Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup

Published December 13, 2022Updated October 29, 202610 min readEditorial integrity

It had been a while since I had left without Audrey and/or the kids! At the end of November 2022, I received an invitation to participate in a new Electronic Music Festival in Saudi Arabia (MDL Beast SoundStorm) and decided to combine this with a stop in Qatar for the Football World Cup.

And to accompany me on part of this trip, one of my oldest friends, Jerome, – we’ve known each other since we were 3 years old – jumped at the chance. He too is a fan of electronic music.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Soudstorm 41

Istanbul, Riyadh and Doha

For this Middle East tour, we left from Nice (NCE) to Riyadh (RUH), choosing our flights appropriately to offer us a free 23:30 stopover in Istanbul (IST). To (re)-discover this beautiful city and try a new hotel.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Orientbank Istanbul-38

After 6 nights in Riyadh, I went alone to Doha (DOH) in Qatar to attend a World Cup match between Portugal and Switzerland (and what a match!). And take the opportunity to discover Doha and the Qatar Airways QSuite experience twice: between Riyadh and Doha on Airbus A350 and between Doha and Montreal on Boeing 777.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - qatar airways a350 qsuite

Back in Montreal, it was time for the company Christmas party with all my colleagues from Milesopedia (only Marie-Claude and Audrey were missing, both in France):

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Party Noel 2022

Then it was time to launch our new partnership with Opération Enfant Soleil! I then returned to Nice in order to be in time to celebrate the end of year holidays with my family.

Logistics

The power of points

On this trip, I paid almost nothing in cash thanks to reward points. To tell the truth, the points turned out to be CRUCIAL especially during my stay in Riyadh and Doha.

Indeed, during my stay in Riyadh, the city’s hotels seemed particularly busy considering the rates charged: over $250-300 per night for any quality hotel. In addition to the Electronic Music Festival, many business conventions were held in town.

And what about Doha in the middle of the World Cup? As much as $500 per night for an entry-level hotel and over $1,000 per night for high-end hotels.

Except that at the last minute, hotels decide to open up availability for reservations with points. And although dynamic pricing was recently introduced, it was obviously not in effect everywhere!

Just see for yourself: 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for the Royal Meridien Doha instead of $915 a night?

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - hotels qatar coupe du monde

Flights

To book the various airline tickets, I used a combination of Aeroplan points and Avios points. While already preparing a next trip:

Itinerary	Airline	Class	Points used	Taxes	Review
Nice – Istanbul – Riyadh	Turkish Airlines	Economy	25,000 Aeroplan points	$60	–
Riyadh – Doha	Qatar Airways	Business	21,000 Avios points	$139	Review
Doha – Montreal	Qatar Airways	Business	70,000 Avios	$143	Review
Montreal – Munich – Nice	Lufthansa	Business	92,500 Aeroplan* points	$210	Already done
Nice – Dubai – Singapore	Emirates	Business	Report Report

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - itineraire doha arabie saoudite

With the arrival of Emirates as an Aeroplan partner, I decided to take advantage of the Aeroplan sweetspot between North America and the Pacific zone (87,500 Aeroplan points for a flight of up to 11,000 miles). So I booked this itinerary and added an Aeroplan stop for 5,000 points in Nice (less than 45 days), for a total of 92,500 Aeroplan points. While booking a flight from Montreal to Nice would have cost me 70,000 points.

In other words, I will be able to travel on Emirates between Nice and Dubai (Boeing 777) and between Dubai and Singapore (Airbus A380) for an additional cost of only 27,500 points, including the stopover in Nice!

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - JM-30

The hotels

For hotels, it was a mix of cash, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors points:

Hotel	City	Night(s)	Payment	Report
Orientbank Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection	Istanbul	1	149 euros	Report
Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel	Riyadh	1	20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points	Report
Le Méridien Riyadh	Riyadh	3	60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points	Report
JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh	Riyadh	1	30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points	Report
Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter	Riyadh	1	20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points	Report
Hilton Doha The Pearl Hotel & Residences	Doha	1	60,000 Hilton Honors points	Feature story
Agora, Doha, Autograph Collection	Doha	1	30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points	Report
Le Royal Méridien Doha	Doha	1	20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points	Report

In summary: 149 euros, 180,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and 60,000 Hilton Honors points for 10 nights in a hotel.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Le Meridien Riyadh 02

Rental car

I rented a car at Riyadh airport to easily get to the MDLBEAST Music Festival away from the city and explore the surrounding area.

Although I usually prefer to rent with Hertz or National, here I opted for Sixt because of the rate offered (much cheaper than the others thanks to a Diamond status). Anyway, I have the highest status with all car rental companies thanks to this trick.

I was lucky: despite a prepaid rate via the Sixt website, the agency at the Riyadh airport insisted that I pay my rental again when I returned the vehicle. And I’ll skip the story of their failed attempt to charge me for damage to the vehicle.

I am therefore in dispute with Sixt and will not hesitate to initiate a chargeback process via my American Express^® Aeroplan^MD* Business Reserve Card Express^MD. I chose this card because of the 2 Aeroplan points per dollar and its high insurance coverage.

I can only advise you to choose another car rental agency in Riyadh.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Edge Of The World 1

The visits

Istanbul : the classics

I will come back in detail on an article presenting Istanbul and the various possible visits during a 24 hours stopover there. I must say that the hotel we chose, the Orientbank Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection, is particularly suitable since it is located in the heart of the historic district of the city.

Here are the classics we have done:

Grand Bazaar
Spice Bazaar
Saint Sophia
Blue Mosque
Topkapi Palace Gardens
Gülhane Park

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Istanbul 2022 Jean Maximilien 1

Riyadh: Desert and electronic music

As I mentioned in the introduction, the starting point of this trip was an invitation to the MDL Beast Soundstorm Electronic Music Festival. This festival was launched in 2019 with the goal of being the largest festival of its kind in the Middle East to compete with big names like EDC Las Vegas or Tomorrowland.

Over the 3 nights of the Festival (taking place from 4pm to 3am), more than 600,000 participants danced on 7 stages while listening to the intoxicating music of David Guetta, Tiesto or Hardwell. I will of course give a detailed report of my experience on the spot.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Soudstorm 24

Apart from the Festival, it was an opportunity to discover Riyadh and its surroundings, with points of interest such as:

Edge of the World
Kingdom Tower
King Abdulah Park
Al Masmak Palace
Dariya
Red Sand Dunes (Quad)

This made me want to come back to explore other places in the country with my family (I must say that Saudi Arabia was already in my travel plans after visiting the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at the Expo2020 in Dubai).

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Edge Of The World 3

Doha: Culture and the Football World Cup

When I was organizing this trip at the last minute, I had already booked my flight from Doha to Montreal, having found a flight for 70,000 Avios points (which tends to be rare if you don’t plan 10-11 months in advance). Especially in the middle of the World Cup.

Moreover, during this World Cup, there was a requirement to enter Qatar: to have the Hayya card. The card was originally issued only to holders of World Cup tickets and/or accommodation booked through the official FIFA website.

After that, the rules were opened up a bit to allow more people to enter the territory as of December 1 (and the end of the group matches). For example, it was possible to provide proof of accommodation booked via other platforms (including bookings with points) and to visit Qatar without being a match ticket holder.

But this was the theory. In practice, it was much more complicated and many supporters learned this the hard way. I will explain my “obstacle course” in a dedicated article about my 2022 World Cup experience.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - portugal suisse

It was my first time in Qatar. During this 3-night stopover, I could only visit the city on one day (the other one being particularly busy with work). I still got a great overview of Doha including :

Qatar National Museum
Museum of Islamic Art
Corniche
Souq Waqif
The Pearl
Katara : Beach and cultural village
Lusail and Place Vendôme

I will also share my experience with you in a dedicated article.

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - musée national qatar

Credit cards used

Here are the credit cards I had in my wallet during this trip to the Middle East (and its preparation).

Of course, you don’t need to have all these credit cards to take a trip like this! But this shows you the ideal optimization of point accumulation and benefit use.

Aeroplan tax payment

In preparation for this trip, I used my American Express^MD Aeroplan^MD* Prestige Card to pay the taxes on my plane tickets booked with Aeroplan: it’s the only Aeroplan credit card for individuals to offer 3 points per dollar for reservations made with Air Canada (including Aeroplan award tickets) or Air Canada Vacations.

And by using an Aeroplan credit card, I am covered by insurance in case of flight or baggage delays.

Note that the American Express^® Aeroplan^MD* Business Reserve Card Express^MD also offers 3 points per dollar for purchases made with Air Canada.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 3 months Up to 85,000 points After $7,500 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Business Reserve Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $10,500 in 3 months Up to 90,000 points After $10,500 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

No Foreign Transaction Fee

During this trip, one of the favorite credit cards in my wallet was the HSBC World Elite Mastercard, for several reasons:

No FX fee
6 points per dollar for travel purchases
3 points per dollar for all other purchases
$100 in annual travel credit
Premium insurance

And since it was a Mastercard, it was accepted everywhere. Well… almost everywhere! Indeed, in the stadiums of the World Cup, the major sponsor is Visa. For example, to buy food on site, it was impossible to use an American Express or Mastercard credit card!

Istanbul, Riyadh, Doha: History, Electronic Music and Football World Cup - Only Visa

Fortunately, I had signed up for the Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite +* Card shortly before this trip to take advantage of the ongoing welcome offer to earn points Scene+ and 6 free airport lounge accesses. This allowed me to pay on the spot (without foreign currency conversion fees there too)!

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$150	Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026 After $2,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$150	Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months Up to 35,000 pointsEnds Nov 1, 2026 After $2,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

5X points in hotels and restaurants

When traveling, even outside of Canada, I also use credit cards that have foreign currency conversion fees. In fact, when the point accumulation rate exceeds the 2.5% fee, I consider myself a winner!

So, for expenses at Marriott Bonvoy hotels (paid hotel nights, meals and bar drinks, etc.), I use my Marriott Bonvoy^MD American Express^MD* Card.

And sometimes you can be lucky as it was the case at my hotel in Istanbul: the cab driver’s credit card machine was – strangely – not working when we arrived at the hotel. The receptionist then told me that he could give me the money in cash by charging it to my room! So I could get 5 times the Marriott Bonvoy points on this cash “withdrawal”. Of course I asked him to do the same for my return to the airport… just in case 😉

6 months to earn an American Express Card Welcome Bonus! - bonvoy companycard featured image

I hold both the Marriott Bonvoy^MD American Express^MD* Card and the small business version, the Marriott Bonvoy^MD Business American Express^MD* Card. This allows me to:

To have an annual certificate worth 35,000 points on each of these two cards
Benefit from American Express online offers on both cards
To have 15 elite nights added to my Marriott Bonvoy account each year, facilitating my access to a higher elite status

This will more than pay for the $120 and $150 annual fees.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months Up to 70,000 points After $3,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$150	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 3 months Up to 80,000 points After $5,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Compare

Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-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.: $350
Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite^+* Card, 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

Legal

* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Savings at Shell

Get up to 7 cents per litre in instant fuel discounts for a limited time and earn up to 3 cents per litre in Scene+ points value with an eligible Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + card linked to a Shell Go+ Account:

Instant 3 cents per Litre Discount on Fuel Purchases (All Grades): Receive an instant 3 cents per litre discount on purchases of fuel (all grades) (“Fuel Purchases (All Grades)”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank debit card or credit card linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per Scotiabank debit card and per Scotiabank credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per payment card account. This discount is subject to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Instant 4 cents per Litre Discount on Premium Fuel: Between May 26, 2026 and June 1, 2027 (“Promotional Period”), receive an instant 4 cents per litre discount on purchases of V-Power^® gasoline, or V-Power^® diesel (“Premium Fuel Purchases”) at participating Shell locations in Canada when you use any eligible Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points linked to a Shell Go+ Account, up to a maximum of 1,000 litres per month per credit card account. This total limit resets at the start of each new month per credit card account. This promotional offer, including the Promotional Period, may be changed, extended, or withdrawn at any time without notice. These promotional offer terms are in addition to the Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.
Earn up to 3 cents per Litre in Scene+ points Value (Equivalent) on Fuel Purchases: Each time you use your linked Scotiabank credit card that earns Scene+ points on Fuel Purchases (All Grades) at participating Shell locations in Canada, you will earn at least 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent. Plus, as a Scene+ Member you will also automatically earn 1 Scene+ point for each litre in Fuel Purchases (All Grades), and as a Shell Go+ member, automatically earn 1 additional Scene+ point for each litre in Premium Fuel Purchases, made with your linked Scotiabank credit card. This means that for every litre in fuel purchased with your linked credit card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3 cents of redeemable Scene+ points value based on a redemption value of $10 for every 1,000 Scene+ points redeemed for fuel purchases at participating Shell locations. Actual value may be lower depending on how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points. Earn and redemption limits may apply. See the Scene+ Program Terms and Conditions available at sceneplus.ca/terms-and-conditions for full details including redemption options and additional terms.

Note: Highest value of 10 cents per litre assumes a Premium Fuel Purchase made with a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card linked to a Shell Go+ Account. Actual value will vary depending on payment card used and whether or not the card is linked, fuel grade purchased, and how you choose to redeem your Scene+ points.

Additional 3¢/L at Shell (limited time)

Additional 3¢/L Fuel Discount Offer: Offer valid from October 5, 2026 to December 31, 2026 (“Promotional Period”), eligible Scotiabank credit and debit cardholders enrolled in the Shell Fuel Benefits Program who have linked an eligible Scotiabank payment card (an “Eligible Card”) to their Shell Go+ account will receive an additional instant fuel discount of 3 cents per litre on eligible fuel purchases at participating Shell-branded retail locations in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories (the “Eligible Provinces”) excluding Shell Flying J locations. Fuel purchases made outside the Eligible Provinces are not eligible for this offer.

To receive the additional fuel discount, customers must pay with their linked Eligible Card at the time of purchase.

The additional fuel discount is in addition to the fuel savings available through the Shell Fuel Benefits Program and may be combined with other eligible fuel discounts, rewards programs, and promotional fuel offers unless otherwise stated in the applicable offer terms and conditions.

The additional fuel discount is available on up to 1,000 litres of eligible fuel purchases per calendar month for each Eligible Card. The 1,000-litre limit resets at the beginning of each calendar month.

The additional fuel discount is non-transferable, is not redeemable for cash, and cannot be substituted or exchanged.

Participation in the Shell Fuel Benefits Program is subject to the applicable program terms and conditions available at Scotiabank Fuel Benefit Terms and Conditions.

Shell Canada reserves the right to make changes to this offer and to terminate the offer at any time, for any reason and without notice.

All other applicable terms and conditions of the Shell Fuel Benefits Program, Shell Go+ and Scotiabank continue to apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

3xWith the partner brand
2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$604

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 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

Access to airport lounges

On most of my trips, I traveled in business class and therefore had access to airport lounges.

However, when I left Nice, I was traveling with Turkish Airlines in economy class. I used the Priority Pass on my American Express Platinum Card^® to access the lounge in Terminal 1 at Nice Airport.

The American Express Platinum Card^® is the only personal credit card in Canada to offerunlimited access for the cardholder and one guest to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide (as well as many other benefits). Enough to make my French friend discover the comfort of airport lounges!

Please note that the Business Platinum Card^® from American Express also offers the same access to airport lounges.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Platinum Card^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months Up to 100,000 points After $10,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
Business Platinum Card^® from American Express Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months Up to 120,000 points After $15,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Travel insurance and travel credits

Finally, to be well covered on this trip, I paid the taxes for one of my flights with Qatar Airways with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard^®. In fact, it is one of the only credit cards in Canada that offers coverage even though we only paid part of our trip on it.

The coverage will reimburse expenses…if at least a portion of the cost of the trip has been charged to the account.

Banque Nationale du Canada

And actually, the insurance that mattered most to me, the Emergency Medical Insurance, doesn’t even require you to pay for your trip with it! All you need is a National Bank World Elite Mastercard^®.

This is a credit card that I keep year after year as it offers up to $150 in annual travel credit for these types of expenses:

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

This way, you can use your annual travel credit, whether it’s a parking expense or any purchase made with an airline. 😉

ExclusiveCompare

National Bank World Elite^® Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $150
Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated: First Year Annual Fee Rebate; Ends Nov 4, 2026

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by 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 a 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
Airline ticket 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 has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Legal

^® Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^® The À LA CARTE REWARDS logo is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA LOUNGE is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® Apple Pay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple Inc. is not a sponsor of or participant in National Bank Mobile Banking Solutions.

^® Google Pay is a registered trademark of Google LLC. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Inc. Permissions.

^TM À LA CARTE TRAVEL is a trademark of National Bank of Canada. The À la carte Travel agency is owned by Transat Distribution Canada Inc. and holds a Quebec permit (No. 753141).

^TM À LA CARTE REWARDS is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED and NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

* Mastercard^® World Elite^®

The National Bank^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card was voted best Mastercard credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.

The National Bank^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card was voted best travel credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.

Every year, Milesopedia reviews credit card offers from major financial institutions and establishes its Ranking based on over 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offer, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.

Certain restrictions apply. For more information, see the Rewards Plan section or the Plan Rules applicable to point accumulation.
Grace period:
No interest is charged on purchases made during the month if the cardholder pays the full balance of their account within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances and balance transfers. Minimum payment: if your account balance is less than $10, you must pay the balance in full. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is 5% of your account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. If you reside outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. Account statement: an account statement is sent monthly.
Table of examples of credit fees calculated over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate $500 $3,000

22.49% $9.24 $55.45

20.99% $8.63 $51.76

13.2% $5.53 $33.16

9.2% $3.78 $22.68

*Variable interest rate in effect as of September 1, 2021.
Balance transfers and cash advances are subject to National Bank credit approval. Each amount transferred cannot be less than $250.
Exclusive to World Elite Mastercard cardholders. Presentation of the physical credit card and boarding pass is required to access the lounge.
The National Bank^® Lounge is accessible to customers traveling on international flights only (excluding flights to Canada and the United States).
You benefit from free and unlimited access with one guest and two children aged 12 and under.
Until October 4, 2026 (date subject to change), customers can enter the National Bank Lounge three hours before their flight departure time. From October 5, 2026 (date subject to change), access will be authorized for a maximum duration of 2 hours (3 hours for customers who hold a Private Banking 1859^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card).
National Bank customers who are not World Elite ^® Mastercard ^® cardholders can also access the current lounge based on current rates and benefit from a 25 % discount on these rates :
63,24 $ taxes included for adults (excluding discount)
$40.24 taxes included for children aged 2 to 12 (excluding discount)
free for children under 2 (excluding discount)
The entry fee is subject to change without notice and is the responsibility of the lounge operator.
Subject to providing the required supporting documents in the manner and within the prescribed timeframe. Certain conditions may apply. Only the primary cardholder of a National Bank World Elite Mastercard (Cardholder) whose account is in good standing can request a « Travel Fee Reimbursement ». « Account in good standing » means an account linked to the credit card that does not violate the Credit Card Agreement in any way and on which no restrictions apply. For example, and without limitation, the associated annual fees must have been paid in full. The maximum reimbursement of $150 can be requested from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
Eligible expenses are:
airport parking
baggage fees
seat selection
airport lounge access worldwide
airline ticket upgrades
A reimbursement request must be made within 60 days of the purchase date. Travel expenses must be charged to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card account. The maximum reimbursement of $150 is applicable per account. Please allow up to 7 business days for the reimbursement to be processed from the date your request is submitted. National Bank reserves the right to request additional supporting documents for validation purposes (e.g., invoices). You must keep all receipts and supporting documents for a period of 12 months from the date you made your reimbursement request. An unused reimbursement in one year cannot be carried over to the next year. You can make your request online at rewards.nbc.ca or by calling 1-800-341-8083 (toll-free) for an agent to assist you with your travel fee reimbursement request.
Point accumulation on grocery and restaurant spending depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, across all categories. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The 5 points per dollar accumulation is valid for the first $2,500 of gross monthly purchases charged to the account. Beyond this amount, eligible grocery and restaurant spending will earn 2 points per dollar. The calculation of the gross monthly purchase amount is based on monthly billing. A grocery purchase means a purchase made at a merchant whose primary business is selling food, such as a grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, fruit store, or specialty food store. Meal kit subscriptions and meal delivery services are eligible. Therefore, this definition excludes, among others, retail stores and big-box stores whose primary business is selling non-food items. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. A restaurant purchase means a purchase made at a restaurant, including quick-service restaurants, bars, discotheques, nightclubs, and taverns. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan^® terms and conditions document.
These protections apply if the purchases or rental are paid for in part with the card before departure, except, if applicable, for out-of-province medical-hospital insurance for which it is not necessary to charge the purchase of an à la carte trip and for baggage delay protection where the full cost of transport must have been charged to the card. All these protections apply to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or their dependent children when they (spouse and dependent children) travel with the cardholder. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, provided the manufacturer’s warranty exists and is valid in Canada. Certain conditions, limitations and restrictions apply. For more information and details regarding your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Subject to credit approval by National Bank.
Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. See all credit card terms and conditions.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your gas or electric charging purchases at a gas station or certain big-box stores. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan^® terms and conditions document.
Recurring bill payments are defined as payments made monthly or regularly that are automatically charged by the merchant to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard. Not all merchants offer recurring payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Therefore, some payments may not qualify for accelerated reward points.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your eligible purchases through the À la carte Travel^TM agency section of our À la carte Rewards^TM site.
For example, if you spend $400 monthly on groceries, $200 on gas, $100 on recurring bills and $150 on other purchases, the $850 spent will generate 2,750 points, broken down as follows: 2,000 points for grocery spending (since the total gross monthly amount is $850, which is less than $2,500), 400 points for gas spending, 200 points for recurring bills and 150 points for other purchases.
Insurance up to $1,000 in case of breakage, loss or theft of mobile devices for a maximum period of 2 years following the date of purchase. Subject to purchasing the device with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard or a phone service subscription paid by recurring payments from your National Bank Platinum Mastercard starting September 1, 2022. For all conditions, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.

Annual interest rate	$500	$3,000
22.49%	$9.24	$55.45
20.99%	$8.63	$51.76
13.2%	$5.53	$33.16
9.2%	$3.78	$22.68