best travel rewards credit card canada 2023

• Credit Cards

The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive payment from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. This comes from two main sources.

First , we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The payments we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.

Second , we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles. These “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Best Travel Credit Cards In Canada For November 2023

Updated: Nov 7, 2023, 12:53pm

Fact Checked

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

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

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

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

Featured Partner

Best travel credit cards in canada for november 2023, american express cobalt® card, cibc aventura gold visa card, cibc aventura visa infinite card, cibc aeroplan visa infinite card, cibc aventura visa infinite privilege, westjet rbc world elite mastercard, rbc avion visa infinite, cibc aeroplan visa card.

• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
• TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum

Alterna Savings Visa Infinite Card

Westjet rbc mastercard, here’s a summary of the best travel credit cards, methodology, best travel credit cards in canada, how travel credit cards work in canada, why get a travel credit card, travel credit card pros and cons, how to choose the right travel credit card, types of travel credit cards in canada, additional rewards to look for in a travel card, using travel rewards, what are the different types of travel insurance, how to redeem travel credit card rewards, how to apply for a travel rewards credit card in canada, tips for maximizing your travel rewards credit cards, frequently asked questions (faqs), advertiser's disclosure.

• Best Credit Cards
• Best 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

American Express’s Secure Website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points

$155.88 ($12.99 per month)

Regular APR

On RBC’s Website

Get up to 55,000 Avion points* (a value of up to $1,100†)

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

On TD’s Website

Credit Score description

Good/Excellent

Best Overall Travel Credit Card

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

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

Best Credit Card For Travel Points

35,000 Aventura Points

The Aventura Gold Visa card gives you an annual earnings value of over $500, a close second to the Amex Cobalt. However, it exceeds the Cobalt’s insurance options and its redemption options are just as flexible. Plus, when redeeming points for travel, you’ll find yourself using fewer points when booking both long and short-haul flights compared to other loyalty programs.

• Flexible redemption options for Aventura Points.
• $139 annual fee is waived in the first year.
• Flight booking options that see you use fewer points on flights than with other frequent flier programs.
• 10 types of travel insurance and consumer protections combined.
• Access to 1,200 airport lounges worldwide with four free visits annually.
• $139 annual fee.
• It costs $50 for an extra card.
• Requires a high credit score to qualify.
• Get 35,000 Aventura Points (an $800 value) in the first year.
• 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase.
• 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 in the first four monthly statement periods.
• 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre.
• 1.5 Aventura points per dollar spent on gas, grocery and drug purchases.
• 1 Aventura point per dollar for all other purchases.
• $139 annual fee (waived in the first year for the primary cardholder and up to three authorized users).
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $526.99 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in.
• A 20.99% purchase interest rate and a 22.99% interest rate on cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents).
• Aventura Points do not expire and cover the full airfare, including taxes and fees.
• Link your Journey Rewards Card to the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa for $0.10 off per litre of gas at Fas Gas, Ultramar, Pioneer and Chevron gas stations.
• $500,000 in travel accident insurance.
• $1,000 in mobile device insurance.
• 90 days of purchase protection.
• Extended warranty protection for up to one additional year.
• $5 million in out-of-province emergency medical insurance for 15 days for travellers under age 65.
• $500 in flight delay, baggage delay and lost or stolen baggage insurance.
• $2,500 in hotel and motel burglary insurance.
• Rental car collision/loss damage insurance.
• Four complimentary annual visits to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.
• Get a NEXUS application fee rebate (up to a maximum of $100 in statement credit) every four years.
• Access personalized travel booking and trip planning through the Aventura Travel Assistant.
• CIBC Pace It is available to pay individual purchases in installments at a lower interest rate.
• Optional CIBC Payment Protector insurance is available for an additional fee.

Best Credit Card For Premium Travel Perks

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

• 12 types of travel and consumer protection insurance, including $500,000 in common carrier accident insurance and rare mobile device insurance.
• Luxury upgrades, tickets and tours through Visa Infinite benefits.
• 4 complimentary airport lounge visits per year through the Visa Airport Companion Program.
• A NEXUS application fee rebate every 4 years.
• A $139 annual fee.
• A $60,000 personal and $100,000 household annual income requirement.
• 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 in the first four monthly statement periods.2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre.
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $627.32 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in.
• The $139 annual fee is waived in the first year for the primary cardholder and up to three authorized users.
• Aventura Points do not expire and include taxes and fees when they are redeemed.
• Aventura Points cover the full airfare, including taxes and fees.
• Link your Journie Rewards Card to the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa for $0.10 off per litre of gas at Fas Gas, Ultramar, Pioneer and Chevron gas stations.
• $60,000 in personal and $100,000 household annual income requirements.
• Visa Infinite benefits, including luxury upgrades, tickets and tours.

Best Airline Travel Credit Card

45,000 Aeroplan Points

$139 (rebate in the first year)

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

• Earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan Points in the first year.
• Annual fee rebate in the first year for the primary cardholder and up to three authorized users.
• First free checked bag whenever you fly Air Canada for you, authorized users and up to 8 traveling companions
• Reach Aeroplan Elite Status sooner.
• Get a free checked bag whenever you fly Air Canada.
• A $60,000 individual and $100,000 household annual income requirement to qualify for the card.
• $50 for each additional credit card.
• A welcome bonus of up to 45,000 Aeroplan Points (10,000 points when you make your first purchase, 40,000 points when you spend $1,000 or more during your first four months and a 15,000 point anniversary bonus when you spend $10,000 within the first 12 months).
• 1.5 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries and on Air Canada flights, including through Air Canada vacations
• 1 Aeroplan point per dollar on all other purchases
• Earn points twice when you shop at 150 Aeroplan partners and 170 eStore online retailers
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $527.32 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in.
• An annual fee rebate ($139) for the primary cardholder and up to 3 authorized users
• $60,000 individual and $100,000 household annual income requirement
• $50 for each additional credit card
• First free checked bag whenever you fly Air Canada for you, authorized users and up to 8 traveling companions.
• Visa Infinite offers hotel benefits, dining events and 24-hour concierge service.
• No additional airline surcharges on flight rewards with Air Canada flights.
• CIBC Pace It is available to pay for some purchases in installments at a lower purchase interest rate.
• Includes 8 types of insurance, including out-of-province emergency medical, common carrier accident, mobile device insurance, trip cancellation/trip interruption, rental car collision/loss damage insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, hotel/motel burglary insurance and purchase security and extended warranty insurance.

Best Travel Credit Card For Aventura Rewards

80,000 Aventura Points

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

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

Best Travel Credit Card For WestJet Flyers

450 WestJet Dollars

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

• A generous welcome bonus worth up to $450.
• Flexible redemption options that include flights, vacation packages and with partner airlines.
• An annual companion voucher to anywhere WestJet flies starting at $119.
• Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 guests.
• Link this card with your Petro-Points card to save $0.03 per litre on gas and 20% more in bonus Petro-Points.
• Link this card with your Rexall Be Well membership and earn 50 Be Well Points per dollar at Rexall.
• High income requirement of $80,000 in personal annual income or $150,000 household income.
• Low base earn rate of 1.5% on all purchases.
• WestJet Dollars don’t cover airline taxes and fees.
• Increasing redemption minimums depending what you’re redeeming for (minimum $15 for one-way, $30 for round-trip and $50 for vacation packages).
• Earn 250 WestJet Dollars after your first transaction.
• Earn an additional 200 WestJet Dollars when you spend $5,000 in purchases and recurring bill payments within the first 3 months of account opening.
• 1.5% back in WestJest Dollars on everyday purchases.
• 2% back in Westjet dollars when you book Westjet flights and vacation packages.
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $311.69 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in.
• Get a WestJet Rewards Status Life, bringing you closer to higher status in the program the more you spend.
• A round-trip companion voucher each year, for anywhere WestJet flies, starting at $119.
• No blackout periods and your WestJet Dollars don’t expire.
• Free Boingo Wi-Fi for cardholders.
• Identity theft and credit protection.
• Includes extended warranty and purchase protection.
• Includes 15 days for out-of-province emergency medical insurance and 3 days for those over age 65.
• $5,000 in trip interruption insurance.
• $2,500 in hotel burglary insurance.
• Rental car theft and damage insurance.
• $0 on DoorDash delivery fees for a year.

Best Travel Credit Card For Avion Rewards

55,000 Avion Points

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

Learn more:  Read our RBC Avion Visa Infinite Review

• Avion Points can potentially be worth a lot on redemption (between $0.2 and $0.233 per point when you redeem through the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule).
• Flexible redemption options, including flights, merchandise, gift cards, charitable donations, RBC financial products, transfer to HBC Rewards and more.
• 4 different airlines to transfer points to, including Cathay Pacific, British Airways, WestJet and American Airlines.
• 12 different types of travel insurance and purchase protection, including the rare mobile device insurance policy.
• A huge welcome bonus worth $1,100.
• High income requirements at $60,000 individual or $100,000 household annual income.
• Low redemption value for anything besides the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule and transferring to airline partners.
• A $120 annual fee.
• A potential 55,000 Avion Points as a welcome bonus.
• 35,000 Avion Points on account application approval.
• 20,000 Avion Points when you spend $5,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.
• Earn 1 Avion Point per dollar on everything you spend.
• Based on average Canadian yearly spending, can potentially earn $499.05 per year in rewards value, with the annual fee factored in.
• No blackout periods or seat restrictions.
• Earn an extra 25% on travel-related purchases.
• Flights start as low as 15,000 Avion Points on the Air Travel Redemption Schedule.
• Access to The Avion Collection of exclusive experiences, including red carpet events, rare tee times at exclusive golf courses and happenings involving dining and entertainment.
• Purchase and travel insurance options that include $1,500 of mobile device insurance, $500,000 on emergency medical travel insurance, $1,500 in trip cancellation, $5,000 in trip interruption, 90 days of purchase protection and 1 year of an extended warranty.
• Visa Infinite benefits, including front of the line event access and exclusive hotel or dining perks.
• Optional extras including RBC Road Assist, RBC BalanceProtector Max Insurance. Extra travel insurance that can be added on and identity theft and credit protection.

Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Card

10,000 Aeroplan Points

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

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

Best Travel Credit Card For Aeroplan Rewards & NEXUS Rebates

Td® aeroplan® visa infinite privilege* card.

Up to 100,000 Aeroplan Points

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

• Extensive travel perks, insurance and consumer protections
• Low credit score threshold for such a powerful card
• The most expensive annual fee on the list
• Requires minimum personal income of $150,000 a year or $200,000 in annual household income
• Earn up to $3,200 in value† including up to 100,000 Aeroplan points and additional travel benefits. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†.
• Earn an additional 50,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Plus, earn an anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening.
• Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†.
• Share first free checked bags with up to 8 travel companions† and get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges†, including complementary access for one guest.
• Plus, primary card holders get 6 complimentary worldwide select airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program†.
• This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.
• †Terms and conditions apply.

Best Low Annual Fee Aeroplan Rewards Credit Card

Td® aeroplan® visa platinum* card.

Up to 20,000 Aeroplan Points

$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 March 4, 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 annul 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 March 5, 2024.
• † Terms and conditions apply.

Best Credit Union Travel Credit Card

15,000 points

20.99% (fixed)

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

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

Best Low Annual Fee Travel Credit Card For WestJet Flyers

$150 WestJet Dollars

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

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

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

American Express Cobalt

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

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

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

Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99 per month)

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

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa

The CIBC Aventura Visa Gold card is a good alternative to the Amex Cobalt with a slightly lower annual fee and slightly less annual reward value at $526.99 based on an average spend by Canadians in many of its reward purchase categories, but also similar redemption flexibility and more insurance options.

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

Welcome Offer: 35,000 Aventura Points (an $800 value) in the first year, including 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase. and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 in the first four monthly statement periods.

Annual Fee: $139 (First year rebated)

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

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

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

Welcome Offer: Get 35,000 Aventura Points (an $800 value) in the first year. This breaks down to 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 in the first four monthly statement periods.

Annual Fee: $139

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

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite

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

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

Welcome Offer: A welcome bonus of up to 45,000 Aeroplan Points ($1,200 in travel value), including 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase, 20,000 Aeroplan Points when you spend $4,000 or more during your first four monthly statements and 15,000 Aeroplan points as an additional anniversary bonus when you have at least $10,000 in net purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods .

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

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

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

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

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

Annual Fee: $499

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

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

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

Welcome Offer: Get up to 450 WestJet Dollars: 250 after your first purchase and 200 when you spend $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Annual Fee: $119

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

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

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

Welcome Offer: 35,000 Avion Points on approval

Annual Fee: $120

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

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

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

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

Annual Fee: $0

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

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

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

Welcome Offer:  Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Earn an additional 50,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of Account opening. Plus, earn an anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.

Annual Fee:  $599

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

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

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

Welcome Offer:  Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card and earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 within 90 days of Account opening.

Annual Fee:  $89 (Get a first-year annual fee rebate)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Annual Fee: $39

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reward Flexibility

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

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

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

Perks and Benefits

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

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

General Travel Rewards

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

Airline Rewards

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

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

Hotel Rewards

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

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

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

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

Understanding Travel Credit Card Earn Rates

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

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

How to Calculate the Value of Travel Credit Card Points

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

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

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

Do Travel Rewards Points Ever Expire?

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

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

Out-of-province Travel Emergency Medical Insurance

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

Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance

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

Travel Interruption/Cancellation Insurance

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

Flight Delay Insurance

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

Lost/Delayed Baggage Insurance

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

Rental Car Collision/Loss Damage Insurance

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

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

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

Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance

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

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

Different Travel Redemption Models

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

Consistent Points

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

Fluctuating Points

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

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

Point Transfers

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

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

Eligibility

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

Fill Out an Application

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

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

What are three benefits of a travel rewards credit card?

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

What should you look for in a travel credit card?

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

What is the best travel credit card?

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

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

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

What’s the best credit card for international travel?

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

What is the best credit card to use while travelling?

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

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

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

• How to Choose the Right Credit Card
• How to Apply for a Credit Card
• How to Cancel a Credit Card
• Ways To Pay Off Credit Card Debt
• Why Your Credit Card Was Declined
• How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt
• What to Know About Credit Card Minimum Payments
• What Is a Credit Card and Should You Get One?
• How Do Credit Cards Work in Canada?
• What Are the Different Types of Credit Cards?
• How an International Credit Card Works
• Common Credit Card Terms and Conditions
• Credit Card Fees and Charges
• Credit Card Interest Calculator
• First-Time Home Buyer Incentive
• Tax-Free First Home Savings Account
• Home Equity Loan
• How a Reverse Mortgage Works
• Home Equity Line of Credit
• Mortgage Renewal
• Getting a Second Mortgage
• How to Refinance a Mortgage
• How Does Mortgage Interest Work?
• Realtors vs Real Estate Agents vs Brokers
• Is Canada’s Housing Market Crashing?
• Types of Houses in Canada
• First-Time Home Buyer Grants and Assistance Programs
• Types of Mortgages in Canada: Which Is Right for You?
• How Does a Mortgage Work in Canada?

• What Is an Interest Rate?
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
• Savings Account Guide
• Common Canadian Bank Fees and Charges
• Types of Bank Accounts in Canada
• EQ Bank Review
• Simplii Financial Review
• Tangerine Bank Review
• National Bank of Canada Review
• CIBC Review
• Scotiabank Review
• TD Bank Review
• What Is Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) Coverage?
• How Capital Gains Tax Works
• Investing for Canadian Beginners
• Understanding Asset Classes in Investing
• Understanding Fixed-Income Investments
• How to Invest in Stocks
• What Are T-Bills
• What is a Bond
• What is Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
• What Are Mutual Funds
• What is an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund)
• What Is Forex Trading
• What Is Cryptocurrency and How Does It Work
• What Is a Stock
• What is Old Age Security and How Does It Work
• What is Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs)
• How a Life Income Fund (LIF) Works for Retirement
• What Is An In-Trust Account
• What Is a Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA)
• How Much Money You’ll Need To Retire
• Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution Pension Plans
• Can Annuities Fund Your Retirement?
• What Is a Personal Loan?
• Personal Loan Insurance: Do You Need It?
• What Is a Secured Personal Loan?
• What Is a Payday Loan?
• What Is a Pawn Loan?
• What Is a Car Title Loan?
• Small Business Loan vs Personal Loan
• Personal Loan vs. Line of Credit
• Personal Line of Credit vs Home Equity Loan:
• Personal Line of Credit vs Car Loan
• HELOC vs Personal Loan
• Debt Consolidation vs Personal Loan
• Cash Advance vs Personal Loan
• Business Loan vs Personal Loan
• Price Matching Tips to Help You Save Big
• How to save for Wedding
• How to Save Money on Groceries
• Ways to Save on Your Next Family Vacation
• Tips to Help You Save On Gas
• How to Save Money in 8 Easy Steps
• Passive Income: What It Is and How to Make It
• Budgeting 101: How to Budget Your Money
• Ways to Make Money Online and Offline in Canada
• How Do Credit Inquiries Work?
• What is the Ideal Credit Utilization Ratio?
• What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?
• How to Get a Better Credit Score
• What is a Good Credit Score in Canada?
• Credit cards

19 Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for November 2023

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.

Nearly one in four Canadians (23%) say they’re planning to vacation this spring, according to the Scotiabank Spring Travel Poll conducted by Maru/Blue in 2023. Among those planning a trip, the majority want to venture internationally (53%).

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.

• The best travel credit cards in Canada
• Why you should trust us
• Summary of our selections

How travel credit cards work in Canada

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

Earn up to 115,000 TD Rewards Points† plus, first year no Annual Fee for the Primary and Additional Cardholders†. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024. †Terms and conditions apply.

Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada from Our Partners

Best overall, best travel credit cards in canada, best overall travel card, scotiabank platinum american express® card.

• Annual Fee $399
• Interest Rates 9.99% 9.99% on purchases and cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 2x Points Earn 2X Scene+™ points for every $1 you spend on all your eligible purchases.
• Intro Offer Up to 60,000 Points To qualify for the 60,000 bonus Scene+ points: 1. Earn 50,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $3,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. 2. 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. Offer ends October 31, 2023.
• Earn up to $2,100* in value in your first 14 months, including up to 60,000* bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends October 31, 2023.
• 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.

Best for: Expedia bookings

• Annual Fee $139 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 January 4, 2024. Waived first year
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 22.99% 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 2x-8x Points 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†.
• Intro Offer Up to 115,000 Points Earn up to 115,000 TD Rewards Points†: Earn a welcome Bonus of 20,000 TD Rewards Points when you make your first Purchase with your Card†. Earn 95,000 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†. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.
• Earn up to $1,000 in value†, including up to 115,000 TD Rewards Points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.
• 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 January 4, 2024.
• Get a free 12 month† Uber One membership (that’s $120 in value†).
• 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.

• Annual Fee $799
• Interest Rates Varies This card also has a Flexible Payment Option (FPO), which lets you carry a portion of your balance with interest on eligible purchases. Card members must pay all charges not included in their FPO balance in full.
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Points 2x on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada, 2x on eligible travel and 1x on all other purchases.
• Intro Offer Up to 100,000 Points 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.

Best for: Aeroplan points

American express® aeroplan® reserve card.

• Annual Fee $599
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 21.99% 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1.25x-3x Points 3x on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2x on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada, and 1.25x on everything else.
• Intro Offer Up to 90,000 Points New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points: Earn 5,000 Aeroplan points for each Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Card with an annual fee added to your account at time of application, up to a maximum of 2 approved Additional Cards. That could add up to 10,000 Aeroplan points. Plus, earn 7,500 Aeroplan points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $2,000 in net purchases on your Card for the first 6 months of Cardmembership. That could add up to 45,000 Aeroplan points. You can also earn 35,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 in net purchases between 13 and 16 months of Cardmembership. That’s up to $2,700 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits.
• New American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Cardmembers can earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points:
• Earn 5,000 Aeroplan points for each Additional Aeroplan®* Reserve Card with an annual fee added to your account at time of application, up to a maximum of 2 approved Additional Cards. That could add up to 10,000 Aeroplan points
• Plus, earn 7,500 Aeroplan points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $2,000 in net purchases on your Card for the first 6 months of Cardmembership. That could add up to 45,000 Aeroplan points
• You can also earn 35,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 in net purchases between 13 and 16 months of Cardmembership
• That’s up to $2,700 or more in value when you combine your welcome bonus points and card benefits.
• Receive up to $100 CAD in statement credits every four years when a NEXUS application or renewal fee is charged to your American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.
• 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.
• Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases with Rocky Mountaineer®**. Plus, you could receive a Complimentary Hotel Room Category Upgrade, on the first and last night, and a Complimentary Upgrade from SilverLeaf to GoldLeaf class of service when you book directly with Rocky Mountaineer using your Aeroplan Reserve Card.
• Standard Earn Rate: 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 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.
• 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 13 g 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. Conditions apply.

Best for: NEXUS rebates

Td® aeroplan® visa infinite privilege* credit card.

• Rewards Rate 1.25x-2x Points 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.
• Intro Offer Up to 100,000 Points Earn up to 100,000 Aeroplan points: Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†. Earn an additional 50,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of Account opening†. Plus, earn an anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening†. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.
• Earn up to $3,200 in value† including up to 100,000 Aeroplan points and additional travel benefits. Conditions Apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.
• Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make. your first purchase with your new card†.
• Earn an additional 50,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of Account opening†.
• Plus, earn an anniversary bonus of 30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening†.
• Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†.
• Share first free checked bags with up to 8 travel companions† and get unlimited access to Maple Leaf Lounges† including complementary access for one guest.
• Plus, primary cardholders get 6 complimentary worldwide select airport lounge visits annually through the Visa Airport Companion Program.†
• 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
• 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).
• 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: Rewards on travel spending

American express® gold rewards card.

• Annual Fee $250
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Points 2x points on eligible travel purchases, 2x on eligible purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada, and 1x on purchases everywhere else.
• Intro Offer Up to 60,000 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Transfer points 1:1 to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs.
• 1 Free Additional Gold Rewards Card (a $50 value) to help you earn points faster.
• Subject to approval. The preferred rate for purchases is 20.99% 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.

Best for: Hotel rewards

Marriott bonvoy® american express®* card.

• Annual Fee $120
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 21.99% 20.99% for purchases, 21.99% for cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 2x-5x Points 5x points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 2x points for every $1 in all other Card purchases.*
• Intro Offer 50,000 Points 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
• 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.

Best for: British Airways flyers

Rbc® british airways visa infinite‡.

• Annual Fee $165
• Interest Rates 20.50% / 22.99% 20.50% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Miles Collect 1 Avios for every $1 CAD spent on qualifying net purchases*. Collect double Avios when you shop with British Airways and BA Holidays*.
• Intro Offer Up to 60,000 Miles Receive 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 RBC rewards 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®*.

• Annual Fee $120 Waived first year
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 23.99% 20.99% on purchases and 23.99% on cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents).
• Rewards Rate 0.08x-0.25x Miles Earn 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.*
• Intro Offer 2,000 Miles Spend $3,000 in the first three months to earn 2,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles. Waive the $120 annual fee in the first year. Applications must be received by May 31, 2024. Terms and conditions apply.
• 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.

• Annual Fee $150 Offer Ends October 31, 2023. Waived first year
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 22.99% 20.99% on purchases. 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1x-3x Points 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 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.
• Intro Offer Up to 35,000 Points To qualify for the 35,000 bonus Scene+ points: 1. Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. 2. Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite cardholder, you are eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday net eligible purchases annually. Offer Ends October 31, 2023.
• 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. NEW OFFER May 1, 2023 – October 31, 2023.
• 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.

Best for: Cash back

Scotia momentum® visa infinite* card.

• Annual Fee $120 Open a new Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* credit card account by October 31, 2023 to qualify. Waived first year
• Rewards Rate 1%-10% 10% intro offer (Ends October 31, 2023), Earn 4% for every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases. Earn 2% for every $1 you spend on gas purchases and daily transit purchases. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no cash back limit.
• Intro Offer Up to $200 Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first three months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). Must open a new account by October 31, 2023.
• SPECIAL OFFER: Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases). No annual fee in the first year, including on supplementary cards. Offer ends October 31, 2023.
• Earn 4% for every $1 you spend on grocery store purchases, recurring bill payments, and subscription purchases.
• Earn 2% for every $1 you spend on gas purchases and daily transit purchases.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no cash back limit.
• Redeem cash back as a statement credit in November.
• Visa Infinite benefits, including Visa Infinite* Concierge, Visa Infinite* Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Infinite* Dining Series, and entertainment and lifestyle offers.
• Save up to 25% off base rates at participating AVIS locations and at participating Budget locations in Canada and the U.S.
• To be eligible, $60,000 (individual) or $100,000 (household) annual income is required, or $250,000 minimum assets under management. Also, you must have a Canadian credit file and be a Canadian resident that is the age of majority in the province or territory where you live.

Best for: Aventura points

Cibc aventura® gold visa* card.

• Annual Fee $139 Waived first year
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 22.99% 20.99% for purchases, and 22.99% for cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents).
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Points 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.
• Intro Offer Up to 35,000 Points Get a total of up to 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in travel value) during your first year: 1. 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase. 2. 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods.
• 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.

• Annual Fee $0
• Interest Rates 20.99% / 22.99% 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents).
• Rewards Rate 0.67x-1x Points 1x per $1 spent on gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and Air Canada travel purchases, and 1x per $1.50 spent on all other purchases.
• Intro Offer 10,000 Points Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase at any time with your card. New cardmembers only.
• 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.

• Annual Fee $149 Waived first year
• Interest Rates 14.99% / 22.99% 14.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1x-2x Points 2x on Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations. 1.5x on travel, dining and select business categories, such as shipping, internet, cable and phone services. 1x on everything else.
• Intro Offer Up to 65,000 Points Earn up to 65,000 Points: Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card. Plus, earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases each month for the first 12 months of Account opening. Plus, earn up to 10,000 Aeroplan points by setting up new recurring bill payments (maximum two). Account must be opened by January 3, 2024.
• Earn up to 65,000 Aeroplan points, no Annual Fee in the first year. Conditions Apply. Account must be opened by January 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®.

• Interest Rates 19.99% / 22.99% 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances and balance transfers.
• Rewards Rate 1%-2% For Rogers customers with at least two qualifying Rogers services, get 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases. Otherwise, earn 2% unlimited cash back on US dollar purchases, 1% unlimited cash back on everything else, and a 30% cash-back bonus when redeemed for Rogers’ services.
• Intro Offer Up to $100 Earn 10% cash back on eligible purchases for the first three months, up to $1,000 spend.
• No annual fee.
• 10% cashback on eligible purchases for the first three months, up to $1,000 spend.
• For Rogers customers with two qualifying Rogers services, earn 2% unlimited cash back on al eligible purchases. Cardholders must have at least one wireless and one home service (internet, TV, home phone, or home monitoring) to qualify.
• For cardholders who don’t have at least two qualifying Rogers services, earn 2% unlimited cash back on US dollar purchases and 1% unlimited cash back on everything else.
• Redeem your cash back for Rogers’ services and earn a 30% cash back bonus.
• 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 prepaid card

Ac™ conversion visa* prepaid card.

• Rewards Rate 1% Earn 1% cash back on all of your purchases, less returns and credits in the currency in which the purchase was made, through October 31, 2023.
• Min. Deposit $0 No minimum load required.
• Maximum Deposit $20,000 The maximum the card can hold is the equivalent of $20,000 CAD in your choice of currencies.
• Intro Offer 1% cash back Earn 1% cash back on all of your purchases, less returns and credits in the currency in which the purchase was made, through October 31, 2023.
• General fees and features: There’s no fee to order the card, no fee to load it, and no annual fee.
• Purchases: No fees for CAD purchases and no conversion fees when you make a purchase in one of 10 supported foreign currencies. There’s a 2.5% foreign conversion fee for transactions made in a currency other than the 10 supported currencies. The daily (24-hour) maximum point-of-sale purchase limit is $2,999.99 CAD equivalent.
• Reload methods: To load funds onto your card, use your mobile app or sign onto your account at acconversion.cibc.com. The website also works on your phone or tablet on the go. The maximum load amount for a single transaction is $2,999.99 CAD equivalent.
• Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all of your purchases, less returns and credits in the currency in which the purchase was made, through October 31, 2023.
• Lock in a great exchange rate each time you load. That means you don’t have to worry about exchange rate fluctuations. Plus, there’s no extra conversion fee.
• Shop with foreign currency on global e-commerce sites.
• Manage your funds from the palm of your hand with the AC conversion App. Reload as you go so you never run out of currency on your trip. Check your balance, keep track of your spending, transfer money from one currency to another, and retrieve your PIN.
• Protected by advanced chip and PIN technology to minimize fraud and theft. It also comes with Emergency Card Replacement Service, Emergency Cash Service and Protection from unauthorized use of cards or account information.
• Sign up for your card online or at a CIBC Banking Centre in Pearson Airport. You don’t need to be a CIBC client to order a card. No credit check is required.

Best for: Flat-rate rewards

Cwb world elite® mastercard®.

• Annual Fee $120 No annual fee for the first year, then $120. Waived first year
• Interest Rates 19.99% / 21.50% 19.99% on purchases, 21.50% on cash transactions
• Rewards Rate 2x-30x Points Earn 2 reward points on every $1 spent, plus earn up to 30 rewards points on every $1 spent with CWB Rewards partners.
• Intro Offer N/A
• Reward yourself faster by earning 2 points for every $1 spent on your purchases, up to a $25,000 annual spending limit. After that, earn 1 point per $1 spent.
• Earn more with CWB Rewards partners by earning up to 30 rewards points on every $1 spent.
• Redeem CWB Rewards powered by Brim as cash back or to pay for purchases.
• Free Global Wi-Fi access to over 1 million Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Lounge access, exclusive restaurant offers, airport transfers and security fast track with Mastercard Travel Pass.
• Feel fully protected with 15 types of insurance coverage, including mobile device insurance.
• To be eligible, an $80,000 annual income or $150,000 household income is required.

Best for: Premium travel perks

Cibc aeroplan® visa infinite privilege card.

• Annual Fee $599 Enjoy an annual fee rebate every year for the primary cardholder of up to $139 if you have a CIBC Smart Plus™ Account. Annual fee rebate available
• Rewards Rate 1.25x-2x Points 2x on Air Canada purchases, 1.5x on gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery, travel and dining, and 1.25x on other purchases.
• Intro Offer Up to 95,000 Points You’ll receive 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase, another 40,000 points if you spend $6,000 or more during your first four monthly statement periods, and 35,000 more points as an additional anniversary bonus if you have at least $15,000 in net eligible purchases posted on your account during the first 12 monthly statement periods. This offer only applies to newly approved card accounts.
• Get up to 95,000 Points: You’ll receive 20,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase, another 40,000 points if you spend $6,000 or more during your first four monthly statement periods, and 35,000 more points as an additional anniversary bonus if you have at least $15,000 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 for: WestJet flyers

Westjet rbc world elite mastercard.

• Annual Fee $119
• Interest Rates 19.99% / 22.99% 19.99% on purchases (20.99% on May 1st), 22.99% on cash advances.
• Rewards Rate 1.5%-2% Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars for everyday purchases you make on your card⁸. Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages using your card⁸.
• Intro Offer Up to $450 Get up to 450 welcome WestJet dollars¹ (a value of up to $450 CAD) when you spend a minimum of $5,000 in the first 3 months on your card¹.
• Intro offer: Get up to 450 welcome WestJet dollars¹ (a value of up to $450 CAD) when you spend a minimum of $5,000 in the first 3 months on your card¹.
• Buy One, Bring One! Get an annual round-trip companion voucher starting from $119 CAD³ (plus taxes, fees and charges) with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.
• Reach higher with WestJet Rewards Status Lift. Now everyday purchases on the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard can bring you closer to achieving status with WestJet5.
• First free checked bags for the primary cardholder on WestJet flights4 and up to 8 guests on the same reservation.
• Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars for everyday purchases you make on your card⁸.
• Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages using your card⁸.
• Redeem your WestJet dollars toward all or part of a WestJet flight or WestJet Vacations packages⁹ — no blackout periods and your WestJet dollars don’t expire¹⁰ — to destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.
• 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.

Methodology to choose the best travel credit 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

By barry choi and shannon terrell.

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. Back to Top

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 Authors

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…

Barry Choi is a freelance personal finance and travel expert. His website moneywehave.com is one of Canada's most trusted sites when it comes to all things related to money and…

16 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards in Canada for November 2023

NerdWallet’s picks for the best cash-back credit cards in Canada include top contenders across numerous categories. Choose the right one for your spending habits and financial goals.

How to Use a Credit Card Like a Pro

Using your credit card wisely means building credit, earning rewards and clearing off your balance so you never have to pay interest.

23 Best Rewards Credit Cards in Canada for November 2023

Compare the best rewards credit cards in Canada across numerous rewards categories, including travel, cash back and more, to find the ideal card for your spending preferences.

6 Simple Ways to Save on Your Next Family Vacation

Travelling off-season, booking early and redeeming credit card points are simple ways to vacation smart and save big.

This browser is not supported. Please use another browser to view this site.

• Credit cards
• ETF finder tool
• Best crypto
• Couch potato
• Fixed rates
• Variable rates
• Mortgage payment calculator
• Income property
• Renovations + maintenance
• Compound interest calculator
• Household finances
• Find a Qualified Advisor Tool
• ETF Finder Tool
• Student money
• First-time home buyers
• Managing debt
• A Guide For New Immigrants
• Best dividend stocks
• Best online brokers
• Where to buy real estate
• Best robo-advisors
• Making sense of the markets
• Ask a Planner
• A Rich Life
• Interviews + profiles
• Retired Money

The best travel credit cards in Canada for 2023

Searching for the perfect credit card? In under 60 seconds, CardFinder narrows down your top matches without impacting your credit score, no SIN required.

You will be leaving MoneySense. Just close the tab to return.

These are credit cards offered by Ratehub partners. You can find information about additional card options below.

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 .

Canada’s best travel credit cards

By Keph Senett and Margaret Montgomery on October 25, 2023 Estimated reading time: 30 minutes

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

• Our picks for the 11 best travel credit cards in Canada
• Best travel rewards credit card
• Best no-fee credit card for travel

Best Visa credit card for travel

• Best Mastercard for travel

Best credit card for Air Canada

Best credit card for westjet.

• Best credit card for no foreign transaction fees
• Best hotel credit card

Best credit card for travel insurance

• Best no-fee credit card for travel insurance  

Best credit card for earning Air Miles

• How we determine the best cards
• Frequently asked questions about travel credit cards and rewards points
• Different types of travel credit cards
• Travel credit card features

What travel points program is best?

• How much are your credit card points worth for travel?

Do travel credit card points expire? 

• More best credit card rankings

Our picks for the 11 best travel credit card s in Canada

Best travel rewards credit cards, american express cobalt *.

At a glance: American Express Cobalt offers competitive earn rates across the board, but its most interesting feature is just how broad its spending categories are—with flexible redemption options to match. Cardholders can take advantage of accelerated rates on more of their everyday purchases. Users can choose to redeem points for statement credits to cover travel bookings, use the Fixed Points Travel program or transfer their points to other airline programs like Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio to maximize points’ value. Strong travel insurance, new mobile device insurance, and partner perks like bonuses when booking with The Hotel Collection make this a travel card worth considering.

• Annual fee: $156
• Earn rate: 5 points per $1 spent on dining out and groceries (maximum spend applies); 3 points per $1 on streaming services; 2 points per $1 spent on transit, gas and ride shares; 1 point per $1 spent on hotel and car rentals booked through the American Express Travel Online portal and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• 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
• Welcome offer: You can earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Annual income requirements: None
• Travel perks: Travel insurance, including up to $5,000,000 in emergency medical expenses and $250,000 in travel accident, flight and baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, hotel burglary, and car rental theft or damage coverage; ability to transfer points to several frequent flyer and other loyalty programs at a rate of one to one; access to the Amex Fixed Points Travel program, which lets you maximize your points on round-trip flights; benefits like hotel credits and room upgrades when you book with The Hotel Collection
• Outstanding 5 points per $1 earn rate on food and drinks applies to grocery stores, bars and food delivery services, as well as restaurants.
• The travel spending category is as expansive and includes flights, hotels and vacations, as well as gas, public transportation, taxis and rideshare. 
• Includes a robust travel insurance package with up to $5,000,000 in emergency medical expenses.
• Travel insurance package does not cover trip cancellation. 
• Although it’s billed monthly rather than annually, this card’s annual fee comes out to $155.88, which is slightly higher than other similar cards.
• As an American Express card, this card is less widely accepted than Mastercard or Visa.

Also consider: Scotiabank Gold American Express *

At a glance: Its earn rate structure has undergone some major changes in 2022, thanks to Scotiabank and Cineplex’s new partnership with Sobeys. That makes this popular travel rewards card even more lucrative for Canadians who shop at Sobeys and its related stores. And the addition of mobile device insurance is a welcomed update. 

• Annual fee: $120 (waived for the first year)
• Earn rate: 6 Scene+ points for each $1 spent at Sobeys partner stores; 5 points for purchases at other grocery stores and on dining and entertainment; 3 points on gas, public transit, and select streaming services; 1 point on everything else
• Point value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners.
• 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.
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Annual income requirements: Personal income of $12,000 
• Travel perks: Includes a travel insurance package with travel emergency medical, trip cancellation and trip interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost luggage, and common carrier travel accident protection; plus, rental car collision and loss damage, and hotel and motel burglary coverage; ability to book with any airline; access to the Scotia Rewards Travel portal; no foreign currency conversion fee
• This card already had a good accelerated points program, but with the new partnership with Sobeys, cardholders can now earn 6 Scene+ points for each $1 spent 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.
• Cardholders can still earn big with an accelerated rate of 5X on other groceries, restaurants, food delivery boxes, and entertainment, and 3X on gas, transportation and streaming services like Netflix.
• Up to $1,000 in new mobile device insurance is now included when you buy your device using the card.
• When you make a purchase in a foreign currency, including when shopping online and when travelling abroad, you don’t pay the 2.5% foreign transaction fee. Only the exchange rate applies.
• There is a cap on the purchases eligible to earn the accelerated 6X, 5X and 3X earn rates. These rates apply to the first $50,000 in purchases annually; after that, you earn 1X the points. 

Back to menu

Best no fee card for travel

Mbna rewards platinum plus mastercard *.

At a glance: This card lets you earn MBNA rewards, which you can redeem for travel at a rate of 100 points per $1, and can be used on any airline. A no-fee card, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard will appeal to Canadians who don’t want to pay to earn rewards. But the relative lack in extras like travel insurance means it falls short of a full-service credit card. A robust welcome offer makes for a tempting offer.

• Annual fee: $0
• Earn rate: Earn 4 points on every $1 spent on restaurants, grocery, digital media, membership and household utilities during the first 90 days. After that, earn 2 points for every $1 spent on restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases, and 1 point on everything else 
• Point value: 1 MBNA Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel.
• Welcome offer: You can earn 10,000 bonus points ($50 in cash back value) (Not available for residents of Quebec.)
• Interest rates: 19.99% on purchases, 24.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Travel perks: Redeem 100 points for $1 in travel; use MBNA points to book travel on any airline; save with Avis and Budget rentals.
• Get up to 10,000 bonus points (worth $50) as part of the welcome offer.
• Earn travel rewards without paying an annual fee.
• Receive up to 10,000 birthday bonus points annually.
• Includes up to $1,000 in new mobile device coverage for loss, theft, accidental damage or mechanical breakdown.
• Rewards are capped annually at a maximum of $5,000 per category. Spends beyond that earn at the base rate of 1 point per $1 spent.
• Does not include travel emergency medical insurance.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card *

At a glance: When used in concert with the Expedia for TD site, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card can help you rack up major travel points that can be redeemed simply and easily for a wide range of travel rewards. This program keeps it simple with no blackout dates, no seat restrictions and no expiry for your points.

• Annual fee: $139 (first year annual fee rebate, conditions apply)
• Earn rate: 8 points per $1 for flights booked online through Expedia For TD and charged to your account; 6 Points per $1 on groceries & restaurants; 4 points per $1 spent on recurring bills; 2 points per $1 spent on everything else
• Point value: 1 TD Rewards point = $0.005 when redeemed for travel via Expedia For TD or $0.004 when redeemed through other providers and websites.
• Welcome offer: You can earn up to 115,000 TD Rewards points. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024. Plus, get an annual birthday bonus of 10% of your previous year’s points (up to 10,000 points).
• Annual income requirements: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 
• Travel perks: Access to Expedia for TD site; travel insurance including travel medical, trip cancellation or interruption, travel accident and car rental loss or collision; Priority Pass membership discount; savings with Avis and Budget car rentals
• With the welcome offer, earn up to 115,000 TD Rewards points. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024. and get a first year annual fee rebate.
• You can use the Expedia for TD site to book a huge range of travel products like flights, hotels, car rentals and vacations with access to everything Expedia offers. 
• No blackout dates or seat restrictions, and points never expire.
• Includes travel insurance and a discount on Priority Pass membership.
• The minimum personal income requirement of $60,000 (or $100,000 for the household) isn’t accessible to everyone.
• While travel spending is incentivized, other common spending categories like groceries and gas earn at high rates.

Also consider: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite *

At a glance : The BMO eclipse Visa Infinite offers a high 5X earn rate on dining, groceries and travel which works out to a return of 3.5% back in points in those categories. The annual $50 “lifestyle credit” offsets the $120 annual fee.

• Earn rate : 5 BMO Rewards points per $1 spent on dining, groceries, gas and transit; 1 point per on everything else
• Point value: 1 BMO Rewards point = $0.0067 when redeemed for travel.
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to 70,000 points ($467 value), 5 times the points on gas, dining, groceries and transit for the first year, and 10% more points when you add an authorized user. Also, earn a $50 lifestyle credit.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents), 23.99% on balance transfers
• Annual income requirements : Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
• Travel perks : $500,000 of travel accident insurance; car rental theft and damage protection; access to Visa Infinite perks
• With the welcome offer, you can earn up to 70,000 points (worth $467 in travel rewards), and the $120 annual fee waived in the first year.
• Every January, receive a $50 “lifestyle credit” to be used as you wish.
• Includes up to $1,000 in new mobile device insurance. 
• The travel insurance package is limited and doesn’t include flight cancellation or delay, baggage loss or damage, travel emergency medical or hotel burglary protection.
• The accelerated earn rate is only available for a handful of spending categories.

Best Mastercard credit card for travel

Bmo ascend world elite mastercard *.

At a glance : With a tempting welcome bonus and strong earn rates on travel, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard offers opportunity to those looking for a travel Mastercard. Perks like Mastercard Travel Pass and BMO Concierge are nice extras.

• Annual fee: $150 (waived for the first year)
• Earn rate : 5 points per $1 on travel, 3 points per $1 on dining and entertainment, 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to 70,000 points and the annual fee waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 23.99% on balance transfers
• Annual income requirements : Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000 
• Travel perks : Includes BMO World Elite travel and medical protection; Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass, with four annual complimentary passes; BMO concierge service
• With the welcome bonus for new cardholders, you can earn up to 70,000 points and get the annual fee waived in the first year for you and additional users.
• Includes travel and medical insurance.
• Includes four complimentary airport lounge passes annually.
• Accelerated points available only in select categories.
• Minimum income requirement will put this card out of reach for some.

Also consider: National Bank World Elite Mastercard *

At a glance : The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is most notable for its comprehensive travel and medical insurance that covers most events and, unlike many plans, extends to travellers over the age of 65. The annual travel refund and unlimited access to the lounge at Montreal’s Trudeau Airport make this a card to consider.

• Earn rate : 5 points per $1 on groceries and restaurants; 2 points on gas and electric vehicle charging, recurring payments, and National Bank of Canada’s À la carte Travel program; 1 point on everything else
• Point value: 1 National Bank Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel.
• Welcome offer : This card does not have a welcome bonus at this time.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.49% on cash advances, 22.49% on balance transfers
• Travel perks : Includes comprehensive travel and medical insurance; up to a $150 refund annually on your travel expenses like seat selection and airport parking; unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau Airport
• Includes an extraordinary travel and medical insurance package that covers most travellers, even those over the age of 65
• Receive an annual refund of up to $150 on travel expenses
• Includes up to $1,000 in new mobile device insurance to cover for accidental breaks, loss or theft.
• The top-tier rewards rates of 5 points per $1 spent applies only to groceries and restaurants but not to other common spending categories.
• There’s a monthly limit of $2,500 for accelerated rates. So, every additional dollar spent earns the base rate of 1 point per $1.
• Minimum income requirements will put this card out of reach for some Canadians.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite *

At a glance : Linked to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite offers solid travel perks that will appeal to those who travel frequently with the airline including a strong insurance package and discounts. The ability to share points will appeal to families. 

• Annual fee: $139
• Earn rate : 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and direct through Air Canada purchases (including vacations); 1 Aeroplan point per $1 on everything else
• Point value: Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to 35,000 Aeroplan points. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024. Plus, as anniversary bonus, earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend at least $7,500 within 12 months of opening the account.
• Travel perks : Travel insurance including up to $2 million in travel medical for the first 21 days of your trip, trip cancellation/interruption, flight/trip delay, lost or delayed baggage, common carrier travel accident, and hotel/motel burglary protection; auto rental collision/loss damage insurance; up to $100 rebate on Nexus application fee; free first checked bag for cardholder and travelling companions; savings with Budget and Avis; Visa Infinite benefits
• Generous welcome bonus—earn up to 35,000 Aeroplan points. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by January 3, 2024.
• Every seat is available for redemption with no seat restrictions or carrier surcharges.
• Free first checked bag for primary cardholder and up to eight travel companions travelling on the same reservation travel originates on an Air Canada flight.
• Share your Aeroplan points with up to eight family members and points never expire.
• The earn rate could be stronger in more spending categories.
• It can be complicated to figure out the point values. You’ll need to consult Aeroplan’s dynamic redemption chart, as the number of points required for a free flight depends on dates and destination.

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard 

At a glance : If you travel regularly with WestJet, this card is definitely one to consider. You’ll earn WestJet dollars with every purchase, which can be redeemed for WestJet flights or vacation packages. Plus have access to valuable perks like free checked bags, airport lounge access and a companion voucher every year.

• Annual fee: $119
• Earn rate : 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacations packages and 1.5% back on all other purchases
• Point value: 1 WestJet Dollar = $1 CAD when redeemed for eligible flights or vacation packages.
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to 600 WestJet dollars with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Plus a Round-Trip Companion Voucher Every Year.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances
• Annual income requirements : Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Travel perks : Travel insurance including out-of-province/out-of-country travel medical, trip interruption, flight delay, travel accident, and hotel/motel burglary protection; auto rental collision/loss damage coverage; annual companion voucher available; free checked bags for primary cardholder and up to eight travel companions; Dragonpass airport lounge access; free Boingo Wi-Fi; fuel savings with Petro Canada
• With the generous welcome bonus offered, you may be able to redeem your points for a flight. 
• Valuable annual companion voucher for a round trip.
• Enjoy free checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to eight travel companions.
• The minimum income requirements will put this card out of reach for some.
• You’re limited to WestJet flights and vacations for redemptions. If you are an avid shopper or spend more in other categories besides travel, this may not be the best choice for you.

Best credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Scotiabank passport visa infinite *.

At a glance : The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card comes with valuable travel benefits like travel insurance, airport lounge access with six free visits annually, and the ability to redeem Scene+ points for travel. You’ll also save 2.5% on purchases in a foreign currency because the card doesn’t charge foreign exchange fees.

• Annual fee: $150
• Earn rate : 3 Scene+ points on every $1 spent at Sobeys stores; 2 Scene+ points per $1 spent on grocery stores, dining, entertainment and transit purchases; 1 Scene+ point on all other purchases
• Welcome offer : You can earn up to $1,100+ in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points. Offer ends January 3, 2024.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Travel perks : Travel emergency medical insurance (under age 65 for up to 25 consecutive days, and for eligible persons age 65 and older for up to 10 days); coverage for trip cancellation/trip interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage, travel accident, rental car collision loss/damage coverage and hotel/motel burglary insurance; airport lounge access with six free lounge passes annually; no foreign transaction fees
• Comes with a generous welcome offer of up to 35,000 Scene+ points. First, earn 25,000 points when you spend $1,000 in everyday purchases in the first 3 months. Then, get another 10,000 points when you spend $40,000 on everyday purchases in the first year. 
• Through a new partnership with Sobeys stores, cardmembers will earn 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent 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.
• As this card charges no foreign exchange fees, it’s an excellent option for purchases in another currency.
• In October 2022, the annual fee increased from $139 to $150, or from $69 to $75 for those who have the Scotia Total Equity Plan (STEP). 
• The minimum income requirement puts this card out of reach for some.

Best hotel credit card for travel

Marriott bonvoy american express *.

At a glance : Travellers who book facilities in the Marriott Bonvoy family should consider this card, which rewards their loyalty lavishly. In addition to a hefty 5 points per $1 spent at Marriott properties, this card gets you 15 Elite Night credits every year, plus an annual night hotel stay for free. The points are flexible and can be transferred to more than 40 airline programs, including Aeroplan.

• Annual fee: $120
• Earn rate : Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott properties and 2 points per $1 everywhere else
• Point value: 1 Marriott Bonvoy point = $0.0117 on average when redeemed for eligible flights or hotel stays.
• Welcome offer : You can Earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you charge $1,500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Annual income requirements : None
• Travel perks : Includes $500,000 in travel accident coverage; flight and baggage delay protection; car rental theft and damage protection; hotel/motel burglary insurance; cardholders have the ability to transfer points to over 40 airlines; one free hotel stay per year; 15 Elite Night credits each year to use towards attaining the next level of Elite status
• Flexible points can be redeemed for free hotel stays at more than 7,000 hotels worldwide, including at Marriott, Delta, Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard properties and more.
• Cardholders can transfer their points to more than 40 airline programs, including Aeroplan. 
• Cardholders get a free annual hotel stay.
• The included travel insurance lacks travel medical coverage.
• As an American Express card, it’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard *

At a glance : The National Bank World Elite Mastercard has one of the best suites of included travel insurance around, especially for the hard-to-insure older traveller. Other travel benefits like VIP lounge access at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, and up to $150 in travel rebate annually makes this a stand-out.

• Earn rate : Earn up to 5 points per $1 on grocery and restaurant purchases; 2 points on gas, electric vehicle charges and recurring bills; 1 point on everything else.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 22.49% on cash advances, 22.49% on balance transfers
• Travel perks : Includes comprehensive travel insurance coverage for up to 60 days; out-of-province-of-residence medical/hospital insurance, departure flight delay insurance, baggage insurance in case of delay, theft or loss; and vehicle rental insurance; VIP access at the National Bank Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau Airport; up to $150 each year in refund for travel expenses on airport parking, seat selection, check-in fees, airline ticket upgrades and access to airport lounges worldwide
• Excellent travel insurance coverage, particularly for travellers between the ages of 65 and 75. 
• Includes up to $1,000 in new mobile device insurance that protects against accidental breakage, loss or theft.
• Get a refund of up to $150 annually for travel expenses like airport parking and check-in fees. 
• There is a monthly cap of $2,500 in spending for bonus points. Purchases above this threshold earn at a rate of 2 points per $1 spent. 
• The income requirements may put this card out of reach for some.

Best no fee card for travel insurance 

Rogers world elite mastercard.

At a glance : For those who want solid travel insurance without having to fork out an annual fee, the Rogers World Elite Mastercard is an excellent choice. Other travel-related perks include airport lounge access, free Boingo Wi-Fi, and cash back rewards. This card will also appeal to those who prefer cash back over point reward programs.

• Annual fee: None
• Earn rate : 1.5% cash back on all purchases; 3% cash back on all U.S.-dollar purchases
• Welcome offer : Earn $25 cash back when you make your first purchase within three months of having the card.
• Interest rates : 19.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Annual income requirements : Credit approval, plus personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000
• Travel perks : Includes out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical insurance; trip cancellation/interruption protection; rental car collision/damage coverage; access to over 1,300 airport lounges with Mastercard Travel Pass from DragonPass
• Although not a card without foreign exchange fees, you’ll get 3% back on purchases made in American dollars, which will more than offset foreign-exchange fees (typically 2.5% on purchases).
• New members get a $25 bonus applied to their account on making their first purchase with the card.
• To maintain eligibility, you must have an annual spend of $15,000 each year.
• The minimum income requirements and need for credit approval put this card out of reach for some.

BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard *

At a glance : The BMO Air Miles World Elite Mastercard is a valuable tool for the Air Miles collector, offering a minimum of 1 Mile per $1 spent and the ability to “double dip” at sponsor locations, which will help boost your balance quickly. Cardholders can book one Air Miles flight annually using 25% fewer Miles, and get Onyx collector status, which lets you use fewer Miles for flights and merchandise. For those travelling frequently with Air Miles, this card is a good choice.

• Earn rate : Get 3 Miles for every $12 spent at participating partners , 2 Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store, and 1 Mile for every $12 spent everywhere else
• Point value: 1 Dream Mile = $0.0121 on average when redeemed for travel. 1 Cash Mile = $0.105
• Welcome offer : You can earn 3,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and we’ll waive the $120 annual fee for the first year.
• Interest rates : 20.99% on purchases, 23.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Travel perks : World Elite travel and medical protection that includes trip cancellation, 15 days of out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical benefits up to $5 million, and collision damage waiver benefits on rental cars; complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass.
• Comes with a solid welcome offer of 3,000 Air Miles (a value of $310 in Air Miles cash) and the waiving of the annual fee for the first year (a value of $120).
• Use fewer Miles with an exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide flight redemption per calendar year.
• You can “double dip” Miles when you make purchases at sponsor locations.
• You’re limited to the Air Miles program. 
• Income requirements put this card out of reach for some.

Our methodology: How we determine the best cards

The MoneySense editorial team selects the best credit cards by assessing the value they provide to Canadians across various categories. Our best travel credit cards ranking is based on an extensive list of card details and features—with a focus on what matters to travellers—including annual fees, interest rates, welcome offers, rewards earn rates and redemption options, annual income requirements, and travel perks such as insurance coverage, discounts and airport lounge access. We have also considered the pros and cons of each card to help you determine which ones best suit your financial needs. Our rankings are an unbiased source of information for Canadians. The addition of links from affiliate partners has no bearing on the results. Read more about how MoneySense makes money .

Frequently asked questions

The best travel credit card will depend on your needs, travel habits and how you intend to use the card. The American Express Cobalt , for example, is a strong contender for the best travel credit card because you have the ability to earn rewards at a high rate across everyday purchases. The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard offers great travel features for no annual fee—like the ability to redeem points at any airline.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard offers well-above average travel medical insurance at $5,000,000, and it even provides 15 days of coverage for those aged 65-75. The Rogers World Elite Mastercard provides $1,000,000 in emergency medical coverage for no annual fee.

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

Different types of travel credit cards 

Generic travel rewards credit cards.

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

Airline rewards credit cards

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

Hotel rewards credit cards

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

Travel credit card features 

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

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

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

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

First, it’s important to understand that travel rewards programs can be broken down into two basic types: Consistent and chart-based.  Read more about these under “ frequently asked questions ” above. 

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

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

How much are your credit card travel points worth?

Consistent points programs.

• MBNA Rewards: 1 point is worth $0.01 in travel rewards
• American Express Flexible Points Program: 1 point is worth $0.01 in travel rewards
• Scotia Rewards: 1 point is worth $0.01 in travel rewards
• TD Rewards: 1 point is worth 0.5 of a cent in travel rewards booked via Expedia For TD
• BMO Rewards: 1 point is worth 0.7 of a cent in travel rewards
• WestJet Dollars: 1% in WestJet Dollars is worth $0.01 in travel rewards
• National Bank: 1 point is worth $0.01 in travel rewards
• RBC Rewards: 1 point is worth $0.01 in travel rewards

Chart-based programs

For chart programs, you will have to consult the respective rewards website when redeeming to truly understand the value of your rewards.

• American Express Fixed Points program
• Marriott Bonvoy
• RBC Avion – Air Travel Redemption Schedule

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

More of Canada’s best credit cards :

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

What does the * mean?

If a link has an asterisk (*) at the end of it, that means it's an affiliate link and can sometimes result in a payment to MoneySense (owned by Ratehub Inc.) which helps our website stay free to our users. It's important to note that our editorial content will never be impacted by these links. We are committed to looking at all available products in the market, and where a product ranks in our article or whether or not it's included in the first place is never driven by compensation. For more details read our MoneySense Monetization policy.

Advertisement

Table of contents

• The best travel cards - at a glance
• The best cards per category
• How travel cards work (card types, points values, and more)
• The best cash back cards in Canada

About Keph Senett

About Margaret Montgomery

Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards 2023

Welcome to Rewards Canada's 15th Annual Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards!

Canada's original credit card rankings.

Rewards Canada is pleased to present the best Travel Rewards Credit Cards in Canada for 2023! In this, our 15th edition of ranking the best credit cards in Canada we have added two new categories to help Canadians from all walks of life find the best travel credit cards for their wallets. Want to know what the best travel rewards credit cards are? Look no further than our rankings!

Now that the world is back to full blown travel 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 20 years of experience and research, Rewards Canada is the most renowned and trusted source for helping individuals find the right card for them. The first step in that search begins right here with our annual top travel rewards credit card rankings.

This year's rankings see some cards move up, down, in and out of the ranks however the #1 cards from 2022 have all held onto those top spots in our original six categories. We did crown two new winners this year and those came in the two new categories that have been added for 2023. Much like the past we don't list all the factors in our decision making process on this main page here but rather if you want more details on our consideration process you can read the factors behind our rankings right here

Two new categories for 2023

In our 15th edition of these rankings we have added two new categories that have become ever so popular: Top No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card Top Small Business Travel Rewards Credit Card

This now brings our rankings our to eight categories in total. They are comprised of our top overall category and seven sub-categories.

These are the categories featured in the 15th 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. This is the best card overall from all of the separate categories listed below.

American Express Cobalt® Card

TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® This card is no longer available for new applications

Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express®* Card

Click here to learn why this card is the best!

Taking the top spot for the sixth year in a row, the American Express Cobalt 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. And 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) and 50% on another card will reward you more than putting 100% of your spending on just that other card. Travel wise the card provides up to a 5% return towards any travel bookings thanks to earning 5x points on eats and drinks which actually levels 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! Like we said - it is unmatched in providing value and flexibility to such a wide range of Canadian travellers! The 5x points is earned on up to $30,000 on spending in this category annually

Click here to learn more and to apply for this card

For the 6th year in a row the American Express Cobalt Card 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. The American Express Gold Rewards Card is in third thanks to decent earn rates, all the same flexible travel rewards options as the Cobalt Card and its travel perks like lounge access and an annual travel credit. The HSBC World Elite Mastercard (Closed to new applications as of Oct 23) moves up a spot to fourth place thanks to its competitive earn rates, flexible travel rewards, excellent travel benefits and most importantly No Foreign Transaction fees. We'll still get this card for at least one more year so it may be advisable to get it sooner than later to receive all the benefits it provides! Dropping down to fifth from fourth spot is the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. It is still an amazing card with lots of value and benefits but with Marriott's move to dynamic award night pricing there is greater variation in the value of a Bonvoy point. For some it is better now but others are finding less value.

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

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

Taking the top spot for the third year in a row, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card gets tagged with the Cobalt Card as a 'Points Earning Machine'. As part of the Scene+ program's expansion into groceries, this card earns 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA and other Empire stores. Not shopping at those stores? It still earn 5 points per dollar on all other grocery purchases, restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments. Then it also earns 3 points per dollar on gas and daily transit which ncludes rideshare, buses, taxis, subway, and more. You can earn all of these accelerated earn rates on up to $50,000 of spending annually. 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 offer No Foreign Transaction fees, Amex Offers and Invites and still comes in with a $120 annual fee where many competitors are now charging more.

We see one change here for fifth spot, otherwise first to fourth remain the same for 2023. The top card is the Scoitabank 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.

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 (also on the supplementary card!), strong insurance and decent earn rates the card really gives you a little bit of everything.

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.

We had a really tough time determing fifth spot - it was very close between the TD First Class Visa Infinite Card and the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard . Do you give it to the card that provides more value out of its points or to the card with four free annual lounge visits? In the end we went with TD as the overall return on spending is better than the BMO card, plus it has an easier to acheive welcome bonus and a lower annual fee. Thus, the TD card which fell out of the rankings in 2022 makes it back in for 2023 thanks to the changes in underwent during this past year.

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

Taking the top spot for the second 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 category was a tough one to call this year thanks to the Scotiacard revamp! 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 second 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 from fifth spot to second in this category thanks to enhancements made in 2022. With earn rates from 1 to 3 Scene+ points per dollar it is one of the highest everyday earning no fee cards and those 1 to 3 points translate to an easy 1 to 3% return when redeemed for travel, groceries, dining or movies.

The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard drops down one spot to third due to the Scotia card moving up. It remains the best non-Amex no annual fee option with 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.

Thanks to some enhancements in 2022 the ever so popular Scotiabank Scene+ Visa card marks its entrance into our rankings as the fourth best no annual fee card in Canada. The card has earn rates from 1 to 2 Scene+ points per dollar translate to a 1 to 2% return when redeemed for travel, groceries, dining or movies.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card gets knocked down one spot to this year due to the Scene+ Visa card being enhanced. This card remains as a great no fee Visa card option for Canadians.

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

Taking the top spot for the third year in a row, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infiinte Card is the mainstay card from the revamped 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 the Aeroplan program is tough to compete with if you know how to make those most it. Add in card features like first checked bag free, discounted reward flight pricing, a NEXUS credit and this card is tough to compete with!

There was a little bit of movement in the airline category this year as we saw one airline card depart our market (MBNA Alaska Airlines) and one new card enter the market (Brim Air France KLM) but these did not affect the first three spots.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card holds onto the top spot for the third year in a row thanks to the strength of the Aeroplan program and lots of great benefits provided by the card. Holding onto second spot is the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastecard . With its 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.

The American Express Aeroplan Card continues on in third spot in the airline category. It earns more points per dollar spent direclty with Air Canada than the top TD card however it does earn less in important categories like groceries and doesn't have as extensive insurance benefits like the TD card hence it ranks a little lower, no matter it is still an excellent option!

Introduced in late 2022, the newest credit card in the Canadian market is the Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard® powered by Brim Financial. Right away it cracks into the top 5 thanks to amazing earn rates on Air France KLM flights, an eats and drinks accelerator but most importantly it rides on the strength of the Flying Blue program which now offers free stopovers and is the best program for Transatlantic Economy Class rewards out of Canada which start at only 15,000 miles each way.

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, not to mention an annual companion flight voucher can be earned if you spend $30,000 or more annually. British Airways also recently introduced their Reward Flight Saver to Canada which sees award ticket surcharges greatly reduced but with an increase in the Avios required, however for the most part it is an improvement to the program.

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

Taking the top spot for the sixth 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!

There were no changes in this category for 2023 with the Top 5 Hybrid Cards remaining the same!

For the 6th 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 repitition! 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.

In third place for the third year in a row is the HSBC World Elite Mastercard This card is no longer available for new applications . This card offers no foreign transaction fees, any travel any time rewards, plus conversion options to British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. This card is no longer open for new applications

The RBC Avion Visa Infiite Card keeps trucking along in fourth spot thanks to a good welcome bonus and the conversion options to British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, WestJet Rewards & other programs. If it didn't have those it would be lower down on the list. It's really too bad as the card was #1 back in 2010 but has fallen down the ranks as the competition has became much better.

Rounding out the top 5 is the Platinum Card from American Express . It holds onto to this spot 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 a wide range of Canadians hence its lower ranking. If you want amazing travel benefits and flexible rewards just like the Cobalt and Gold Rewards cards this one to check out.

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

HSBC World Elite Mastercard This card is no longer available for new applications

Scotiabank Gold American Express card

Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card

Brim World Elite Mastercard

Taking the top spot in this category's inaugural year is the HSBC World Elite Mastercard . As the winner of this category you guessed correctly in that in offers no foreign transaction fees! On top of this it has strong earn rates, any travel any time rewards, an annual $100 travel enhancement credit plus conversion options to British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.

This card is no longer open to new applications

A new category for Rewards Canada this year! Now that there are 10 actual credit cards offering No FX fees (not incuding prepaid cards) and the this type of benefit gaining in popularity it was time we ranked them.

Already discussed above, the HSBC World Elite Mastercard ( This card is no longer available for new applications ) takes top spot in this category. As the fourth best overal card in Canada and the highest ranking No FX Fee Card in that category it's no wonder it takes top spot here. Unfortunately this card is closed to new applications at this time. Taking the second 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 third place, we have another Scotia card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infiite 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.

Scotia's Ultra Premium offering the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card is in fourth spot in this category. We've always dubbed this card as Canada's 'Sleeper Card' in that it goes unnoticed yet it is 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.

Rounding out this new 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 but fulfilling the role of No FX Fees.

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. These cards also have higher income requirements.

The Platinum Card from American Express

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Privilege Card

American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card

For the third 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 publically available card in Canada, provides automatic hotel elite status with several popular programs, offers discounts on premium class travel and so much more. Then you have good points earn rates and all the amazing redemption options from the Membership Rewards program from any travel at anytime to 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 had one change for 2023. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card has now moved up second spot overtaking the card's American Express equivalent. Even though the Amex card provides better earning on Air Canada purchases the TD offers more overall in terms of slightly better insurance, six free lounge visits and more. Overall we feel those items are worth more than the one extra point that the Amex card earns on AC flights. Also of note in this category is the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card which underwent some changes and we'd say narrowed the gap on fourth spot however the fact that RBC's Ultra Premium Avion Visa Infinite Privilege card has airline conversion options kept it from being knocked down in the rankings.

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

Taking over in second spot is the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privlege Card thanks to a 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 2022 Canada's Choice Awards. 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 Priorty Pass lounge access membership. This is the card you want if you spend a lot of cash with Air Canada.

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 additonal flexibility.

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.

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

Taking the top spot in this category's inaugural year 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 like Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and others.

Another new category for Rewards Canada this year! Interest in Small Business cards has gained in popularity on Rewards Canada over the past couple of years so it is time we rank them for you!

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.

In third place, we have another Scotia card, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infiite 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.

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.

Rounding out this new 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.

Wrapping it up

There you have it! Canada's Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards for 2023! Honeslty all of the cards listed above should help you with your travels in one way or another. With well over 70 travel credit cards in the market our rankings should definitely help narrow down the selection for you to find the right card or cards to add to your portfolio.

Whether you want to maximze 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.

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

 Learn more from Rewards Canada

Credit card reviews.

Rewards Canada prides itself on providing the best unbiased reviews of Canadian credit cards.

Clash of the Credit Cards

See how credit cards fare against each other in our head to head showdowns

Tips & Tricks

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), details on the top travel points credit cards (with annual fee), details on the top no fee travel rewards credit cards, details on the top airline credit / charge cards, details on the top hybrid credit / charge cards, details on the top no foreign transaction fee credit cards, details on the top ultra premium credit cards, details on the top small business credit cards.

6 Of The Best Credit Cards For Canadians To Get Travel Rewards, According To An Expert

You could rack up tons of points or get perks like lounge access!

Credit cards in a wallet. Right: Someone in a swimming pool on vacation.

There are several travel rewards credit cards available in Canada that come with a ton of perks and could end up saving you money.

Depending on how much you're willing to spend on annual fees, you could get a huge range of perks including lounge access, points that can be redeemed on flights and hotels and more.

So which travel credit card is best? Narcity asked Barry Choi, personal finance and travel expert at Money We Have , to weigh in on which are the best travel rewards credit cards available to Canadians and if you're looking to level up your travel experience, you may just want to check these cards out.

American Express Cobalt Card

See on Instagram

"This card has one of the best earn rates in Canada. You'll earn five points per $1 spent on eats and drink, three points on streaming subscriptions, two points on travel and transit, and one point on everything else," he said.

Your points don't just apply to travel rewards either as American Express points can be redeemed on any eligible purchase charged to your card, with 1,000 points equalling $10.

It's basically a hybrid travel and cash back card so even if you don't have upcoming travel plans, you can still use your points.

Choi added you can also transfer your points to Aeroplan to help pay for flights or to Marriot Bonvoy for hotel accommodation.

In your first year as an American Express Cobalt cardholder, you'll earn 2,500 points for every month where you spend $500 or more in purchases on your card, which could rack up to a tidy 30,000 in a year.

With a monthly fee of $12.99 (or around $155.88 annually), it's also pretty affordable.

American Express Cobalt Credit Card website

EQ Bank Card

If you travel a lot and you're sick of the sting of having to pay for foreign transaction fees, Choi recommends getting an EQ Bank Card.

This prepaid card is available to anyone who has an EQ Bank account and it's just as handy to have in Canada as it is when you travel abroad.

"You don't get charged foreign transaction fees on any purchases not made in Canadian dollars," Choi said.

He added that you also won't be changed foreign transaction fees by EQ Bank if you withdraw from ATMs while you're travelling too, though some local ATMs may charge you a fee.

In Canada, if you use an ATM that charges you, EQ Bank will refund you the money within 10 days which is super handy if you're frustrated with having to pay every time you need to withdraw cash.

The card can be used anywhere in the world that accepts Mastercard which is around 210 countries.

EQ Bank Card website

American Express Platinum Card

For premium travel benefits and big purchases, Choi recommends looking at the American Express Platinum Card.

Compared to other travel credit cards, the Platinum card does have a high annual fee of $699 (which is increasing to $799 in September 2023), but according to Choi, the card comes with a lot of benefits.

When you sign up for the card, you'll receive a generous welcome bonus of 80,000 points – the equivalent of $800 – if you charge $7,500 in the first three months of your card membership so if you have any big purchases coming up, this will be the time to make them.

The card also offers $200 in annual travel credit and from September 26, 2023, card holders will also get $200 in annual dining credit too which can be redeemed at eligible restaurants.

The American Express Platinum Card comes with a ton of additional travel perks too from $100 NEXUS credit, unlimited lounge access for you and a guest at the American Express Global Lounge Collection, a fast track to Gold status on hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, and travel insurance.

If you're travelling through Pearson Airport a lot, you can also get access to the priority security lane, complimentary valet at Terminal 1 and discounts on parking.

American Express Platinum Credit Card website

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

If you fly Air Canada a lot and you don't want to pay a high annual fee for your travel credit card, Choi recommends the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite credit card.

With an annual fee of $139, this card will give you the opportunity to rack up Aeroplan points with every purchase that you can use to make your travel way more affordable.

With this card, you'll earn 1.5 points per dollar on all eligible grocery, gas and Air Canada purchases and one point per dollar for all other purchases. You'll also get double the points for any purchases made with Aeroplan partner brands.

You're able to share some of your perks with the people you're travelling with as the primary card holder and companions (up to eight people) on the same itinerary get their first checked bag for free.

If you enroll for NEXUS, you'll get an application rebate every 48 months of up to $100 to go towards the application fee.

However if you're open to paying a higher fee for more premium rewards such as Maple Leaf Lounge access, Choi also highlighted the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card .

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Credit Card website

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

According to Choi, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card is well worth getting if you don't want to have multiple credit cards on the go.

"It earns you travel rewards and doesn't charge you foreign transaction fees," Choi said.

The card, which has an annual fee of $150, allows you to collect Scene+ points which can be redeemed on your future travel plans.

You'll be able to earn three Scene+ points for every dollar spent on groceries at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland and participating Co-ops. You can also earn two points per dollar on dining and on eligible entertainment purchases such as going to the movies and the theatre.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, you will also be able to benefit from airport lounge access, with six free passes every year. These include over 1,200 airport lounges globally, including some participating Plaza Premium Lounges.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Credit Card website

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

If hotel stays are more important to you than flights, Choi recommends looking into the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card.

While you will need to pay a $120 annual fee, you'll get a free night certificate on your card anniversary which is worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

"The free night certificate is easily worth more than the annual fee," Choi said.

When you sign up, you'll also get a welcome bonus of 50,000 points provided you charge $1,500 in your first three months of having the card.

You can earn five times the points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program and two times the points per dollar spent on all other card purchases.

Marriott has around 8,500 properties in 138 countries so you'll be able to use those points pretty much everywhere you'd want to visit.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Credit Card website

These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.

• I Spoke With A Credit Counsellor For The First Time In My Life & I Was So Wrong About Debt ›
• How Travel Credit Cards Work & Whether They're Actually Worth It — According To An Expert ›
• Canada's Best Credit Cards For 2023 Have Been Ranked & There Are Loads Of Cool Perks ›
• 5 Things To Know About Travel Credit Cards If You’ve Never Had One & Want The Perks - Narcity ›
• WestJet Credit Cards Offer A 'Companion Voucher' For Cheap Flights & Here's How It Works - Narcity ›

9 Of The Best Credit Cards You Can Get In Canada For Perks Like Cash Back, Travel & Groceries

Canada's best credit cards for 2023 have been ranked & there are loads of cool perks, how travel credit cards work & whether they're actually worth it — according to an expert, 6 credit cards that offer free airport lounge access & other travel perks in canada, a toronto tiktoker shares a travel hack that'll save you money & it's super straightforward.

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Find the best credit card for you

The 11 best travel credit cards of november 2023, the best travel credit cards could earn over $2,000 in rewards over the next five years based on our calculations..

The best travel credit cards offer more than just great  cash-back , points or miles incentives — they also come with a range of perks that can take your next trip from basic to bougie without spending extra money.

Some travel card features are nearly standard across the board:  no foreign transaction fees ,  travel insurance  and various travel credits. More  premium cards  take things up a notch by offering  lounge access  and credits for  expedited airport security .

To help you choose the best travel rewards card for your needs, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of popular travel cards using an average American's annual spending budget and dug into each card's perks and drawbacks to find the best of the best based on consumer habits. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel cards.)

Best travel credit cards

• Winner: American Express® Gold Card
• Runner-up: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Editor's choice: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees )
• Best welcome bonus:   Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for luxury travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for no annual fee: Discover it® Miles
• Best for paying rent: Bilt Mastercard®
• Best for low interest: Choice Rewards World Mastercard®
• Best for students: Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
• Best for fair credit : Discover it® Secured Credit Card

American Express® Gold Card

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fee, credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees and our methodology , terms apply.

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

• Up to $120 dining credit annually ($10 a month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (after a one-time enrollment)
• Up to $120 Uber Cash annually ($10 a month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides (card must be added to Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit)
• Strong rewards program with 4X points earned at restaurants and 3X points earned on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com
• Baggage insurance plan covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage that is damaged, lost or stolen
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• No introductory APR period
• $250 annual fee
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,074
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,969

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is a smart choice for consumers who love traveling and dining out due to its generous rewards rates. While the card comes with a $250 annual fee ( see rates and fees ), it offers premium rewards that help offset the cost.

Standout benefits:  Travelers will appreciate the Amex Gold card's various statement credits. Cardholders get up to $120 in annual dining credit (up to $10 per month at Grubhub , Goldbelly, The Cheesecake Factory and other participating restaurants; enrollment is required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) to put toward rides in the U.S. and dining via Uber Eats (you must add your Amex Gold Card as a payment method in the Uber app in order to enroll).

[ Jump to more details ]

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

$0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

See rates and fees . See our methodology , terms apply.

• 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
• No introductory APR
• There’s a $95 annual fee

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers an abundance of travel benefits. It's especially valuable for those who want a straightforward way of earning rewards without having to juggle bonus categories.

Standout benefits:  Travelers going overseas can take advantage of  no foreign transaction fees . Cardholders also get a credit of up to $100 to cover  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership  and two complimentary visits per year to  Capital One Lounges  or 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network.

Editor's choice

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Foreign transaction fees

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

• Large welcome bonus
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• High annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want a premium credit card at a lower price point than other high-end cards with similar benefits.

Standout benefits:  This card is loaded with benefits, including a $300 Capital One Travel credit to use toward purchases made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 for travel). Cardholders also receive an up to $100 statement credit for either  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® , complimentary  cell phone insurance , access to Capital One and partner airport lounges and more. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

Best welcome bonus

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

See our methodology , terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
• Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a loyal following among travelers looking for a travel-centric rewards program and a robust suite of perks. What makes this card shine the most is its generous welcome bonus offer.

Standout benefits:  This card comes with many helpful benefits, such as an up to $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Cardholders can also benefit from a 10% points boost on each card anniversary and complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year through Dec. 31, 2024.

Best for luxury travel

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

• $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
• Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
• Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
• High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve is enormously popular among frequent travelers for its luxe perks, including comprehensive travel protections, and a strong rewards program. While this card comes with a substantial annual fee of $550 , the many statement credits help to offset the costs.

Standout benefits:  This card provides an annual $300 travel credit, which can cover everything from airfare and hotels to parking and tolls. Cardholders   can also get a statement credit of up to $100 (every four years) to help cover Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fees as well as enroll in Priority Pass Select for airport lounge access . Other benefits include elite-like benefits when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection; trip interruption/cancellation coverage; primary rental car coverage; lost luggage reimbursement; and trip delay reimbursement. 

Best for lounge access

The platinum card® from american express.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.

Credit Needed

Read our The Platinum Card® from American Express review .

• Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
• Up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Benefit renews annually.
• Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card®  on one or more of the following: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
• $695 annual fee
• No special financing offers on new purchases

Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is for road warriors who want to make their travels more comfortable. It grants access to more airport lounges than any other card on the market and is loaded with lots of other travel and lifestyle benefits that help justify its high annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Standout benefits:  Cardholders have an extensive list of opportunities to earn over $1,500 in statement credits each year and enjoy ongoing benefits like automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy and various travel and shopping protections. Even if you only take advantage of half of this card's perks, it's worth paying the annual fee (see rates and fees ).

Best for no annual fee

Discover it® miles.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

Discover will match all the Miles you've earned at the end of your first year.

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases

17.24% to 28.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Good / Excellent

* See rates and fees and our methodology , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Miles review.

• Miles program
• Generous welcome bonus
• No blackout dates
• No limit to the amount of miles you can earn and miles never expire
• No Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit offerings
• Travel spending does not receive additional rewards
• No airport lounge access

Who's this for?  The  Discover it Miles  card comes with a generous rewards program — all for zero annual fee — that makes it a standout among travel cards.

Standout benefits:  Discover has a welcome bonus that's hard to beat: It will do a mile-for-mile match of all miles earned the first year (for new card members in their first year only). If you rack up 35,000 miles within the first 12 months, Discover will match you with 35,000 miles. That's a total of 70,000 miles or $700 toward travel. (Based on our calculations, the average card user will earn around 32,777 miles in the first year.) Plus, the card has no foreign transaction fees.

Best for paying rent

Bilt mastercard®.

Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period - up to 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases.

Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer ($5 minimum).

See rates/fees and rewards/benefits ; terms apply.

• No annual fee
• Solid rewards on broad spending categories
• Ability to pay your rent with no transaction fees
• Transfer points to leading frequent traveler programs at a 1:1 rate, including American Airlines, United and World of Hyatt®
• No welcome offer

Who's this for? If you rent your home and don't have the Bilt Mastercard® , you're leaving points on the table. The Bilt Mastercard is the only card that lets you earn travel rewards on rent payments with no fees .

Standout benefits:  Bilt makes it easy for even beginners to get maximum value from their points through a unique partnership with the award search engine point.me . With the BiltProtect feature, it also protects cardholders from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent every month. Other benefits include cell phone protection; Purchase Assurance Plus, which covers your purchases for 90 days; discounts with partner brands; and access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts portfolio, which offers amenities like upgrades, free breakfast and property credits.

Best for low interest

Choice rewards world mastercard®.

Earn 2X points on groceries, gas, electronics, medical, household goods and telecommunications, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days from account opening

0% for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers made within the first 90 days of account opening

13.50% - 18.00% variable

• Good rewards program for everyday purchases
• Good intro APR offer
• No balance transfer fee
• Balance must be transferred within 90 days of account opening date
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year:  $344
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $1,720

Who's this for? If you're looking for a card that also offers an introductory APR, you should consider the Choice Rewards World Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union. It made our list of the top travel cards for its unique rewards program and relatively low variable APR of 13.50% - 18.00%.

Standout benefits:  In addition to offering 0% APR during the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers , the 13.50% - 18.00% variable APR rate is significantly lower than many other competitor cards (though we recommend that you pay off your card in full and on time each month). There are also no foreign transaction fees, which is a huge plus when traveling abroad.

Best for students

Bank of america® travel rewards for students credit card.

Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases

25,000 online bonus points after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, which can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward qualifying travel and dining purchases

0% APR for the first 18 billing cycles on purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account

18.24% - 28.24% variable

3% of the amount of each transaction

Good/Excellent

• Points can be redeemed for flexible travel expenses, including flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars or baggage fees
• No limit or expiration on points
• Strong welcome bonus of 25,000 points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• Intro 0% APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
• You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for this card
• No student-centric benefits or incentives to practice responsible credit behavior
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $466
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years:  $1,528

Who's this for? The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is a great choice for students who plan on studying abroad or traveling during breaks. The rewards program is geared toward travel, and cardholders earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases.

Standout benefits: There are no foreign transaction fees, making it an ideal card for college students studying abroad. This card also comes with a longer-than-average special financing offer of no interest for 18 billing cycles (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable APR). A full year of no interest is a great way for you to pay off new purchases over time, without incurring interest charges, though we recommend you pay off your balance on time and in full each month.

Best for fair credit

Discover it® secured credit card.

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

N/A on purchases

28.24% Variable

New / Rebuilding

Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review.

• Cash-back program
• Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit
• Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
• Low credit line prevents cardholders from charging high-cost items or many expenses

Who's this for? For anyone who is working to build their credit , the Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers an opportunity to earn rewards along the way.

Standout benefits: The Discover It Secured card earns cash back on every purchase and offers a generous cash-back matching welcome bonus. Plus, the card charges no foreign transaction fees.

More on our top travel credit cards

The American Express Gold Card earns elevated rewards for several popular spending categories, including dining, groceries and airfare. To top it off, the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn are some of the most valuable travel points out there.

• 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
• 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
• 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership.

$250 (see rates and fees )

Notable perks

In addition to the up to $240 in annual credits for dining and Uber Cash, the American Express Gold Card has a variety of other useful benefits. For example, cardmembers get a $100 experience credit and potential room upgrade when booking stays of at least two nights through The Hotel Collection. Experience credit varies by property.

Eligible purchases also qualify for the following insurance coverages*:

• Baggage insurance (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
• Extended warranty (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
• Purchase protection (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.)
• Trip delay insurance (Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
• Car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary) (Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.)

You can use the American Express Membership Rewards points you earn with this card in a variety of ways, from redeeming for gift cards and statement credits to booking travel through the  Amex Travel Portal . To get a potentially bigger bang for your buck, transfer your Membership Rewards points to a variety of airline or hotel partners, including Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Hilton Honors,  Marriott Bonvoy , Choice Privileges and more. * Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

[ Return to card summary ]

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stands out for earning versatile rewards that can be used for just about any travel expense while having a reasonable annual fee and convenient benefits for travelers.

• 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

$95 (see rates and fees )

Capital One Venture Rewards cardholders receive a credit of up to $100 to cover  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership , two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges and Hertz Five Star status, which unlocks car rental upgrades when available. Other perks include access to extended warranty protection*, purchase security, travel accident insurance *, roadside assistance* and car rental collision insurance*.

Travelers going overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees. As an added plus, you can use your Venture Rewards card to get access to exclusive sporting and music events, plus premiere culinary experiences through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment .

You can use Capital One miles to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more through  Capital One Travel , or you can use them to offset recent travel purchases at a fixed value of one cent per point. Alternatively, you can transfer them to any of Capital One's hotel and airline partners including Accor Live Limitless, Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest and others to get even more value from your miles.

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a luxury travel credit card with a straightforward rewards structure and a myriad of benefits that easily make its annual fee worth it.

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

$395 (see rates and fees )

On top of the annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X card is loaded with other benefits. Cardmembers receive up to $100 statement credit for either  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® , complimentary  cell phone insurance , special perks on hotel stays booked through the Premier Collection** and Lifestyle Collection  and unlimited access to  Capital One Lounges  as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. 

You can add up to four authorized users for free and each additional cardholder also gets airport lounge access. If you value rental car perks, cardholders receive complimentary Hertz President's Circle status (enrollment required)***, which grants benefits such as guaranteed upgrades.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has the same redemption options as the Venture Rewards Card. You can use miles to offset eligible travel purchases or transfer them to various airline and hotel partners.

***Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

In addition to an excellent  welcome bonus , the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers lucrative bonus categories and other useful perks like travel and purchase protections, all for a modest annual fee.

• 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025
• 3X points per dollar on dining
• 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
• 3X points per dollar on select streaming services.
• 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
• 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
• 10% anniversary points boost
• $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers travelers many important protections, including  primary rental car insurance , trip cancellation and interruption insurance and baggage and trip delay insurance. Travelers can also rack up rewards faster thanks to a 10% points boost on each card anniversary. That means if you spend $50,000 on purchases, you'll get a 5,000-point bonus (worth $75 in travel booked through Chase).

Cardholders can take advantage of various statement credits for specific purchases. For starters, the card offers up to $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit. Next, you can get up to $10 in statement credits on GoPuff Orders (through Dec. 31, 2023). Through July 31, 2024, you can register your Sapphire Preferred to receive six months of free Instacart+ membership and up to $15 back each quarter for Instacart purchases. You'll also receive a complimentary DashPass membership for a minimum of one year through Dec. 31, 2024.

One of the best benefits of the Sapphire Preferred is that it unlocks access to Chase's 14 airline and hotel transfer partners. You can transfer points to United Airlines MileagePlus,  Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards , Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards,  Marriott Bonvoy and more. Otherwise,  your points are worth  1.25 cents each through the  Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal  or one cent per point when redeemed for gift cards or cash back.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee. Its travel insurance perks can add peace of mind to any adventure and the card's airport lounge access and credits for expedited airport security can help reduce airport stress.

• 10X total points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®*
• 10X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
• 5X total points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®*
• 3X points per dollar on other travel*

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

Chase Sapphire Reserve card members get up to $300 in annual travel credits, which covers more than half of the card's annual fee. Additional benefits include an up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit (every four years), elite-like perks when booking hotels through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, access to Sapphire airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $469), which unlocks access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.

Cardholders also have access to a wide range of limited-time benefits and credits, including:

• Two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (worth $199 a year) when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
• At least 12 months of complimentary DashPass membership when activated by Dec. 31, 2024
• $5 in DoorDash credit each month through Dec. 31, 2024
• One year of free Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
• Up to $15 in Instacart credits each month (through July 31, 2024)
• Up to $10 in GoPuff credits each month (through Dec. 31, 2023)

Some of the easiest benefits to overlook are this card's top-notch travel and purchase protections, such as purchase protection, extended warranty protection, return protection, primary rental car collision coverage, trip delay protection, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, baggage delay protection, travel accident insurance, emergency medical and dental insurance and more. Cardmembers traveling internationally also don't need to worry about foreign transaction fees.

The value of the points you earn depends on how you use them. If you redeem points for cash and gift cards, each point is worth one cent. However, the value of points increases to 1.5 cents apiece when you redeem for travel on Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise reservations when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This is a great way to maximize the value of your rewards and makes this card stand out from the pack. Of course, transferring your points to Chase's airline and hotel partners is also an option.

The Platinum Card from American Express has a high annual fee but also packs a punch in benefits. If you're able to take advantage of its numerous annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access and elite status perks, you'll be sure to come out ahead.

• 5X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

$695 (see rates and fees )

Cardholders can enjoy a long list of benefits, including:

• Up to $200 annual hotel credit (Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
• Up to $300 per calendar year Equinox credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR® Plus (subject to auto-renewal)
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit. (Plus Ups are not eligible. Subject to auto renewal)
• Worldwide airport lounge access, including Delta SkyClubs and Amex Centurion Lounges
• Up to $200 annual Uber credit. Benefit renews annually. (Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.)
• $100 fee credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSAPreCheck
• Automatic hotel elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Complimentary Amex concierge service
• Cell phone protection
• Terms apply.

Membership Rewards points can also be exceptionally valuable. The best way to use Amex points is to transfer them to one of Amex's airline and hotel partners. They can also be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards and when  checking out at retailers like Amazon , though you'll usually get a lower value for your points.

The Discover it Miles card is an exceptionally rewarding credit card for everyday purchases , especially when you consider that it has no annual fee.

• 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase

Discover will match the miles you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or limits on how much you can earn through the match.

The appeal of the Discover it Miles card is its simplicity of not having to worry about paying an annual fee or paying foreign transaction fees. The card also has an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers , then a 17.24% to 28.24% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms ).

There are also no blackout dates when you pay for travel purchases using your card. And, you can easily redeem miles as a statement credit for travel,  restaurant or gas station  purchases, as well as a deposit to your bank account. The best part is, the miles you earn never expire even if your account is closed (Discover credits your account with your rewards balance if your account is closed).

Normally it's not worth paying rent with a credit card because of the fees, but the Bilt Mastercard offers a path to earning points for paying rent without any fees.

When you make at least five transactions in a statement period, you'll earn points at the following rates:

• Up to 1X points per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
• 2X points per dollar on travel
• 1X point per dollar on all other purchases

Thanks to the BiltProtect feature, Bilt Mastercard cardholders are protected from using up their entire credit limit or risk going into debt by charging their rent to their card every month. Other benefits include a $5 monthly Lyft credit after taking three Lyft rides in a month (through March 31, 2024), as well as a free ShopRunner membership (through March 31, 2024).

For a no-annual-fee card, the Bilt Mastercard has a surprising amount of built-in insurance perks, including:

• Trip delay reimbursement
• Rental car collision damage waiver
• Purchase protection

Bilt Rewards points can be redeemed for travel either by transferring them to airline and hotel partners or by booking through the Bilt Travel Portal at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. Other redemption options include using them to shop online, book fitness classes, pay rent and even make a down payment on a home.

Although we always recommend aiming to pay off credit card debt , if you have the debt, the Choice Rewards World Mastercard has one of the lowest interest rates you can find on a credit card.

• 2X points per dollar on everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, electronics, household goods and telecommunications

Earn 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days from account opening.

Not only does the Choice Rewards World Mastercard have a low APR, but it also has no foreign transaction fees, which is a huge plus when traveling abroad. It is a World Mastercard and as such, comes with purchase protection, Mastercard ID Theft Protection and 24-hour worldwide assistance for lost or stolen cards. It has an array of travel protections as well, including insurance for trip cancellations, travel accidents, baggage delays, lost luggage and rental cars (secondary).

Membership to First Tech Federal Credit Union is required to apply, but anyone can join through affiliation with select organizations or employers, a relationship with a current member, working or living in Lane County, Oregon, attending Cogswell Poly Technical College or by joining the Community History Museum (CHM) or Financial Fitness Association (FFA). First Tech pays the membership fee for the CHM and FFA on your behalf.

The rewards can be redeemed at a fixed rate toward cash-back, travel, merchandise, gift cards and experiences.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students

The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card provides a strong return for everyday purchases that competes with many of the top non-student credit cards.

• 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases

Earn 25,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

In addition to having no annual fee, the Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students card charges no foreign transaction fees, which is useful when studying or traveling abroad.

You must be 18 or older and enrolled in school (college, vocational or trade school) to qualify for this card. Eligible students have access to a 0%-APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles, then a variable 18.24%-28.24% APR applies. Only balance transfers made in the first 60 days of account opening qualify for the 0%-APR offer and there is a 3% balance transfer fee.

Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit to cover the cost of travel and dining purchases — a simple way to reduce the cost of taking a spring break vacation or buying a plane ticket home. You can redeem rewards at any time and at any amount.

The Discover it Secured Credit Card is ideal for anyone with no credit or poor credit because you don't need a credit score to apply. It has no annual fee and has a generous rewards structure for a secured credit card .

• 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.

The Discover it Secured card is designed for those who have no credit history or need to repair their credit score. You don't need a credit score to apply. Instead, you're required to make a refundable deposit of at least $200 to open the card. Whatever amount of money you deposit becomes your credit limit.

At seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if they can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, so you won't be dinged for using it abroad.

Cashback earned with this card doesn't expire and you can redeem your rewards at any time for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and more.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

How to choose a travel credit card

There is a variety of travel credit cards available, from general to airline - and hotel -specific, and all the choices can make it hard to settle on one. To choose the best card for your needs, you should consider several factors. Here are some tips on how to choose a credit card.

Consider whether you're willing to pay an annual fee. Some travel cards have steep annual fees over $500, which can be worthwhile, but not for everyone. Make sure you do the math to see if an annual fee travel card is for you.

Another key factor to consider is the type of travel you do most. If you travel within the U.S., then it doesn't matter if a card charges foreign transaction fees. But if you're off to Mexico or Spain, then it's important to have a no foreign transaction fee card.

Rewards should also play a part in your decision. Do some research to determine which card offers a rewards program more geared toward your spending habits. If you dine out a lot when you travel, consider the American Express Gold Card with 4X points on dining at restaurants. But if you want a competitive rewards rate on all sorts of purchases, the Discover it Miles has no annual fee and unlimited 1.5X miles on every dollar of every purchase.

You can compare card benefits side by side to see if one card rates better than another. The  Chase Sapphire Reserve , for example, offers complimentary lounge access, while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers cardholders a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck .

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

Making the most of your travel card

To make the most of your travel card, you should familiarize yourself with the various credit card benefits and fees. Take note of any annual fees, foreign transaction fees and the APR associated with your account. Also, consider the rewards rates and added perks, such as annual statement credits.

Once you're familiar with the terms of your card, you can start optimizing them. That may include setting reminders to use the annual $300 travel credit provided by the Chase Sapphire Reserve or submitting a Global Entry application with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to take advantage of the up to $100 credit.

If you have multiple credit cards , you might want to have a plan for the best time to use each card. Let's say you have the Discover it Miles and American Express Gold Card . Use the Amex Gold Card for dining expenses at restaurants to earn 4X points, then use the Discover card for all your other purchases to earn unlimited 1.5X miles.

Other types of credit cards to consider

Travel credit cards aren't for everyone. If you travel infrequently, you should consider alternative credit card options, such as cards with dining, grocery or gas rewards. Some cards provide up to 6% back in those categories, allowing foodies, meal-preppers and commuters to benefit.

Beyond rewards, you might benefit from a card that offers a 0% APR period . Some cards offer no interest for a year or more on new purchases and balance transfers, such as the Citi Simplicity® Card . The card has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of first transfer, plus 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening (after, 19.24% - 29.99% variable APR; balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening.) There is an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% or $5, whichever is greater for transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). When used responsibly, these cards can help you get out of debt without high interest charges.

Should you get a travel credit card?

If you travel often and pay for purchases with cash or debit , you're missing out on rewards and perks that can make travel more affordable. It can be in your best interest to get a credit card that awards high rewards rates on airfare, hotels, rideshares and other common travel expenses.

Using one of the travel cards mentioned above can earn you more than $2,000 in rewards over five years, which can help you offset the cost of past travel expenses or an upcoming vacation.

Who should apply for this type of card?

If you're interested in submitting a travel credit card application, keep in mind that card issuers usually require you to have good credit or excellent credit (scores above 670). Therefore, it's key to check your credit score before applying for a travel card.

Once you know your credit score and can check if you prequalify for a travel card, choose the best card for your needs and apply.

What's the difference between points and miles?

Unlike cash-back cards , travel credit cards generally earn points or miles. Traditionally, the term points referred to flexible rewards that could be redeemed directly through a bank's portal or transferred to a partner airline or hotel loyalty program. Meanwhile, the term miles has been associated with rewards earned through an airline's frequent flyer program. However, nowadays, points and miles are used interchangeably as there are flexible credit card rewards called miles and more restrictive airline rewards referred to as points.

How to compare travel credit cards

If you're having trouble narrowing down the best travel card for you, it can be helpful to compare credit cards. You should first list the benefits you're looking for and any deal breakers, such as an annual fee. Then consider cards that have those benefits.

For instance, if you want both travel and dining rewards, the Amex Gold Card is a better choice than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card since the rewards rate is 4X versus 2X.

But if you don't want to pay a high annual fee, the Venture Card is only $95 (see rates and fees ) compared to the $250 you'll pay for a Gold Card (see rates and fees ).

Bottom line

The best travel credit cards earn rewards you can use to book flights, hotels , rental cars and much more. But the benefits of having a travel credit card go beyond the rewards you earn. Many travel cards offer additional perks, such as travel insurance that reimburses if a trip is delayed or your baggage is lost.

Before you sign up for a travel credit card, consider how you'll use it and how you can best optimize its  rewards program , especially if you're paying a steep  annual fee . It's also important to make sure you can pay off your balance on time and in full each month because many of these cards have  high interest rates .

The good news: If you choose a card from this list, you could earn over $2,000 in rewards over the next five years based on our calculations.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best travel credit cards.

Our methodology

To determine which cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated over dozens of popular travel credit cards offered by major banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including travel rewards (points and miles), annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, one-time perks, annual perks, redemption rates, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

CNBC Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri . The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here .

Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.

We then estimated how much the average consumer would redeem over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee and assume that you are paying your credit card balance on time and in full each month so as not to incur interest charges.

It's important to note the value of a point or mile varies from card to card and based on how you redeem them. When we calculated the estimated returns, we assumed that cardholders are redeeming points/miles for a typical maximum value of 1 cent per point or mile. (Extreme optimizers might be able to achieve more value.)

Our final picks are weighted heavily toward the highest five-year returns, since it's generally wise to hold onto a credit card for years. This method also avoids giving an unfair advantage to cards with large welcome bonuses.

While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your travel habits.

The editor's choice card is independently chosen by CNBC Select's editorial team. While it may not have ranked as the number-one card in any given category, it consistently ranks highly across multiple categories and we believe offers some of the best value overall for a stand-alone card. Its rewards, welcome bonus, APR, fees, ease-of-use and ongoing benefits were all taken into consideration.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here .

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click  here .

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click  here .

Information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students, has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

• Did your bank close your account without warning? Here's what you can do Andreina Rodriguez
• How does the Fed affect mortgage interest rates? Jason Stauffer
• Impulse buying can be costly — here's what it is and how you can avoid it Ryley Amond