Intermediate Level: Which Credit Card(s) Should I Apply For?

Following our article on the best credit cards for beginners, it’s important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint! Indeed, to avoid negative effects on your credit score, it’s important to take things slowly at first.

When starting, the norm is to apply for 1 or 2 credit cards every six months. Then, apply for two cards every four months when you are more used to it.

Intermediate credit card holders are characterized by their understanding of loyalty programs and their ability to manage their cards to maximize rewards.

This list has been compiled based on our analysis, personal experience and that of Milesopedia readers. When you have experience with credit cards, these are the best cards we recommend most often.

We assume you already have one or two cards from the Beginner Level article : Which credit card(s) to get? These best mid-level credit cards are for people with a little experience were chosen based on:

Their profitability
Medium- and long-term benefits
And the ability to earn rewards at a higher level than the previous ones

In summary, here are our top picks for the best credit cards to begin this new stage:

Card	Reason
Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card	Thanks to its points that provide free nights, its welcome offer, as well as its annual Free Night Award
TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card	For its Aeroplan points, the free checked bag it offers, and its benefits that make travel easier
TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card	With its best-ever welcome offer, annual $100 TD Travel Credit, and 4 free airport lounge visits
Bonus: BMO eclipse Visa Infinite* Card	Worth noting for its high welcome offer, mobile device insurance, and easy point redemption.

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
FeaturedTD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months Up to 50,000 points After $12,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$199 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offer+ one round-trip companion passTo earn all Bonus Points: cumulative purchases of $5,000 within 110 days, $9,000 within 180 days and $18,000 within 365 days of account opening. Up to 70,000 pointsEnds Oct 31, 2026 + one round-trip companion passTo earn all Bonus Points: cumulative purchases of $5,000 within 110 days, $9,000 within 180 days and $18,000 within 365 days of account opening.	Apply NowCompare
SponsoredTD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 6 months Up to 160,000 points After $7,500 in 6 months	Apply NowCompare

Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

Why hold the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card ?

Its welcome bonus, for which the number of points may vary depending on the current offer
One free night at a Marriott Bonvoy hotel after one year of card ownership (more than offsets the $120 annual fee)
Benefits for Marriott Bonvoy Members
No minimum income required
Excellent customer service from American Express

Those bonus points are more than enough to spend a few nights near Mount Fuji in Japan!

Intermediate Level: Which Credit Card(s) Should I Apply For? - Marriott Japan

The myth that American Express cards are not accepted anywhere is very persistent. But it’s not true – check out our article on where these cards are accepted. Don’t miss out on major savings because of an urban legend.

Compare

Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Annual fee: $120
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$600Total$600$100 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $600
Welcome offerAfter $3,000 in 3 months: Up to 70,000 points

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

New Cardmembers can earn up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points with the current offer:

Earn up to 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 10,000 points after you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership.

The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 70,000 point welcome offer is worth about $630, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$120

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,110

2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $500

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

To book flights with Aeroplan points, there is this very interesting card.

Why subscribe to the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card ?

Aeroplan points can be earned starting from the first purchase made with this card
Additional points can be accumulated by meeting the required spending conditions
To get one free checked bag on Air Canada flights
First year’s annual fee waived
Exclusive benefits and experiences with Visa Infinite
Optional TD Auto Club membership for roadside assistance

For example, points earned through the welcome offer, as well as those accumulated by meeting the required conditions, allow for lower-cost travel to lounge in Mexico.

Intermediate Level: Which Credit Card(s) Should I Apply For? - YUL CUN

FeaturedCompare

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

TD Aeroplan First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $139
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $1,139
Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months: Up to 50,000 points

With this offer for the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points^† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^†.

Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card^†
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening^†.
Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening^†

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation^†, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months^†.

With the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points^† per $1 spent on:

Grocery purchases
Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
Purchases made directly with Air Canada^® (including Air Canada Vacations^®)

You also earn 1 point^† per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

Legal

^†Terms and conditions apply.