The Best Travel Credit Cards – November 2024

Credit cards - Travel Points

You can get travel points or benefits with those credit cards.

Here is a table summarizing the different offers. For more details, read on or click on the name of a card.

Outstanding travel insurance

All these travel credit cards offer outstanding travel insurance:

  • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
  • Car rental insurance
  • Flight and baggage delay insurance
  • Emergency medical insurance

Our pick: National Bank World Elite Mastercard

National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card on NBC. With the current welcome offer exclusive to the Milesopedia Network, receive up to 35,000 bonus points, distributed as follows:

  • 10,000 points if you make at least $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
  • 10,000 points if you make at least $10,000 in purchases in the first 6 months
  • 15,000 points if you make at least $20,000 in purchases in the first 14 months

What’s more, you pay no annual fee for the first year.

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

No foreign currency conversion fees

All these travel credit cards have no foreign currency conversion fees.

This means you won’t pay the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fee usually charged by other credit cards when you use your credit card without foreign currency conversion fees (or when you pay online in foreign currency).

Our pick: Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card only requires a minimum income of $12,000, making it accessible to the broadest possible audience.

Until December 31, 2024, you can earn up to 45,000 Scene+ points in the first year, representing a value of $450 for travel (including Airbnb). Plus, there is an annual fee rebate for the first year!

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you earn 6 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 5 points per dollar for:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

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

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card also offers no foreign currency transaction fees, excellent travel and purchase insurance, concierge service and exclusive American Express benefits (Front of the Line Program).

Airline points (Aeroplan, Avios, WestJet, etc.)

All these travel credit cards are co-branded with an airline. With these travel credit cards, you’ll get great value from your points if you travel regularly with the airline or one of its partners.

Our pick: American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

With this welcome offer for the American Express®* Aeroplan® Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:

  • Earn 60,000 Aeroplan points after spending $7,500 in purchases on your Card within the first 3 months
  • Plus, earn an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $2,500 in purchases in month 13

With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Amex Aeroplan Premium Card, you receive many Air Canada travel benefits, such as access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.

With this American Express Aeroplan Card, enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada®* flights.

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

Access to VIP airport lounges

All these travel credit cards offer access to VIP airport lounges so you can relax or eat before your flight.

Our choice: American Express Platinum Card®.

The Platinum Card is the best high-end card in Canada for travelers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards points:

  • 100,000 points when you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card within the first 3 months of membership
  • 40,000 points if you make a purchase in the 14 to 17 months following your membership

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!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

  • 140,000 Aeroplan points
  • 140,000 Avios
  • 105,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 168,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

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

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • $200 Annual Dining Credit
  • $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
  • Free, unlimited access for you and one additional traveller to over 1,200 airport lounges in more than 130 countries
  • Hilton Honors Gold Elite status (complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels)
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • Access to the Fine Hotels and Resorts program

Finally, the Platinum Cardᴹᴰ stands out for the many insurances it offers: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out of province or country), lost or stolen luggage, flight delay and misdirected luggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

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

Transferable travel points

With these travel credit cards, you can earn points that can be transferred to other loyalty programs, giving you greater flexibility in using your travel points.

Our choice: American Express CobaltMD 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.

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 11,250 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

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

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Métro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Gas station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
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.

Travel points (flights, hotels, Airbnb, etc.)

With these travel credit cards, you earn points that you can easily use for any travel expense charged to your card. You can use any agency or website to book your trip and get the best price.

Our choice: TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 135,000 TD Rewards points and a rebate on the annual fee for the first year:

  • 20,000 TD Rewards points for the first purchase made with your Card
  • 115,000 TD Rewards points if you spend $5,000 within 180 days of opening
  • A birthday bonus equal to 10% of the TD Rewards points you’ve earned in the past year, up to a maximum of 10,000 TD Rewards points.

Get an Annual Fee Rebate for the first year

With the TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card, you get:

  • 8 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia® For TD
  • 6 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on Groceries and Restaurants
  • 4 TD Rewards Points for every $1 you spend on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account
  • 2 TD Rewards Points For every $1 you spend on other Purchases

This TD credit card is one of the best TD travel rewards cards.

Hotel points

All these travel credit cards are co-branded with a group of hotels or earn hotel points. With these travel credit cards, you’ll get great value from your points if you stay regularly at one of the group’s member hotels.

Our choice: Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card.

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

With this welcome offer, you can earn 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points by spending $1,500 in the first 3 months after joining.

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.

All these travel credit cards are popular with Milesopedia readers. They’re worth considering if you’re planning to travel soon!

CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa credit cards with travel rewards.

CIBC has an offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points:

  • 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase
  • 30,000 Aventura Points if you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods

In addition, you can benefit from a rebate on the first year’s annual fee for the primary card holder ($139 value) and up to three authorized users ($50 each).

With this CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:

  • 2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre
  • 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores
  • 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases

The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

  • Airport lounges access: Visa Airport Companion Program membership with 4 complimentary visits per year
  • Reimbursement of NEXUS membership fees ($100 value)

The minimum annual income required for this card is $60,000 (personal) or $100,000 (household).

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

With this offer for the RBC Visa Infinite Avion Card, you can earn 35,000 Avion points upon approval.

You can use your Avion Rewards points for travel or convert them to other loyalty programs such as:

  • American Airlines AAdvantage
  • British Airways Executive Club (and Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • WestJet Rewards

The current welcome offer, for example, gives you the equivalent of 35,000 British Airways Avios or 350 WestJet Dollars.

With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you earn 1 point per dollar and 1.25 points for travel purchases.

What’s more, you’ll benefit from a wide range of insurances: trip cancellation and interruption insurance, out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical care insurance, collision and damage insurance for rental vehicles, and mobile device insurance.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card only requires a minimum income of $12,000, making it accessible to the broadest possible audience.

Until December 31, 2024, you can earn up to 45,000 Scene+ points in the first year, representing a value of $450 for travel (including Airbnb). Plus, there is an annual fee rebate for the first year!

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you earn 6 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 5 points per dollar for:

  • Grocery stores
  • Restaurants
  • Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

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

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card also offers no foreign currency transaction fees, excellent travel and purchase insurance, concierge service and exclusive American Express benefits (Front of the Line Program).

MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®

With the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®, you can earn 5 points per dollar of purchases for:

  • Dining purchases
  • Grocery purchases
  • Digital media purchases (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  • Memberships
  • Household utility purchases (electricity, etc.)

Everywhere else, you will get 1 point per dollar.

Enough to make the MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® the best MBNA credit card for restaurants, groceries, digital media, subscriptions and household utilities.

Knowing that Mastercard recognizes Walmart Supercenters as grocery stores, this is the best credit card for Walmart customers!

Plus, depending on your province of residence, you’ll get a welcome bonus of between 20,000 and 30,000 points, a value of $200 to $300!

And each year, you will receive Birthday Bonus Points equal to 10% of the total number of Points the Account earned in the 12 months before the month of your birthday, to a maximum Birthday Bonus each year of 15,000 Points.

American Express® Gold Rewards Card

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express® Gold Rewards Card. That’s a $600 value for travel or any purchase on the Card.

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to:

  • 60,000 Aeroplan points
  • 60,000 Avios points
  • 45,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

  • gas stations
  • grocery stores
  • drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

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

BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada. With our exclusive offer, you can get up to 100,000 bonus points:

  • 55,000 points after $4,500 in Card purchases in the first 3 months
  • 3,750 points per month after $2,500 in monthly purchases from the 4th to the 15th month (up to 45,000 points)

Plus, the annual fee is waived in the first year for both the primary cardholder and authorized users.

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, a premium credit card from BMO, you get:

  • 5 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on dining purchases
  • 3 points per dollar for entertainment purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on recurring bill payments

And 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else, including at Costco. You can use BMO Rewards points for all travel purchases made through the agency or website of your choice (flights, hotels, car rentals, all-inclusive resorts, Airbnb, etc.) or for rewards and gift cards on the BMO Rewards platform.

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard also offers:

  • Four annual complimentary passes to airport VIP lounges
  • Excellent Premium insurance for your travels or purchases
  • a premium concierge service

Frequent Asked Questions about travel credit cards

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about credit cards in Canada.

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