The Best Travel Credit Cards – December 2025

Updated Dec 1, 2025

Discover our selection of the best travel credit cards, designed to maximize your benefits when you travel. Enjoy attractive rewards, travel insurance and exclusive offers for an unforgettable trip.

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.

With this exceptional welcome offer for the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card, you can earn up to 60,000 Avios!

This card entitles you to a companion ticket (when you spend $30,000 or more in a calendar year). You can also take advantage of a 10% discount on British Airways flights when you book with your RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card.

With the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card, you get:

  • 3 Avios per dollar spent with British Airways and BA Holidays
  • 2 Avios per dollar at grocery stores, restaurants and for meal delivery
  • 1 Avios per dollar for all other purchases

What’s more, you benefit from a wide range of insurance coverages:

  • Out-of-province/country emergency medical coverage
  • Travel Accident Insurance
  • Flight delay and essential items insurance
  • Hotel/motel burglary insurance
  • Collision and damage insurance for rental vehicles

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 pick: National Bank World Elite Mastercard

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card on NBC.

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

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 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 for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, 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

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia voted National Bank World Elite Mastercard the Best Credit Card for Travel and the Best Credit Card for Insurance in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Transferable travel points

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

Our pick: 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 value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:

  • 5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), 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
  • 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.

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 offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until January 1, 2026, you can get up to 50,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus, distributed as follows:

  • 20,000 Scene+ points with $2,000 in net purchases in the first 3 months
  • 30,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb). Plus, the card is free 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 such as the Front of the Line program.

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 care insurance

Our pick: National Bank World Elite Mastercard

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card on NBC.

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

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 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 for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, 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

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia voted National Bank World Elite Mastercard the Best Credit Card for Travel and the Best Credit Card for Insurance in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively.

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 American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, you can earn up to 85,000 points Aeroplan. Here’s how:

  • Earn 60,000 points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
  • Plus, earn 25,000 points when you make a purchase in the 13th month following your membership

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 pick: American Express Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card® is the best Premium Card in Canada for travellers.

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

  • 70,000 points when you charge $10,000 in net purchases to your Card in the first 3 months after joining;
  • 30,000 points if you make a purchase between 15 to 17 months after signing up.

With this Card, you get:

  • 2 points per dollar for dining purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
  • 1 point per dollar for 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 your 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 :

  • 100,000 Aeroplan points
  • 100,000 Avios
  • 75,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

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

  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • An annual meal credit of $200
  • $100 NEXUS Card Statement Credit
  • Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 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

Last but not least, the Platinum Card® offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency 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.

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 pick: 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 up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:

  • Earn 50,000 points after charging a total of $1,500 to your Card in your first 3 months of membership.

It’s a card we recommend you keep, because each year at renewal, you’ll get an annual one-night free certificate worth 35,000 points, plus 15 Elite nights per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy 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.

Last but not least, this Card comes with a wide range of insurances : baggage delay, baggage loss or theft, $500,000 travel accident, flight delay, hotel/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 ( $160 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 Avion Visa Infinite Card, you can get 35,000 Avion points as a welcome bonus upon approval.

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

  • American Airlines AAdvantage
  • The British Airways 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 35,000 WestJet points.

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 offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until January 1, 2026, you can get up to 50,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus, distributed as follows:

  • 20,000 Scene+ points with $2,000 in net purchases in the first 3 months
  • 30,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb). Plus, the card is free 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 such as the Front of the Line program.

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 value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:

  • 5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), 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
  • 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 some frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about credit cards in Canada.

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