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The Best Credit Cards In My Wallet

To the point I am often asked about the credit cards in my wallet. Here are the ones I keep and why!

American Express Cobalt® Card

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

The welcome bonus is distributed monthly for the first 12 months. You’ll earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for every $750 in purchases charged to your card during the month (whether in the 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X category). That’s up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points.

You can easily use these points as statement credits for everyday or travel purchases. The value is the same for both: 1,000 points = $10.

Or you can transfer them into Aeroplan points, Avios (British Airways/Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery stores (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming subscriptions 3
Gas station 2
Transportation 2
Travel 2
Other 1

This is a 1 to 5% return on all these purchases.

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or restaurants and/or food delivery, you’ll earn $50 cash back per month, or $600 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!

And if you decide to transfer your points to other programs like Aeroplan, you could get even more value!

In addition, this card provides excellent insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, flight delay, $250,000 travel accident, hotel or motel burglary, Mobile Device Insurance, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection Insurance.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

National Bank World Elite Mastercard

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® is NBC’s best Mastercard credit card.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

And since it’s a National Bank Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Flight upgrades

In addition, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and free Wi-Fi with Boingo. And unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia voted the National Bank World Elite Mastercard® the Best Travel Credit Card and the Best Credit Card for Insurance in 2023 and 2024.

Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn up to 40,000 welcome bonus points (a $400 value) as well as a first-year annual fee waiver (a $150 value):

  • 30,000 points after just $1,000 in purchases
  • 10,000 points after $40,000 in annual purchases in the first year

Then, each year, if you make at least $40,000 in purchases on the card, you’ll earn an annual bonus of 10,000 points, a value of $100.

With the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 3 points per dollar 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.

Also, you earn 2 points per dollar for:

  • grocery purchases
  • dining purchases
  • Entertainment
  • Transportation

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card is an excellent Visa credit card for this type of purchase.

You can redeem your points for any travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

  • no foreign transaction fee
  • 6 complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
  • Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
  • Concierge services

We voted this credit card the Best No-FX Fee Credit Card of 2024. Knowing that the annual fee is waived in the first year, there’s never been a better time to get this credit card for your international travels over the next year!

Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card for free hotel nights.

With this exceptional limited-time welcome offer, you can earn up to 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:

  • 65,000 Welcome Bonus points after you spend $3,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn an additional 3 points for a total of 5 points on every $1 spent on eligible travel and gas purchases in your first 6 months (up to 15,000 points)

It’s the best time of year to get the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card. Don’t wait, this offer ends on May 6, 2024!

It’s a Card we recommend keeping because each year at renewal, you get an Annual Free Night Award (for up to 35,000 points at hotels worldwide) and 15 Elite Night Credits per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar on all purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Finally, this Card comes with comprehensive insurance: baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, $500,000 travel accident, flight delay, hotel or motel burglary, rental car theft and damage, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points:

  • A welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card
  • 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $6,000 within 180 days of Account opening
  • Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $10,000 within 12 months of Account opening
  • $100 NEXUS fee rebate
  • Up to eight passengers travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight

It’s the best TD credit card for occasional Air Canada travellers.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points per dollar of eligible purchases for:

American Express Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card® is the Best Premium Travel Card in Canada.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points:

  • 70,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • 30,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership

With this card, you get:

  • 2 points per dollar for dining purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

You can use your Membership Rewards points in many ways:

  • Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta Skymiles, etc.
  • Transfer points to hotel programs (Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy)
  • Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
  • Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
  • And more!

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • $200 Annual Dining Credit
  • $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
  • Complimentary and unlimited access for you and one additional traveller to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide
  • Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program

Last but not least, the Platinum Card® is distinguished by the numerous insurance coverages offered: theft and damage for rental cars, travel accident of $500,000Emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Bottom Line

Of course, I have other credit cards in my wallet, as and when the welcome offers come along – including those offered in the first year – or the benefits are relevant!

But the six credit cards listed in this article are the ones I keep, and they fit my lifestyle perfectly! What are your favourite credit cards right now?

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
4.4 Milesopedia Rating
Jean-Maximilien
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.

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