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Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card

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  • Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card
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Visa for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Attending the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The spectacular athletes, the chance to meet people from other countries who were just as enthusiastic as we were, and the festive atmosphere that filled one of the world’s most beautiful cities made these Games an unforgettable event.

When planning my trip, I had to take into consideration the use of a credit card issued by Visa, the official partner of the Olympic Games. Indeed, all spectators at the competition venues who wish to pay for their purchases at the official Olympic food and souvenir stands must do so with a VISA card or cash.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card - Paris-2024-6

What’s more, since all transactions will be in euros, I wanted to avoid the 2.5% foreign currency conversion charge.

The best credit card that ticked all my boxes was the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card. What’s more, it gives me 6 free airport lounges a year worldwide, which was very convenient for my getaway across the ocean.

Buy tickets at the 2024 Olympic Games Box Office

A Visa credit card is preferred for purchasing tickets to Olympic Games events. However, other types of payment are accepted on the online platform.

But just to avoid the 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee on my ticket purchases, I used the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card - Screenshot
Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Souvenir shopping

To take home the famous Phryge mascot, get pins or Paris 2024-branded clothing of all kinds, there were official souvenir kiosks at every competition venue. Lines could be long, but they moved quickly thanks to the multiple checkouts.

Official stores (such as the one at the Gare du Nord, the Eiffel Tower or the Megastore Paris 2024 on the Champs-Élysées) and on-site kiosks only accepted cash or payment by Visa card.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card - Paris-2024-8

Food and beverage purchases

Food and Coca-Cola stands operate on the same principle as souvenir stores. Croque-monsieurs, sandwiches and even vegetarian food were available for purchase. Here again, a Visa credit card is required to speed up the process and pay.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card - Paris-2024-3

Other purchases

After a long day full of excitement and competition, there’s nothing better than relaxing on one of the many bistro terraces and exploring Paris!

I had used the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card to pay for snacks at Franprix and for restaurants. Even when I was abroad, I earned 2 X Scene+ points for every dollar I spent at grocery stores and restaurants.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card - Sceneplus

Finally, the benefits of the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card even extend to its travel insurance, which can even be extended if your stay in Europe turns out to be longer than the coverage.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right credit card for my trip to Paris 2024 was important. It allowed me to save on foreign currency transaction fees as well as avoid carrying cash on my person during my trip.

At the same time, this Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card gave me free access to airport lounges during my escapades in Barcelona and Amsterdam. It was a win-win situation in my case, and deserved a gold medal!

See you in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy in 2026 and in Los Angeles in 2028.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: My experience with a VISA card - Paris-2024-2
Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

The Olympics may be over, but the Paralympics kick off on August 28! If you’re keen to experience this in person, read our many guides to Paris 2024 :

When and where will the next Olympic Games be held?

The next Olympic Games will be held in :

February 6 to 22, 2026: In Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy)

July 14 to 30, 2028: Los Angeles (United States)

February 8 to February 24, 2030: In the French Alps (France)

July 23 to August 8, 2032: Brisbane (Australia)

Why was a VISA card mandatory at Paris 2024 Olympic venues?

Visa is the official payment partner of the Olympic Games, and that sponsorship grants exclusive acceptance inside competition venues, official souvenir kiosks and Olympic food courts. Spectators paying for purchases at these official points of sale could only use a Visa card or cash; Mastercard, American Express and other networks were not accepted. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* was a top pick for Canadian travelers because it adds zero foreign transaction fees on euro purchases, 2x Scene+ points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 6 free DragonPass lounge visits per year for the trip itself.

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.