Cobalt® Card has topped—or been in contention to top—Forbes Advisor’s Best Grocery , Best Travel , Best Hotel , and Best Amex lists. That said, it’s no surprise it shows up here, too. This credit card makes it every time due to its high earn rates, high annual rewards value, and numerous perks and benefits.

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

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: There aren’t many drawbacks to point out, other than the relatively high annual fee, the decreased welcome bonus compared to what it had been and the fact that American Express still doesn’t have as wide an acceptance in Canada as Visa or Mastercard . Other than those factors, this card remains one every Canadian should have in their wallet, based on its rewards potential and the valuable benefits it provides.

This card carries the highest earn rate on dining and at select grocery stores in Canada. It comes with many redemption options, including travel, has the highest annual earnings available on this list and many insurance options.

Rewards: Earn 6 Scene+ Points for every dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland and more. Earn 5 Scene+ Points for every dollar spent on dining, restaurants, delivery services, food subscription services and grocery stores that aren’t a subsidiary of Sobeys. Earn 5 Scene+ Points for every dollar spent on entertainment, including movie theatres and ticket agencies. Earn 3 Scene+ Points for every dollar spent on gas and transit, including rideshares, taxis, subways and buses. Earn 3 Scene+ Points for every dollar spent on eligible select streaming services. Finally, earn 1 Scene+ Point per dollar for all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: Welcome bonus of 40,000 Scene+ points (Earn 20,000 points by making at least $1,000 in the first three months, get 20,000 points when you spend at least $7,500 in your first year). Must open card by July 1, 2024 to qualify.

Annual Fee: $120

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The possible $943.12 in annual earnings more than covers this card’s $120 annual fee. Plus, while most premium cards require a minimum personal income of $60,000 per year, this one only requires $12,000 annually and includes no foreign exchange fees on international purchases.

A great starter card for those looking to enter the Aeroplan travel loyalty program.

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 20,000 Aeroplan points† (up to $500 in value†). 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: The earn rate on this card is low, but the annual earnings value of $449.80 is great on Air Canada flight redemptions given the low annual fee and you might actually appreciate qualifying for this card if your income restricts you from getting more premium Aeroplan cards.

The Royal Canadian Legion MBNA Rewards Card

If you want to support Canadian veterans and get great annual earnings value on MBNA Rewards for a number of flexible redemption options, including travel, this is the credit card to get, especially for no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until you hit the $10,000 spending cap in each category. Plus, earn 1 point per every dollar spent on all other purchases. In addition, you’ll get a Birthday Bonus Points equal to 10% of the total number of Points the account earned in the 12 months before your birthday month to a maximum of 10,000 points.

Welcome Offer: Earn 2,500 MBNA Rewards ($12.50 in cash back value) after your first eligible purchase within the first 90 days of account opening and then earn an additional 2,500 MBNA Rewards ($12.50 in cash back value) when you’re enrolled for e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While this card may only appeal to Royal Canadian Legion members and their families and it is light on benefits and perks, especially insurance, you can’t ignore the possible $439.59 in annual earnings value and the large number of purchase categories you can earn MBNA rewards from.

The annual earnings here really aren’t that bad, but the benefits that can be had outside of the Loblaws diaspora are thin, even though there’s no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 30 PC Optimum points per dollar spent at Loblaws banner stores, 45 PC Optimum points per dollar at Shoppers Drug Mart, 30 points per litre at Esso, 30 points per dollar at PC Travel and 10 points per dollar everywhere else.

Welcome Offer: None

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: If you shop at the Loblaws family of stores, there’s a lot of benefit to be had. If you don’t, the card is rather light on benefits, including minimal insurance offerings. However, the insurance it does have is generous as long as you can actually meet the income requirements to qualify.

This card earns Aeroplan points in high-spend categories and has a selection of useful travel perks, like insurance and a free checked bag, too.

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

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 (rebated in the first year)

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.

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

A rewards credit card works just like a regular card, in that you use it as a method of payment for purchases. The difference is that a rewards card gives you something back for your spending, whether that be in the form of rewards points or miles. These rewards can be redeemed for things such as flights, vacations, merchandise, gift cards and statement credits on your monthly bill. What you can redeem rewards for varies based on the type of credit card you have.

How Rewards Credit Cards Work

The following is a detailed rundown of everything that goes into a rewards credit card with advice on how to maximize their potential sprinkled in. If you want to be a cardholder who gets the most out of your spending and the loyalty points that come with it, you first need to learn exactly what your credit card rewards points are worth.

How Rewards Credit Cards Earn Points

The earn rate on a rewards card is one of its most important features and the biggest indicator of whether that card is worth a spot in your wallet.

The earn rate is essentially how many points the card earns per dollar spent. This usually varies by spending category, with some cards earning more points on select purchases like groceries, gas, subscriptions and travel. These cards then have a base earn rate, which the amount of points it earns across all purchases.

For example, a card may earn 4 points per dollar on gas and groceries, 3 points per dollar at drugstores and on recurring bills and 2 points per dollar on all other spending.  

To maximize the earning power of your card, make sure the spending categories that earn the most points align with your regular spending.

How to Calculate the Value of Credit Card Rewards

To figure out the value of your credit card rewards points, all you need to do is divide the dollar value of the reward by the number of points it takes to redeem it. For example, if it takes 10,000 points for flight from Toronto to Buffalo that normally costs $300, then each point is worth $0.3.

Keep in mind, that reward point value is not always consistent across rewards or even within the same rewards category. For example, how many points it costs to get a free flight often depends on when you book, where you are going, how far your destination is from your starting point and what class of ticket you are buying. Meanwhile, things like travel rewards (flights and hotels) often cost less per point than things like merchandise and gift cards, or even statement credit.

Do Rewards Points Ever Expire?

Of course, it depends on the loyalty program, but most of the time, as long as your account remains in good standing, your points will never expire. If you’re collecting points from a loyalty program where points do expire, it usually only happens if there is no activity in the account for a year or more.

There are a number of ways rewards can be redeemed from a rewards credit cards. Chief among them is online through the loyalty redemption portal of the program. These portals function similar to shopping on Amazon or anywhere else on the web that requires you to have an account. Once you’re logged in, you should be able to see your points balance and search for merchandise, gift cards and vacation packages. Once you select what item you’d like to redeem for, follow the prompts and purchase it using your points balance.

When redeeming for statement credit, a running tally of your points balance usually can be seen somewhere on your online banking portal where you pay your credit card and you can usually select “Pay With Points” or “Pay With Rewards” and then you can select how many points you’d like to apply to your balance using an interactive slider.

When paying for travel rewards such as flights or hotels, you often have to make your purchase through a specific travel portal that corresponds to your program where you will be given the option to “Pay With Points” before concluding the transaction.

Some loyalty programs also have dedicated travel agencies where you can arrange travel and pay with your points over the phone with the help of a customer service representative. If the loyalty program corresponds to the airline that you’re traveling on or the hotel you’re staying at, you will be able to apply your points balance right at the time of booking directly from the hotel or airline website.

Redeeming Store Rewards Points

When redeeming rewards points at a retail partner in-store. Normally, all you have to do is inform the cashier that you’d like to pay for your purchases with points. Present both your loyalty rewards membership card and/or your credit card and the cashier will facilitate the transaction.

Rewards credit card terms and conditions

Like most financial products, rewards credit cards come with a set of terms and conditions. These need to be agreed to before you become a cardholder and should be accessible online. As with anything, it’s important to read these through to know what you’re signing up for.

Common terms and conditions include:

• Fees and interest rates
• Rewards categories earn rates and spending caps
• How you can use and transfer your points
• Circumstances in which points may be revoked or expire

Once you know how much your rewards are worth and how to redeem them, the next steps are trying to get as many rewards points as possible, while maximizing your return for the points that you’ll be redeeming.

Pay Your Monthly Credit Card Bill On Time and In Full

You will never be able to maximize your rewards if you continue to carry a balance on your credit card. This is due to the fact that if you’re always paying down a balance, the accumulated interest takes away from your point value since you’ll always be paying more money on top of the spending it took to acquire the points in the first place.

Also, if you are always paying your credit card bill late, not only are you subject to late fees, but you risk your account falling out of good standing and violating your cardholder agreement, which means you won’t be able to collect or redeem rewards at all.

Take Advantage of Welcome Offers

In the first year of card membership, you’ll usually get the most points in a lump sum thanks to welcome offers. You’ll also find that welcome offers are enough to get you started with a flight or large reward right away without having to spend money to earn more points, so taking advantage of a welcome offer is truly equal to getting a free flights.

Welcome offers must be earned within the first year. so make the welcome offer a point of comparison when you’re selecting a credit card in the first place — the bigger and the easier to earn, the better.

Spend in Accelerated Categories

Accelerated categories are purchase categories that will help you earn rewards points faster — hence, the “accelerated” designation.

These are any purchase category that earn rewards above the base rate, such as 5 points per dollar, 3 points per dollar or even 2 points per dollar. This is because most base rates (as in, the rate you get on every purchase that isn’t part of an isolated purchase category) are 1 pint per dollar.

If you don’t just earn points on every dollar, but buy items as much as possible in purchase categories that give you more points per dollar, you’ll be on the way to redeeming your rewards points much sooner and potentially more often.

Stack Your Cards

Credit card stacking a risky strategy that requires applying for and managing multiple credit cards. Not many people take advantage of it because they don’t want to have to have so much credit that may tempt to spend more money and push them further into debt. However, if you can manage multiple credit cards responsibly, applying for multiple credit cards and taking advantage of large welcome offers could be a great way to accumulate lots of rewards points quickly.

For example, if an Air Canada flight to Honolulu you want to take will cost you 100,000 reward points and you’re nowhere near that total, all hope is not lost. You could apply for an Aeroplan credit card that will either give you that many points as part of welcome offer or put you reasonably close if you’re already part of Aeroplan, which can give you time to earn the rest on the credit card you already have or use your existing Aeroplan points.

Double-Dip with Loyalty Cards

Speaking of Aeroplan, they have an offer where if you shop at their over 150 in-store retail partners or over 170 online retail partners, you’ll get double the points. Therefore, our advice would be to shop at retail partners with Aeroplan and any other loyalty program that allows you to earn double the points when you shop at certain stores. The more you do that, the more points you will earn — and fast.

Related : Canada’s Best Credit Card

There are several types of credit card rewards that cardholders can redeem and they all work slightly differently. They are the following:

Cash-Back Rewards Credit Cards

Cash-back rewards offer a percentage of cash back — most commonly redeemed in the form of statement credit — on every dollar you spend. The base rate on every purchase outside of accelerated purchase categories is usually either 1% per dollar or 0.5% per dollar. You then see anywhere from 6% to 2% per dollar on common purchase categories, such as groceries, gas, transit, dining and entertainment. Other than statement credit, cash back can be redeemed as a cash back deposit in a savings or investment account.

Airline Rewards Credit Cards

Airline rewards credit cards allow you to collect points toward flights on a single airline. Some airline credit cards also allow you to transfer your points to a partner airline at a certain ratio — the best of them being 1:1. Some even have their own in-house web portal where you can also redeem flights for merchandise, gift cards and vacation packages.

As for flights, some loyalty programs also cover taxes and fees as well as the base fare, while some do not. How many points you can redeem for a particular flight largely depends on when you book, where you’re going how far you’re traveling and the class of ticket you are buying.

For example, short-haul, economy class flights within North America booked in low season will cost less than long-haul international flights in business class booked in high season, like the summer or spring break. Airlines rewards cards also usually come with complementary travel perks like emergency travel medical insurance, lost baggage and flight delay coverage, airport lounge access, rental car insurance and a free checked bag.

Hotel Rewards Credit Cards

Hotel rewards credit cards usually offer points from a loyalty program connected to a specific hotel chain, such as Marriott (Bonvoy), Best Western (Best Western Rewards) or Hilton (Honors), Collect enough points and you achieve a certain status level, such as gold, silver or platinum. These status levels correspond with a certain number of perks during your hotel stay, like a free continental breakfast, free high-speed internet and free late checkout.

Hotel rewards credit cards also give you free award nights (a free night stay) usually on your birthday or the anniversary of account opening. Some hotel credit cards and the corresponding loyalty program offer so many free nights per year depending on your status level. Of course, the higher your status, the more nights you get and you earn status by collecting more points. How do you collect points? Usually you get the most by making purchases at the hotel while stay there and by booking more and more hotel stays at the corresponding hotel chain per year.

There are some credit cards that give you points you can redeem for hotel rewards, but  they are not tied to a particular hotel chain. They may also offer the opportunity to redeem points for flights and other rewards. In this case, they are considered a travel rewards credit card.

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Travel rewards cards aren’t restricted to flights like airline rewards cards or free hotel stays and perks like hotel rewards cards. Instead, you can redeem your points for all of those travel perks and more, such as vacation packages and cruises. You might also be able to transfer your points to another travel rewards loyalty program and fly on even more airlines or stay at even more hotels.

The advantage of travel credit cards is you can travel with any airline and stay at any hotel. They have the flexibility that airline  and hotel credit cards don’t and you can earn points through any travel method, including rideshares, cruises or transit buses. Of course, there might be some restrictions in the fine print of your credit card agreement and redeeming for flights might be cheaper than redeeming for hotel stays, but you can still do both. You don’t have to be tied down and that’s all that matters if your picking a travel rewards credit card over an airline rewards or hotel rewards one.

Store or Brand Rewards Credit Cards

Store or brand rewards credit cards give you rewards at that store or through that brand and you not only earn rewards by shopping at that store or purchasing that brand but you must redeem rewards at that store or on that brand’s website. A good example of this is the PC Optimum card, which allows you to redeem points for free groceries, but only at Loblaws supermarkets.

How do you redeem? When it’s time to pay for your groceries, you just tell the cashier you’d like to use points while presenting your PC Optimum credit card or membership card at the counter. They then will redeem your points at a rate of 10,000 points for every $10 spent.

Other store cards include the HBC credit card for example, which functions much the same way in the sense that you can redeem in-store or online. (You can also redeem your PC Optimum points at the PC Express website when you’re getting your groceries delivered). So that’s how these cards work. Their only real disadvantage is you have to use them at those stores and only those stores.

Gas Rewards Credit Cards

Gas rewards cards allow you to redeem points for free gas or gas discounts at their corresponding gas stations. You can also earn more points by buying gas at those gas stations or through other purchases as well. Usually the highest earn rate comes from baying gas at that gas station and the base rate comes from all other purchases. There might be earning caps for the high gas purchases earn rate, where if you spend a certain amount, purchases then revert to the lower base rate.

For example, let’s say you get 5 points per dollar when you buy gas at Petro-Canada until you spend $10,000 in a year. Once that spending cap is reached, all purchases at Petro-Canada are worth 1 point per dollar, which is the base rate on all other purchases outside of gas purchases and other accelerated purchase categories.

Rewards Credit Cards with Flexible Points

Rewards credit cards with flexible points are those with points that can be exchanged for a variety of perks, including entertainment, merchandise, gift cards, statement credits and travel.

Though many of these cards have an option to redeem for travel, they’re different from travel-specific rewards cards. Travel rewards cards typically offer more travel specific perks, like heightened earn rates on travel spending, airport perks like lounge access and priority boarding and extensive travel insurance coverage.

There are several credit card rewards programs in Canada where cardholders have ample opportunity to earn points and redeem for rewards. The following are some of the most popular rewards programs available nationwide:

Air Miles is one of the oldest, most well established travel loyalty programs in Canada. It is divided into two redemption categories: Air Miles Cash and Air Miles Dream. Points allocated to Air Miles Cash cover merchandise, events, vacation packages, gift cards and every other reward that isn’t travel. Air Miles Dream is the more traditional pool for points and it covers flights. By default, all the points you collect with Air Miles are allocated to Air Miles Dream. If you’d like to allocate points to Air Miles Cash, you must use a sliding bar on the Air Miles site and shift the percentage from 100% Air Miles Dream to 60% Air Miles Dream and 40% Air Miles Cash, for example. This is of course at your discretion, but points can’t be transferred to either pot retroactively.

Air Miles has its own online portal to buy merchandise like appliances and electronics, among other things. You can also get gift cards, vacation packages and event tickets through this portal. As for travel, Air Miles does not cover taxes and fees on flights and the point value isn’t consistent across flights and varies widely depending on when you book, where you’re going and the class of ticket you’re buying. Most of the time, individual points are worth a fraction of a cent each with it being worth more if its domestic, economy and booked in low season than it would be if it’s international, business class and booked in high season. Air Miles also has several retail partners where purchases made with your Air Miles credit card give you double the points.

Aeroplan is the largest rival travel rewards program to Air Miles in Canada. The main difference between the two is that flights available through Aeroplan are restricted to Air Canada and its Star Alliance airline partners. You can transfer Aeroplan points to any Star Alliance member airline, like Lufthansa, at a stated rate you can find at the conversion part of the Aeroplan website. When it comes to hotel partners, 3 Marriott Bonvoy points equal 1 Aeroplan points or with Hilton Honors, 10,000 Hilton Honors points equal 1,000 Aeroplan points.

Aeroplan points cover taxes and fees when booking flights and like Air Miles, individual Aeroplan points are worth a fraction of a cent and their value depends on the details of the trip. Aeroplan credit cards also offer Air Canada specific  travel perks such as access to Air Canada’s airport lounge — The Maple Leaf Lounge — or a free checked bags on Air Canada flights.

We’ve already covered this rewards program briefly in another section. However, for review, this program allows you to collect points on purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws-owned grocery stores. You can redeem points for money off your bill at these stores at a rate of $10 for every 10,000 PC Optimum points collected. To redeem or earn points, you must present your PC Optimum membership card or your PC Optimum credit card at checkout. If your redeeming, just tell them you’d like to redeem and if you are collecting, they will ask you if you have PC Optimum and scan your card.

Money off of groceries and drugs at these particular stores are the only rewards you can get with this program. However, it is versatile enough to allow you to still earn and redeem points when you buy groceries online through the PC Express web portal and arrange for contactless pick-up.

American Express Membership Rewards

Though American Express credit cards aren’t accepted as widely as Mastercard and Visa, their Membership Rewards Program is among the most valuable and versatile credit card reward programs around. Though it has a per point average value of $0.01, when you transfer points to airline partners it’s worth $0.02 per point and when you transfer points to hotel partners they’re worth 1.16 cents.

Amex Membership Rewards credit cards are also notorious in a good way for their high earn rates in common purchase categories like groceries, travel and dining and for their amazing perks like American Express Front Of The Line, which gives you first access to concert and event tickets, or American Express Experiences, which gives you access to exclusive events just for cardholders.

Petro-Points Rewards

Petro-Points rewards can be redeemed for discounted and free gas at Petro-Canada. Redemption value for Petro-Points is as follows:

• 10,000 points = $0.5 savings on 200 litres.
• 20,000 points = $0.10 savings on 200 litres.

If you’re a regular Petro-Points collector with a simple membership card, the above is what you can expect on redemption. However, if you link your RBC credit card to your Petro-Points Rewards card, you’ll get $0.13 off your first 200 litres and $0.3 off every litre after than. You’ll also get 20% more Petro-Points earned on all purchases.

Scene+ Rewards

Connected to the Scotiabank suite of credit cards , the Scene+ Rewards program is one of the most popular in Canada.  The “+” in Scene+ also means a lot by signaling redemptions go beyond free movie tickets at Cineplex theatres. Now you can redeem for free movie tickets and more like free meals at popular restaurants, discounts on activities and events at places like the Rec Room interactive arcade, flights through the Scene+ Travel by Expedia portal and, most recently, groceries at Sobeys and Sobeys-owned stores like Foodland and IGA. Much like PC Optimum,  grocery discounts can be redeemed at a rate of 1,000 points for every $10 spent. However, it takes 10 times more PC Optimum points for $10 off groceries through that program.

With Scene+ you can earn Scene+ points at a rate of 3 points per dollar when you book flights and hotel stays through Scene+ Travel by Expedia and you’ll earn 1 point for every $3 spent at over 700 dining partners, including Montana’s Eastside Mario’s, Swiss Chalet and Harveys. You can also earn points when you make flyer purchases at Sobeys and when you shop online through Rakuten by Scene+. Plus, buying movie tickets and snacks at Cineplex theatres still earns you Scene+ points, just like it did when the program was just called Scene (no “+”) and Cineplex was its only major retail partner.

Now that you know what is available through some of the most popular credit card rewards programs in Canada, here are some of the factors that must go in to choosing the right rewards credit card for you.

Types of Rewards

The first thing you must decide for yourself is the kind of rewards you’re interested in: Gas? Groceries? Movie tickets? Flights? Hotel stays? Maybe you want a rewards card that you can redeem for all those things. Not only should you pick a card based on the rewards you want, but the purchases you make most already. This way, you won’t have to change your natural buying habits just to acquire specific rewards. It will make actually earning rewards fast very easy, as opposed to a more arduous task that goes against your usual purchasing habits.

The welcome bonus is the next thing to look at because if it’s big enough, you’ll likely be able to redeem for a large reward, like a flight, as soon as you earn it. This means that the bigger the welcome bonus, the better the rewards card. However, along with the size of the welcome bonus, you must make sure that the steps to acquire the points advertised aren’t too complicated and that you can afford to spend the money required to obtain the welcome bonus without putting yourself in the hole. No one needs to put themselves into debt just for rewards points, so make sure that getting the welcome bonus (no matter how large) is something you can actually do without much hassle.

Interest Rate

Obviously, your going to want to know the interest rate on your rewards credit card, especially if you’re inclined to carry a balance. Problem is, most credit cards with valuable rewards have standard to higher than average interest rates ranging from 19.99% to 24.99% APR on purchases. Typically, low interest credit cards mean getting low to no rewards, so take into consideration whether a low interest rate may be more of a priority for you than the opportunity to redeem points for lots of rewards.

Every great rewards credit card has a high earn rate in at least a few common purchase categories. This is crucial if you want to earn points fast and have a chance to redeem rewards at least multiple times a year. If the goal is getting a free reward, you want to do that as soon as possible to stay motivated enough to keep collecting points. There’s nothing worse than collecting points for years before you ever have enough to redeem for anything. As a result, stick to the credit cards with the high earn rates for the most common items you buy most often anyway.

Most good rewards credit cards have high annual fees. After all, the annual fee is one of the ways your credit card issuer finances the rewards they offer. Not that there aren’t rewards cards out there with no annual fee, it’s just the perks aren’t as numerous  and the earn rates tend to be not as high when the rewards card has a zero dollar annual fee. Therefore, all premium credit cards do have an annual fee. The calculation you, as the cardholder, need to make is does the cumulative value of all the rewards outweigh the cost of the annual fee? If the answer is “Yes,”  then the rewards card is worth it, even with the annual fee. If the answer is “No,” then the annual fee is probably too high relative to the rewards value and you may want to look elsewhere.

Reward  Flexibility

Flexible rewards are the most versatile and versatility increases value. Not only can you redeem for many different types of rewards and earn points from many different purchase categories, but you won’t be stuck only patronizing one brand or one store when this might be inconvenient or impractical for your needs. Even if you think your fine with only one type of reward from one type of merchant, flexible rewards credit cards give you options for when things change and you inevitably change your mind. Therefore, it’s recommended you look for flexibility in your rewards credit card because it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Aside from racking up points on your everyday spending, most rewards cards actually include valuable perks that go beyond points. Some common perks include:

• Travel insurance:  A number of cards include  travel insurance  coverage when you book the flight on your card. Coverage can include things like emergency medical, travel accident, flight delay, trip cancellation, lost luggage, hotel burglary and more.
• Rental car discounts and insurance:  Some rewards cards include rental car collision/loss damage waiver insurance, which can save you some money when renting a car. Often, a discount is included at major car rental companies as well.
• Airport perks:  Select rewards cards offer airport perks like complimentary lounge access, priority boarding, NEXUS rebates and more.
• Roadside assistance:  This feature is very rare to find in a rewards credit card, but some offer 24/7  roadside assistance  to their cardholders.
• Consumer protections:  Many rewards cards offer consumer protections on purchases made with the card. These can include mobile device insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection.
• Concierge service:  Select cards offer a concierge service, which can assist cardholders with things like booking travel and event tickets.

Pros of Rewards Credit Cards:

• Earn points and miles on your regular spending
• Some cards include additional benefits like travel insurance, airport perks, consumer protections and roadside assistance
• Cards often have welcome bonuses and annual fee waivers the first year

Cons of Rewards Credit Cards:

• Some cards have high annual fees or steep credit score and income requirements
• Some cards have earning caps in certain reward categories
• Programs can change, devaluing points
• Points aren’t as flexible as cash back
• Rewards can expire or be forfeited under certain circumstances

No one knows yourself better than you. Therefore, if you find it difficult to manage credit cards in general and they only tempt you to drive yourself deeper into debt, then more credit cards and the additional credit that comes with them is probably not for you. On the other hand, if multiple credit cards can help you earn more rewards quicker thanks to large welcome bonuses that can help you stack credit card points, then go for it, as long as you can manage multiple credit cards responsibly.

In some ways, multiple credit cards can make it easier to track your rewards points and keep you more organized. Perhaps you have one credit card for cash back and one card for rewards. It’s easier to track what you’ve earned from each card when both are on separate bills. Add to that, you may want more options so you are rewarded for your spending where you shop most often.

Some people have PC Optimum credit cards that are just for groceries and pharmaceuticals while they keep Aeroplan cards for travel and a more versatile rewards credit card like a membership rewards credit card for general spending. It’s really just another way to organize your spending if you can manage each credit card successfully and keep track of all your payment due dates.

In order to get any credit card, you need to meet two simple requirements: you must be a Canadian resident and the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Otherwise, specific cards have their own criteria that must be met before you can become a cardholder. These could include have a certain annual or household income or a certain credit score. There’s no guarantee you’ll be approved, but some credit cards have a higher bar than others. Here’s how the process usually works:

Steps for Getting a Rewards Credit Card

• Apply for the credit card.  Typically done online (or sometimes at the bank), this will include providing information, such as your name, date of birth, address, social insurance number, employer and current income.
• The provider verifies your information. At this point, the provider typically checks your credit score and that the information you provided is accurate.
• Find out if you’re approved. You will receive an answer on whether or not you’ve qualified for the card. In some cases, you’ll be asked to provide additional information.
• Wait for your card to arrive. Your card will be sent to you in the mail, typically arriving within 7 to 10 business days. In some cases, you’ll have access to a virtual card you can start using it on your phone’s virtual wallet right away.
• Activate your card. Once your physical card arrives, you’ll need to activate it, either online, on your app or by phone

What credit card has the best rewards?

The best rewards credit card right now as ranked by Forbes Advisor is the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard. This is because it gives you from $415 to $439 in annual earnings value, it carries no annual fee, has amazing redemption flexibility with a myriad of options, including travel and it does well in retaining its point value when redeeming for things like travel, merchandise and gift cards.

What credit card has the highest point value?

The credit card with the highest point value is the Scotiabank Gold American Express with an incredible $943.12 in average annual rewards value. Each Scene point has an individual average value of $0.01, but actual value depends on what you’re redeeming for, as different redemption options carry different redemption values. The $943.12 is based on average spending in a variety of redemption categories by a typical Canadian according to retail and StatsCan data. The amount translates to a whopping 94,311.7 Scene+ points. However, keep in mind that this value does not include this card’s $120 annual fee.

Is it worth getting a credit card for the rewards?

It is worth getting a credit card for the rewards as long as you pay off your credit card balance in full every month and are not paying interest. Carrying a balance and paying interest eats into your rewards value, so at that point, it’s not worth it. An annual fee also eats into your rewards value. Therefore, when selecting a card, make sure the annual rewards value based on your personal annual spending is still more than the annual fee you’ll be paying.

Are rewards points actually worth it?

Everything is circumstantial. Reward points are worth it if they have a high value when redeemed. The less a reward point is worth, the more points it takes to redeem for a reward and the less worth it it actually is. To figure out the value of a single reward point, find out how many points is equal to a dollar spent. Divide the number of points needed to earn the reward by the retail price of that reward. Use this equation on a number of cards and the one with the lowest result. The least number of points per dollar, the better the value. Finally, look at the earn rate: The higher the ratio of points per dollar, the better the earn rate and the easier it is to accumulate lots of points, so you can earn rewards faster.

Not all rewards points can be transferred to other programs, so be sure to check with your credit card provider first and foremost. However, some points programs are transferrable, including American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Typically, these points can only be transferred to select loyalty programs. The ratio at which they are transferred depends on which program you’re transferring to and from. For instance, American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, but varies when transferred to other programs.

When redeeming points for flights, it’s important to note that there may be additional fees involved, typically covering taxes and fuel surcharges. To mitigate these fees, opt for a rewards program that allows you to redeem points for flights including taxes. Additionally, consider selecting airlines that either include fuel surcharges or offer options where these surcharges are minimal. This way, you can maximize the value of your points while minimizing any extra costs.

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.

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Our Top Picks for Travel Credit Cards in Canada

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The Motley Fool Canada’s top travel credit card picks at a glance:

Our top pick: scotiabank gold american express card.

See this offer on Scotiabank’s website

Runner-up: American Express Cobalt ® Card

See this offer on American Express’s website

Also consider: American Express ® Aeroplan ® Reserve Card

All of our top travel credit card picks:, scotiabank gold american express card, top overall travel card.

Our Rating:

Open Account

On Scotiabank’s secure website.

• No foreign transaction fees
• Amex Offers and Amex Front of the Line benefits
• Multiple useful insurances including trip cancellation, flight delay, and rental car
• 5x Scene+ points on eligible dining, grocery, and entertainment
• 3x Scene+ points on eligible gas, transit, and streaming services
• 1x Scene+ points on everything else

Welcome bonus

Up to 45,000 Scene+ points (worth up to $450 towards travel)

Read our full Scotiabank Gold American Express Card Review

Annual fee:

Eligibility:.

Credit rating: Good Minimum income: $12,000

American Express Cobalt® Card

Great for racking up rewards.

On American Express’s secure website.

• Earn 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online
• Get up to $100 USD hotel credit for use on amenities during eligible stays
• Earn 1X point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
• 5x Membership Rewards® points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery; spend cap applies
• 3x Membership Rewards® on eligible streaming subscriptions
• 2X points on eligible ride shares, transit and gas in Canada

In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, 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.

Our review of the American Express Cobalt ® Card

Annual Fee:

$155.88 ($12.99 monthly)

Credit rating : Fair

Annual Income : $N/A

American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card

Great high-end card for travel rewards and perks.

On American Express’s secure website.

• Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling with Air Canada
• First checked bag free for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada flights
• Access to select Air Canada airport lounges for you and a guest on eligible flights, plus access to more than 1,200 Priority Pass airport lounges
• 3X points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada® and Air Canada Vacations®
• 2X points on eligible dining and food delivery purchases in Canada
• 1.25x Aeroplan points on everything else

New American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve cardmembers can earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on the card within the first 3 months. Earn 25,000 more Aeroplan points after spending $2,500 in purchases in month 13. That’s up to $2,600 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits.

New Offer: Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 consecutive hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points. Offer ends December 31, 2024.

Credit rating : Great, Excellent

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, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Card

Top visa travel rewards and perks.

• Mobile device insurance covering loss, damage, and theft
• $50 annual lifestyle credit
• Earn 10% more rewards when you add an additional authorized user ($50 annually per supplemental user)
• 5x BMO Rewards on eligible groceries, gas, dining, and transit
• 1x BMO Rewards on everything else

Up to 40,000 BMO Rewards points and annual fee waived for 1st year

Credit rating: Very good Minimum income: $60,000 (individual), $100,000 (household)

BMO Air Miles Mastercard

Top-rated no-fee travel card.

• Extended warranty and purchase protection
• 25% discount on rentals from participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car
• 15% discount at Cirque du Soleil touring Canada and 20% off resident shows in Las Vegas
• 1 BMO AIR MILE for every $25 spent and 3x miles for spend at participating AIR MILES partners.

Earn 800 AIR MILES when you spend $1,000 in the first three months ($80 value)

Credit rating: Good

What is a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards allow you to earn points or miles on eligible purchases, which you can redeem for travel-oriented goods and services. These include airfare, car rentals, hotel stays, vacation packages, and more. They also offer various perks, such as concierge services, airport lounge access, travel-related insurance, and zero foreign transaction fees.

Travel cards are tremendously popular, especially among avid travellers. They provide exceptional deals when it comes to rewards compared to other types of credit cards. The points are generally more valuable when used to cover travel-related expenses than redeemed for gift cards, statement credits, or everyday merchandise.

Due to their exceptional value, travel cards usually charge an annual fee. The annual fee can be pretty steep, but some brands charge reasonable fees or forgo them altogether.

What are the different types of travel cards?

There are several different ways to categorize travel cards. However, the flexibility of their rewards programs is one of the most critical aspects that can help you distinguish them from one another. Travel cards can be characterized as general or co-branded.

With a general card, you can redeem your points for travel-oriented rewards with any airline, hotel chain, vehicle rental agency, etc. You’re not limited to one brand and have numerous options to choose from when you decide to convert your points.

Co-branded cards have a partnership with a specific airline or hotel chain brand. If you hold this type of card, you redeem your points for rewards exclusively with that brand.

How do travel rewards programs work?

A travel card functions very much like a standard points card, but its rewards program is geared toward travel-related goods and services. Each travel card has a unique structure that determines how you can earn and redeem points.

Earning points

Two different models dictate how you collect rewards points on your purchases: a flat earn rate or bonus earn rate .

Under a flat-earn-rate model, you garner the same number of points on every dollar you spend, no matter what you charge to your card. One spending category isn’t more profitable than another, which enables easy and efficient tracking of points.

Under a bonus-earn-rate model, the number of points you collect per dollar varies by the spending category. For example, you might earn two points for every dollar you spend on gas, groceries, and dining and one point for every dollar you spend on everything else.

Redeeming points

How you’re able to redeem your points depends on the redemption model(s) your travel card employs. Some are straightforward, while others are more intricate and will necessitate some time to decipher.

The simplest model is one where the value of each point stays constant, regardless of the reward. This type of model enables you to quickly calculate the exact dollar value of a particular reward and the number of points needed to gain access to it.

Some travel cards come with complex models where the value of each point fluctuates according to the reward. The points’ worth can vary based on factors such as your flight destination, the date of your departure, and whether you use them to cover airfare or accommodation. Under this redemption model, determining the optimal way to utilize your points may entail some research on your part.

Certain travel cards also allow you to transfer your points to other loyalty and frequent flyer programs. In some cases, it’s advantageous to use points through an alternative rewards program, as you can extract more value out of them. Again, you’ll have to crunch some numbers to determine if a transfer is warranted. Still, it’s always nice to have this option available.

What types of perks and benefits do travel cards offer?

Besides lucrative rewards programs, travel cards offer a wide array of perks and benefits, which can save you a nice sum of money and make your trip more enjoyable.

The best travel credit cards come with a travel insurance package, which protects you from trip cancellations, flight delays, theft, accidents, emergency medical care, lost baggage, and more. Travel insurance is a key benefit you should inquire about when scouting for a travel card.

Travel cards routinely offer other perks, including concierge services, airport lounge access, sign-up bonuses, free baggage checks, discounted tickets, hotel and flight upgrades, and priority boarding.

What credit score do you need to get a travel card?

In most cases, you’ll need a credit score of at least 660 before the card issuer approves your application. A score between 660 and 724 is considered a “good” credit score and should be sufficient for most travel cards. However, the minimum credit score required varies; travel cards with top-tier rewards programs and benefits demand higher scores.

Is it worth getting a travel credit card?

Whether it’s worth getting a travel card or not will depend on your lifestyle, budget, and spending habits.

Travel cards are geared primarily to those who frequently travel, as the rewards and perks are skewed heavily toward travel-related goods and services. If exploring the globe is your passion, a travel card can save you a nice chunk of change on flight tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel expenses. And when you factor in the other perks and benefits you’ll have access to, keeping one in your wallet when you travel is a no-brainer.

Conversely, if you consider yourself primarily a homebody, you’ll find travel cards less appealing. You may be better off with a cash-back card or other rewards card that allows you to redeem points on your everyday shopping. Also, many travel cards charge an annual fee, which may be hard to justify if you don’t take full advantage of all they have to offer.

How can you pick a travel card?

1. decide the type of travel card you want.

The first critical decision you’ll have to make is whether you’d prefer a general card or a co-branded card. A general travel card is an excellent option if you value flexibility — you’ll have an abundance of choices at your disposal when you decide to redeem your points. General cards are ideal if you’re chiefly concerned with keeping your travel costs low. With a wide range of airlines and hotels to choose from, you’re bound to find a deal that fits neatly within your budget.

Suppose you travel routinely with a particular airline or have a preferred hotel brand you book your accommodation with. In that case, you could reap more benefits and cost savings by opting for a co-branded card. You’ll naturally have fewer options when converting your points to rewards, as you’re restricted to a specific brand.

However, co-branded cards often provide superior benefits and perks that general cards don’t offer. These include complimentary lounge access, seat upgrades, free checked bags, priority boarding, and discounted companion fares.

2. Consider your spending habits

Evaluate your spending patterns to see what expenses constitute the bulk of your budget. Ideally, you’ll want a travel card that earns you the most points from these spending categories. That way, you can extract as much value as possible with each purchase you make.

If you can’t find a suitable travel card that aligns with your spending habits, one that employs a flat-rate points model will usually suffice.

3. Compare rewards programs on cards

Evaluating rewards programs is crucial, as you’ll want to ensure you’re getting the most out of the points you earn. Besides browsing the specific travel-oriented rewards a card’s program offers, you should assess the dollar value each point is worth. Determining these values may require diligent research and number crunching, especially since there are several types of loyalty and frequent flyer programs in Canada, each one with a unique points-redemption model.

The most gainful programs offer a ratio of $0.01 per point, so this should be your benchmark. Here’s a quick way to assess how good of a deal you’re getting on a specific redemption:

Step one: Verify the cost of the reward in dollars.

Step two: Find out how many points you need to redeem for the reward.

Step three: Divide the cost in dollars by the number of points required.

For example, suppose a particular reward requires 10,000 points and the dollar value is $85. In this case, each point would be worth $0.0085.

4. Consider the fees

As with any credit card, a crucial factor to examine is the fees you’ll be responsible for paying. The two fees most relevant to travel cards are the annual fee and foreign transaction fees .

Most travel cards’ annual fee ranges from $100 to $150, but some charge higher rates. While you may scoff at the notion of having to pay an exorbitant annual fee, the rewards and benefits travel cards provide can easily offset the cost. Still, if you’re dead set on avoiding yearly fees, travel cards are available that don’t charge one. Bear in mind, though, that the rewards and perks associated with zero-annual fee cards aren’t as lucrative as those found on their pricier counterparts.

Foreign transaction fees should also be on your radar, especially if you’re prone to splurging abroad. The costs can quickly add up, so be sure to select a travel card that eschews foreign transaction fees if you anticipate heavy spending during your trips.

Some offers on The Motley Fool are from our partners — it’s part of how we make money and keep this site going. But does that impact our reviews? Nope. Our commitment is to you. If a product isn’t any good, our review will reflect that, or we won’t list it at all. Also, while we aim to feature the best products available, we do not review every product on the market.

Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards 2024

Canada's original credit card rankings.

Last Updated on March 5, 2024

Welcome to our 16th annual Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards!

Rewards Canada is pleased to present the best Travel Rewards Credit Cards in Canada for 2024! If you are in the market for a new travel rewards credit card look no further than our rankings!

Looking for a cash back card? Check out Canada's Top Cash Back Credit Cards 2024 !

You may be asking yourself how can I make my travel cheaper, more luxurious or even be able to budget for multiple vacations? Part of that answer lies in having the best credit card or cards in your wallet to help fund those travels. With over 22 years of experience and research, Rewards Canada is the most renowned and trusted source for helping all Canadian individuals find the right card for them and the first step in that search begins right here with our annual top travel rewards credit card rankings.

While we do rank a best overall card that we feel should be in every Canadian's wallet, the American Express Cobalt® Card , the fact remains it may not be the best for you. The card that is best for John may not be the best for Jane and vice versa so that is why we present the five best cards across multiple categories to help you decide which is best for you.

In general, you need to look at your spending habits, what your reward goals are and what extra benefits you would like before picking the right credit card or credit cards. That's where our rankings come into play, they help guide you in picking the best one for you and that is why we have eight different categories.

Jumping into this year's rankings, the biggest news for 2024 is the discontinuation of one of the best cards in Canada, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard. This card was the 4th best overall, the best No Foreign Transaction fee card and the third best hybrid card! With the card gone it has allowed others to move up the ranks.

We have also moved the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card out of the top five overall cards. It has nothing to do with the card - no, in fact here at Rewards Canada we still consider it an amazing card which we personally use everyday. However, we have found that a good portion of Canadians are looking for cards with more flexible reward options so we have made the decision to pull the card out of the top 5. With that being said it can't be ignored how much value the card can provide and since we don't have a hotel credit card category anymore, we've decided to give the card its own "honourable mention" which you'll find below.

These are the categories featured in the 16th Annual Top Travel Rewards Card Rankings:

Top Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card

• Top Travel Points Credit Card with an annual fee

Top No Fee Travel Rewards Credit Card

Top airline credit card.

• Top Hybrid Travel Card
• Top No Foreign Transaction Fee Card

Top Ultra Premium Credit Card

• Top Small Business Travel Rewards Cards

The crème de la crème of travel rewards cards in Canada. These are the best cards overall from all of the separate categories listed below.

American Express Cobalt® Card

TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

Scotiabank Gold American Express card

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

Click here to learn why the american express cobalt card is the best.

Taking the top spot for the seventh year in a row, the American Express Cobalt Card has yet to meet its match. The card was improved in 2021 and although we've seen other cards enhanced in that time, none of them match this card's overall value and flexibility. For those who always complain about acceptance rate of Amex cards, know this, putting 50% of your spending on this card (which is very easily accomplished as upwards of 90% of Canadian retailers accept Amex) and 50% on another card will provide you with more rewards than putting 100% of your spending on that other card. Travel wise the card provides up to a 5% return when you redeem points towards bookings you make yourself with any travel provider. This is thanks to earning 5x points on eats and drinks which can actually be boosted up to a 10% return if you utilize Amex's Fixed Points for Travel program. You'll also earn 3x points on streaming services and 2x points on travel, gas, transit and ridesharing. On top of all this you can convert the points to airline & hotel programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club and Marriott Bonvoy. With these conversion options we've seen real world returns of 30% or more with this card! The Cobalt Card is truly unmatched in providing great value and flexibility to such a wide range of Canadian travellers! The 5x points is earned on up to $2,500 on spending in this category monthly .

Click here to learn more and to apply for this card

Category summary.

For the 7th year in a row the American Express Cobalt Card, our first 'Points Earning Machine' takes top honours and why wouldn't it? The card was actually made better in 2021 which simply widened the gap between first and second spots. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card retains 2nd place - for several reasons, the strength and phenomenal expansion of the Aeroplan program, the vast reach of flying with Air Canada and getting the first checked bag free on those flights. Add in no annual fee in the first year (and every year after that with select TD bank accounts), a good sized welcome bonus and you have a very attractive card option. Click here to apply for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card The American Express Gold Rewards Card remains in third thanks to decent earn rates and all the same flexible travel rewards options as the Cobalt Card. It is also provides travel perks like lounge access, an annual travel credit and very good insurance coverage. Click here to apply for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card moves into fourth place with the HSBC card being discontinued and us pulling the Marriott card out of the Top 5. This card is classified as a 'Points Earning Machine' as it earns up to 6 points per dollar spent! Along with its excellent points earning the card also offers No Foreign Transaction fees and has extremely flexible travel redemption options. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Gold American Express card Moving into fifth spot is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard which is the third and final ' Points Earning Machine'. This card racks up the points fast with up to 5.5 points per dollar spent and with the highest spending caps of all the points earning machines, you can earn a lot of points! Currently the card is considered a travel points card but with the anticipated addition of transfers to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan sometime in 2024 the card should move to the Hybrid category for 2025. Click here to apply for the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

Honourable Mention

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

This card receives an honourable mention as it has featured in our top 5 overall cards for many years however it fits more of a niche role in our market. Personally, we feel it is an amazing travel credit card but many Canadians are looking for more flexibility in their travel rewards so we made the decision to take it out of the top 5. That being said, it is only one of a few cards in Canada that more than pays for itself each and every year simply with its benefits. In the first year, the welcome bonus easily provides multiple times the value of the annual fee. After that the annual Free Night Award can be redeemed for a one night hotel stay in the $150 to $400+ range - making that $120 annual fee more than worth it. There is also a limited time welcome bonus of up to 80,000 points when you apply for the card by May 6, 2024

Top Travel Points Card with an Annual Fee

A Travel Points Credit Card earns points that can be used to book travel via that card's reward program travel agency, and/or gives you the ability to book travel how you want, with whomever you want and then use the points towards the charge on your account

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

Click here to learn why the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is the best!

Taking the top spot for the fourth year in a row, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is grouped with the Cobalt Card as a 'Points Earning Machine'. When the Scene+ program expanded into groceries in 2022 they added an amazing 6 points per dollar spent earn rate at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA and other Empire stores. Not shopping at those stores? It still earns a lot of points outside of them. The card offers 5 points per dollar on all other grocery purchases, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments. it also earns 3 points per dollar on gas and daily transit which includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more. You can earn all of these accelerated earn rates on up to $50,000 of spending annually.

When you have this card you can redeem the points for any travel you book - it does not have to be via Scene+ Travel. You can book direct with an airline, hotel chain or any other travel provider! With a per point value of 1 cent when redeemed for travel, groceries, dining or movies your rate of return on this card is an amazing 1 to 6%. Outside of the earn and burn the card also offers No Foreign Transaction fees, Amex Offers and Invites and still comes in with a $120 annual fee where many of its competitors are charging more.

There were no changes to the rankings in this category from 2023 to 2024. The top card is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and that's thanks to offering up to 6 points per dollar spent which equates to up to a 6% return and it charges No Foreign Transaction Fees. Also, since it earns Scene+ points these just add to the balance of points you earn on your Scene+ loyalty card.

The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard holds onto second spot and isn't very far off the top spot in our opinion! Super strong earn rates of up 5.5 points per dollar make it the highest earning Mastercard in Canada. There is one main factor keeping it from gaining top spot in this category which is its travel redemption option - it just isn't as flexible as Scotia's as you have to redeem via MBNA Rewards. Click here to apply for the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

In third spot is the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card - one of the most well rounded travel rewards cards in Canada. Featuring No Foreign Transaction Fees, airport lounge access with six passes each year, strong insurance and decent earn rates the card really gives you a little bit of everything. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card continues to hold onto fourth spot. Thanks to an always easy to earn welcome bonus, earning and redeem rates that are in the middle of the pack plus four lounge access passes per year the card remains a powerful contender in this category. Click here to apply for the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

Remaining in fifth spot is the TD First Class Visa Infinite Card thanks to good accelerated earn rates and flexible redemption options where you can redeem via Expedia for TD or for any travel you book yourself . Add in an always generous welcome bonus that tends to feature the first year free (or always free with select TD bank accounts) and you have another good card option Click here to apply for the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

The No Fee Travel Rewards Credit Card category has cards that can actually fit into any of our categories across the rankings. From airline to hybrid to travel points they are covered here but with these cards you will never pay an annual fee at any time. We do not include cards that offer promotional fee waivers in the first year.

American Express Green Card

Scotiabank American Express Card

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

Click here to learn why the american express green card is the best.

Taking the top spot for the third year in a row, the American Express Green Card takes everything that is good in the Membership Rewards program and places it on a no fee card. Flexible travel rewards from doing your own travel bookings, using Amex's Fixed Points for Travel or converting to partners like Air Canada, Air France KLM, British Airways and Marriott - you get it all at your disposal. The card is simple to use - it earns 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases. That translates to a 1% return to travel you book yourself or for cash back rewards, up to a 2% return when you use the Amex Fixed Points for Travel rewards or returns of up to 6% or more when you convert to an airline partner and redeem towards a business class flight.

This is another category with no changes from 2023 which means it remains one of the closest to call! Honestly, if you don't need the airline and hotel conversion options that the Amex Green Card provides then the Scotiabank American Express Card is the way to go!

The American Express Green Card holds onto the top spot for the third year in a row but only by a thread. It remains on top thanks to its conversion options to airline and hotel programs. With those conversions the points earned on the Green Card hold the most potential value out of any no fee cards. As mentioned already, if you have no need for converting points then the card to get is the Scotiabank American Express Card which shoots up retains second place in this category. With earn rates from 1 to 3 Scene+ points per dollar it is one of the highest everyday earning no fee cards as those points translate to an easy 1 to 3% return when redeemed for travel, groceries, dining or movies. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank American Express Card

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is still the best no annual fee option that isn't an American Express Card. The card features a great 90 day welcome earn rate of 4 points per dollar on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases followed by 2 points per dollar in those categories afterwards. All other spending on the card earns 1 point per dollar. With each point being worth 1 cent towards travel you have 1 to 4% returns with this card. Click here to apply for the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

The ever so popular Scotiabank Scene+ Visa card was made even better this year with a new 2x points earn rate for Home Hardware purchases and continues to offer 1 to 2 Scene+ points per dollar on all other spending. Those earn rates translate to a 1 to 2% return when redeemed for travel, groceries, dining or movies. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card rounds out the top 5 no annual fee travel rewards cards. This card remains as a great no fee Visa card option for Canadians. Click here to apply for the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

An airline credit card earns miles or points directly into an airline frequent flyer program

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial

RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card

Click here to learn why the td aeroplan visa infinite card is the best.

Taking the top spot for the fourth year in a row, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is the mainstay card from the large suite of Aeroplan co-brand credit cards and thus the primary choice for most Canadians looking for an Aeroplan card. With the ability to redeem points to almost any destination worldwide in Economy to Business to First Class, Aeroplan is tough to beat if you know how to make the most the program. Add in features like first checked bag free on Air Canada flights, discounted reward flight pricing, a NEXUS credit and you have a card that is tough to compete with!

Even with the introduction of the new Cathay Pacific Card from Neo in 2023, there was no movement in the airline category for 2024 as that card failed to break into the top five.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card holds onto the top spot for the fourth year in a row thanks to the strength of the Aeroplan program and lots of great benefits provided by the card. The venerable WestJet RBC World Elite Mastecard retains its hold on second spot. With a first checked bag free benefit, annual companion voucher and WestJet dollars that are used just like cash, the card is an excellent choice for many Canadians who like to fly with WestJet - whether infrequently or frequently. Click here to apply for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The American Express Aeroplan Card continues on in third spot in the airline category. It earns more points per dollar spent directly with Air Canada than the top TD card however it does earn less in important categories like groceries. It also doesn't have as extensive insurance benefits like the TD card hence it ranks a little lower - but it is still an excellent option! Click here to apply for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Introduced in late 2022, the Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial. is an excellent airline card option. The card offers amazing earn rates on Air France KLM flights as well as an accelerates earn rate on eats and drinks accelerator. Most importantly it rides on the strength of the Flying Blue program which offers free stopovers and is the best program for Transatlantic rewards out of Canada which start at only 20,000 miles each way in Economy Class and 50,000 miles each for Business Class. Click here to apply for the Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial

Staying in fifth spot this year is the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card . A great welcome bonus along with a 10% discount on all British Airways flights are the highlights on this card. It also provides an annual companion flight voucher can be earned if you spend $30,000 or more annually. Click here to apply for the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card

Top Hybrid Credit Card

A Hybrid card is a combination of an airline and/or hotel card and a travel points card. You can convert your points to airline and/or hotel frequent travel programs or use the points to book travel via the credit card's travel agency and/or give you the ability to book travel how you want, with whomever you want and then you can use the points towards the charge on your account. (This is Rewards Canada's favourite category of cards)

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

RBC ION+ Visa Card

Click here to learn why the american express cobalt card is the best.

Taking the top spot for the seventh year in a row, the American Express Cobalt Card is the best overall card in Canada so it is only natural it takes top spot in the Hybrid Category! It provides up to a 5% return towards any travel bookings thanks to earning 5x points on eats and drinks. Or you can get up to a 10% return if you utilize Amex's Fixed Points for Travel program. Plus you can convert the points to programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and Marriott Bonvoy. With such good earning and so many great rewards this is the card that needs to be in every Canadian's wallet!

The Hybrid Card category is one of the few that does see a change this year and this is due to the HSBC World Elite Mastercard being discontinued.

For the 7th year in a row the American Express Cobalt Card takes top honours in this category - it is Canada's best travel rewards card overall so we've already detailed it above and will spare you the repetition! Holding onto second spot is the American Express Gold Rewards Card . Also detailed in the overall category, this card has a few more travel benefits attached to it over the Cobalt Card but in turn it earns less points. Click here to apply for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card moves up to third spot thanks to having the easiest to earn welcome bonus and for its conversion options to British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, WestJet Rewards & other programs. Without those conversion options it would be lower down on the list. This card was #1 back in 2010 but has since fallen down the ranks as the competition continues to surpass it. Click here to apply for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

Taking fourth spot is the Platinum Card from American Express . It takes this position not because it is worse than the others ahead of it. No, it is in fact an amazing card but with a $799 annual fee it does not appeal to as wide of range of Canadians as the other cards, hence its lower ranking. If you want amazing travel benefits combined with flexible rewards just like the Cobalt and Gold Rewards cards, this is the card to have. Click here to apply for The Platinum Card® from American Express

Moving into fifth spot in this category is the relatively new RBC ION+ Visa Card . Strong earn rates of 1 to 3 points per dollar spent and the ability to convert those to WestJet dollars at a 100 to 1 ratio make this card one of the strongest earning cards for WestJet Rewards but then you still retain the option to use those points for redemptions via Avion Rewards. The card gets even better when you combine it with any of RBC's Avion cards as then you can utilize the Avion redemption chart or convert the points to British Airways and other airline partners. Click here to apply for the RBC ION+ Visa Card

Top No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card

The No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card has cards that can actually fit into any of our categories across the rankings. From airline to hybrid to travel points they are covered here but with these cards you will never pay a fee (2.5% on average) on transactions made in currencies other than the Canadian dollar

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Brim World Elite Mastercard

Brim Mastercard

With the HSBC World Elite Mastercard being discontinued, we crown the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card as the new champion in the No Foreign Transaction fee category. The Scotia card took second place last year so it moves up organically as there have been no new challengers in this space. With this change it now holds top spot in two categories so you know it is a good card!

Click here to learn more and to apply for Scotiabank Gold American Express card

Due to the departure of the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, this is another category that sees changes in 2024. The second to fifth place cards from 2023 all move up a notch and the no fee Brim Mastercard slides into fifth spot. Taking the top spot in the No FX Card category is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card . It is a points earning machine with up to 6 points per dollar being awarded - in Canada. Those accelerated earn rates do not extend outside of Canada like some other cards but it makes up for it by offering No Foreign Transaction fees.

In second place, we have another Scotia card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card which is a very well rounded travel rewards card. It may not earn as many points as its sibling the Gold card but it provides stronger earn rates outside of Canada, lounge access with free passes and strong travel insurance. All of this and it charges No Foreign Transaction fees. Like we said, it is well rounded as the card provides a little bit of everything. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Scotia's Ultra Premium offering the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card is in third spot in this category. We've always dubbed this card as Canada's 'Sleeper Card' in that it goes unnoticed despite being quite an amazing travel rewards card for those who don't need airline or hotel conversion options. Like the other Scotia cards it offer No FX Fees and also awards 2 points per dollar spent on all eligible spending worldwide. With a 1 cent per point value when redeeming for any travel that translates to a 2% return on all spending. Throw in 10 annual lounge access passes and you can see why this is a pretty amazing travel rewards card. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Moving up to fourth in this category is the Brim World Elite Mastercard . Another 2% return card (albeit capped at $25,000 annually) with No Foreign Transaction fees and strong insurance benefits the Brim is makes a great addition to any wallet as a secondary or tertiary card and fulfilling the role of a No FX Fee card. Click here to apply for the Brim World Elite Mastercard

Rounding out the top five is the no annual fee Brim Mastercard. This card award 1% cash back on all purchases, provides free global Boingo Wi-Fi and most importantly, No Foreign Transaction fees. Click here to apply for the Brim Mastercard

An ultra premium credit card is one that carries a hefty annual fee ($300+) that can actually fit into any of our categories across the rankings. From airline to hybrid to travel points they are covered here and you get better rewards and a lot more benefits with these cards.

The Platinum Card from American Express

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card

Click here to learn why the platinum card from american express is the best.

For the fourth straight year The Platinum Card from American Express is the best Ultra Premium Card in Canada. It has the best airport lounge access benefits out of any publicly available card in Canada, provides automatic hotel elite status with several popular programs, offers discounts on premium class travel and so much more. On top of this it has good earn rates and the amazing redemption options from the Membership Rewards program including any travel at anytime and conversions to Aeroplan and other airlines. This Ultra Premium card is really tough to beat.

The top 5 cards in the Ultra Premium Card category have remained the same as in 2023.

Already discussed above, The Platinum Card from American Express retains its position as the best Ultra Premium Card in Canada.

In second spot is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card thanks to providing a wealth of benefits when you travel with Air Canada and relatively strong points earning rates. It also has access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America plus Visa Airport Companion membership with six free lounge visits each year. Not to mention, Canada also voted it as their favourite Ultra Premium Card in our 2023 Canada's Choice Awards. Click here to apply for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card In third spot is the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card . It provides the highest points earning possible when purchasing Air Canada flights and a host of benefits for flying with Air Canada. It also provides an annual Priority Pass lounge access membership. This is the card you want if you spend a lot of cash with Air Canada. Click here to apply for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

Keeping its place in fourth is the RBC Avion Visa infinite Privilege Card . RBC's Ultra Premium card for its Avion Rewards program provides Visa Airport Companion membership with six free lounge visits each year. It has a flat 1.25 point earn rate on all purchases and this card allows for business class redemptions at $2 per 100 points which provides a 2.5% return. It also has conversion options to British Airways, Cathay Pacific, WestJet and several other programs which give this card additional flexibility. Click here to apply for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card remains in fifth spot in this category. It had some changes made to it in 2022 that were for the most part an improvement to the card. Like the other Scotia cards it offer No FX Fees and also awards 2 points per dollar spent on all eligible spending worldwide. With a 1 cent per point value when redeeming for any travel that translates to a 2% return on all spending. Throw in 10 annual lounge access passes and you can see why this is a pretty amazing travel rewards card. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Top Small Business Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Small Business Travel Rewards Credit Card has cards that can actually fit into any of our categories across the rankings From airline to hybrid to travel points they are covered here but are simply small business/enterprise cards!

American Express Business Edge™ Card 

Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business card

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

Click here to learn why the american express business edge card  is the best.

Taking the top spot in this category for 2024 is the American Express Business Edge Card . Basically the business version of the coveted Cobalt Card, the Amex Business Edge has a 3x points multiplier on important categories for small business owners including office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks. Like other Membership Rewards cards those points can then be used towards any travel bookings, statement credits (3 points = 3% return) and they can be converted to programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and others.

There were no changes in this category from 2023 to 2024.

Already discussed above, the American Express Business Edge Card  takes top spot in this category thanks to strong earn rates and the utmost in flexible and valuable travel redemption options. Taking the second spot in this category is the Business Platinum Card® from American Express . This card is perfect for small businesses who want a card that provides great travel benefits without being tied to one airline. The card has a strong non-category bonus earn rate that of course is part of Membership Rewards so you get all the flexibility in travel rewards options the program provides. Click here to apply for the Business Platinum Card® from American Express

In third place, we have another Scotia card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business Card which like its consumer sibling is a very well rounded travel rewards card. It provides a nice and easy 1.5 points on every dollar spent (a 1.5% return) that can be redeemed for any travel, lounge access with free passes and strong travel insurance. All of this and it charges No Foreign Transaction fees which is ideal for businesses who import a lot of product from outside of Canada and use a credit card to pay for those purchases. Click here to apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business card

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card takes fourth spot in this category. It benefits from a flat earn rate of 1.25 points per dollar spent plus the variety and flexibility of Avion Rewards. You can redeem for flights via the Avion Air Travel Redemption Schedule, any travel booked via Avion Rewards or convert to airlines like British Airways Executive Club or WestJet Rewards. Click here to apply for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card

Rounding out this category is the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card . This card is perfect for business who utilize Air Canada as their primary airline of choice. It has strong points earning rates, namely 3 points per dollar with Air Canada, benefits for flying with Air Canada like Priority Check In and Priority Boarding plus Maple Leaf Lounge Access and a Priority Pass membership. Click here to apply for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card

Wrapping it up

There you have it! Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards for 2024! Whether you want to maximize the amount of points you earn for every hard earned dollar you spend or want to have airport lounge access and deals at the most luxurious hotels, there are cards in the rankings that will cover you.

Honestly all of the cards listed above should help you with your travels in one way or another. With well over 70 travel credit cards to choose from our rankings should definitely help narrow down the selection to find the right card or cards to add to your portfolio.

If you would like more details on our consideration process for the Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards you can read the factors behind our rankings right here

Not interested in travel rewards or want to supplement the travel rewards cards in your wallet with cash back? Be sure to check out our Top Cash Back Credit Card rankings !

 Learn more from Rewards Canada

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Tips & Tricks for making the most of your loyalty programs and credit card reward programs.

 Details on all the top credit cards

Click here for details on the top travel rewards credit cards (overall).

2024 Top Overall Travel Rewards Card | 2024 Top Hybrid Travel Rewards Card 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

Monthly Fee $12.99/month of Cardmembership ($155.88 annually) | Additional Cards: $0 | Annual interest rate 21.99% on purchases and 21.99% on funds advances

Terms & Conditions apply

Card details

• 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

• Click here to apply for the American Express Cobalt Card

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

Annual Fee $139 | Additional Cards: $75 † | Annual interest rate 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on funds advances | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income

Earn up to $1,200 in value†, including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† (enough for a round trip to New York City†), and additional travel benefits. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

• 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†
• Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of Account opening†
• 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†

Earning Aeroplan Points

• Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 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 spent on all other 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).
• Your Aeroplan Points do not expire as long as you are a TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Cardholder in good standing
• Earn big rewards on the little things: Earn 50% more Aeroplan Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® stores. Simply link your TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card to your Starbucks® Rewards account. Conditions apply. Learn more .
• Travel lightly through the airport and save on baggage fees† : Primary Cardholders, Additional Cardholders, and travel companions (up to eight) travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lbs) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight.
• Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge† : On-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Visa Infinite Concierge can help with any Cardholder request — big or small, to help you get the most out of life whenever you travel, shop and use your Card.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection†: Receive seven exclusive benefits when you book your stay through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 of the world’s most intriguing properties.
• Click here to apply for TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

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

† Terms and Conditions apply . Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button.

American Express® Gold Rewards Card®

Ranked the 3rd best overall travel rewards credit card in Canada Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points

New American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers, earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $1,000 in net purchases on your Card This could add up to 60,000 points in a year. That’s up to $600 towards your next vacation.

Annual Fee: $250 | Additional Card Fee: $0 for first additional a card, $50 for all others | Annual interest rate 21.99% on purchases and 21.99% on funds advances; Missed payment applicable rates, 25.99% - 28.99% Variable

• Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases for eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more
• Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases at eligible gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada, and 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else
• The Card is now available in your choice of Gold or Rose Gold metal options
• Receive a $50 CAD statement credit when a NEXUS application or renewal fee is charged to your American Express Gold Rewards Card
• You have access to an annual $100 CAD Travel Credit, compliments of your American Express Gold Rewards Card. Use the credit once annually towards any single travel booking of $100 or more charged to your Gold Rewards Card through American Express Travel Online
• As a Gold Rewards Cardmember, you can receive complimentary membership in Priority PassTM  – one of the world’s largest independent airport lounge programs. Escape the chaos of airports and relax in an oasis of calm and simply enjoy the fact that the travel experience has begun before your plane has even left the ground. Enrollment is required and entry fees apply
• Enjoy four (4) complimentary visits per Calendar year to Plaza Premium Lounges across Canada. Entry fees apply once complimentary visits have been used
• Charge any eligible purchase to your credit Card then log in to redeem your earned points for a statement credit
• 1 Free Additional Gold Rewards Card (a $50 value) to help you earn points faster
•  Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 21.99% and funds advances is 21.99%. If you have Missed Payments, the applicable rates for your account will be 25.99% and/or 28.99%. See the information box included with the application for the definition of Missed Payment and which rates apply to charges on your account and other details
• *American Express is not responsible for maintaining of monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.
• Click here to apply for the American Express Gold Rewards Card

2024 Top Travel Points Credit Card with an annual fee | 2024 Top No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card

Earn up to $650* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹. Offer ends Jul 1, 2024

Annual Fee: $120 | Additional Cards: $29 | Minimum Income $12,000

• Bonus offer broken down as follows: - Earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ Rewards points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. - Earn 20,000 bonus Scene+ Rewards points when you spend $7,500 within your first 12 months
• You will not pay 2.5% foreign transaction fees on any foreign currency purchases, including online shopping and when travelling abroad. Only the exchange rate applies
• You’ll earn 6X Scene+ points for each $1 CAD charged to your account on all eligible purchases 1  at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Earn 5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions
• Earn 3X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more
• Earn 3X Scene+ point2 for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services.
• Earn 1X Scene+ point for every $1 spent on every other purchase
• Complimentary Concierge Services 24/7
• Amex exclusive benefits (Front Of The Line)
• Use your points to purchase travel online or over the phone through our full-service travel agency. Or book your own travel using your card and go online to redeem points for the purchase.
• Receive up to 25% off qualifying car rentals
• Travel emergency medical coverage is automatically provided for eligible persons for up to 25 consecutive days
• Redeem points for merchandise and other rewards
• Click here to apply for Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information

Rated as a Points Earning Machine by Rewards Canada . Learn more .

Earn up to 30,000 MBNA Rewards Points† 20,000 bonus points †† (approximately $165 in cash back value) after you make $2,000 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. 10,000 bonus points †† (approximately $80 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening.

• $120 annual fee. $50 Additional Card Annual Fee for one authorized user (if you have one).
• Earn 5 points ‡ for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $50,000 is spent annually in the applicable category. 1 point ‡ for every $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points ‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.
• Redeem points ‡ for cash back, brand-name merchandise, gift cards from participating retailers, charitable donations, and travel.
• Standard Annual Interest Rates of 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers ✪ , and 24.99% on cash advances.
• Mobile Device Insurance*** With Mobile Device Insurance, you’ve got up to $1,000 in coverage for eligible mobile devices in the event of loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical breakdown.
• To qualify, your personal annual income must be greater than $80,000, or your household annual income must be $150,000 or greater. ††††
• This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.  For residents of Quebec, please click here .
• Click here to apply for the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

††, ‡, ✪, ***, ††††, Terms and Conditions apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here . Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank..

Details on the Top Travel Points Credit Cards (with annual fee)

Canada's Choice for Top No Foreign Transaction Fee Rewards Credit Card 2023 Earn up to $1,300+ in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points¹ and first year annual fee waived¹. Offer ends Jul 1, 2024

Annual Fee: $150 | Additional Cards: $0 for first card $50 for each additional | Minimum Income $60,000

• Bonus offer broken down as follows: - Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ Rewards points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. - Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite cardholder, you are eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ Rewards point bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday net eligible purchases annually. - $150 primary card fee waiver for the first year
• You’ll earn 3X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases 1  at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Earn 2x Scene+ Rewards® points on every $1 you spend on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more)
• No Foreign Transaction Fee
• 6 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance coverage
• Visa Infinite* Concierge Services
• Visa Infinite* Hotel Collection
• Visa Infinite* Dining and Wine Country program
• Click here to apply for Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinte Card

*See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information. Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Jan.4, 2024. Subject to change.

Welcome Offer: Join and get up $1,500 in value including a first year annual fee rebate!†

Annual Fee $139 | Additional Cards (Up to 3): $50 | Annual interest rate 20.99%† on purchases and 22.99%† on cash advances and 22.99% † on balance transfers | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income †

• Here's how You can get up to $1,500 in value:
• Get a total of up to 45,000 Aventura Points (up to $900 in travel value†)
• 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase†
• 30,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods†
• Get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each, $150 in value): up to $289 value.† Elevate your airport experience with 4 complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally through Visa Airport Companion Program: up to $261 in value.†
• Plus, get a NEXUS◊ Application Fee rebate†: A $50 value†
• 2 Points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
• 1.5 Points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†
• 1 Point for every $1 spent on all other purchases†
• Save on gas with CIBC and Journie Rewards Link and use your CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card with Journie Rewards to save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.† Plus, enjoy extra valuable travel benefits
• Travel when it’s right for you – your Aventura Points don’t expire
• Redeem your Aventura Points for more than travel with our Shop With Points/Pay with Points features
• Travel local - Aventura Points can be redeemed for more than just flights – use your points for hotels and car rentals for a weekend getaway
• This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
• Click here to apply for the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

This is a digital-exclusive offer.† To be eligible for this offer:   1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and  2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you.† This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.

CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Aventura card within the last 12 months.† † Terms & Conditions Apply

TD First Class Travel ® Visa Infinite* Card

Earn up to $800 in value†, including up to 100,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year† Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024

Annual Fee: $139 | Additional Cards: $50 † | Annual interest rate 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on funds advances | $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income

• Earn a welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†.
• Earn 80,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Earn a Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†
• Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD.
• 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. To receive the first Additional Cardholder first-year annual fee rebate, you must add your first Additional Cardholder by June 4, 2024.
• Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†
• Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants†.
• Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†
• Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card† plus earn an annual Birthday Bonus† of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points
• Your TD Points don’t expire as long as you are a TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite* Cardholder
• An annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD.
• TD Rewards Birthday bonus† that helps you celebrate in style.
• An extensive suite of travel insurance coverages which helps you travel prepared
• No travel blackouts†, no seat restrictions† and no expiry† for your TD Rewards Points as long as your account is open and in good standing.
• Redeem your TD Rewards Points towards making purchases at Amazon.ca with Amazon Shop with Points. Conditions apply. See more details.
• Click here to apply for TD First Class Visa Infinite Card

Details on the Top No Fee Travel Rewards Credit Cards

American Express® Green Card

2024 Top No Fee Travel Rewards Credit Card Get the Card that lets you live in the moment while getting ready for the future. The American Express® Green Card lets you go for it with every swipe or tap of your Card As a new American Express® Green Cardmember, you can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards® points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Cardmembership.  That’s $100 towards groceries or concert tickets

Annual Fee: $0 | Additional Card Fee: $0 | Annual interest rate 21.99% on purchases and 21.99% on funds advances; Missed payment applicable rates, 25.99% - 28.99% Variable

• Earn 1x the points on Card purchases
• Charge an eligible purchase to your Card and redeem your Membership Rewards points for a statement credit (All eligible purchases: 1,000 points = $10 statement credit)
• With American Express Experiences and Front Of The Line®, American Express Cardmembers get access to amazing events in Canada
• 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
• Click here to apply for the American Express Green Card

Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first year (that’s up to $75 towards travel)¹ Offer ends Jul 1, 2024

Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $750 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 5,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first year.

Annual Fee: $0 | Additional Cards: $0

• Earn 3X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases1 at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Earn 2X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments. Includes popular food delivery and food subscriptions
• Earn 2X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible entertainment, including movies, theatres and ticket agencies
• Earn 2X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible gas and daily transit. Includes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more
• Earn 2X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent on eligible select streaming services
• Click here to apply for Scotiabank American Express Card

Earn up to 10,000 MBNA Rewards Points† 5,000 bonus points †† ($25 in cash back value) after you make $500 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. 5,000 bonus points †† ($25 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening.

$0 annual fee | $0 Additional Card

• Earn 4 points †† for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days, and 2 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible purchases in those categories thereafter – in both cases, these earn rates apply until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category. 1 point ‡ for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points‡ equal to 10% of the total number of Points earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 10,000 Points.
• Standard Annual Interest Rates of 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers ✪ and 24.99% on cash advances.
• No annual fee.
• Click here to apply for the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

‡, ††, ✪, ***, Terms and Conditions apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here . Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button. The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank..

Earn up to 7,500 bonus Scene+ points within your first year¹ . Offer ends Jul 1, 24

• Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $250 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.
• You are eligible to earn an additional 5,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months.
• Earn 2x Scene+ points for every $1 you spend on credit card purchases at Cineplex™ theatres or at cineplex.com
• Earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 you spend on your everyday credit card purchases
• Redeem Scene+™* points for travel, shopping, entertainment, dining, banking, and more
• You'll earn 2X Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases1 at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà  by IGA, Voilà  by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.
• Click here to apply for Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card

Welcome Offer: Join and get up to $100 in value† for no annual fee.†

Annual Fee $0 | Additional Cards (Up to 3): $0 | Annual interest rate 20.99%† on purchases and 22.99%† on cash advances and 22.99% † on balance transfers | $15,000 household annual income

• Here’s how it adds up: • Get up to 10,000 Aventura Points (up to $100 in travel value†): • 2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all five activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura® Visa* account approval.† • 7,500 Aventura Points after you make your first purchase within first 4 months.†
• 1 Point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
• 1 Point for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†
• 1 Point for every $2 spent on all other purchases†
• Save on gas with CIBC and Journie Rewards Link and use your CIBC Aventura Visa Card with Journie Rewards to save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.† Plus, enjoy extra valuable travel benefits
• Travel when it’s right for you – your Aventura Points don’t expire†
• Redeem your Aventura Points for more than travel with our Shop With Points/Pay with Points features†
• Travel local - Aventura Points can be redeemed for more than just flights – use your Points for hotels and car rentals for a weekend getaway
• Click here to apply for the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

This is a digital-exclusive offer.† To be eligible for this offer:   1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and  2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you.† This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. 

Details on the Top Airline Credit / Charge Cards

Earn up to 450 welcome WestJet dollars Receive a Status Lift of $500 in tier qualifying spend for every $15,000 in everyday purchases on your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.

Annual Fee $119 | Additional Cards: $59 | Annual interest rate 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on funds advances | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household annual income

• Get up to 450 WestJet dollars 1 (a value of up to $450 off the base fare). Bonus awarded as follows: 250 WestJet dollars upon your first purchase 1 200 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months 1
• Annual $119/$399 Companion Flight when you sign up for and receive the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.
• Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on every purchase you make with your card
• Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars when you purchase WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages with your card
• Companion flight vouchers are an annual benefit.
• First bag free for the primary cardholder up to 8 people traveling on the same reservation to anywhere WestJet flies!
• Travel to Canada and the Continental US for $119 CAD
• Travel to the rest of the WestJet network for $399 CAD
• Click here to apply for WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions

New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points

Annual Fee: $120 | Additional Card Fee: $50 for each Additional Aeroplan®* Card to share some of the benefits and earn Aeroplan points faster $0 for each Additional Aeroplan®* No Fee Card to earn points faster

• New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points: - Earn 30,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months. - Plus, earn an additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13 - That’s up to $1,100 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits.
• Standard Earn Rate: Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*.
• Standard Earn Rate: Earn 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada
• Standard Earn Rate: Earn 1X the points on everything else
• Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights
• Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card
• As an American Express Aeroplan Cardmember, you can often book flight rewards for even fewer points with preferred pricing
• American Express® Experiences: From music and movies, to specially curated dining and online shopping opportunities, stay connected with all that we have to offer from the comfort of your own home
• Enjoy an array of travel related insurance benefits such as Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance and up to $500,000 in Travel Accident Insurance
• 24/7 Customer Service and Emergency Card Replacement
•  As part of our commitment to sustainability, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card has been made with 70% reclaimed plastic
• No pre-set spending limit on purchases gives you flexibility. Using a charge card is a great way to manage your finances as the balance must be paid in full each month*
• 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. 
• Click here to apply for the American Express Aeroplan Card

Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Flying Blue Miles

Annual Fee: $132 | Additional Card Fee: $50 | Annual interest rate: 19.99% to 24.99%

• Earn up to 60,000 bonus Flying Blue Miles as follows:
• 10,000 miles after first purchase
• 10,000 miles when spend $5,000 on the card within the first year of having it
• 10,000 miles on the next $10,000 in spending on the card within the first year of having it ($15,000 in spending in the first year will net you 30,000 miles in total)
• 30,000 miles anniversary bonus when your card renews
• 5 bonus Flying Blue Miles per EUR spent on tickets with Air France or KLM
• Earn 2 Miles per $ spent on food and beverages
• Earn 1 Mile per $ spent on all purchases
• Earn up to 30 Miles per $ spent with selected retail partners
• Purchases with your Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® extend the validity of your Miles by 2 years
• Free global Boingo Wi-Fi which includes WestJet flights
• Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass
• Full suite of insurance
• Click here to apply for the Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial

Get Up To 60,000 Aviosˆ with the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite

Annual Fee: $165 | Additional Card Fee: $75 | 20.99% on purchases 22.99%* on cash advances and balance transfers *21.99% if you reside in Quebec.

• Collect 1 Avios for every $1 CAD spent on qualifying net purchases*
• Collect double Avios when you shop with British Airways and BA Holidays*
• Earn a companion voucher when you spend $30,000 CAD annually. You can either take a companion with you or fly solo instead for a 50% Avios discount on the cost of one reward seat ticket. Plus, you'll have the flexibility to pay a lower, flat fee to cover taxes, fees and carrier charges and a fixed Avios amount when you make a Reward Flight booking.˜
• 10% off British Airways flights when you book and pay with your card∞
• Redeem for flights and more - you can spend your Avios on all of the travel things you love, including cabin upgrades with British Airways or reward flights with British Airways and any of the oneworld partner airlines to almost 1,000 destinations worldwide**
• Comprehensive Insurances including 31–day out of country/province emergency medical insurance 1 , flight delay insurance 2 , hotel burglary 3  and rental car4 insurance. Even eligible purchases you make with the card are protected 4 .
• Luxury Visa Infinite benefits 5  such as first in line service for exclusive events and hotel and dining exclusives via  www.visainfinite.ca
• Complimentary 24/7 Concierge Service 5
• Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada stations and earn 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points
• Get $0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash
• Link your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card with a Rexall Be Well account and get 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall. Redeem Be Well points faster for savings in store on eligible purchases where 25,000 Be Well points = $10
• Click here to apply for RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card

Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.

This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclaimer for more info.

Details on the Top Hybrid Credit / Charge Cards

Get 35,000 welcome Avion points on approval** - Enough to fly anywhere in Canada & the U.S† (Alaska and Hawaii require more points)

Annual Fee: $120 | Additional Card Fee: $50 | 20.99% on purchases 22.99%* on cash advances and balance transfers *21.99% if you reside in Quebec.

• Get 35,000 Welcome Points on approval**
• Earn 1 Avion point for every dollar you spend* and an extra 25% on eligible travel purchases.
• When you are ready to travel again, 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.
• Avioners earn points that never expire so your points will be waiting for your next adventure.
• Redeem your points for travel and more. Use points for anything from paying bills and paying your card balance to redeeming for Gift Cards and Merchandise at top brands like Apple. The Avion Rewards program gives you the freedom of choice to use your points your way, and helps you make the most as an Avioner.
• Eligible Avion Rewards members can also convert points to other loyalty programs including WestJet dollars, British Airways Avios points and Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
• Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada stations and earn 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion rewards points
• Link your RBC card with a Rexall Be Well account and get 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall. Redeem Be Well points faster for savings in store on eligible purchases where 25,000 Be Well points = $10
• Get access to RBC offers which provides access to earn points faster at specified brands
• Extensive insurance including: mobile device insurance, travel insurance (trip cancellation, interruption and emergency medical) and other eligible purchases to protect you and your family
• Avioners get access to luxury Visa Infinite benefits including first in line for exclusive events, and hotel and dining benefits.
• Avioners no longer need 14-days to book travel using the RBC grid
• Up to a 2.3% return on your spending depending on which reward ticket you book
• Unwritten ability to redeem for Business Class tickets although at a lower rate of return when compared to the Avion Reward chart
• Get $0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash 17 - Add your eligible RBC credit card to your DoorDash account to: • Get a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription 18 – 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
• Click here to apply for RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

The Platinum Card®

2024 Top Ultra Premium Credit Card Earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards® points - that’s up to $1,000 towards a weekend away

Annual Fee: $799 | Additional Card Fee: $250 for Platinum, $0 for Gold (First 2 Cards) then $50 each

• New Platinum® Cardmembers, earn 70,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
• Plus, earn 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership
• Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases
• Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit through American Express Travel Online or Platinum® Card Travel Service
• Enjoy a $200 Annual Dining Credit at some of Canada’s best restaurants
• Unlock $200 or more in additional value with Member extras. You can earn statement credits for qualifying purchases with participating brands
• Take full advantage of The American Express Global Lounge CollectionTM  which unlocks access to over 1300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience
• Enjoy flexible ways to use your points such as statement credits for any eligible purchase charged to your Card, new travel purchases booked on American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, and eligible flights through the Fixed Points Travel Program
•  Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average value of $600 USD at over 1,500 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts
• Platinum Cardmembers can enjoy access to special events and unique opportunities
• Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport
• You will also have access to many leading hotel and car rental companies’ loyalty programs. Our partners include Marriott International, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Hertz and Avis
• Interest applies in accordance with your Cardmember Agreement, Information Box, and Disclosure statement if the total New Balance is not paid by the Payment Due Date each month. All payments must be received by the Payment Due Date shown on the monthly statement
• Click here to apply for The Platinum Card from American Express

Earn up to 7,000 Avion points with the RBC ION+ Visa.

Monthly fee $4 ($48 annually) | Additional Cards: $0 | Annual interest rate: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and balance transfers | Credit Rating: Good

Get 3,500 Welcome Avion Points on approval and 3,500 bonus points with $500 min spend in 3 months

Earn 3X Avion points 1 on:

• Grocery, Dining & Food Delivery - Satisfy your taste buds by earning points on groceries i
• Rides, Gas & EV Charging – Enjoy earning points on gas, rideshare, daily public transit, electric vehicle charging. ii
• Streaming, Digital Gaming & Subscriptions – Stay entertained while earning points on streaming, gaming, eligible digital subscriptions, eligible digital downloads, and in-game purchases. iii

Earn 1 Avion point for every $1 spent on all other qualifying purchases 1

Pay With Points Redeem your Avion points to pay bills, your credit card balance or even send money to friends with Interac e-Transfer 4 . Minimum redemption is only $10, so you can use your points where you need them most.

Save at Petro-Canada Save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more points when you pay with a linked RBC card. 6 Earn more Be Well points at Rexall Earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at Rexall when you pay with your linked RBC card and scan your Be Well card. 7 Save Big on Delivery with DoorDash Get a 3-month complimentary DashPass subscription – a value of almost $30 8 Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on qualifying orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card 9 . See how to save with DoorDash. Mobile Device Insurance 5 Included

Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Insurance 5

• Click here to apply for RBC ION+ Visa Card

Details on the Top No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card

Earn up to $2,100* in value in the first 14 months, including up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points¹ Earn 50,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $3,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, for a limited time, you are eligible to earn a 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $10,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 14 months

Annual Fee: $399 | Additional Cards: $99

• Earn 2X Scene+ point for every $1 spent on every other purchase
• Complimentary membership to Priority Pass Airport Lounges Worldwide
• Click here to apply for Scotiabank®* Platinum American Express® Card

Up to $500+ in first time bonuses from Brim merchant partners + no annual fee in the first year

Annual fee: $199 | Additional Cards: $50

• 2 points for every $1 spent up to $25,000 annually
• 1 point for every $1 spent after that
• No Foreign Transaction fees
• Complimentary membership in Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey
• Free Global Wi-Fi
• Comprehensive package of insurance benefits
• Click here to apply for Brim World Elite Mastercard .

Brim MasterCard

Up to $200+ in first time bonuses from Brim merchant partners

Monthly fee $0 | Additional Cards: $0

• 1 point for every $1 spent
• Click here to apply for Brim MasterCard .

Details on the Top Ultra Premium Credit Cards

TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Canada's Choice for Top Ultra Premium Credit Card 2023 Earn up to $2,900 in value† including up to 85,000 Aeroplan points† and additional travel benefits. . Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

Annual Fee $599 | Additional Cards: $199 † | Annual interest rate 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on funds advances | $150,000 annual personal income or $200,000 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† Additional Travel Benefits
• 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 cardholders get 6 complimentary worldwide select airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program.†
• Earn Aeroplan Points on your everyday purchases
• Take advantage of an extensive suite of travel insurance.
• Get access to Priority Airport Services† like Priority Boarding, Priority Baggage Handling, and Priority Airport Standby & Priority Airport Upgrades†.
• Earn 2 points† for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®)
• Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery, travel and dining purchases
• Earn 1.25 points† for every $1 spent on all other 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)
• Get an annual round-trip companion pass from $99 (plus taxes, fees, charges and surcharges)†.
• Global Airport Lounge Access†: Receive a complimentary membership to the Visa Airport Companion† Program hosted by Dragonpass International Ltd. and take advantage of six lounge visits included for each Cardholder per membership year at over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. Enroll through the Visa Airport Companion App or through visaairportcompanion.ca
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection†: Receive seven exclusive benefits when you book your stay through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 of the world’s most intriguing properties. Enjoy an additional 8th benefit at over 200 properties, exclusively for Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders.
• Click here to apply for TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13 That’s up to $2,600 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits

Annual Fee: $599 | Additional Card Fee: $199 for each Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Card to share some of the benefits and earn Aeroplan points faster $0 for each Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve No Fee Card to earn points faster Annual interest rate 21.99% on purchases and 21.99% on funds advances

• New Offer: Cardmembers can now get an extra night free for every 3 consecutive hotel nights redeemed with Aeroplan points. Offer ends December 31, 2024
• Highest Air Canada earn rate on an Aeroplan payment card in Canada: Earn 3X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada Vacations®*
• Standard Earn Rate: Earn 2X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada and earn 1.25X the points on everything else
• Get through the airport quicker with Air Canada Priority Check-In, Air Canada Priority Boarding and Air Canada Priority Baggage Handling
• Receive one Annual Worldwide Companion Pass when you spend $25,000 in net purchases prior to your Card anniversary date; your Pass entitles you to buy an accompanying Air Canada economy class ticket for a companion at a fixed base fare from $99 to a maximum of $599 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges, and surcharges)
• Enjoy access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf LoungesTM* and Air Canada CaféTM in North America for you and a guest, with a same day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight
• Enjoy your eligible first checked bag free for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada flights
• Roll over any unallocated Aeroplan EliteTM* Status Qualifying Miles and unused eUpgrade Credits to the following year to enjoy during your travels
• American Express® Experiences opens doors for you to access a number of special events, including special dining experiences, VIP parties, advance film screenings and more
• Get more from your travel experience at Toronto Pearson International Airport with:
• Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane
• Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park
• 15% discount on parking rates at the Express Park and Daily Park
• 15% discount on Car Care Services
• Get access to more than 1,200 Priority Pass airport lounges and enjoy an oasis of comfort before your flight, regardless of your airline or cabin class
• Insurance Coverage: whether you’re shopping nearby or travelling abroad, you can feel confident knowing you can be taken care of
• American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card is made from precision cut and engraved 13g metal – it’s the perfect companion on your next exceptional journey
• 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. 

Get up to 70,000 Avion points* (a travel value of up to $1,500†). Apply by November 25, 2024. 70,000 Avion points* is enough for two roundtrip tickets to almost anywhere in Canada & the US (Alaska and Hawaii require more points). Taxes and fees extra.†

Annual Fee: $399 | Additional Card Fee: $99

• Get up to 70,000 Avion points* (a travel value of up to $1,500†). Apply by November 25, 2024 70,000 Avion points* is enough for two roundtrip tickets to almost anywhere in Canada & the US (Alaska and Hawaii require more points). Taxes and fees extra.† • 35,000 Avion Points on approval* • 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months* • 15,000 one-time anniversary bonus points after 12 months of account opening*
• Earn 1.25 RBC Rewards points for every dollar you spend
• Book flights, hotel stays, cruises, vacation packages, car rentals with RBC Rewards site, powered by Orbitz
• Transfer your RBC Rewards points towards other eligible loyalty programs (WestJet Rewards, British Airways Executive Club, American AAdvantage, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Look for the transfer bonuses to the airlines several times per year!)
• Premium suite of insurances including trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel medical, car rental insurance
• Priority PassTmembership and 6 lounge pass visits
• Redeem your points toward your credit card balance using Payback with Points
• Get a complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash for up to 12 months and enjoy unlimited deliveries from qualifying restaurants you love—with $0 delivery fees on orders of $12+ when you pay with an eligible RBC credit card!*
• Instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel & earn 20% more Petro-Points§ and RBC Rewards points when you link your Petro-Points card to any RBC Card online.
• Click here to apply for RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.

Details on the Top Small Business Credit Cards

American Express Business Edge™ Card

Top Small Business Travel Rewards Credit Card for 2024 Earn up to 67,000 welcome bonus Membership Rewards® points

Earn 45,000 Welcome Bonus points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership Plus, earn 10x the points for every $1 spent on eligible business essentials including office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of Cardmembership, up to a maximum of 10,000 points. You can earn an extra 1,000 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to 12,000 extra points in a year. That’s $670 in statement credits that can be reinvested in your business. 

Annual Fee: $99 | Additional Card Fee: $0 | Interest rate: 21.99% on purchases

Earn points that you can redeem in a variety of ways.

• Earn 3x the points for Card purchases on eligible business essentials including office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks when your Welcome Offer ends. Caps and other conditions may apply.
• Earn 1x the points on all other purchases charged to the Card
• Use points to offset business expenses. Membership Rewards® allows you to offset business expenses by covering the cost of purchases made on your Card, in full or in part.  Redeem points for statement credits and to book flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Transfer points to frequent flyer and hotel programs, including one-to-one to Aeroplan®* and Avios.

Make the most out of a full suite of business management tools that give you more control over your business - anytime and anywhere.

• Leverage your cash flow with the option of carrying a balance or paying in full each month.
• Employee Card Misuse Protection is a benefit created specifically for business owners and it provides coverage of up to $100,000 per Basic Cardmember in the event an employee misuses their Supplementary Card for unauthorized charges.

Access coverage that can protect your business purchases when you charge the full price of eligible items to your American Express Business EdgeTMCard.

• Protect your eligible purchases against accidental physical damage and theft for up to 90 days with Purchase Protection® Plan
• Double the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year with Buyer’s Assurance® Protection Plan

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.

• Click here to apply for the American Express Business Edge™ Card 

Earn up to 120,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points

Annual Fee: $799 | Additional Card Fee: $250 annually for Business Platinum Cards; $0 for Business Gold Cards | Purchase Interest: 21.99-28.99% on Flexible Payment Option limit and 30% on Due In Full balance

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you charge $15,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
• Plus, earn 40,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership.
• That’s up to $1,200 in statement credit that can be reinvested in your business
• Earn 1.25 Membership Rewards points for virtually every $1 in purchases and get the most out of your business expenses
• Enjoy an exceptional line-up of rewards redemption options for you and your business, including travel, dining, entertainment, gift cards, merchandise, and more with Membership Rewards program.
• Bolster your business with up to $820 in annual business and travel statement credit
• Enroll your eligible Card and earn up to $500 in business statement credits on qualifying purchases with Dell and Indeed.
• Enroll and earn up to $120 in eligible Wireless Credits each year.
• Access a $200 Annual Travel Credit each year of your Cardmembership

Unlock spending power and payment flexibility with a full suite of business management tools that give you more control over your business - anytime and anywhere

• Enjoy financial flexibility with no pre-set spending limit on purchases. With this Card, your purchasing power adjusts dynamically with your Card usage, and can grow over time, as long as you make your payments on time and maintain a good credit history.
• Maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest free days so you can keep more cash on hand when you need it most.
• Pay for business expenses over time with Flexible Payment Option.
• This charge Card has both Due in Full and Flexible Payment Option balances. All Due in Full balances must be paid each month. Interest rate of 30% applies to each delinquent Due in Full Charge. This rate is effective from the day the account is opened. The Preferred rate of 21.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance. If you have 2 separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate for your account will be 25.99%. If you have 3 or more separate Missed Payments in a 12 month period, the Flexible Payment Option rate will be 28.99%. These rates are effective from the day the Flexible Payment Option is first available on your account.

Enjoy exclusive benefits for you and your business.

• Take full advantage of the American Express Global Lounge Collection which unlocks access to over 1300 airport lounges worldwide. This includes The Centurion® Lounge network, Plaza Premium Lounges, and hundreds of other domestic and international lounges designed to enhance your travel experience.
• Enjoy premium benefits at the Toronto Pearson Airport, including access to the Pearson Priority Security Lane and discount on parking.
• Get access to discounted base fares for you and your travel companions when you book through the International Airline Program.
• Enjoy complimentary benefits that offer an average total value of $600 USD* at over 1,500 extraordinary properties worldwide when you book Fine Hotels + Resorts.
• Upgrade your stay with premium status at leading hotel brands like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
• Enjoy access to specialty services and events, preferential treatment, and a dedicated Concierge team.
• Access a $100 CAD credit for NEXUS every 4 years with your Cardmembership
• Access comprehensive insurance coverage for your travel needs.
• Equip your business with Mobile Device Insurance
• Click here to apply for The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Earn up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ Rewards points in your first year (that’s up to $400 towards travel)

Annual Fee: $199 | Additional Cards: $0 for first card $50 for each additional | Minimum Income $60,000

Bonus offer broken down as follows: - Earn 30,000 bonus Scene+ Rewards points by making at least $5,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. - Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business cardholder, you are eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ Rewards point bonus when you spend at least $60,000 in everyday net eligible purchases annually.

• Earn 1.5X the Scene+ points for every $1 spent on purchases for your business
• Enjoy no FX Mark-up
• Enjoy Complimentary Airport Lounge Access, plus 6 free lounge visits per year
• Rates, fees and other information are effective as of Mar 1, 2021. Subject to change.
• Click here to apply for Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business card

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business

Get 25,000 RBC Rewards points upon approval

Annual Fee: $175 | Additional Card Fee: $75

• The Avion Visa Infinite Business card is your new business partner and can help manage with your day to day.
• Track and separate your business expenses with industry leading reporting tools and controls to simplify your day to day
• Get more time to pay suppliers with a 21 day grace period on top of your 30 day statement-- that's 51 days
• Get exclusive Avon Infinite privileges and benefits as a business owner
• Earn 1.25 RBC Rewards points for every $1 spent in net eligible purchases with your credit card 4 . The highest earn rate on any of our business cards
• Receive access to RBC Offers, where you can save money or earn RBC Rewards points 5
• Book any flight, on any airline at anytime 7 . Take a look at our Air Travel Redemption Schedule to see how you can make the most of your points!
• Click here to apply for RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business

Earn up to 90,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan®* points.

Annual Fee: $599 | Additional Card Fee: $199 for Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Cards to share some of the benefits and earn Aeroplan points faster, $0 for Aeroplan®* Business Reserve No Fee Cards to earn points faster | Annual interest rate 21.99% on purchases

Earn up to 90,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan®* points

• Earn 65,000 Aeroplan points after spending $10,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months.
• Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,500 in purchases in month 13.

Earn Aeroplan points that you can redeem in a variety of ways.

• Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations®*, 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible hotels and car rentals.
• Earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent on everything else.
• Leverage your cash flow with the option of carrying a balance or paying in full each month
• Control employee expenses plus track and accumulate points on your account with Employee Cards, so you have an opportunity to maximize the points you earn.

Unlock business travel possibilities to make every work trip one to look forward to.

• Access more than 1,200 Priority Pass™ airport lounges around the globe. That means an oasis of comfort before your flight—regardless of your choice of airline or cabin class
• Enjoy access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges™ for you and a guest, and Air Canada Café™; in North America, with a same day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance®* flight
• Enjoy Priority Check-In, Priority Boarding, and Priority Baggage Handling when you fly with Air Canada, together with up to eight companions
• Enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight, together with up to eight companions travelling on the same reservation
• Stay focused on getting where you need to go. Receive up to $100 CAD in statement credits every four years when NEXUS application or renewal fees are charged to your Aeroplan Business Reserve Card.
• Pay with your American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card and present your Aeroplan Membership Card at over 170 Aeroplan partner brands and 120 online retailers via the Aeroplan eStore to earn points twice
• If you’re departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport, enjoy the benefits of being an American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Cardmember. Get more from your travel experience with access to Pearson Priority Security Lane, Complimentary Valet Service, 15% discount on parking rates, and 15% discount on Car Care Services
• Roll over any unallocated Aeroplan Elite™ Status Qualifying Miles and unused eUpgrade Credits to the following year to enjoy during your travels.
• Enjoy priority access to the standby list and eUpgrades. Get prioritized on the standby waitlist for an Air Canada flight and higher priority when you request an eUpgrade
• Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $5,000 in eligible net purchases charged to your Card
• Book flight reward tickets for even fewer points with Air Canada. In addition to flights, you can also redeem for hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, merchandise and more.
• Unlock two-car-class rental upgrades, expedited service, dedicated phone line, and more with complimentary upgrade to Avis President’s Club

Legal disclaimers: 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

MBNA: Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.

Scotiabank: *See Card Provider's website and Card Application for complete card details, terms and current offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accuracy of information TD: Sponsored advertising. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any TD product, please click the Apply Now button

• 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 2 MR points per dollar spent , along with 1 MR point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

However, perhaps mor eso 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 and Hilton Honors Gold 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 55,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first three months
• 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.

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

By Barry Choi

Updated: May 07, 2024

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How to see the world on points: Best travel rewards programs in Canada

Spencer Davis / Shutterstock

Evaluating the various rewards programs in Canada can be very subjective. Do you judge a program based on its flexibility, how easy it is to earn points, or how complicated it is to make a redemption? Or perhaps it's important to identify a program's niche features that will appeal to specific groups of consumers?

No matter what you value most in a rewards program, one thing's for sure: It's very rare for Canadians to stick to a single loyalty program throughout their lives. And if you've been using the same rewards provider for a while, it might be worth your time to review the options out there. To that purpose we've analyzed the best travel rewards in Canada and how their programs work.

*Flexibility refers to the number of different redemption paths available, minimum number of points required to redeem, ability to redeem points for existing purchases, etc.

Aeroplan Travel Rewards

Air Canada recently purchased Aeroplan and  there are still some lingering questions  about what that means for the value of Aeroplan miles. But as of now Aeroplan is still one of the best travel rewards programs out there, as its miles can be used to redeem flights on Canada's largest carrier and its partners.

Aeroplan has two options when it comes to redeeming flights: Fixed Mileage and Market Fare. As the name implies, fixed fares will cost you a set amount of points to  fly to different zones  as long as there is a reward seat available. With market fare redemptions, you get access to any seat that hasn't sold, but you'll pay the market price in points which is often significantly higher than prices in the fixed fare program.

Market fare prices can be lower than the fixed mileage seats, but that's usually for routes or times that are less desirable. Some airlines charge high fees, taxes, and surcharges, so you need to keep that under consideration when booking a redemption flight.

A great thing about Aeroplan is that there are  multiple Aeroplan credit cards where you can earn points , but an Aeroplan card that we particularly love is the TD ®  Aeroplan ®  Visa Infinite* Card:

Featured Aeroplan credit card

Td® aeroplan® visa infinite* card.

• 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.

Overview of the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

• 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†

The earn rate is 1.5 Aeroplan points† per $1 spent on eligible grocery, gas, and direct through Air Canada® purchases—for all other purchases you get 1 point† per $1 spent. With this credit card, you can double dip your Aeroplan earnings at participating merchants. All you need to do is show your Aeroplan loyalty card first when paying and then charge your purchase to your TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card.†

Learn more by reading our complete TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card review .

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

† Terms and conditions apply.

You can learn more about the Aeroplan program by reading our complete Aeroplan Points Guide .

AIR MILES Travel Rewards

Some Canadians have historically disliked AIR MILES because it can be difficult to earn points quickly without an  AIR MILES credit card , and making redemptions can be tricky. That said, there is a sweet spot to be found: If you book interprovincial flights through the AIR MILES Dream Miles option, you get an incredible value for your points since those flights typically cost a fair amount in cash. The amount of AIR MILES it takes depends on where you're going and what season you're flying, which complicates things a bit. But Air Miles does provide a  helpful chart  to show you what it'll cost.

The nice thing about AIR MILES is that they have a co-branded credit card with no annual fee in the BMO AIR MILES ® † MasterCard ® *.

Featured AIR MILES credit card

Bmo air miles®† mastercard®*.

3 miles Get 3 Miles for every $25 spent with AIR MILES Partners.

2 miles Get 2x the Miles for every $25 at grocery stores and supermarkets.

4 miles Double up your Shell Go+ Miles on eligible fuel and in-store purchases.

$0 Annual Fee

20.99% Purchase APR

22.99% Cash Advance APR 21.99% for Quebec residents

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate 0.99% introductory interest rate for 9 months (fee applies)*

2.00% Balance Transfer Fee

Good Recommended Credit Score

$15,000 Required Annual Personal Income

Get 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles!* That’s enough for $80 towards purchases with AIR MILES Cash*

Overview of the BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®*

You can double dip on points at AIR MILES sponsored locations* and you'll get 3x the Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners and 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery store*.

All other purchases get you 1 AIR MILE per $25 spent* and there is a welcome bonus of 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months* of card membership*. It's a good entry level card for those who want to start collecting AIR MILES.

Learn more by reading our complete BMO AIR MILES ®† MasterCard ® * review .

You can learn more about the AIR MILES program by reading our complete AIR MILES Guide .

*Terms and conditions apply

American Express Membership Rewards ®

If you're primarily looking for flexibility, you should consider American Express Membership Rewards ® . Travel can be booked through the American Express travel portal, where you can redeem 1,000 Membership Rewards ® (MR) points for $10 in travel. Alternatively, you can charge any travel expense to your  American Express credit card  and then redeem your points toward that purchase at the same ratio.

American Express has multiple travel partners where you can transfer your points, but the two that give the most value are Aeroplan and Marriott Rewards. With Aeroplan, it'll cost you 1,000 MR points to get 1,000 Aeroplan points (ie a 1:1 transfer). If you want Marriott Rewards points, you'll get 1,200 points for every 1,000 MR points transferred.

American Express also has the Fixed Points Travel Program, which can be beneficial. Most of the redemptions require the same amount of points compared to Aeroplan, but with Amex, you get access to all seats available on any airline, so that means you get more options for your travels.

One of the best ways to earn American Express Membership Rewards ® is with The Platinum Card ® .

Featured American Express card

The platinum card.

2x Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada

2x points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel

1x point for every $1 in all other Card purchases

$799 Annual Fee Includes $200 annual travel credit and $200 annual dining credit

21.99% Purchase APR The Preferred rate of 21.99% applies to your Flexible Payment Option balance.

2.50% Foreign Transaction Fee

Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points1*

Overview of The Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card ® comes with a hefty fee of $799 per year, but it also comes packed with commensurate benefits: an annual $200 CAD travel credit; an impressive array of perks; comprehensive travel insurance; The American Express Global Lounge Collection TM access; etc.

With its earn rates, every dollar charged to the card helps earn American Express Membership Rewards ® points: 3 points for every $1 in card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2 points for every $1 in card purchases on eligible travel, and 1 point for every $1 in all other card purchases. New cardholders also can also receive a signup bonus: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards ® points – that's $800 towards a weekend away. Conditions apply.

You can learn more about Amex Membership Rewards ® points by reading our complete guide to American Express Membership Rewards Program .

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website.

BMO Rewards Travel

Admittedly, BMO Rewards is a bit more complicated than it needs to be, but it's still among the best travel rewards in Canada since BMO will price match if you call into its customer service line.

You can redeem travel with any provider with BMO Rewards points. You have full control and freedom of choice to book with any travel provider you like so you can benefit from any last-minute deals or better pricing found on another platform including Air Canada/West Jet, Expedia, Airbnb/VRBO while still receiving BMO Rewards ' richest redemption rate (150 pts = $1). Once you make your booking, you can immediately redeem BMO Rewards points using the Pay with Points feature. After the redemption is completed, a credit will be applied to your account within 3 to 5 days.

Featured BMO Rewards credit card

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*

$150 Annual Fee

23.99% Cash Advance APR

23.99% Balance Transfer Rate 21.99% for Quebec residents

$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.*

Overview of the BMO Ascend™ World Elite®* Mastercard®*

The marquee card of the BMO Rewards program, the BMO Ascend™ World Elite ® * Mastercard ® *, does come with some impressive features that counterbalance the relatively low value of a BMO Rewards point. It includes some of the best travel insurance offered by Canadian credit cards* and Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass,* with four annual complimentary passes.

Plus, the first-year annual fee is both waived for the primary ($150) and first authorized ($50) cardholders*.

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

You can learn more about BMO Rewards by reading our complete BMO Rewards Guide .

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. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.

CIBC Travel Rewards

CIBC Travel Rewards has its own travel portal, which gives access to flights, hotels, car rental, and all-inclusive properties, but if you call the CIBC travel agency, you'll also get access to anything sold on Expedia or Orbitz. This little-known trick allows you to make travel purchases such as cruises, tours, and attraction tickets. The redemption ratio is 100 Aventura points for $1 in travel.

There's also the Aventura Airline Rewards Chart, which allows you to book travel at fixed prices. This is an attractive option since you can get a higher value for your points compared to when you book via the travel portal or CIBC travel agent.

For example, you could book a flight within a province, territory or US state to an adjoining province, territory or US state with a maximum base fare of $400 for 10,000 – 20,000 Aventura points. In many cases, that's a better value compared to Aeroplan and RBC's fixed schedule. Taxes and fees are extra, but you can use your points to pay for them.

Featured CIBC Aventura credit card

Cibc aventura® gold visa* card.

1 point for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†

1 point for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†

1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases†

20.99% Purchase APR non-Quebec residents†

22.99% Cash Advance APR for non-Quebec residents†

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate for non-Quebec residents†

$15,000 Required Annual Household Income

Get up to 10,000 Aventura Points (up to $100 in travel value†); Earn up to 2,500 Aventura Points† for completing bonus activities within 60 days from your account approval† 7,500 Aventura Points after you make your first purchase within first 4 months.†

Overview of the CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card

The CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card is a great earning card overall, combining a big welcome offer, decent earn rates, airport lounge access, and relatively low-barrier eligibility requirements. New cardholders can get up to $1,250 in value including a first year annual fee rebate † !

• Get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each): over $189 value†

• Elevate your airport experience with 4 complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally through Visa Airport Companion Program: over $190 in value.†

Plus, get a NEXUS Application Fee rebate†: A $50 value†

The card earns 2 points per $1 spent on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Center † and 1.5 points per $1 spent at gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†; all other purchases earn 1 point for every $1 spent † . The Purchase Annual Interest Rate is 20.99% † ; the Balance Transfer Annual Interest Rate and Cash Advance Annual Interest Rate are 22.99% † (for non-Quebec residents only) and 22.99% † (for non-Quebec residents only) respectively.

Those who are interested in the card and make more than $60K annually † should instead apply for the CIBC Aventura ® Visa Infinite* Card , which has a slightly better insurance package and identical features otherwise.

Learn more by reading our complete CIBC Aventura ® Gold Visa* Card review .

This is a digital-exclusive offer. † To be eligible for this offer:

1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and

2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you. †

This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else. If you have opened, transferred or canceled another eligible card within the last 12 months, we may approve your application, but you may not receive this offer. †

† Conditions apply

Quebec Residents: Learn More about this CIBC product here

Residents of Quebec: To learn more about this CIBC product, follow this link

Marriott Bonvoy®

With more than 7,000 properties in 130+ countries, not only does Marriott have the most hotels in the world, it also has the best hotel loyalty program in Marriott Bonvoy ® . What makes this program appealing is that it's free to join and you earn points with every stay in a participating Marriott Bonvoy ® * property. Eventually you can use your accumulated points to redeem for free hotel nights or experiences. Alternatively, you can transfer them to various airline programs.

If you frequently stay at hotels, then being loyal to Marriott really pays off as your status level increases when you accumulate more nights. Every time you hit a new status tier you get additional benefits such as free breakfast and a higher earn rate on eligible expenses.

Featured Marriott Bonvoy ® card

Marriott bonvoy® american express®* card.

5 points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®

2 points for every $1 in all other Card purchases

1 Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide every year after your first anniversary

1 Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status membership

15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card.

$120 Annual Fee No annual fee on Additional Cards

21.99% Purchase APR

21.99% Cash Advance APR

$0 Required Annual Personal Income

$0 Required Annual Household Income

New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after you charge $1,500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership. Subject to change at any time

Overview of the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

Unlike the United States, Canada doesn't have a lot of hotel branded credit cards ; but The Marriott Bonvoy ® American Express ® * Card is certainly a standout. There are lots of perks for the consummate traveler, including the much-loved Annual Free Night Award every year after your first anniversary, which has a redemption value of as much as 35,000 points (worth a free night in a Category 5 hotel).

You also get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status and you receive an automatic upgrade to Gold Elite status once you stay 25 nights (the card comes with 15 Elite Night Credits already) within a calendar year or charge $30,000 to your card. Gold Elite status has lots of perks like 25% extra points at Marriott properties, late checkout, room upgrades and more.

To top things off, the card features a good line-up of insurance like travel accident insurance, car rental theft and damage insurance, flight delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost and stolen baggage insurance, and hotel/motel burglary insurance. Sadly, it doesn't include travel medical insurance.

Learn more by reading our complete The Marriott Bonvoy ® American Express ® * Card review .

MBNA Rewards

MBNA Rewards points have competitive value: Points are worth $0.01 each when redeemed for travel (flight, hotel, car rental, etc.) and between $0.005–$0.0083 each when redeemed for a statement credit, depending on the credit card that was used to earn them. Points can also be redeemed for merchandise and gift cards, for which redemption values ​​vary.

The most glaring weakness of the program is probably the fact that you can't use points to pay for an independently booked travel purchase; you need to use MBNA's own portal to book travel with points, though it's worth noting that you can at least take advantage of MBNA's Price Match Guarantee if you find better travel deals elsewhere.

Featured MBNA Rewards card

Mbna rewards platinum plus® mastercard®.

10,000 Get up to 10,000 MBNA Rewards points†† as an introductory bonus (see details below)

19.99% Purchase APR

24.99% Cash Advance APR

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate

Earn 4 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases until $10,000 is spent annually. You could also receive up to 10,000 bonus points.

Overview of the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ® can earn a colossal amount of points for a card that doesn't charge an annual fee. New cardholders get 10,000 MBNA Rewards points †† when they simply sign up for paperless e-statements (5K points †† ) and make $500 or more in purchases within the first 90 days (another 5K points †† ).

That's on top of a special earn rate of 4 points †† per dollar spent on groceries, restaurants, digital media, memberships, and household utilities during the first 90 days—after that period ends the rate is reduced to 2 points ‡ per $1 in those categories, which is still strong. All other purchases earn 1 point ‡ per $1 spent. These earn rates are what regularly land the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ® on our lists of the best credit cards for people with average credit scores and the best rewards credit cards in Canada.

Learn more by reading our complete MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus ® Mastercard ® review .

‡, ††, ✪, *** , Terms and Conditions apply

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

Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ® MBNA and other trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

RBC Avion Rewards

The most impressive aspect of Avion Rewards points is perhaps their transferability. Points can be converted to a number of other travel rewards programs, like WestJet, British Airways Avios, and Cathay Pacific; and the conversion rates are generally very favorable, eg 100 RBC Avion Rewards points for 1 WestJet Dollar, 1:1 conversion ratios for Avios and Cathay Pacific, etc. And quite often RBC runs promotions that generate extra miles when transferring to partners like Avios, which can get you extra bang for your buck.

Featured RBC Avion credit card

Rbc avion visa infinite.

1 Earn 1 Avion point for every dollar you spend*.

25% extra Avion points on eligible travel purchases

$1,500 mobile device insurance

3¢/L savings on fuel at Petro-Canada and always earn 20% more Avion points

50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

20% off at Hertz and earn 3x the Avion points

$0 delivery fees for 12 months from DoorDash

$120 Annual Fee $50 for each additional card

22.99% Cash Advance APR

Very Good Recommended Credit Score

Overview of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite starts new cardholders off with a respectable welcome bonus (see above). The card's regular earn rate, however, is perhaps a little underwhelming relative to competing travel rewards cards, as you get 1.25 RBC Rewards points per $1 spent on travel 3 but only 1 RBC point per $1 on all other spending*; a bit low for a card with an annual fee above $100.

That said, there are other card features that will make the RBC Avion Visa Infinite a worthwhile investment for some: If road trips are your thing, linking your Petro-Points card with your RBC card will help you save an extra 3¢/L on gas4 and earn 20% more Petro-Points and RBC rewards points when you fuel up at Petro-Canada 5 . The card also comes with insurance a traveler will appreciate, including medical8, trip interruption and cancellation insurance9 , and rental car collision and damage protection7 .

Learn more by reading our complete RBC Avion Visa Infinite review .

You can learn more about RBC Rewards points by reading our complete RBC Avion Rewards Guide . Refer to RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

Scene+ Travel

There is no fixed travel program with Scene+, but you can redeem your points at a ratio of 100 points for $1 through the Scene+ travel portal or on travel expenses you've already charged to your  Scotiabank credit card . There is a minimum redemption of 5,000 points for independently booked travel (no minimum for bookings with the Scene+ travel portal), but you can also apply that redemption to any fees, taxes, and surcharges.

Featured Scene + credit card

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

0.00% Foreign Transaction Fee

Welcome Offer Ends Jul 1, 2024

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

Overview of the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Although Scotiabank doesn't have any travel related transfer partners, they do have some great cards that generate rewards very quickly. The Scotiabank Gold American Express ® card earns 6X Scene+™ points on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, and more eligible grocers.¹

It also generates 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, theater, 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.

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.

You can learn more about the Scene+ program by reading our complete Scene+Guide .

TD Travel Rewards

TD Travel Rewards is a relatively flexible rewards program since it allows for a variety of different redemption options. If you're booking travel through Expedia for TD (not to be confused with Expedia.ca), it'll cost you 200  TD Points  to redeem $1 in travel. This is the best value for consumers since you can book anything that is offered on Expedia for TD, which includes flights, hotels, all-inclusive packages, cruises, car rentals and attraction tickets.

You also have the option to redeem your points for any travel expenses that you have charged to your TD credit card, but it'll cost you 250 points per dollar redeemed for the first $1200 of a travel charge and 200 points per dollar redeemed after that . This is obviously a lower redemption value than Expedia for TD, but TD's definition of eligible travel expenses is quite generous as it not only includes flights but also air travel taxes, baggage fees, lodging, car rentals while traveling, and more.

The top-earning card for TD Travel Rewards is the TD First Class Travel ® Visa Infinite* Card:

Featured TD Travel Rewards credit card

Td first class travel® visa infinite* card.

8 Points Earn 8 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend through ExpediaForTD†

6 Points Earn 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on groceries and restaurants.†

4 Points Earn 4 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on recurring bill payments.†

2 Points Earn 2 TD Rewards points for every $1 you spend using your card.†

10% Bonus Points Each year, received a birthday bonus equal to 10% of the total number of points earned over the 12 preceding months.†

$100 Get an annual TD Travel Credit when you book at Expedia For TD†

USD The annual fee is in USD

$139 Annual Fee Annual fee is in USD. First additional cardholder is $50, subsequent cardholders are $0.

Earn up to $800 in value†, including up to 100,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by June 3, 2024.

Overview of the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

• Earn a Birthday Bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points†.

• Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia® For TD.

• Get an Annual Fee Rebate for the first year†.

The TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card offers particularly high earn rates when you book with Expedia for TD: Earn 8 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD†. Earn 6 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants†. Earn 4 TD Rewards Points† for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account†. Earn 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases made using your Card†.

Learn more by reading our complete TD First Class Travel ® Visa Infinite* Card review .

WestJet Rewards

The biggest draw of WestJet is its use of tiers: As soon as you enroll in the WestJet program, you're instantly awarded Teal tier status, which provides 0.5% back in WestJet dollars on flights. As you spend more on WestJet travel and services, your tier increases, garnering additional travel benefits such as advanced seat selection, free checked bags, airport lounge access, and higher earn rates. Those who reach Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers earn 3%, 5%, and 8% back on WestJet flights respectively. Best of all, your tier stacks with the earn rates provided by WestJet credit cards, so you can potentially earn up to  10%  in WestJet dollars on qualifying purchases.

One of the few major criticisms to note about WestJet Rewards is that your WestJet dollars can only be redeemed for base fares; they can't be used to pay for a flight's taxes, fees, or surcharges.

Featured WestJet RBC credit card

Westjet rbc world elite mastercard.

2% Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet vacation packages.

1.5% Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars for everyday purchases.

Wi-Fi access to over 1 million Wi-Fi hotsports around the world with Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard

1 annual companion voucher (starting at $119)

3¢/L savings at Petro-Canada and 20% more Petro-Points

$119 Annual Fee $59 for additional cards

Overview of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

If you're looking for the holy grail of air travel—the coveted round-trip companion voucher —look no further. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, after activation and use, lets you fly a companion 3 return to anywhere in continental North America for $119, annually, with no restrictions. Or spend $399 and fly with your companion anywhere else in the world that WestJet flies.

If you typically find yourself flying solo you can instead opt to exchange your annual round-trip companion voucher for 4 airport lounge vouchers. The card also offers a free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight additional guests on the same reservation 4 . Cardholders receive travel coverage including emergency medical insurance20 as well as trip interruption insurance 21 , hotel burglary 18 and rental car insurance 19 . Even eligible purchases you make on the card are protected.

• Save $240 with free first checked bags for a family for 4 (traveling on the same reservation)1

• $119 for the second guest using your annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher3

Learn more by reading our complete WestJet World Elite Mastercard review .

Refer to RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

How to calculate the value of your travel rewards points

It's essential to have a good idea of ​​the real value of a program's travel rewards points before you select the rewards program or credit card for you. To figure out your cost per point (CPP), you would divide 1 by the number of points to earn $1 in travel. That means if it takes 100 points for $1 in travel, then your CPP is $.01. Alternatively, if it takes 140 points to claim $1 in travel, your CPP is $.007. Of course, you also need to factor in any fees, taxes, and surcharges you might pay when making a redemption.

You'll also want to know how many points you can earn with a specific credit card, since the ability to rapidly earn points is just as important as their value when redeemed. If the value of each point is high, but you rarely earn rewards, or earn a low amount, the card is probably not the right choice for you.

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

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who makes frequent media appearances. When he's not educating people on how to be smarter with money, he's earning and burning miles and points for luxury travel.

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The Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for May 2024

What you should know.

• Best travel credit cards usually require a good credit score and an annual income of $60,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a household.
• Best travel credit cards in Canada usually have an annual fee that can usually be covered with a high sign-up bonus, rewards, and other perks.
• Travel credit cards are different because they target different types of travelers. For example, some credit cards may have high rewards for gas, while others have no FX fees.

Best Credit Cards for Travel

How we Sort Credit Cards: We sort credit cards based on spending categories and the card's annual fee. We estimate the dollar value of the rewards you would get based on your spending categories, and we subtract the annual fee the card charges to get the best credit cards for your spending habits. We also use the salary to filter out cards based on the minimum income requirement.

• Receive 10000 Aeroplan points when you make 1 purchase .

Purchase: 20.99%

Cash: 22.99%

Household: $15,000

1 Aeroplan Point ≈ ¢ 1

• 1 Aeroplan Point for each $ 1 spent on: gas, grocery and Air Canada .
• 1 Aeroplan Point for each $ 1.5 spent on: everything else .
• Common Carrier
• Extended Warranty
• Purchase Assurance

Purchase: 21.90%

Cash: 21.90%

Transfer: 21.90%

No Income Required

1 Capital One Mile Point ≈ ¢ 0.5

• 1 Capital One Mile Point for each $ 1 spent on: all eligible purchases .
• Baggage Loss/Delay
• Price Protection

• Receive 800 Air Miles points when you spend $1,000.00 during the first 3 months .
• 0.99 % Balance Transfer Rate for 9 Months with a 2 % transfer fee .

Transfer: 22.99%

1 Air Miles Point ≈ ¢ 10

• 3 Air Miles Points for each $ 25 spent on: gas .
• 2 Air Miles Points for each $ 25 spent on: grocery .
• 1 Air Miles Point for each $ 25 spent on: everything else .

• Receive 10000 AMEX points when you spend $1,000.00 during the first 3 months .

Cash: 21.99%

1 AMEX Point ≈ ¢ 1

• 2 AMEX Points for each $ 1 spent on: AMEX travel .
• 1 AMEX Point for each $ 1 spent on: everything else .

About Travel Credit Cards

There are various types of travel credit cards because of different kinds of travelers. Some people may prefer to travel abroad, while others rent a vacation home outside the city or spend time in the wild. Most travel credit cards are some of the best credit cards in Canada , but it is still best to pick the one that will provide the most value to you.

This guide will begin by helping you understand your travel credit card priorities. It will walk you through understanding earn rates, additional benefits, and the optimal redemption process. Once you know what you're looking for, this guide will empower you to compare the travel credit cards on the market to see which offers the best value for you. With most credit cards offering instant approval , you can get a new travel card in less than a week. Continue reading to become an expert on Canada's best travel credit cards.

How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card

It may be challenging to pick the best travel credit card because there are many options. On average, a good travel credit card will have a welcome bonus, rewards program, travel insurance , and other perks like airport lounge access and companion vouchers. We organized and summarized the information about different credit cards so you could easily find the card that would benefit you the most.

Best Travel Credit Card by User Persona

Some of the best travel credit cards in Canada are Aeroplan credit cards because they have good rewards as well as generous perks such as travel insurance, airport lounge access and welcome bonuses. Cash back credit cards can also be great travel credit cards because they may offer high cash back on relevant purchases and offer great perks as well.

Depending on your traveler type, you may prefer one card over another. Getting multiple cards that will maximize your points across different categories may also make sense. If you choose to get various travel credit cards, ensure that the annual fees you pay for each card are justified by the rewards you earn.

Credit card points can be a great way to earn rewards, but different points have different values. Many reward points have a value of ¢1, but some points may only be worth ¢0.1 or any other arbitrary value. When you compare different credit cards, you should compare the dollar equivalent of rewards points you get instead of simply comparing the amount of rewards points you get.

This table compares the best travel credit cards based on their category earn rate. We have estimated the actual value of each point to give you the most accurate understanding. You can also view the estimated point value as the cashback percentage per dollar spent. Look for cards that maximize the real point value for your top spending categories. The credit cards are sorted based on the highest average points from your selected categories.

Additional Benefits of Travel Credit Cards

Additional perks and benefits are key features when choosing a travel credit card. Common benefits include airport lounge access, annual travel credits, insurance, and more. However, these benefits come at a cost, with a yearly fee significantly higher than a regular credit card. When deciding if the price is worth it, always consider the value of the benefits you will receive.

Welcome Bonus

A one-time welcome bonus is a crucial travel credit card benefit. A welcome bonus can provide hundreds of dollars worth of points and rewards that usually far exceed the annual cost of your credit card. While it is important to compare cards based on the welcome bonus, other perks and points are also essential to look at. Once the bonus ends, the travel credit card should still provide you value, especially if it has a hefty annual fee.

A good strategy to utilize welcome bonuses is to apply for relevant cards before making large purchases. For example, if you plan a trip, receive the card before purchasing your flight, accommodation, and car rental. This way, you can receive the bonus through purchases you would have already made. Another approach is making purchases on behalf of family or friends and having them pay you back. Below, you can find some of the best welcome bonus offers for Canadian credit cards:

Airport Lounge Access

Some travel credit cards offer free or discounted airport lounge access. Lounge access is ideal for long layovers because it provides complimentary food, bartenders, baristas, and more. Some lounges have amenities like showers, sleep pods, and luggage storage. The following cards offer a full lounge access membership included in the card fee.

Companion Voucher

Another valuable travel credit card benefit is the ability to fly a friend or family member with you at a discount. While you must pay cash to buy tickets with a companion voucher, some co-branded airline cards offer heavy discounts on round-trip flights for guests.

For example, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard allows you to pay only $119 (plus taxes and fees) for a round-trip companion flight between Canada and the Continental US. Additionally, you can pay $399 to fly a companion anywhere else WestJet flies. You can use the voucher each year to save hundreds of dollars. You can only use the voucher on flights offered by the co-branded airline. Additionally, some cards have minimum annual spending requirements to receive this benefit. Below are some of the best travel cards in Canada offering companion vouchers:

Another massive benefit of travel credit cards is the inclusion of multiple types of insurance. However, it can be tough to understand what you are receiving with abstract terms. This subsection will demystify the common types of insurance included with your travel card.

Before we begin, note that you must typically charge the total expense to your card for the insurance to activate. For example, you'd need to pay for your phone using the relevant credit card entirely to take advantage of mobile insurance.

No Foreign Exchange Fees

A common misconception about credit cards is that they offer unfavorable exchange rates. You can receive better exchange rates through your credit card than by using a Canadian bank to convert the currency .

While the exchange rates are low, most credit cards apply a 2.5% surplus fee. This fee can quickly add up if you frequently spend in foreign currencies. Additionally, some cards will also charge a 2.5% fee on refunds. These fees could add up when booking and canceling hotels, flights, and other expenses.

As a benefit, some credit cards offer no foreign exchange fees . This removes the standard 2.5% fee applied to foreign transactions. Some cards offering this perk include:

Annual Travel Credits

Another popular benefit of a travel credit card is an annual travel credit. You can redeem this credit for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, and vacation packages. While these cards typically have a higher annual fee, their generous credits help reduce costs. The best travel cards that offer this benefit are:

Redeeming Travel Credit Card Points

Knowing how to redeem points is just as important as knowing how to earn them. Improper redemption may quickly put your efforts of getting high rewards to waste. The key here is to understand the value of your points and how to unlock their value best. Travel credit card points are usually best spent on travel-related redemptions. For example, applying your reward points to a hotel stay is generally better than using your points to purchase a gift card.

You should understand the value of your points. You can begin by referencing the following table to understand their base value redeemable as a statement credit. Any redemption that values your points higher may be worthwhile.

Calculating Redemption Value

Now that you understand the average value of your points, the next step is to calculate if the redemption is beneficial. To begin, you must calculate the proposed redemption value to compare it with the average value of your points. If the redemption values your points higher than the average, it's optimal. Otherwise, it's better to save your points for another redemption. To calculate the proposed redemption value, you must:

• Determine the required amount of points as shown in your rewards app.
• Estimate the dollar cost of the redemption by comparing it with online platforms.
• Solve for the proposed redemption value by dividing the estimated cost by the required points.
• If you need to pay taxes on top of your redemption, use this formula: (Estimated Cost - Tax) / Required Points.
• Compare the proposed redemption value per point with the average cost per point.

For example, let's pretend you want to book a domestic flight that requires 30,000 Aventura points. After researching the flight cost, you find it would cost $350 if booked with cash. To calculate the proposed redemption value, we must divide 350 by 30,000 to reach ¢1.16 per point. Since this is lower than our average valuation of ¢1.25 per Aventura point, it's not an optimal redemption, and you should save your points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get a priority pass for free.

Get a credit card with a priority pass as a bonus. Many high-end travel credit cards offer priority passes with their credit card. They can be unlimited or limit the number of lounge access points in a year. Some travel credit cards also offer a discount on airport lounge access. Most credit cards only provide to partnered lounges. Canadian credit cards usually partner with Priority Pass and DragonPass for airport lounge access.

Priority Pass vs. DragonPass Membership

Priority Pass membership offers access to more lounges. However, the DragonPass membership offers more exclusive airport lounges not available with the Priority Pass. If you frequent Pearson Airport in Toronto, the Plaza Premium lounges are now only available through DragonPass. Ultimately, your best membership will depend on your travel needs and preferences.

What Credit Cards Offer Mobile Device Insurance?

A few credit cards in Canada offer mobile device insurance as a benefit. This insurance will protect you if your phone is lost, damaged, or stolen. There are many horror stories of unsuspecting tourists losing their phones through pick-pocketing. However, you must have paid the total purchase price of the phone using your relevant card. We have included the top cards offering this benefit and links to their fine print pages below:

• BMO Eclipse Visa Infinite : Up to $1,000
• American Express Cobalt : Up to $1,000
• Brim World Elite Mastercard : Up to $1,000

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The best rewards credit cards in Canada for 2024

Rewards credit cards help you earn cash back or points, which can be redeemed toward groceries, travel, merchandise, gift cards and more.

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 rewards credit cards in Canada by category

By Keph Senett on May 1, 2024 Estimated reading time: 23 minutes

If you’re not leveraging your everyday spending to earn rewards, you’re missing out. Rewards credit cards help you earn cash back or points, which can be redeemed toward groceries, travel, merchandise, gift cards and more. But to figure out the best rewards credit card for you, you’ll need to answer a few questions. Do you prefer to collect points or get cash back in your pocket? Is it worth paying an annual fee for premium perks, or would you rather a no-fee card? What kind of travel rewards do you want?

No matter your criteria, you’re bound to find a great fit with one (or more!) of the rewards credit cards below.

Best overall cash back credit card

At a glance: When it comes to rewards, there’s nothing like cash, and the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is our pick for the best cash back credit card . It pairs first-class returns on groceries and gas—two of the most-used spending categories for Canadians—with an above-average base earn rate. Plus, it gives access to all sorts of Amex benefits when you use this card.

SimplyCash Preferred from American Express

• Annual fee: $120
• Earn rate: 4% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases; 2% cash back on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn a $40 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $750 in purchases on your card.
• Annual income requirement: None
• Recommended credit score   for approval : 660 or higher
• Interest rates: 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• With a guaranteed 2% base earn rate, the SimplyCash Preferred multiplies the earnings offered by many competing cards—and there’s no limit to how much you could earn.
• For many Canadians, gas and groceries are major expenditures, and this card offers a whopping 4% back on both. 
• Like many other credit cards in Canada, this one has a limit on the amount of bonus earnings you can accumulate but they’re so generous that they likely won’t make a difference for the average person. For example, you’d have to spend nearly $2,500 per month on groceries and gas to max out these bonus categories. And even if you do that, you’d still earn at the 2% base rate, which is pretty good.  
• If you want to earn even more in cash back, you can get supplementary credit cards for family members at no additional fee. 
• This credit card comes with Amex benefits like Front of the Line, which gets you early access to event tickets, as well as dining and retail experiences. Plus, you’ll receive Amex Offers, tailored to your spending habits. 
• While the best insurance packages usually come with travel credit cards , this credit card includes $100,000 in travel accident insurance, as well as combined baggage and flight delay coverage to get you on your way.
• American Express is widely accepted across Canada, but there are some important exceptions. Loblaw-affiliated stores, for example, don’t accept Amex, so you can’t cash in on the boosted grocery rewards there. (That you? Check out our Best store credit cards .)
• You can’t choose when you get your rewards with this credit card loyalty program. Instead, you’ll get a lump sum applied to your account once per year, in September.

Best no-fee cash back card

At a glance:   If you want a no-fee cash back credit card , the SimplyCash Card from American Express offers many of the same benefits of the SimplyCash Preferred, but with lower earn rates. Still, with a base rate of 1.25%, and a 2% rate on gas and groceries, your everyday spending will help boost your bank account.

SimplyCash from American Express

• Annual fee: $0
• Earn rate: 2% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases up to $300 annually; 1.25% cash back on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you make at least $300 in purchases (for a total value of up to $100).
• Recommended credit score for approval: 660 or higher
• Considering most no-fee credit cards in Canada have a base earn rate of 0.5%, the 1.25% offered by this card is eye-catching. 
• You’ll get a return of 2% on the first $15,000 you spen on groceries and gas, meaning you can earn up to $600 annually in those categories alone.
• Just like with the SimplyCash Preferred, rewards are paid out once a year, every September. 
• You won’t be able to use this credit card anywhere that doesn’t accept American Express.

Best flat-rate cash back card

At a glance: By offering a 3% return on U.S. dollar purchases, this card is effectively a no-forex-fee card with no annual fee. Plus, all Canadian-currency purchases still earn at a solid 1.5% cash back rate (plus, an extra 0.5% if you’re a Rogers, Fido or Shaw customer). This card also comes with some nice World Elite Mastercard extras, like free Boingo Wi-Fi and Mastercard Travel Pass Provided By DragonPass, which gives you access to some airport lounges.

Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee:  $0
• Earn rate:  1.5% cash back on all purchases, or 2% back for Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers; 3% cash back on all purchases in U SD
• Welcome bonus: You can This card does not have a welcome bonus at this time.
• Annual income requirement:  Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Recommended credit score for approval: 725 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• The 1.5% flat rate means you won’t have to worry about spending categories if you want to maximize your rewards. Rogers, Fido and Shaw customers get an extra 0.5% back on their purchases, plus a 1.5x redemption bonus when redeeming for purchases with those companies (including bill payments). That brings the potential cash back earnings up to 3%.
• This is one of the best credit cards to use at Costco , since it doesn’t accept Visa or American Express.
• The accelerated 3% earn rate on purchases made in U.S. dollars means that whether you shop in-person or online, you’re making enough back to offset foreign exchange fees.
• It’s unusual for World Elite Mastercards to be available in Canada with no annual fee. 
• Redemptions are flexible. You can cash out as soon as you have $10 in rewards.
• The income requirements are high at $80,000 ($150,000 for a household). 
• If you want to maintain this credit card, you’ll have to spend $15,000 on it annually. If you don’t, your account may be switched to another Rogers Bank credit card.

Best overall travel rewards credit card

At a glance: This card offers some of the highest earn rates on frequently used spending categories, which the company broadly defines. Redeeming your rewards are simple, and you can boost the value of your points by using them for travel and transferring them to other loyalty programs, like Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy. This card also features a pretty good insurance package.

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.
• 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
• With earn rates—like 5 points per dollar on groceries and dining, and 3 points per dollar on streaming services—this credit card is designed to let you build up points quickly. 
• The way that bonus categories are defined means that you’ll earn boosted points on more purchases. Take the travel and transit category, for example: You’ll get 2 points per dollar on flights and hotels, and on gas and public transportation, but also on taxis and rideshares. 
• Redemptions are easy and you have lots of choice in how you spend your rewards. You can put them toward any travel expense you’ve charged to your card at a rate of 1 point for $0.01 in travel savings. You can transfer them to participating airline or hotel loyalty programs, which not only increases where they can be used, but also their value. And, because Aeroplan points are typically worth more than other rewards, you can basically double the value of your points. Finally, you can use its Fixed Points Travel chart to find a favourable rate without worrying about the carrier or blackout dates.  
• Additional cards are free, so you can add family members to accumulate more points, faster. 
• American Express cards aren’t as widely accepted across Canada as Visa or Mastercard. 
• While many comparable cards charge $120 in annual fees, at 155.88 (charged at $12.99 monthly), this card’s fee costs quite a bit more than other rewards credit cards on our list here. 
• One of the key travel perks—no foreign exchange fees—is not on offer here. 
• The travel insurance package is quite comprehensive with the notable exception of trip cancellation coverage, which covers you in case of a sudden illness.

Honourable mention

At a glance: The Scotia Gold Amex rivals our top pick by offering super competitive earn rates, a comprehensive travel insurance package, and valuable perks like no foreign exchange fees —which the Cobalt lacks. However, you won’t have the opportunity to transfer, and therefore potentially increase the value of, your points.

Scotiabank Gold American Express

• 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
• Purchases at some grocers, like FreshCo and Sobeys, will return a very impressive 6-points-per-dollar rate. And the 5-points-per-dollar category includes a wide variety of retailers including restaurants, food delivery and grocery stores. 
• You can retroactively redeem your points (up to one year). Say, for example, you booked a hotel in January, you could apply your Scene+ rewards to that travel purchase within the upcoming 12 months. Plus, you’re not limited to hotels and flights. The travel spending category considers Airbnbs, car shares, public transportation fares and taxis eligible for retroactive redemption, too. As if this card’s rewards weren’t flexible enough, you can also pay for travel rewards with both points and cash.
• The absence of foreign transaction fees is a top perk both for Canadian travellers and cross-border shoppers, saving between 2% and 2.5% on purchases made in other currencies. 
• This credit card has some of the best travel insurance on the market.
• Your Scene+ points are always valued at $0.01 per point, so there’s no room to boost their buying power. 
• The foreign exchange fee waiver is slightly dampened by the fact that purchases in other currencies only earn the base rate of 1 point per dollar. 
• You might want to carry a secondary Visa or Mastercard for those retailers in Canada who don’t accept American Express.

Best airline travel credit cards

For aeroplan.

At a glance: If you’re looking for an Aeroplan card with simple redemptions, this is our pick. It’s worth noting that if you use the Amex Cobalt and transfer your Amex points to Aeroplan, you can get a higher value for your rewards. But this credit card impresses us with perks like the $100 Nexus fee rebate and free first checked bags.

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
• The card has solid earn rates, and you can get the Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles that you need to advance in Aeroplan status. Higher status means better Air Canada benefits.
• Points are redeemable with a dozen Star Alliance partner airlines, like United and Lufthansa.
• This credit card includes free first checked bags for up to eight travel companions on North American flights and a $100 Nexus fee rebate every 48 months—perks that will make your journey smoother.
• The included emergency medical travel coverage is for 21 days, or four days for those 65 and older—longer than what most other cards offer.
• 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 one-to-one ratio is a better option, but this is our choice for a simple, Aeroplan-specific card.
• The Aeroplan program is dynamic so you’ll need to pay attention to the fluctuating points values if you want to get the most out of it. 
• At $139, the annual fee is more than some other credit cards in its category.

For WestJet 

At a glance :   Between a competitive earn rate and eye-catching perks, the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard is our recommendation for Canadians who fly with WestJet. Redeeming rewards is simple. And, with an annual round-trip companion voucher and your first checked bag is free for you and up to eight travel companions, this travel credit card is a first-class card.

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
• You get an annual round-trip companion voucher to anywhere WestJet flies. The companion voucher allows you to book a companion fare at a reduced rate when you book a full fare for yourself. You can use this to travel within Canada and the continental U.S. starting at $119. 
• Status Lifts let you advance through the tier structure, gaining you access to benefits like lounge access. With this card, you can get up to three $500 Lifts annually.
• WestJet dollars (think points with a cash-back twist) are easy to collect with a minimum of 1.5% in WestJet dollars on every purchase on your card. You’ll get boosted rewards of 2% on WestJet flights or bundled vacations. 
• With the WestJet rewards program, you don’t have to keep track of anything. It’s simple, and there are no confusing charts nor blackout periods for booking.
• The reduced rate for the companion voucher only applies to the base rate of your flight. You’ll have to pay any taxes, airport fees and air transportations charges. 
• No transfersies. You can’t use WestJet dollars with another airline.

Best no-fee travel credit card

At a glance: With this card you can earn flexible rewards points that are easily redeemed for almost anything, including travel. Plus, you can transfer them at a ratio of one to one to other frequent flyer or rewards programs which, depending on the program, can actually increase their value. This card has a lot to offer, especially for a no-fee card . 

American Express Green Card

• 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.
• Earning points is simple with a flat rate of 1 point per dollar on your everyday spending, and you’ll double that for purchases made through Amex Travel Online. 
• You can redeem your points at a flat rate of 10,000 points for $10 in travel, or get more out of your points by using Amex’s Fixed Point chart. In some cases, such as with a transfer to Aeroplan, you can increase the value of your points. 
• With this travel rewards credit card you have access to Front of the Line where you can take advantage of advance access to tickets. Amex Experiences allows you to enjoy a variety of curated dining, shopping and entertainment events.
• Typical for a no-fee credit card, this card doesn’t offer travel perks or feature insurance. 
• You can use an American Express card across Canada and abroad, but there are some stores, mostly in the grocery sector, that don’t accept it. Both Costco and Loblaw-banner stores don’t accept Amex in Canada.
• Best student credit cards

For cash back

At a glance: The first thing to note about this card is the 3% cash-back return on groceries—the highest rate in the nation for a no-fee card. If you spend just $400 per month on groceries, that comes out to $144 in cash back for the year. Plus, there are no limits to how much you can earn, making this a solid student credit card .

BMO CashBack Mastercard for Students

• Annual fee:  $0
• Earn rates: 3% cash back on groceries (on the first $500 per month), 1% on recurring bills and 0.5% on everything else
• Welcome offer: You can earn 5% cash back in your first 3 months. Conditions apply.
• Annual income requirement:  None
• Recommended credit score: 660 or higher
• Interest rates:  20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and 22.99% on balance transfers
• At 3% cash back on groceries, this student credit card offers the best rate in Canada for a no-fee card. The other bonus category, streaming services return 1.5% adding a bit more to the package.
• Unlike with some credit cards that pay out once annually, with this card you can redeem your cash when you need it. All you need is a minimum of $25 in cash back and you can choose to apply it as a statement credit or deposit it into your BMO chequing, savings or InvestorLine account.
• At 0.5%, the base rate could be better. Even some other no-fee cards offer 1% or more.
• Although there is no limit to how much cash back you can earn with this card, there are monthly caps in the bonus categories of $500 each.

At a glance: With the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students, you can earn valuable and easy-to-redeem Aeroplan rewards, travel benefits and student-friendly perks—all without paying an 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
• Aeroplan points are flexible and transferable. There are no seat restrictions or blackout dates for using your points on Air Canada purchases, and you can also use points with any of Aeroplan’s many partners, such as United and Aer Lingus.
• You don’t need to collect the entire amount of rewards in points. You can pay in cash and points.
• You’ll become a member with the popular SPC student discount program, which gives you access to savings and giveaways.
• You can save up to $0.10 per litre when you buy gas at participating stations with Journie Rewards.

As a no-fee card, this card has lower earn rates than other Aeroplan cards. The only included insurance with this card is common carrier accident coverage, car rental collision and loss damage protection and purchase protection. You won’t earn Status Qualifying Miles on your everyday purchases, unlike with other Aeroplan cards. The Aeroplan points program is really dynamic, meaning that the value of your earned points values do fluctuate, so this may not be the right card for someone who is looking for simplicity.

Best hotel credit card

At a glance : With the ability to redeem for everything from room upgrades to spa treatments, Marriott Bonvoy points are super valuable for frequent Canadian travellers. Plus, they’re transferrable to about 40 airline programs. Extras, like free hotel stays and Amex benefits, make this a must-pack travel credit card for your next trip.

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 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
• 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:  21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Marriott Bonvoy points are flexible, earning you upgrades across a variety of hotels, including the St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and the Westin. Or, use them for merchandise and experiences, or for travel expenses like car rentals and flights.
• With a 2 points per dollar base rate and 5 points per dollar spent on all Marriott hotel stays, this card lets you build up points, fast.
• This card includes an annual free night’s stay at a Marriott property. Plus you’ll get 15 Elite Night Credits that will help you advance to the next level of status, so you can access further benefits.
• You’ll have access to Amex benefits like Front of the Line, where you’ll have early access to event tickets. Plus, you can take advantage of curated dining, retail and wellness experiences.
• Although Marriott Bonvoy points are transferable to airline programs, the rate is an underwhelming three-to-one for most transfers.
• Marriott Bonvoy is a dynamic loyalty program, meaning you’ll need to pay attention to dates and times if you want to get the most out of your points.
• As an Amex credit card, it’s less widely accepted in Canada than Mastercard or Visa.

Best store credit card

At a glance: Numerous retail partners, many opportunities to boosts your points, and simple redemptions at the cash register make PC Optimum one of Canada’s most popular points programs. When you spend with the PC World Elite Mastercard, you’ll get the highest value of any store credit card in Canada.

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard

• Earn rates: 45 PC Optimum points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart; 30 points per $1 at Loblaw banner grocery stores (including No Frills), and 10 points per $1 on everything else
• Welcome bonus: You can earn 20,000 PC Optimum points ($20 value).
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Point value: 10 PC points = $0.01 at Loblaws grocery network and Shoppers Drug Mart
• Recommended credit score for approval: 560 or higher
• Interest rates: 21.99% on purchases, 22.97% on cash advances (21.97% for residents of Quebec), 22.97% on balance transfers
• When you use this card to pay for groceries, clothing or housewares at Loblaw-banner stores, like No Frills, Fortino’s or Real Canadian Superstore, you’ll get 30 points per dollar—a 3% return. Purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart earn 45 points per dollar, which is a whopping 4.5% return.
• There are many ways to multiply the points you earn, including in-store promotions, and you can stack your points by using a PC Optimum Card with your PC Financial Card. 
• PC Optimum may have the simplest process for redemption of any loyalty program in Canada. Simply show your card at the checkout of one of the above-mentioned stores, and request to use your points. Even the rewards value is easy: 10,000 points are worth $10.
• If you don’t meet the requirements for this higher-tier World Elite card, you may want to consider PC’s mid-tier and entry-level cards, which have lower eligibility requirements but similar perks.
• The annual income requirement is fairly high at $80,000 per year (or $150,000 for the household). 
• You maintain your eligibility for this card by spending at least $15,000 annually on it. Otherwise, you’ll be downgraded to PC’s lower-tier World or entry-level PC Mastercard.

How we determine the best rewards 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 rewards credit cards, which include the accumulation of travel and cash back, your return on spending is a key consideration, because it represents the value you are earning with every purchase. Depending on the spend categories, additional criteria are used. For example, to find the best student rewards cards, we also consider annual fees and eligibility requirements—because, well, being a student is expensive. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about  our best credit cards selection process  and about  how MoneySense makes money .

Frequently asked questions

The best rewards credit card depends on your spending habits and lifestyle. If you are an avid traveller, then the best rewards credit card should provide you with travel rewards or points that you can redeem towards hotels or transportation, like the American Express Cobalt card. If you’re a shopaholic or brand loyal for groceries, beauty products and other essentials, consider a credit card that will reward you for in-store purchases like the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard .

Travel credit cards work on one of two programs: either consistent rewards or chart-based rewards. Some credit card providers in Canada, like MBNA and BMO, offer consistent rewards, meaning each point has specified dollar value, and that does not change. With chart-based programs, like Aeroplan’s program, the value of your earned points depends on factors like the travel date and destination you’re redeaming for. American Express Cobalt is a strong contender for the best credit card for travel rewards because it offers convenient access to both chart-based and consistent programs, as well as a generous earn rate on everyday purchases. 

How much are credit card rewards points worth 

With consistent rewards programs, the points are worth a fixed amount and this doesn’t change. Here are the values of points with consistent rewards programs.  

How to choose the best rewards card

If you’re shopping around for a new credit card, you may notice most boil down to two types of rewards: points or cash back. It might be tempting to pick the card that gives you the best return, but it’s not always that simple. Where you shop, how much you spend each month and the type of rewards you prefer, these should all be part of your decision for the best rewards credit card for you.

The case for cash back

If you prefer simplicity, cash-back cards are the way to go.  The best cash back credit cards  give you the highest return based on your everyday spending habits. Here’s what to consider:

Payouts:  Depending on the card, cash back is paid out monthly, quarterly or annually and refunded in the form of a statement credit, direct deposit to your bank account or a cheque in the mail.

Percentage earned:  Cash back credit cards offer fixed percentage on rewards based how much you spend on the card. Generally speaking, cash back cards with an annual fee will earn you a higher base percentage, so you need to factor that in if you’re comparing it to a no-fee credit card.

Multipliers:  Some cash back cards offer multipliers, which give you a higher percentage of cash back in popular spending categories such as grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores and automated payments for recurring bills.

The case for rewards

Instead of earning cash,  travel rewards credit cards  net points that can be used to claim travel (flights, hotels), gift cards, or merchandise. Rewards cards can be quite lucrative when you know how to earn and redeem points effectively, but there are several features to consider.

Type of rewards earned:  Rewards credit cards are either linked to a specific travel brand (airline or hotel), or give you flexibility to travel on any carrier. If you’re loyal to a specific brand, it makes sense to pick a co-branded card. If you prefer flexibility, then pick a card that gives you the most options.

Signup bonus:  Most rewards cards offer a huge signup bonus to entice Canadians to apply. Assuming you can meet the minimum spend requirement, that bonus could be worth a few hundred dollars.

Ease of redemption:  Rewards are useless if you cannot use them. Look for loyatly programs without blackout dates. Another no-deal: Too many restrictions, so you can’t redeem your points whenever you want.

Value of your points:  Know what your rewards (specifically points or branded dollars) are actually worth. For example, if you earn 1 point for every $1 spent, and it takes 100 points for you to claim $1 in rewards, your points are worth 1%. If you have a co-branded credit card for flights or hotels, you need to determine how many points it takes to get a free flight or hotel room.

Additional benefits:  Aside from rewards, you’ll want to look at the additional perks and benefits. Many rewards card offer the following as standard benefits: comprehensive travel insurance package, auto rental insurance and price protection.

More of Canada’s best credit cards :

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

What does the * mean?

Affiliate (monetized) links can sometimes result in a payment to MoneySense (owned by Ratehub Inc.), which helps our website stay free to our users. If a link has an asterisk (*) or is labelled as “Featured,” it is an affiliate link. If a link is labelled as “Sponsored,” it is a paid placement, which may or may not have an affiliate link. Our editorial content will never be influenced by these links. We are committed to looking at all available products in the market. Where a product ranks in our article, and whether or not it’s included in the first place, is never driven by compensation. For more details, read our MoneySense Monetization policy.

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Table of contents

• Compare rewards cards at a glance
• Best rewards card by category
• Also read: Best no-fee credit cards

About Keph Senett

The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards in Canada 2024

Last Updated on March 14, 2024

Written by Brianna Harrison

Snappy Rates is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the objectivity of our evaluations. Read our disclosure .

Travel rewards credit cards come with various travel benefits, ranging from free annual companion vouchers to travel insurance.

With most credit cards, you can earn points and redeem them for flight tickets or vacation packages.

Travel credit cards are ideal for those who travel often and want to reap the benefits of spending money on their travels and daily purchases.

Below are our top picks of the best travel rewards credit cards in Canada.

Best Travel Credit Cards With An Annual Fee

The following top travel credit cards have an annual fee, though they tend to include many travel benefits that offset the cost, including roundtrip companion vouchers, flight upgrades, travel insurance, and more.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

• Annual fee: $150
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances
• Income requirement: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Top features: no FX fees, 6 airport lounge passes, travel insurance

On every purchase with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card , you earn Scene+ points.

These points can be redeemed for travel purchases, Cineplex purchases, food, drink, and restaurant purchases, and more.

With this Scotiabank travel credit card, you earn:

• 3 Scene+ points for every $1 spent at eligible grocery stores
• 2 Scene+ points for every $1 spent on dining, other grocery purchases, and daily transit
• 2 Scene+ points for every $1 spent at Cineplex and Cineplex.com
• 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on everything else

This Scene travel credit card does not charge foreign currency conversion fees, which means you’ll save 2.5% to 3% every time you shop abroad.

You also get a complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program membership plus six complimentary airport lounge visits per year.

As this is a Visa Infinite credit card, you get access to Visa Infinite benefits, including a free concierge service, the Hotel Collection, and Dining and Wine Country program.

8 types of travel insurance come with the card, including travel emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and flight delay insurance.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

• Annual fee: $120 (waived in the first year)
• Income requirement: $12,000 personal
• Top features: no FX fees, earn Scene+ points on every purchase

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card charges no foreign exchange fees, making it a great travel rewards credit card to use abroad.

You earn a high amount of Scene+ points on each purchase, as follows:

• 6 Scene+ points for every $1 spent at eligible grocery stores
• 5 Scene+ points for every $1 spent on dining, food delivery, other grocery purchases, and entertainment purchases
• 3 Scene+ points for every $1 spent on gas, daily transit, and select streaming services

Since this is an American Express credit card, you get access to Amex Offers and Front of the Line presale tickets.

You also get a discounted Priority Pass membership to over 1,2000 VIP airport lounges worldwide.

9 types of travel and shopping insurance are included, like travel emergency medical insurance, flight delay insurance, travel accident insurance, and purchase security & extended warranty protection.

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

• Annual fee: $399
• Interest rate: 9.99% on purchases, 9.99% on cash advances
• Income requirement: N/A
• Top features: no FX fees, 10 free airport lounge passes

With the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card , you earn 2x Scene+ points on every purchase.

Like the other Scotiabank credit cards on this list, it does not charge foreign transaction fees.

It only has a 9.99% interest rate, which is much lower than all other travel credit cards we reviewed.

Mobile device insurance is included, as well as 10 complimentary airport lounge passes per year.

More benefits include complimentary concierge services, booking travel through Scene+ Travel, and many insurance benefits.

This card includes all other insurance except for purchase security and extended warranty protection, which you can add for an additional fee.

American Express Cobalt Card

• Annual fee: $12.99 monthly
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Top features: earn & redeem Membership Rewards points

The American Express Cobalt card is a low-fee travel rewards credit card in Canada that makes it easy to earn and redeem Membership Rewards points.

You can use them for discounts on bookings at American Express Travel, eats and drinks, movie tickets, statement credits, and more.

• 5x the points on eats and drinks purchases (up to a combined maximum of $30,000 annually)
• 3x the points on streaming subscriptions
• 2x the points on transit, gas, and travel purchases
• 1x the points on everything else

When you book with American Express Travel, you get an additional Membership Rewards point for every $1 spent.

This card includes a USD $100 hotel credit and hotel upgrades on check-in.

Mobile device insurance and a host of travel insurance are included as well.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

• Annual fee: $120
• Interest rate: 19.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Top features: earn & redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for free hotel stays and more

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is perfect for those loyal to staying at Marriott hotels, as all benefits of this card are tailored towards Marriott Bonvoy properties.

On every purchase at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you earn 5x Marriott Bonvoy points. You earn 2 points for every $1 spent on everything else.

After charging $30,000 in net purchases to your card each year, you’ll automatically be upgraded to Gold Elite status.

As a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can redeem points for free hotel stays or transfer your points to frequent flyer miles.

Flight delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, hotel burglary insurance, and a few other types of protection are all included as well.

You also get access to exclusive offers and events with American Express.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $150 (first year rebated)
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 22.49% on cash advances
• Income requirement: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
• Top features: unlimited airport lounge access, full coverage travel insurance

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard earns you points on every purchase, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, statement balances, merchandise, and more at the online boutique.

You can earn:

• 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants (up to $2,500 monthly)
• 2 points per $1 spent on a la carte travel bookings, recurring bill payments, and gas & EV charging
• 1 point per $1 spent on everything else

This is one of the best travel credit cards in Canada for lounge access.

As a World Elite Mastercard cardholder, you get free, unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau Airport. If you live in Montreal, this is a steal!

Also included with this credit card is a wide range of travel insurance, including out-of-province hospital medical insurance, flight cancellation or trip interruption insurance, delayed flight and stolen luggage insurance, and vehicle rental insurance.

Extended warranty and purchase protection, as well as mobile device insurance is also included.

American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

• Annual fee: $599
• Top features: Air Canada benefits, a free Priority Pass membership, a free Annual Worldwide Companion Pass

The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is a premium travel credit card that earns you Aeroplan points on all purchases.

You earn 3x Aeroplan points on Air Canada purchases, 2x points on dining and food delivery, and 1.25x points on everything else.

These points can be redeemed for many travel benefits, including Air Canada flights and vacations, in-flight wifi, seat upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals.

Many Air Canada travel benefits come with this card, including priority airport check-in, boarding, and baggage handling for you and up to 8 people, a free first checked bag, and access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges and cafes.

After you spend $25,000 in net purchases, you get a free Annual Worldwide Companion Pass, which allows you to buy an accompanying Air Canada ticket for less than $600.

You also get a free Priority Pass membership which gives you access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.

At Toronto Pearson Airport, you get through security faster, free valet service, and 15% off parking rates.

Comprehensive travel coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, flight delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, and emergency medical insurance, comes with this card for free.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

• Interest rate: 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances
• Top features: earn points quickly at Expedia and redeem for travel bookings

If you book travel through Expedia often, consider applying for the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card .

It earns you TD points on every purchase, which you can use towards Amazon purchases or travel bookings at ExpediaForTD.com.

You earn 9 TD points for every $1 spent on travel bookings through Expedia for TD, and 3 TD points for every $1 spent on everything else.

As long as you remain a cardholder, your TD points will never expire.

As a TD Travel Credit Cardholder, you get an annual discount on a Priority Pass membership.

Travel insurance included with this card is delayed and lost baggage insurance, travel medical insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and common carrier travel accident insurance.

If you need help at any time, you can call TD for toll-free access in the event of an emergency.

Auto rental collision and loss damage insurance is also included, and you can get up to 10% savings at Avis and Budget car rental locations.

The Platinum Card from American Express

• Annual fee: $699
• Interest rate: 30%
• Top features: no pre-set spending limit, a $200 annual travel credit, airport lounge access

The Platinum Card from American Express is a credit card with no pre-set spending limit.

What this means is your purchases are approved based on various factors, including account history and credit record.

You can pay your card off flexibly, with the minimum amount due, the full balance, or anything in between.

You earn Amex Membership Rewards points on every purchase. The earning structure is as follows:

• 3x the points on dining and food delivery purchases
• 2x the points on travel purchases

In addition, you get one extra point when you book travel through Amex Travel Online.

This premium travel points credit card includes a $200 annual travel credit, as well as other platinum level benefits, including American Express Global Lounge Collection access, a $100 NEXUS card statement credit, and benefits at Toronto Pearson Airport, like access to the Priority Security Lane.

You also get the Hotel Status benefit, where you’ll be fast-tracked to higher tiers of hotel loyalty programs.

​​Fine Hotels + Resorts is also included, which unlocks hotel benefits such as guaranteed 4pm late checkout, free complimentary breakfast, and other benefits at over 1,100 hotels worldwide.

Platinum concierge service is available to cardholders 24/7.

A wide range of travel and shopping coverage is included, like out of province/country emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and flight delay insurance.

BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard

• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances
• Top features: cash back rewards, Boingo Wi-Fi access, Mastercard Travel Pass

The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard rewards your spending with cash back. You can earn:

• 5% cash back on groceries (up to $500 monthly)
• 4% cash back on transit purchases
• 3% cash back on gas and electric vehicle charging
• 2% cash back on recurring bill payments (up to $500 monthly)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

You can redeem your cash back at any time and put it towards your monthly statement, in a BMO chequing or savings account, or put it into your InvestorLine account.

Besides cash back rewards, this card comes with complimentary access to over a million wifi hotspots with Boingo Wi-Fi, a complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass, and Mastercard Travel Rewards cash back offers.

You can get up to 25% off at select Alamo and National Car Rental locations. Concierge staff is there to help 24/7.

Though this is on our list of the best travel reward credit cards in Canada, it does not include travel insurance.

RBC ION+ Visa

• Annual fee: $48
• Top features: earn & redeem Avion points, mobile device insurance

The RBC ION+ Visa is a great travel credit card for earning Avion points on every purchase.

These points can be redeemed for travel bookings, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more.

On each purchase, you earn 3x Avion points for every $1 spent on groceries, dining, food delivery, gas and EV charging, streaming, and recurring subscriptions.

You’ll earn 1x Avion point on all other purchases.

In addition, you can earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent at Rexall.

Insurance coverage included with this card are mobile device insurance (up to $1,000 for 2 years) and purchase security and extended warranty insurance.

Other additional features include savings of 3¢/L on fuel and a complimentary 3 month DashPass subscription.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

• Annual fee: $139 (first year rebated)
• Income requirement: $60,000 individual or $100,000 household
• Top features: earn & redeem Aventura points on travel

The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card is a flexible travel rewards card that earns you Aventura points on your purchases, as follows:

• 2 points for every $1 spent on travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre
• 1.5 points for every $1 spent on gas, grocery store, and drugstore purchases
• 1 point for every $1 spent on everything else

Aventura points never expire. They can be used on travel bookings like flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages, merchandise, gift cards, and more.

Some travel benefits include 4 complimentary airport lounge visits, a NEXUS rebate every 4 years, and Visa Infinite benefits, like tickets, upgrades, and tours.

This CIBC credit card includes valuable travel insurance, including flight delay and baggage insurance, emergency travel medical insurance, and common carrier accident insurance.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

• Annual fee: $119
• Top features: earn & redeem WestJet dollars, get a free World Elite roundtrip companion voucher

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard rewards you in WestJet Dollars.

You earn 2% back in WestJet Dollars when you purchase WestJet flights or vacation packages, and 1.5% back on everyday purchases.

WestJet Dollars never expire, and you can redeem them on travel bookings with no blackout periods.

With this card, you receive a World Elite roundtrip companion voucher to any WestJet destination, and a free first checked bag.

You can earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent when shopping at Rexall, and save 3¢/L on fuel at Petro-Canada. A 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription is also included.

Broad insurance coverage includes emergency medical insurance, trip interruption insurance, and hotel burglary insurance.

MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard

• Interest rate: 19.99% on purchases, 24.99% on cash advances
• Top features: earn & redeem MBNA Rewards points

With the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard , you earn MBNA points on every purchase.

For every $1 spent on grocery, restaurant, household utility, membership, and digital media purchases, you earn 5 points up to a maximum of $50,000 annually.

After that and on all other eligible purchases, you earn 1 point for every $1 spent.

Each year, you’ll receive birthday points, equal to 10% of the total number of points earned in the 12 months before your birthday (up to 15,000 points).

MBNA Rewards points never expire. You can redeem them for cash back, travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.

MBNA also has a payment plan where you can split up purchases over $100 in 6, 12, or 18-month terms.

4 types of insurance are included with this card – mobile device insurance , travel medical insurance, flight/trip delay insurance, and delayed and lost baggage insurance.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

• Top features: earn & redeem Avion points, savings at Petro-Canada and Hertz

On every dollar spent, you earn 1 Avion point with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card .

You can redeem Avion points on travel, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more, with no blackout dates on travel.

You can enjoy exclusive experiences, offers, and benefits with the Avion Collection as well as reap the benefits of Visa Infinite.

Insurance coverage includes mobile device insurance, purchase protection, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, and emergency medical insurance.

More benefits include savings at Petro-Canada, earning more Be Well points at Rexall, 20% savings and 3x more Avion points at Hertz, and a complimentary 12-month DashPass subscription.

Best No-Fee Travel Credit Cards in Canada

The following 3 no annual fee travel credit cards in Canada include some benefits of the paid travel credit cards, without annual fees that can be upwards of $500.

CIBC Aventura Visa Card

• Annual fee: $0
• Income requirement: $15,000 household
• Top features: earn & redeem Aventura points

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card pays in Aventura points whenever you make a purchase. You’ll earn:

• 1 point for every $1 spent on travel through the CIBC rewards centre
• 1 point for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases
• 1 point for every $2 spent on everything else

You can redeem Aventura points on flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, gift cards, merchandise, and more.

Aventura Travel Assistant can help book personalized travel with no booking fees.

Link your Journie Rewards card to save on gas at participating gas stations.

Included with this CIBC travel credit card is $100,000 common carrier accident insurance, auto rental collision and loss damage insurance, and purchase security and extended protection insurance.

BMO AIR MILES Mastercard

• Income requirement: $15,000
• Top features: earn up to 3 Air Miles per $25 spent

This BMO travel credit card rewards you with Air Miles for every dollar spent. You earn:

• 3 Miles for every $25 spent at Air Miles partners
• 2 Miles for every $25 spent at eligible grocery stores
• 2x Air Miles at participating partners

Air Miles can be redeemed on travel purchases, as cash back, or dream rewards.

Cardholders get up to 25% off base rates at Alamo and National Car Rental locations, as well as 15% to 20% off Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada and Las Vegas.

Rogers World Elite Mastercard

• Top features: earn & redeem 1.5% to 3% cash back

The Rogers World Elite Mastercard rewards you with cash back plus insurance benefits.

The insurance that comes with this card includes extended warranty and purchase protection, out-of-province/country emergency medical insurance, rental car collision/damage insurance, trip interruption, and cancellation insurance. 

On every purchase, you earn 1.5% cash back, and 3% cash back in US dollar purchases.

You also get a complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass.

Best Business Travel Credit Cards in Canada

If you own a business and travel often, these top 3 business travel credit cards are worth checking out.

TD Business Travel Visa Card

• Annual fee: $149
• Top features: earn & redeem TD Rewards points, 25% off select business purchases

This TD business travel credit card is for the ultimate traveller and business owner. You earn TD Rewards points on every purchase, as per the following:

• 9 points per $1 spent on travel at ExpediaForTD.com
• 6 points per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases, restaurant purchases, and recurring bill payments ($80,000 spend cap)
• 2 points for every $1 spent on business purchaes

TD Rewards points can be redeemed on travel bookings, Amazon.ca, merchandise, statement credits, and more.

There are no travel blackouts or seat restrictions and your TD points will never expire, as long as your account is in good standing.

When you link this card to your Starbucks Rewards account, you get 50% more TD Rewards and Stars.

This TD travel credit card comes with savings of up to 25% off business purchases made under the Visa SavingsEdge Program.

6 types of travel insurance are included, like travel medical insurance, common carrier travel accident insurance, and flight/trip delay insurance.

You also get savings at Avis and Budget car rental locations.

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card

• Annual fee: $175
• Income requirement: $60,000 personal or $100,000 houeshold
• Top features: earn & redeem Avion points, Visa Airport Companion

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business Card is a great way to be rewarded for your business purchases with Avion points.

You earn 1.25 Avion points for every $1 spent with this card, up to a maximum of $75,000 annually.

Premium travel benefits include access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, plus airport dining and spa offers provided with the Visa Airport Companion.

This RBC travel credit card includes reporting and controls for business spending.

A host of travel insurance is included, as well as savings at Petro-Canada and Hertz.

American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

• Interest rate: 16.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Top features: annual worldwide companion pass, airport lounge access, priority at the airport

The American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card is a top choice for earning Aeroplan points on everyday transactions. You earn:

• 3x the points on Air Canada flights and vacation purchases
• 2x the points on hotel stays and car rentals
• 1.25x the points on everything else

Aeroplan points can be redeemed for travel benefits, including Air Canada flights and vacations, in-flight wifi, seat upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals.

This card includes a free annual worldwide companion pass and a $100 NEXUS card statement credit.

Business benefits include expense management tools and resources, insurance benefits, and the flexibility to pay the balance in full or over time.

Additionally, the $599 annual fee may be tax deductible.

Along with a wide range of travel insurance, this card comes with many travel benefits, including a free first checked bag, priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, airport standby, and upgrades.

You get access to select Maple Leaf airport lounges, a complimentary Priority Pass membership, and benefits at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Our Methodology: The Snappy Rates team assesses the best travel rewards credit cards based on their annual fees, interest rates, welcome bonuses, rewards, top features, categories, insurance coverage, and other perks. We carefully evaluate each credit card and place more weight on the long-term rewards value each card offers. Only credit cards we would personally use are recommended. While these credit cards are some of the best on the market, but may not be right for you. Always do your own research before choosing a credit card.

Pros of Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Travel rewards credit cards are great for those who travel often or are loyal to one airline.

Generally, you can earn points or cash back that can be redeemed for travel and other purchases.

Although these credit cards have an annual fee, it typically pays for itself in one way or another with travel benefits.

Many travel credit cards also come with a range of travel insurance, so you don’t need to worry about purchasing it separately.

Cons of Travel Rewards Credit Cards

When choosing a travel rewards credit card, you need to consider the points program.

Most travel credit cards only give you points for a specific airline, like WestJet or Air Canada.

If you are not loyal to that airline, it probably isn’t worth applying for.

Travel rewards credit cards often come with a high fee, and some can cost upwards of $500 per year.

You need to ensure that you can pay the annual fee plus the interest if you don’t pay your balance on time.

Some travel credit cards also charge foreign transaction fees, so when you spend money abroad, you’ll be paying 2.5% to 3% in transaction fees.

What is a travelling credit card?

A travel credit card is a special credit card that offers many travel benefits, insurance, and perks. Many travel credit cards reward your spending with points or cash back that can be redeemed for flights, vacation packages, and more.

Which bank is best for a travel credit card?

It depends on what travel perks you’re looking for in a credit card. American Express, TD, BMO, and RBC all have top-rated but different travel credit cards.

Which debit card is best for international travel?

The Wise multi-currency prepaid card is great for international travel. You can use it with any currency and it does not charge FX fees. All you do is load it with funds from your bank, and you’re good to go.

• Best Prepaid Credit Cards in Canada
• Best Credit Cards for Students in Canada
• Best Low-Interest Credit Cards in Canada

Bonuses & Deals for May

Free prepaid card with up to 5% cashback. No credit check & $20 bonus when you deposit $50 and complete first purchase.

Earn average of 5% unlimited cashback. No annual fees and $25 bonus.

Get a $100 cashback bonus in the first 2 months. No annual fee credit card.

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Brianna Harrison

Brianna is a writer from Toronto, Canada, specializing in the personal finance and tech niche. She has been writing, editing, and proofreading for over 5 years as a freelancer. She loves to travel, meet new people, and discover new places. When she’s not writing or travelling, Brianna likes to bake, decorate cakes, and even ran her own custom cake business.

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Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada 2023

Rachel Cribby

• Zack Fenech

Why you can trust us

The team at WealthRocket only recommends products and services that we would use ourselves and that we believe will provide value to our readers. However, we advocate for you to continue to do your own research and make educated decisions.

In recent years, the concept of the travel credit card has become increasingly popular. In fact, with so much competition out there, it appears as if travel credit cards keep making their offerings more and more enticing. It’s no surprise that many Canadians choose to have at least one travel-related credit card in their wallet.

However, with so many different kinds of  credit cards out there, are they all created equally? In this article, we weigh both sides of the proverbial equation, while considering your personal interests to determine the best travel credit cards in Canada.

In This Article

The best credit cards for travel in canada, what is a travel credit card, our final thoughts.

There’s no shortage of credit cards available in Canada, with many travel credit card options available.

Below, we’ll look at the most popular travel credit cards in Canada, many of which are available through Canada’s “Big Five” banks.

1. Best t ravel credit card : Tangerine World Mastercard

• Cash back:  0.5%* to 2%*
• Minimum Limit:  None
• Personal Income Requirement:  $60,000
• APR:  19.95%*
• Annual Fee:  None
• Bonus Features: 10% cash back promo for first two months

The Tangerine World Mastercard takes first place in our list of the best travel credit cards for Canadians.

As one of Canada’s most popular no-frill online banks, Tangerine offers a wide variety of free banking products. The Tangerine World Mastercard is one of the products that go above and beyond its competitors in Canada’s financial landscape.

The Tangerine World Mastercard offers a cash back rate of up to 2%*  on two customizable categories or  2%  back on three customizable savings if the applicant also opens a Tangerine Savings account.

Cash back categories of choice include groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotels and motels, gas, recurring bill payments, pharmacy, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation, and parking. Any purchases outside of the chosen categories earn 0.50%*  interest.

The Tangerine World Mastercard also offers a wide variety of additional perks, including free access to over 1 million Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide, mobile device insurance, access to LoungeKey, Mastercard’s airport lounge in over 400 airports, and much, much more.

Finally, the Tangerine World Mastercard currently offers a promotional interest rate of  10%* cash back on a total of $1,000 for the first two months.

If you plan on going on vacation any time soon, it would be wise to use this credit card before travel and during to maximize your earning potential.

If you don’t meet the minimum income requirement for this credit card, you may find value in the Tangerine Money Back Credit Card .

*Rates current as of June 2023

Tangerine World Mastercard

Rated 3.7/5 stars.

On Tangerine's Website

• 2 % Earn 2% cash back in up to three spending categories, when you deposit your rewards to a Tangerine savings account.
• 0.5 % Earn 0.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer 10% cash back on up to $1000 Terms and conditions apply
• Annual Fee $0 Learn how we calculate this.
• Annual Rewards $282
• Minimum Income Required $60,000 personal; $100,000 household
• No annual fee
• Unlimited cash back
• Travel perks
• High qualifying income requirements
• Short period for a lower-interest balance transfer

The Tangerine World Mastercard is a no-annual-fee cash back credit card designed for the everyday spender who also likes to travel. This card boasts impressive travel perks, such as airport lounge access and Mastercard Travel Rewards, making it an enhanced version of its counterpart, the Tangerine Money-Back credit card. That said, it does have higher qualifying requirements.

2. Best t ravel credit card for points: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

• Minimum Limit:  $5,000
• APR: 20.99%*
• Annual Fee: $150
• Bonus Features:  25,000 bonus Scotia Rewards from $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in the first three months

The  Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is a fan favourite on the travel credit card scene.

For one thing, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is unique among rewards credit cards  for offering its holder zero foreign transaction fees.

This feature is a huge benefit to those who partake in a lot of international travel and find themselves making a lot of purchases in foreign currencies, as these transaction fees can quickly add up.

As far as rewards go, cardholders benefit from  2 Scene+ Points * for every dollar spent on dining and eligible grocery stores. If you shop at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, and participating Co-ops, you earn  3 Scene+ Points for every dollar.

Any entertainment purchases will result in 2 Scene+ Points * per dollar spent, as will transit purchases, like rideshare, bus, and taxi trips.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite

Rated 4.4/5 stars.

• Welcome Offer Up to 35,000 SCENE points
• Annual Fee $150
• Interest Rates Purchases: 20.99%, Cash Advances: 22.99%
• Recommended Credit 660-724
• $150 annual fee
• 3 Scene points for every $1 spent at participating Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, & Participating Co-ops
• 2 Scene points for every $1 spent on eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and daily transit
• Earn 1 Scene point for other eligible purchase
• No foreign transaction fees
• 6 airport lounge access visits per year

3. Best no-fee t ravel credit card : MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

• Minimum Limit:  N/A
• Personal Income Requirement:  N/A
• APR:  19.99%
• Annual Fee:  $0
• Bonus Features:  5,000 bonus points for $500 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days, double points for every $1 spent on gas, grocery, and restaurant purchases during the first 90 days

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is a well-rounded travel credit card with a straightforward points rewards system that is generous in its category limitations.

For starters, this card offers one point for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. Eligible purchases do not include cash transactions, such as balance transfers or cash advances.

For the first 90 days, customers receive double the rewards for common spending categories, such as groceries and restaurants, which means spenders receive 4  points * for every dollar spent, and 2 points for every dollar thereafter.

However, points doubling maxes out after you have spent $10,000 annually, at which point you will go back to earning the standard one point.

While these reward points are technically redeemable anywhere, they go a further distance (pun intended) when redeemed for travel.

With travel-related rewards, such as hotel reservations or rental cars, 100 points are worth  $1 *. For other rewards, 200 points are worth  $1 *.

Overall, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is ideal for those looking to avoid paying an annual fee and who don’t want to feel limited by their reward redemption options.

MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard

• 2 pts Earn 2 points for every $1 spent at restaurants, and on groceries, digital media items, memberships, and household utilities.
• 1 pt Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Welcome Offer Up to 10,000 reward points ($50 in cash back value) Terms and conditions apply
• Annual Rewards $300 Learn how we calculate this.
• Annual Fee $0
• Minimum Income Required None
• No minimum income requirement
• Flexible rewards program
• High interest rate on cash advances
• Annual spending cap of $10,000 on rewards categories
• Diminished point value if you redeem for cash back

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is a rewards credit card that offers low fees, rewards on every purchase, and an extensive list of redemption options. It features an enticing welcome bonus ( 5,000 points if you spend $500 in the first 90 days, plus an additional 5,000 points for going digital and paperless with your banking).

4. Best t ravel credit card sign-up offer: BMO World Elite Mastercard

• Personal Income Requirement:  $80,000
• Annual Fee:  $150
• Bonus Features:  Temporary welcome bonus of 40,000 points (or $284)

The revered BMO World Elite Mastercard is somewhat of a “magnum opus” of all travel credit cards, and it’s easy to see why.

With 3 points earned per every dollar in eligible purchases and 2 points per dollar for all other purchases, this card comes packed with an enticing rewards structure. However, the card shines when it comes to its travel perks.

For example, the card comes with a comprehensive travel insurance offering that is hard to beat.

Cardholders who use the BMO World Elite Mastercard to purchase travel include up to 21 days of emergency medical insurance, as well as up to $2,000 of trip cancellation fees and $750 of personal effect coverage.

While this last benefit may not seem like a lot, it’s quite rare in the credit card world. Avid travelers will also appreciate the fact that this card will allow them access to Mastercard’s Priceless Cities and World Mastercard Experiences, as well as four passes to Mastercard Airport Experiences airport lounges. The card also comes with a 24/7 concierge.

While these benefits certainly are helpful, the card’s $150 annual fee and high income required may not make it a realistic option for many people.

BMO World Elite Mastercard

• Welcome Offer 40,000 points
• Annual Fee $150 (first year waived)
• Recommended Credit 740+
• Minimum income of $80,000 required
• Airport lounge access in several airports every year
• Rewards can be redeemed for travel expenses, certain merchants, and investing options
• Automatic emergency travel medical insurance for the cardholder, their partner, and their children

5. Best t ravel credit card  for Air Miles: American Express Air Miles Platinum Credit Card

• APR:  20.99%
• Annual Fee:  $120
• Bonus Features:  Sign-up bonus of 3,000 points when $1,500 worth of purchases are made in the first three months

Air Miles is a popular name in the travel world. This American Express card is the fastest way for Canadians to turn their expenses into the world’s most recognizable travel points system.

If you are in the habit of redeeming Air Miles, this is by far the best way to go about doing so, as this card will grant you access to some of the best-earning rates in the industry.

On top of this great Air Mile rate, cardholders will also benefit from a  25% * redemption bonus whenever they redeem their Air Miles towards travel. Also included is theft and damage coverage for car rentals as well as travel accident coverage.

The card will also automatically extend a manufacturer’s warranty for an additional year and offers your standard purchase protection plan.

This card is undoubtedly the best way to earn Air Miles with a credit card in Canada.

However, customers seeking more comprehensive insurance offerings, such as trip cancellation insurance or emergency medical insurance, may be better off using a different card.

American Express Air Miles Platinum

• Welcome Offer 2,000 Air Miles points
• Annual Fee $120
• Interest Rates Purchase: 20.99%, Cash Advances: 21.99%
• Recommended Credit 760 - 900
• 1 mile for every $5 spent on eligible food, drink, and gas purchases (up to $30,000)
• 1 mile for every $10 sent everywhere else
• 750 bonus miles every year you book your first flight using dream miles
• Travel Benefits ($100,000 travel accident insurance, car rental theft and damage insurance)
• AMEX Benefits
• Buyer’s Assurance & Purchase Protection Plan
• No fee for additional cards

6. Best t ravel credit card for booking flights: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

• Minimum Limit: N/A
• Personal Income Requirement: $60,000
• APR: 19.99%
• Annual Fee: $139
• Bonus Features: 10,000 Aeroplan points with the cardholder’s first purchase, an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points, and a Buddy Pass if you spend $1,000 within a month of opening your account, new signups receive the first year free

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is the travel card offered by TD Canada Trust and linked to the Aeroplan program, a points redemption system used by the country’s national airline, Air Canada.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card offers its cardholders 1.5 points per every $1 spent on eligible purchases (gas, grocery, and aircanada.com travel purchases). Every other purchase category will earn you 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent.

This credit card also offers some of the best insurance coverages on the market, with up to $1 million in travel medical emergency coverage for up to 21 days (4 days for those over 65), up to $500,000 in travel accident coverage, and $1,500 in trip cancellation, to name a few.

Other insurance benefits include car rental insurance, flight and trip delay insurance, delayed or lost baggage insurance, and even stolen item insurance.

The card’s benefits don’t end here. Air Canada fliers will also be delighted to get their first bag checked for free, as well as 24/7 emergency travel assistance. It is easy to see how these perks add up to justify the $139 yearly fee.

Even if you do not fancy yourself a jetsetter, it makes sense to add a travel credit card to your wallet just for the reward perks alone. Things like travel insurance and concierge services simply come as a bonus, and if you find yourself in a position where you need one, you will be sure to thank your former self for your foresight.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Rated 3.3/5 stars.

• Welcome Offer N/A
• Annual Fee $129 (first year waived)
• Interest Rates Purchases: 19.99%, Cash Advances: 22.99%
• Minimum income of $60,000 required
• Earn 1 Aeroplan mile for every $1 that you spend on purchases
• Earn 1.5 Aeroplan miles on groceries, pharmacy items, Air Canada flights, and gas
• Generous travel insurance coverage and extensive mobile device insurance

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card is a great travel rewards credit card for the frequent Air Canada flyer or Aeroplan member. With its minimum income requirement and ties to the Aeroplan Rewards program, it’s really designed for moderate to high earners who are in airports often and want to reap the rewards. This card also offers unique travel perks, such as the Nexus fee reimbursement.

By definition, a travel credit card offers travel-related rewards or incentives to its holder, usually in the form of points or miles rewards that are redeemable for services such as hotel stays and flights.

Most travel credit cards function by offering a type of travel point redemption system, allowing users to earn points on common spending categories and then redeem them for travel expenses.

However, these points can often be redeemable for other rewards such as groceries, gas, or even gift cards.

Many travel credit cards also come with some degree of travel insurance, such as medical health insurance and/or trip cancellation insurance, which can help travelers with peace of mind without requiring that they take out additional insurance policies.

In some cases, a travel card may also offer waived foreign transaction fees, which saves international travelers a considerable amount of money (and yes, that includes Canadian cross-border shoppers).

If you’re looking to find a credit card with travel incentives, you’ll face no shortage of fruitful options available to Canadians. Many travel credit card options can add that extra push to your spending before and after your next adventure.However, using a credit card properly, whether it’s for travel or otherwise, is the smartest decision anyone can make for themselves.

Spending within your means and paying your bill in full will eclipse any rewards that a credit card of any type can offer.

Rachel Cribby is a professional writer, editor, and transcriptionist from Canada. Her personal finance work has been published in Greedy Rates and Forbes Advisor.

Frequently asked questions

Even if you do not travel often, it still may make sense for you to have a travel credit card. This is bound to depend on a number of factors.

For one thing, it is possible to get travel credit cards that don’t have an annual fee, which means that you will not be paying for a perk or perks that you do not use.

In many cases, the rewards that come from a travel credit card are not limited to travel-related purchases, which might make them just as enticing if not more enticing than a regular rewards card.

Even if it comes with an annual fee, you may also be surprised to learn how little it takes for a travel credit card to pay for itself.

For example, even if you only take one international trip a year, choosing a card with no foreign transaction fees could save you hundreds of dollars if you travel with an entire family or make a lot of purchases.

While it may seem too indulgent for the average student, there are several reasons why a student may benefit from a travel credit card.

For one thing, many students who are studying away from their hometown may find that they are taking several trips back and forth to home and school.

Earning points can add up quickly, which means that you may be able to redeem one or two free trips per year. This factor makes a big difference in the tight budget of a student!

Additionally, some travel cards do not carry income requirements, making them a realistic choice for a student.

It’s never a good feeling if you lose your wallet or important documents while traveling.

However, if you contact your credit card company as soon as possible, you will be able to cancel your card and will be issued a new credit card number on the spot.

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Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.

If you frequently travel abroad from Canada or often make payments in foreign currencies, you'll probably know that there are many credit cards out there which cater to your needs. But with so many options at your fingertips, it's not always easy to find out which is the best for you.

Fortunately for you, our team has compared the top credit cards in Canada for annual fees, travel rewards, FX rates, insurance and protections, and much more to select what we believe are undeniably the four best cards on the market. So, no matter whether you're taking your family on vacation to Europe or just making a simple online transaction in US dollars, our carefully-selected options will cater to your every need!

If traveling as cheaply as possible is your goal, then a full-on credit card might not be your best bet. We recommend checking out KOHO 's range of debit cards, whose Extra or Everything plans charge no FX fee.

Tangerine also offers the Money-Back Credit Card , which lets you build credit and take advantage of cashback while paying no annual fees.

Best Credit Card in Canada for Travel

• 01. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card scroll down
• 02. American Express Cobalt® Card scroll down
• 03. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card scroll down
• 04. BMO AIR MILES® MasterCard® scroll down
• 05. KOHO: an alternative to credit cards scroll down

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Tangerine's Money-Back Credit Card is a credit card without an annual fee focusing on credit building and cash back . At 2.5% per transaction, it's not the cheapest travel credit card, but it can still be a good bet since it doesn't charge an annual fee.

• Annual Fee:  $0
• Interest (Purchases): 19.95%
• Interest (Cash Advance): 19.95%
• Foreign Transaction Charge:  2.5%
• Rewards, Insurance, and Protections:  Purchase Assurance and Extended Warranty, 2% Money-Back Rewards on everyday purchases

American Express Cobalt® Card

The American Express Cobalt® Card is an excellent choice for travel, offering benefits such as generous rewards , insurance, and no foreign transaction fees, ensuring a rewarding and cost-effective travel experience.

• Annual Fee:  $155.88
• Interest (Purchases): 20.99%
• Interest (Cash Advance): 21.99%
• Foreign Transaction Charge: $0
• Rewards, Insurance, and Protections:  Amex Membership Reward points, Mobile Device Insurance, travel insurance, etc.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card

The most premium credit card on this list, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card has a high annual fee but comes packed with perks like comprehensive trip insurance, airport lounge access, travel benefits on Air Canada, and points.

• Annual Fee: $599
• Interest (Cash Advance): 20.99%
• Foreign Transaction Charge:  $0
• Rewards, Insurance, and Protections: Travel Medical Insurance, Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Flight Delay Insurance, Global Airport Lounge Access, Air Canada travel benefits, etc.

BMO AIR MILES® MasterCard®

Another credit card without annual fees, BMO AIR MILES® MasterCard® is a good choice if you're looking for fair travel benefits without paying high annual fees , which includes rewards, miles, and basic trip insurance.

• Annual Fee: $0
• Interest (Cash Advance): 22.99%
• Rewards, Insurance, and Protections: Car rental discounts, Miles accrual, extended warranty and purchase protection, BMO Roadside Assistance, etc.

KOHO Debit Card: A Credit Card Alternative

If you want to save money while spending overseas, you can take advantage of low-cost foreign exchange spending with KOHO 's Extra and Everything plans — a complete alternative to traditional credit cards in Canada !

With KOHO's innovative mobile finance platform, you can earn 1% or more cash back and 5% interest on balances. Plus, enjoy no foreign transaction fees if you are an Extra or Everything member. Compared to credit cards, this means that KOHO's debit card can save you money if you can afford to keep your number of transact or withdrawals to a minimum while travelling abroad.

What's more, KOHO offers instant notifications and real-time spending insights, empowering you to stay on top of your travel expenses. With KOHO as your trusted financial companion, you can embrace a seamless and secure travel experience abroad!

• Essential Plan:  $4 per month ($0 if you set up recurring direct debits or deposit $500 per month)
• Extra Plan: $9 per month
• Everything Plan: $19 per month
• Foreign Transaction Charges:  1.5% (0% on Extra or Everything plan)
• Travel Insurance and Protections: N/A
• Travel Rewards: N/A
• Sign-up Bonuses: N/A
• More Info:  Read our review or visit the website .

Take a Look at Our Related Guides

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Credit Cards

I’m an expat, and here’s why I love my Bank of America Travel Rewards card

Kelly Dilworth

Allie Johnson

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Robin Saks Frankel

Published 5:24 a.m. UTC May 8, 2024

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VioletaStoimenova, Getty Images

I’m a U.S. citizen who lives most of the year in Canada. But when I pick up coffee or purchase subway fare in my adopted city of Toronto, I often find myself habitually turning to the same few American credit cards I’ve owned and used for years.

Using my American cards while living across the border helps me maintain my U.S. credit history. Plus, I’ve found that they offer more value than comparably-priced Canadian cards. 

I’m especially likely to pull out my Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card because it offers ample points without requiring me to think too hard about different rewards categories. 

Instead, I earn the same unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on purchases, which is a rewards rate I’ve so far been unable to match with a no-annual-fee Canadian card. 

Aren’t sure how to choose a credit card? Read our guide on how to pick the best credit card for you.

In Canada, rewards cards without annual fees are typically less generous –– especially when it comes to miscellaneous spending. For example, my CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card * The information for the CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers 2% cash back on groceries, 1% cash back on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, transportation, dining and recurring payments, 0.5% cash on everything else. 

There are no foreign transaction fees on my Bank of America Travel Rewards card either. So I don’t have to sweat over 1% to 3% in foreign transaction fees that can quickly add up over multiple transactions. 

However, the number one reason I turn so regularly to my Bank of America Travel Rewards card is its convenience. 

After nearly 20 years of credit card experience, I’ve learned that I get more value out of low-maintenance cards that require minimal time and attention. 

our partner

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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Welcome bonus

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s take

• 15 billing cycles of intro APR financing on both new purchases and on qualifying balance transfers.
• Earn an unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees so it’s a good choice to use abroad.
• Points must be redeemed towards eligible travel and dining purchases for maximum redemption value.
• You can’t transfer rewards to airline or hotel partners.

Card details

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% – 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Even abroad, Bank of America Travel Rewards are simple to earn, fast to redeem 

In my experience, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Visa is especially easy to use in Canada compared with other American cards I own since it comes equipped with contactless technology (which was popular here long before it took off in the U.S.), and Visa is widely accepted. 

I rarely use my Discover it® Miles , by contrast, because I’ve struggled to find vendors in Canada who will accept it.

Since I earn the same rewards rate with every purchase on my Bank of America Travel Rewards card, I don’t have to track spending bonuses or worry about the types of foreign purchases that will qualify for a higher rate. 

Even better, the rewards I earn from my Bank of America Travel Rewards card are so easy to redeem I can do it within minutes online simply by checking some boxes next to eligible travel and dining purchases. Within days, a statement credit then posts to my account. 

I also can book rewards travel from whatever site I want to, and I don’t have to plan around blackout dates or other travel restrictions. 

For a working mom like me who can barely carve out time to book travel, let alone spend hours searching for a suitable rewards flight, that extra layer of simplicity is important. 

I also have ADHD, so navigating a complicated rewards scheme that requires lots of extra steps or tracking can sometimes feel overwhelming. Simpler rewards programs are easier for me to stick to long term and are overall a better fit for my neurodivergent brain. Plus, I’m more likely to use my rewards if they’re easy to redeem. 

On the downside, the redemption options for the Bank of America Travel Rewards card are limited: to earn a 1:1 return on your rewards spending, you need to redeem your points for travel or dining. 

You can trade in your points for a gift card, but your points will be worth less than a cent each. The redemption rate for cash is even stingier.

Luckily, there are plenty of purchases that count as travel and dining, including public transit and parking fees, bridge and highway tolls, tourist attractions such as aquariums and zoos, fast food, coffee shops, bars and taverns. 

Bank of America also gives you up to a year to redeem your points before a qualifying purchase is no longer eligible. So you have some time to build up your rewards. 

How I use American credit while living in another country

In my case, I’ve managed to seamlessly transition to living much of the year in Canada without giving up my American credit history because I still have a valid U.S. address and phone number and maintain a presence in both countries. 

I also happened to own most of my credit cards well before I moved to Canada in 2018. However, I have successfully applied for new cards in the years since and had them sent to my American address. 

Expats who don’t maintain a valid U.S. address may need to work with a bank or credit union that specializes in serving U.S. citizens who live or travel extensively abroad. But for me, it’s been relatively easy, and my Bank of America Travel Rewards card fits my needs perfectly.

*The information for the CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Kelly Dilworth is a business and personal finance writer, specializing in the intersection between money and life. She has more than a decade of financial writing and reporting experience and has covered consumer banking and lending, credit cards, credit reporting and consumer scoring for a variety of personal finance outlets, including Bankrate and CreditCards.com, The Balance, LendingTree and Forbes Advisor. Her reporting has also been cited in Congressional testimony and in a number of reports, books and journal articles.

Allie is a journalist with a passion for money tips and advice. She's been writing about personal finance since the Great Recession for online publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MyWalletJoy and ValuePenguin. She's also written personal finance content for Discover, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford, Travelers and Synovus.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

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The complete guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards points give you access to some of the best hotel and airline transfer partners in the business, as well as Chase Travel℠ , the issuer's easy-to-use travel portal that allows you to redeem points for a wide variety of bookings, including rental cars, hotels, flights, tours and activities.

Despite increasing competition from American Express Membership Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One miles and Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards has maintained its place as one of the most valuable and useful points currencies.

If you're ready to get serious about traveling more for less, here's everything you need to know about how to earn and redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

Ultimate Rewards points are the currency of most Chase-branded credit cards . You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points for everyday spending on these cards that you can then redeem for a wide range of rewards.

If you're just getting started in the world of travel credit cards, it's typically best to start with Chase products , thanks to the issuer's well-documented 5/24 rule . In short, you generally can't get approved for any Chase cards — including those that earn Ultimate Rewards points — if you've applied for five or more new credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months.

Keep this restriction in mind as you build a strategy to maximize your credit card rewards.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

How do I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

There are many ways to earn Chase points at rates of 1 to 10 points per dollar spent, depending on the specific Chase credit card you carry.

The first three cards below earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points all by themselves, while the remaining four are technically billed as cash-back credit cards .

However, if you have a full Ultimate Rewards points-earning card, you can combine your Chase cash-back rewards in a single account, effectively converting your cash-back rewards into fully transferable points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card can make sense to maximize your earning and redeeming potential.

Here are the seven cards that allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus : You'll receive 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth over $900 when redeemed through Chase Travel.

Why you want it : This is a fantastic all-around travel credit card . It earns points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar spent on all travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar spent on dining , including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
• 3 points per dollar spent on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and comes with many travel perks , including delayed baggage insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and primary car rental insurance .

Annual fee : $95

Application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Welcome bonus : You'll receive 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth $1,125 when redeemed through Chase Travel.

Why you want it : Put simply, you want this card for its earning power and its travel perks that can easily cover the annual fee. It accrues the following earnings:

• 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 10 points per dollar spent on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar spent on hotel and car rental purchases through Chase Travel
• 5 points per dollar spent on airline travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar spent on travel not booked through Chase
• 3 points per dollar spent on other dining purchases
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases

Other perks include an easy-to-use annual travel credit worth $300, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100 once every four years) and Priority Pass Select lounge access, as well as entry to the growing list of new Sapphire lounges . This is one of the few cards that allows you to use your Priority Pass membership for discounted meals in airport restaurants , though this benefit will no longer be available from July on. Cardholders also get primary car rental coverage, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and other protections .

Annual fee : $550

Application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Welcome bonus : You'll receive 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Why you want it : This is one of the best credit cards for small-business owners , earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases, and points don't expire as long as your account is open.

Application link: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Welcome bonus : Earn up to $750: $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.

Why you want it : Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%). Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%). You can convert these earnings to Ultimate Rewards points if you have one of the three cards above.

Annual fee : $0

Application link: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Welcome bonus : Earn up to $750 cash back (which can become 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

Benefits : Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards on every purchase. These cash-back earnings can be converted to Ultimate Rewards points if you have one of the top three cards listed above, meaning your small business can essentially earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all charges made with this card.

Application link: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Welcome bonus : Earn $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening

Benefits : The card earns 5% back on select bonus categories, which rotate every quarter and apply up to $1,500 in combined spending (activation required). Past bonus categories include gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, warehouse stores and department stores. You can convert these rewards to valuable Ultimate Rewards points if you have one of the top three cards listed above. Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases.

Application link: Chase Freedom Flex℠

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Welcome bonus : Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back.

Benefits : These earnings can be converted to valuable Ultimate Rewards points if you have one of the top three cards listed above. Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases. The card also offers 120-day purchase protection and extended warranty protection .

Application link: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Other Chase credit cards

Note that there are many other Chase-issued credit cards that aren't listed here, including:

• Those that are no longer available to new applicants, like the Ink Plus and Chase Freedom
• Those that don't fully participate in the Ultimate Rewards program, like the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card , which exclusively offers cash back and doesn't allow rewards to be combined with other cards
• Cobranded products with a partner's loyalty program, like United Airlines cards and Southwest Airlines cards , which don't participate in Ultimate Rewards

Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not expire, provided you keep at least one card that earns Ultimate Rewards points open.

If you cancel all your Ultimate Rewards cards, you must redeem or transfer your points before closing the last card. Otherwise, you will forfeit the points.

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece . This is largely due to the array of valuable transfer partners like World of Hyatt and United Airlines MileagePlus, as these options give you valuable flexibility in your redemptions.

However, you'll get varying values for Chase points if you pursue other redemption opportunities. For example, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece through Chase Travel for Sapphire Reserve cardholders and 1.25 cents for those with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred. You'll also have access to Chase Pay Yourself Back as a cardholder of any of the above cards, and there are occasionally offers to use Chase points for Apple products or gift cards at an enhanced value.

Finally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece if used for simple cash back.

What are the Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners?

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airline programs:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase also partners with three hotel programs:

• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

All transfer ratios are 1:1 (though there are occasional transfer bonuses ), and you must transfer points in 1,000-point increments.

Options to redeem Ultimate Rewards points

When redeeming Ultimate Rewards points, you have three basic options:

• Fixed-value, non-travel redemptions (e.g., cash back, gift cards, Apple products)
• Fixed-value Chase Travel bookings
• Transfers to travel partners

The "best" option comes down to your travel needs. Points are here to save you money, and you should use them when it suits you.

That being said, you should aim for the highest value whenever possible. Here's a look at all of your options.

Transfer to travel partners

Transferring Ultimate Rewards points to travel partners often can be the most valuable way to redeem your hard-earned points. With 14 transfer partners, you have plenty of options, and you can keep your Chase points in your Ultimate Rewards account until you are ready to transfer them, which provides excellent flexibility. Our favorite sweet spots include:

• Top-tier Hyatt hotels : The World of Hyatt award chart is incredibly inexpensive compared to some competitors. You can book some of the fanciest Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio, including the Park Hyatt New York and the Park Hyatt Sydney , for 35,000 points per night during off-peak dates. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, so 35,000 points are worth $595. That's a great deal for hotels that routinely sell for close to $1,000, even when demand is low. There's also great value at the lower end of the Hyatt award chart. Category 1 hotels range from 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, depending on peak, standard and off-peak pricing.
• Iberia flights to Madrid : Round-trip flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Spain's capital will only set you back 34,000 Avios in economy, 51,000 points in premium economy or 68,000 points in business class when you transfer your Chase points to Iberia Plus. Considering that most airlines charge at least 60,000 miles for a one-way business-class award to Europe, you're essentially getting a 50% discount.
• Flights to Hawaii with Alaska Airlines and American Airlines : By transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to British Airways, you can book awards with Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. As long as your nonstop flight distance is under 3,000 miles each way, you can leverage British Airways' (unpublished) distance-based award chart to fly from any West Coast gateway to Hawaii for only 26,000 Avios round-trip.
• All Nippon Airways flights booked through Virgin Atlantic : For just 145,000 points, you can fly round-trip in first class between the West Coast and Tokyo. Flights from other U.S. gateways only cost an extra 25,000 points (170,000 points round-trip). Business-class redemptions are an even better deal, costing just 90,000 to 95,000 points round-trip, depending on your U.S. departure airport. If possible, you'll want to route through JFK and fly ANA's "The Room" business class , which is only available on select routes.
• Short-haul flights to Canada : Aeroplan stuck to an award chart for partner redemptions but added dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights. As a result, you can often find super-cheap short-haul tickets from the U.S. to Canada. For example, a flight from JFK to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) can be booked for under 6,000 points one-way on many dates.

Book via Chase Travel

You can book through Chase Travel and redeem points for your plane tickets, hotel stays, rental cars or experiences at a fixed cash value per point.

As a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Ink Business Preferred cardholder, each point is worth 1.25 cents. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel redemptions in the portal. If you have a Chase Freedom Flex, Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, Ink Business Cash Credit Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited, all points are worth 1 cent each.

However, as noted previously, if you have multiple cards earning Ultimate Rewards points, you can combine your points into the account with the highest value for Ultimate Rewards bookings. For example, your points earned with the Chase Freedom Flex can be moved to your Sapphire Reserve account, thus increasing their value from 1 to 1.5 cents apiece. This is a generous offer from a credit card program.

If you can find inexpensive airfare via Chase Travel, using your points for these flights can make sense to save cash. In the eyes of the airline, tickets booked this way are essentially the same as paid fares. This means you'll earn elite status credits and redeemable miles. Be careful to avoid basic economy tickets unless you are OK with their restrictions.

In the case below, spending 2,973 Ultimate Rewards points from a Sapphire Reserve account to fly from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) isn't too shabby.

You might also consider the travel portal option if you only have a handful of Ultimate Rewards points left since Chase lets you redeem points to cover even just a portion of the trip cost. You would then pay the remaining balance with cash.

Finally, this is a decent option for car rentals, non-chain lodging and when cash rates make spending points through transfer partners a bad value. The hotel options are quite varied, though be aware that if you book a hotel that participates in a major loyalty program through Chase, you likely won't earn hotel points, nor will you be able to take advantage of any elite status perks.

Enjoy fixed-value, non-travel redemptions

You can redeem Chase points for a statement credit or bank deposit at a flat rate of 1 cent each, and this rate also applies to gift cards and Apple products (outside a limited-time special).

However, with Chase Pay Yourself Back, you can redeem points for cash back at a rate of 1.25 to 1.5 cents each, depending on your card. This redemption rate is valid on statement credits toward rotating purchase categories, such as dining.

Finally, you can also link your eligible Chase cards to your Amazon account and pay for purchases with the Shop With Points program. However, you will only receive a value of around 0.8 cents per Ultimate Rewards point.

As you can see, you'll generally get much better value with the program's transfer partners and Chase Travel bookings. However, we know needs can change, so these non-travel redemptions remain fall-back options.

Bottom line

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite credit card programs at TPG. It allows you to start with a credit card offering a large welcome bonus and then enjoy bonus points on many everyday spending categories — like airfare, hotels, dining and groceries. Then, you can choose from a huge range of transfer partners, redeem points for travel directly with Chase or choose cash back.